Music Monday #25 Iyaz - Replay

 

I’ve been feeling this tune over the past few days … reminds me of all the crazy girls nights I used to have in London … thanks NB for giving me the name of the track … this one definitely belongs on any playlist =)

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Christmas Karaoke Anyone ?

Last year as all of us friends were getting into the Xmas spirit, we decided to try our hand at some karaoke holiday songs (not the carols) .. it ended up being quite funny because not everyone (including myself) knew the lyrics / tune of the songs .. and coincidently at a party I was at earlier today – one of the topics in conversation included how it’s a rarity amongst the general community that people aren’t in very ‘festive’ moods …

From the way I see it – those who aren’t raised celebrating Xmas (by way of religion, and exposure) – don’t quite ‘get into it’ as compared to someone who has grown up really celebrating the holiday.  I’ve grown up surrounded by friends who celebrate Xmas despite spending the majority of my childhood was in a desert country.

I used to be in the school choir – and hence had to learn all the holiday songs.   And I recall my music teacher playing Christmas Karaoke tunes just so we could all get used to singing the festive songs.  T he last few days, certain friends like NB managed to tune into radio stations that kept playing Christmas songs … which brought back high school memories.  She’s one person who definitely enjoys karaoke music =) 

I will digress for a just a second - we’d gone to my mate HS’s place a few months ago who has a great CDG player for karaoke – and everyone had a blast … after all for that night we were truly rock stars !  We’ve had some fun nights just ‘killing it with karaoke’

I’ve always wanted to get a karaoke player for my house – but alas never got around to it .. with all the countries I have shifted across over the last few years – didn’t make sense to do that.  I used to visit this site -  http://www.karaokemachine.org – that has great portable players and sometimes I think ‘damn I should have gotten one of them’ !  Maybe if I put that on my Christmas Wish List for Santa – I might just get lucky and get one *hint*hint*friends*hint*hint*Mum !

Do you have any special holiday family traditions for Xxmas ? What do you tend to do over the holidays ? Have you ever gone caroling ? Or would you rather perform some Christmas karaoke by the fire place ?

Wishing You A Divalicious Xmas !

Here’s wishing everyone in Blogosphere a Very Merry Christmas !!

Enjoy the yummy Xmas desserts and mulled wine ! For those of you that are in freezing temperatures and have snow – please make a snowman for me !! 

Pressies are in order if you’ve been on Santa’s Nice List .. and if you are on the Naughty List, you know what kind of presents are due.

I brought in my Crimbo with some good friends at a party last night =)  I’m heading off for lunch to a mate’s place today, followed by a quick stop to meet my aunty & cousins from London to wish them, and then a formal sit-down dinner on a terrace at my other friends’ house.

What are your plans for Christmas ? Hope you all have a wonderful day !!

Can You Run In Your High Heels ?

I came across these very interesting / funky / not-so-conventional ‘heels’ by Nike whilst browsing online, and I thought to myself … ‘damn – is one supposed to run in those ?’

I know I can run in my heels – but for very short distances – after all I’m an events planner and my job involves running round even in cocktail dresses ! 

Turns out that last year there was a race organized in Charleston, USA called the 1st Annual Stiletto Stampede, to benefit the MUSC Children’s Hospital. This race was created to raise awareness and support of pediatric patient care at the hospital.  The rule was that everyone who participated had to wear 3 inch heels !

But those are the regular heels that ladies would buy.  I’m still not too sure about the Nike Dunk High Heels shown above.  Would you buy a pair of high heels that looked like sneakers ? Or would you buy sneakers that had stiletto heels ? 

I know I would be a bit weary about buying something like this … I just don’t see how practical they would be … and personally – I don’t like any high heels with closed toes – they hurt my feet :(

Further Reading :

1. How Far Can You Run in 3 inch Heels ?
2. Can You Run In Heels ?
3. Do Not Want : Nike High Heels
4. Nike Dunk – High Heels

Music Monday #24 Moby - BodyRock

I was thinking about what would be a perfect #MusicMonday track to use this week and after skipping through a few tracks – stopped on Moby – Body Rock !

It’s such an uplifting track – there’s no way that one can’t feel the energy immediately start building up inside themselves !

Did you know that there are three music videos for "Bodyrock" ? The one that I have linked to you is the UK version directed by Fredrik Bond.  There is another video which has Moby watching the ‘auditions’ for the making of the video.  It’s really quite a laugh just to see the various moves being made.

The US video, directed by Steve Carr, has Moby wearing special sunglasses that allows him to see dancers wherever he goes.

Have you ever seen this video before ? Does this track work for you as an #MM track ?

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Are You Overworked This Festive Season ?

I know I sure as hell am feeling overworked this festive season !! My business partner NC is away for the holidays for a family reunion in Tenerife and won’t be back till 12th Jan; our creative designer NB is off to Singapore & Bali for a family holiday; and then heading to Vietnam for work. 

Whilst my two core players are away – I’m feeling the pressure of the growing number of enquiries coming my way – and worried that I won’t be able to get through each one without losing part of my sanity !

And then I came across this video – and I thought – damn I wish I could call up an agency to sort my worries out ! LOL It would be nice if recruitment agencies in India could come up with some innovative ways of promoting their services.  I love what Robert Half has done with this video.  Have a watch, have a giggle, and try not to work too hard during the holidays.

Music Monday #23 IIO – Rapture

One of my favourite tracks =)  A very special man in my life always tells me this song reminds him of me … and whenever I hear it – I get a big smile on my face …

I remember the two of us being so engrossed in a conversation with each other that we didn’t even realize that the rest of the group in my apartment had left until quite a few hours later !

This was 8 years ago … and even today – if I call him – he knows exactly what I’m thinking or what it is that I am trying to say … it stumps us both every time … we’ve both moved on in our lives but it’s a nice fuzzy feeling to know that someone else other than (your significant other for those that have them) and you yourself - ‘gets you’ …

SN – you really do make my soul feel complete !!

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Sexy Saturday – Jason Statham

He’s lean, mean, and super sexy !! HIs tough bad ass image and engaging screen presence –not to mention the sultry British accent – all combined make Jason Statham oh-so-desirable !

He’s best known for his role as Frank Martin from The Transporter series (I could watch those movies over and over again .. but I digress).  This bad boy prefers to do majority of his own driving stunts (have you seen the way the man can handle a car ??? I wish he would handle me even once!!), fight scenes and aerial stunts – including the scene where he was hanging from a helicopter in Crank !

He made his debut in the hit ‘Lock, Stock & 2 Smoking Barrels’ and followed it with successes like ‘Snatch’, ‘The Italian Job’, ‘Crank’, ‘Death Race’, and most recently  ‘The Expendables’.

He’s got my Sexy Saturday, Sexy Any Day vote !!!

 

Wordless Wednesday #21 Mauritian Sunset

For every day that I spent in Mauritius (on both my trips last month) – I made it a point to watch the sunset on the beach =)  These pictures were taken on 1st November ‘10.  

I love how each photograph looks like it’s taken at a different time of day … brings a smile to my face =)

Music Monday #22 Flo Rida – Low

Needed something to really pick-me-up since I’m down in the dumps with a cough, cold and congested nose  .. and funnily enough I ended up picking a track that says ‘low low low’ …. but at least I like the song and it brought back memories of my girlf SA who’s in Singapore now … this one is for you babe =)

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Spot The Best Bet …

It’s that time of the year again … and I’m not talking about Xmas folks !  The last few weeks has been a flurry of activity – and there’s a certain kinda buzz in the air … everyone around me is glued to their TV’s (and their phones / laptops) watching Tennis, Cricket, and Football !

That’s right – it’s time to bet … !! I never quite got the hang of ‘how’ one should place bets .. when I was younger – I thought it was insane to wager huge sums of money on the outcome of a sports match.  My mum (who never does anything daring) is always game to bet on a horse race or a cricket match; my uncle in London tends to bet on cricket, tennis and football.

With the emergence of the World Wide Web people have now taken to online sports betting thanks to the mushrooming of online portals that have taken the cyber world by storm.

I came to discover that the top sport to bet on at most online sports betting portals was football (aka soccer to those in the US).  Many Americans would be surprised to know that in Europe, football / soccer betting is the equivalent of professional NFL wagering in the United States.

Now I’m not a gambler – but this year during the Football World Cup (and the Elle Derby – horse races) I did place some ‘friendly’ bets with my friends and actually managed to win =)  Here’s what I managed to learn about the types of bets that can be placed for football / soccer  …

1. Single / Money Line / Straight up wager – one bets on which team will win the game without any regards to the margin of victory. This is the simplest type of bet: you only have to pick the correct result of one event to win the bet
2. Match Odds - Also known as 1X2, this is the easiest and most common type of bet. You can bet on three different options: home win (1), away win (2) and draw (X).  So if you bet $100 on Spain with odds of e.g. 1.66 … if Spain wins you get your original $100 PLUS your winnings ($100 x 1.66) = $66.   Keep in mind though – if your team ends in a draw or doesn’t win – you lose the bet.

Do you have any tips on how to place a good bet ? Have you used any online sports betting portals ? I’m more familiar with the UK betting portals – but discovered  a few US based sites during my stint at university in Montreal.  Have you placed any sports bets recently – even if it was a friendly wager amongst friends ?

Knitted Dissections

I came across this blog post ‘Dissected Frogs Never Looked So Cute’ by Diana Adams, CEO of Adams Consulting Group on BitRebels.com ... and it wasn’t quite the post I expected ! (then again I suppose that’s what makes people read a post huh)

How many of you had to perform a dissection in Biology class ? What did you have to dissect ? And would you ever want to experience THAT again ?  I had to dissect a goat’s heart and a rat – and I would NEVER want to even look at something like that again !!! I would try to make any excuse to get out of Biology dissection classes !

Somewhere out on Etsy – a company, CraftyHedgehog dissects frogs, rats, bunnies and alligators … all through the art of knitting !!  Yup – you read that correctly – dissection by knitting !  If you buy one of these knitted dissections – it comes pinned down in a pan just like you in Biology class ! 

I suppose these are meant to be taken with a pinch of salt and meant to be funky & creative … but it doesn’t really catch my fancy … and frankly it kinda creeps me out … I guess I’m just not that creative … but I can see why it might appeal to all the knit-fans out there … it’s got more appeal than just a yarn of string ! 

On a more positive side – if teachers started using something like this during Biology class – it could prove useful – particularly for those students who can’t stomach actually dissecting an animal (like me !) … what do you think ?

What about you ? Does this kind of art appeal to you ? Would you gift this to someone ? or just buy it for fun ? Do you think it could be used in schools as a teaching aid ?

[Image Source: Amusing Planet]

Sexy Saturday – Eva Mendes

Before her break in Hollywood – Mendes worked her way up through commercials  to music videos, including an appearance in Will Smith's video "Miami" (1996) and Aerosmith's video "Hole in My Soul" (1997).  The 35-year old actress has been in such movies as 2 Fast 2 Furious, Training Day, Hitch and The Spirit.

Now aside from acting, Mendes is also employed by Revlon Cosmetics as an international spokeswoman.  She is also an active supporter of breast cancer research. 

Eva Mendes was named the #1 lady of 2009 by AskMen.com.  The list of the top 99 was voted by readers and tallied up to reveal that Mendes was the winner.  Mendes was also voted as #4 in the 2008 edition, and #1 in the 2009 edition of AskMen.com's Top 99 Most Desirable Women.  Maxim ranked Mendes #7 in its 2007 & #11 in its 2010 Hot 100 issues.   She also made her second Maxim cover in the November 2007 issue.

 

Would you believe me if I told you that Mendes was teased as a child about her buck teeth; never thought herself to be an actress, and aspired to be a NUN when she was younger ?

Who gets your Sexy Saturday vote ?

So Everything Happens For A Reason …

I’ve been watching this TV show called ‘Flash Forward’ for a few weeks now. Have you ever seen it or heard of it ? I didn’t know about it until I ran out of things to watch on the HD – and saw that my bro had this particular series saved.

To summarize – the world is hit by a global blackout for just over 2 minutes; everyone passes out and gets a glimpse of their lives 6 months in to the future.

The night before last - it was as if I had a mini-epiphany or a ‘eureka moment’ ! (not that I’d know that but you get my drift) It may not be for some but for me it sure as hell felt like it. I’ve had a crazy busy few weeks and have been exhausted. And just as I was dozing off – it all kinda made sense.

Whatever happens – happens for a reason and is a consequence of our actions. We have created the paths that we walk on; and as much as we can change our path; and try new ones – we will end up wherever we were meant to be. Wherever fate / destiny wants us to be.

And ironically enough – I got this quote come through my inbox which I think is perfect for this post :

"The self is not something ready-made, but something in continuous formation through choice of action."
-- John Dewey

I’m not someone who gets drawn by horoscopes, astrology etc – sure I check my star sign out every now and then when I scan the papers but it’s not like I go out of my way to see what ‘destiny’ or the the higher powers have in store for me for that day … Perhaps about a week or ten days ago – my sister (also same star sign) gave me something to read and she is firm believer in destiny and ‘angels’ amongst other things … slightly conflicted reading material but overall positive news for my star sign along with lots of specific dates provided.

So the point of this post … well there isn’t one really – it’s just that the other night – it all fell into place and I just ‘accepted’ that everything happens for a reason. In my mind – I got that little eureka moment just so I could write this post (haha conceited I know but what the hell).

Oh well – madam NC will be happy to know that I might just have to ‘accept’ the fact that I am in this particular city for reasons beyond my comprehension (and perhaps I will never know why); and that I will TRY not to send out the negative energies that she insists I send out all the time =P

Music Monday #21 Alanis Morissette - Ironic

This is really quite the perfect song for this Monday (at least for me) … The last few weeks have been hectic; and over the past few days everything was coming together … the hospitality list and flight list for my clients’ upcoming wedding was in order thanks to NC and it seemed that our work just got cut out for us …

Until this morning … it’s like everything had developed a mind of it’s own and decided to cause havoc with all of NC’s good work and add to that some more drama !!! Today was one of those – WTF – days !!

Oh and now it’s POURING with heavy rains, with lots of thunder and lightning for effect ! and we’re at mid-November in Mumbai !! Even Mother Nature is having a bad today from the looks of it !

How has your Monday been so far ? What song would describe your day today ? Don’t forget to add your link if you are participating in Music Monday.

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the actual post link here and grab the code below and place it at your blog entry. You can grab this code at LadyJava's Lounge Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.

Sexy Saturday – Vin Diesel

Vin Diesel was born Mark Sinclair Vincent; July 18, 1967 is quite a multi-talented man …Not only is he an actor but also is a writer, director and producer.

He changed his name to "Vin Diesel" while working as a bouncer at an NYC night club; Vin was the short form for Vincent and Diesel came about due to his constant energy.

Something about his badass role in XXX appealed to me (it could have been the snow boarding scene); and then who can forget him as Dom in Fast & The Furious !!

By the way – he has a TWIN !! I wouldn’t mind him (or the twin) crossing my path anytime !!

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Wordless Wednesday #20 Waterfall Views

I wish I was back at this waterfall ! I was in Mauritius last week for an Edu-Tour of some new properties for events; and we went out for a picnic in the nature reserve … tucked away within 10 hectares of nature – this was 1 of 5 waterfalls on the reserve.

I didn’t have my bikini with me – otherwise I would have been swimming in there ! but I did cross into the falls and get up to the rocks and managed to get some of that fresh water splashing all over me =)

Have you been to any nice waterfalls and where ? Don’t you find them to be soothing ? I love to just sit down on the grass or some rocks – soak my feet in the water and watch the water flow from the top of the falls down into the rock pools or streams. 

Have a lovely Wednesday ! Don’t forget to share your #WW link if you are participating !

5 Mobile Apps for Finding Great Movies

….. and my brothers’ company AppSpark which developed the app ‘MoviesNow’ and Movies Now HD is featured in Mashable’s ‘5 Mobile Apps For Finding Great Movies’ !!!!

As stated in the article :

In North America, two of the most popular online movie ticketing services are MovieTickets.com and Fandango.  MovieTickets.com has an unofficial (and beautifully executed) app by way of Movies Now HD

The MoviesNow app lets you find upcoming showtimes in your area and purchase tickets from participating theaters.   Movies Now HD is $1.99, works on the iPhone and iPad and can conveniently link to your MovieTickets.com account.  It also offers upcoming films, trailers and synopsis info.

I’m soooo proud of my baby brother KC =) and my younger cousin Namco as well (he is also one of the co-founders of the company alongside my brother); and KBM as the director of the company.

If you are into your mobile phone apps – then make sure you follow & like them on the MoviesNow Facebook Fan Page and don’t forget to follow them on MoviesNow on Twitter 

And before I get accused of being biased – here are the other 4 apps featured in the article :

1. Movie Night Out - a free app for the iPhone and Android that is designed to help answer the question, “what do you want to do tonight?
2. Entertainment Weekly Must List has also made this information accessible on the iPhone and iPad. Using the app, you can watch trailers, read reviews and get release information all from within the app.

3. Miso is free and available for iPhone and Android; and the concept is similar to FourSquare .. basically you check out what your friends are watching to decide what you should watch.

4. Clicker is a web service and iPhone and Android app that lets you find out what type of content is available to watch online, as well as what your friends are watching.

Have fun with the apps guys ! and show some support for the Diva’s siblings if you are an iPhone or iPad user ;)

Music Monday #20 Matchbox 20 - Bent

I just realized that on my 20th Music Monday – the artist I have chosen has the #20 in their name =)  … and no I didn’t do it on purpose.

Did you know that in Europe - ‘bent’ meant ‘gay’ and this was around the time the posters of the tour featured the lead singer in tight pants and eye liner !  In UK it’s a term used as being troubled, someone with a few issues.  I like the fact that fact that the term used is ‘bent’ and not ‘broken’ … bent is more likely to be fixed .. broken has to be mended ..

When you first hear the song and really listen to the lyrics – it could come off as a relationship between two people who are a bit messed up but being together would mean that they are ok – because they are together.  A possibility ?

What if it’s just a reflection of all the things one has been through ? The ups-and-downs; the good & bad .. someone who is searching for the one who won’t judge his/her past but just take them as they are and be there through the next rollercoaster ride .. but instead of getting off – be willing to go for the ride again and again … ? 

The lyrics are amazing – quite romantic in their own way – without being mushy.  Of course I want someone to hold me again .. and then again some more .. so what if I have issues :P

I’ve always liked this song .. it’s one of those few ‘lyrics-based’ tracks that I enjoy listening to =)  Every time I hear it – it stirs a different emotion in me (and the guitar intro gives me crazy goose bumps EVERY time without fail)… takes me through the various phases of my life … I’ve learned a lot about life, relationships and people over the years .. and as ‘perfect’  as one may appear to another  no one is really perfect … then again maybe I like to believe that because in my own way I’m pretty ‘bent’ ;)

What are your thoughts ? Do you like the song ? What do you think about it ? and what’s your pick for this Music Monday ?

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An Environmentally Safe Diwali – Is It Possible ?

Today, being Diwali, I couldn’t help but think back to one of my first few posts that I wrote on this blog titled ‘Festival of Lights … or Endangering The Environment’ … I had just moved to Bombay and was experiencing my ‘first real Diwali’ and I was just left in a state of shock !

Don’t get me wrong here … Diwali holds a significant meaning to the Indian community and is a form of a celebration of the new year.   Diwali is the ‘festival of lights’ and is often associated (and celebrated) with fireworks and bright lights.  However – I still can’t get my head around WHY we (the educated population) need to celebrate a festival with something like fire crackers that have such a detrimental impact on the human body AND the environment ?

Has it ever crossed your mind just how destructive this joyous festival can be ? Has it ever occurred to you that you could be aggravating and/or creating a health issue for yourself ? Have you ever stopped to consider just HOW SCARED animals must be with the loud bursts of the crackers ? 

With the increased levels of global warming, have you given any thought to just how much pollution we are adding to the natural environment ?  In my original post, I wrote about how the skies were filled with drifting smoke behind the light of the fireworks … we are BREATHING those very fumes and slowly damaging our lungs.

According to Dr Rajesh Chawla of Apollo Hospital in Delhi, the particles left over from fireworks can cause eye, throat and nose problems which may not be felt immediately but can develop into serious health hazards in the long-term.  

I was happy to read that the ministers of various states in India have been trying to promote a ‘green Diwali’.  Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal appealed to children to say no to crackers and celebrate Diwali with lights.  Dhumal said indiscriminate use of crackers alarmingly increases the level of toxic chemicals in the air and noise, which is not only detrimental to the environment but also affects the eyes, throat and respiratory system. 

The human ear takes in sound at about 60 decibels – and the majority of fire crackers can create more than 80 decibel noise – which can cause temporary hearing loss, restlessness, anger, and over-reaction to situations.  We are in essence  creating physiological damage for ourselves.  Did you know that on Diwali day the noise levels from the use of fire crackers etc can reach a deafening 140 decibels !! 

Imagine the state of animals (pets & strays alike) that have the ability to detect sounds that are too faint for the human ear cannot hear … they start to tremble; try to run away and hide .. at least our pets are safe .. but the strays .. my heart goes out to them ! I have seen some children (beggars & from good families) tie fire crackers to the ends of dogs / horses tails causing them to run in fear and hurt themselves ! It’s INHUMAN to this and is an act that is punishable by law. 

I could go on and on … but the point I guess I'm trying to make is that - the fireworks look great for a few minutes but have we ever really given a thought to the consequences that our bodies and the natural environment encounters after those few minutes ? 

Related Articles

1. Celebrate An Environmentally Safe Diwali by Manisha Gutman
2. Crackers or Quakers by Ratna Khemnani
3. Firework Pollution by Madhumitta Dutta
4. A Must Read for Pet Owners : Dogs & Fireworks – Fear & Anxiety

Happy Diwali

"Deepawali" literally means a row of lamps (in Sanskrit "deepa" = lamp and "aawaLi" = row, line).  In due course, the popular name has shortened to Diwali, especially in northern India. While Diwali is popularly known as the "festival of lights", a more appropriate significance is "the new year of luck and wealth" and it is celebrated with a variety of fireworks.

So here’s wishing all of you out in Blogosphere and your families a  very Happy & Prosperous Diwali !

Dazed Poet : Adieu

I came across another old piece of writing / poetry which I had posted up when I first started this blog back in the summer of 2008 … I’d like to share it with you all and get your thoughts on it …

I might have subconsciously selected this one … some of you know that I lost my grandfather a few months ago .. even now to put that down in black & white brings tears to my eyes … so perhaps that’s why I connected once again with this piece of writing … 

Adieu

The final goodbye
is somewhat
similar to a
first hello

Uncertainty, anxiousness
a slight fear
overcomes you

The first hello
is rewarded with
a bright smile

The final goodbye
is said with
the moist glistening
in the eyes;
the hard lump
at the back of the throat

This goodbye is
forever in death
yet not so final
in memory....

© DazeDiva

I’d like to know how you feel when you read this ? What image comes to mind ?  Do the words express what happened in that image ?  Have you experienced something similar ? Are you able to relate to this ?

There are references to a first hello and a good bye which could be taken in two ways … losing a loved one from a personal relationship i.e. break-up, separation or losing someone by way of passing on …

Whether you like it, love it, hate it or think it’s not real poetry – I’d really like to know .. so don’t be shy with your comments !

Dating In A Foreign Land : Bombay

Over the last few weeks I’ve really been wanting to put some perspective on the dating scene in Bombay or Mumbai (whatever you want to call it). I initially brought it up in ‘Dating ? What’s That ?’ and then hashed it out in ‘Dating is Not Easy .. Especially in Bombay’ which is when I realized that I needed to put more depth to it .. Of course I could have been completely biased so I went and got a male perspective too ‘Exploring the Unknown World of Dating .. Still’ and sorta broke things down further …

A few weeks ago – as if by miracle – I found an article titled ‘Dating In A Foreign Land’ on the Hindustan Times Blog written by a social networking associate of mine – Naomi Canton. She heads an Expat Group in Bombay and is a pretty cool chick.

side note : I had already titled my blog post with the same name and then I found her post – so had to add the Bombay bit to it)

Every city / country has their own perception of what is and what does not constitute dating. The potpourri that I am – it’s no wonder that the dating dynamics of Bombay have me confused !!!

In the UK and Canada – dating or being in a relationship is defined by the physical side of the relationship. You can consider yourself dating / being in a relationship with someone if from the outset there is an emotional connection and physical attraction between two people. You meet a perfect stranger and realize there’s this ‘chemistry’ or ‘unknown connection’ that draws you to them and you go out on a ‘date’ and that results in a ‘more dates’ and within a few ‘dates’ the two of you are in a relationship.

I have never known any of my friends to get involved in relationships with each other – because if you are already ‘friends’ then its highly unlikely that two people from the same friends circle will ever get together. It’s a big fat ‘ewww’ if you ask me.

In India – at least in Bombay – it’s a bit different. The local born and brought up guys and girls; men and women of Bombay - don’t quite seem to catch the drift of the concept of dating. They all want to …

1. Be Friends …. yes .. Friends First

So … what’s wrong with that ? Nothing to some – and a bit weird for someone like me. I LIKE the idea of ‘not dating a friend’ because it allows me to get to know somebody outside my social circle. It’s a nice feeling to be with someone who accepts you for who you are ‘before you’ve become friends’ so that you can both grow together in a relationship as a couple.

I’ve met people – who have been friends for 5+ years and have started dating perhaps a few years into the friendship; which in turn has resulted some relationships to last a few years (literally) and eventually ends in ..

1. Marriage.
   • That’s wonderful – for them. For me – that’s like saying ‘oh marry your best mate’ AND that is a crazy idea !! I love my boys to bits but could never see myself marrying them. I’d hope that my potential partner has similar qualities to them but he’d never ‘be them’.
2. They break-up but stay good friends.
   • And I really mean ‘friends’. I know of one such ‘separated couple’ who are still in regular (almost weekly) contact and have even travelled together as a part of a larger group which I was a part of.
3. They break-up and cut each other out.
   • Yes it’s normal to cut off from your ex to avoid all the heart ache and drama. No more needs to be said.

2. Be Acquaintances with Benefits. Not even ‘friends’ with benefits.

There is no grey matter. It’s black or white. Of course that’s not true – there is a very small percentage (based on my network of friends, acquaintances & clients) of people who fall in the obvious grey matter. But you get my drift. (in my world – there are no ‘friends’ with benefits – that’s just a polite way to associate someone you are hooking up with)

The trend here (and I speak from personal experience) is that these guys and girls often end up in the following situations :

1. Struck Out After A Date / 2nd Base.
   • You meet at a bar or party. Exchange Numbers. Strike a conversation via SMS (yes SMS is apparently the way to communicate with a member of the opposite sex); or even BBM (seriously how can a BBM exchange be considered a way to flirt?)
   • You meet up again on what appears to be a ‘date’. Spend a lot of time with each other. Nothing happens. Implication : He’s a gent. She’s comes from a respectable family.
   • You meet up again and the same thing happens. The chemistry is there – both of you can see it – but neither does anything about. Girl doesn’t make a move in case the Guy thinks she’s too forward or *gasp* ‘easy’. Boy doesn’t make a move ‘cos he’s trying to be a gent (erm really?); he’s not sure if she wants him to make a move on her; he wants to but doesn’t want a slap in the face !
   • Next scenario is that both of you do get to doing all that is pleasurable i.e. foreplay but never get any real ‘action’. That’s because the Girl wants to appear casual but really she isn’t going to sleep with the guy until she knows he’s going to establish a relationship. The Guy gets stuck in a catch 22 because he wants to do her – but out of respect (and not wanting to be thrown out with blue balls) – he obliges and doesn’t pursue the ‘action’ part of it hoping that the next time round – he will get some. This can keep going on until both parties admit they want to have sex !
2. The Hook Up aka The Booty Call.
   • The chemistry is there from the moment you both laid eyes on each other but alas you are acquaintances and there are social norms to be followed.
   • So weeks / months of seeing each other at parties / social gatherings – one of you makes the move; and behold – you have the hook up !
   • He / She could be your hook up / booty call as often or as little as you like. Neither has intentions of being serious – but damn it – at least there’s someone who wants YOU for the day / night.
3. Wham Bham Thank You Sir / Ma’am.
   • I’ve seen this happen – at clubs – not very often but enough to have caught my attention.
   • You can tell from the look on the person that all they want is a shag and that’s all its ever gonna be.
   • You will probably never see this person again – because he/she is not in your regular social circle.

3. Be Stuck In Limbo … Neither Here or There

This is the classic one that I’ve discovered. People are stuck in limbo. These tend to be guys & girls who would be considered a good catch to date – however they have a few unresolved issues within themselves.

1. Mixed Emotions / Signals.
   • The guy or girl appears interested and just when you are fed up of ‘not knowing’ whether or not there is any chemistry they drop a bomb on you.
   • The bomb tends to be ‘I’m not too sure what I want right now’ or ‘I don’t know if I want to be in a relationship’ … you get my drift.
2. Too Much Too Soon
   • We’ve all been eager at times; perhaps too eager … so much so that it drives other people away.
   • I’ve noticed this happen a lot in Bombay – guys / girls who are just too overtly keen on someone and end up becoming more of a nuisance than someone to consider for good company !
   • The intention is meant to be positive – but the result tends to fall as a negative … and so that leaves this guy / girl in a permanent state of limbo !
3. Marriage is the Goal
   • This guy or girls’ purpose in life is to get married. They have been raised with the thought ‘you must get married and settle down’ which is instilled into everything they do. They want a solid relationship. They also don’t know dating is about.
   • So a potentially great guy / girl who wants a commitment – but won’t commit to the basics of dating as the certainty of a long term established commitment is not there.
   • Isn’t that a catch 22 – how can you marry someone that you’ve not dated right ? (at least for me!)

After 3 years of living in Bombay, this is how I can summarize the dating scene (or lack of) in the city. I may be generalizing but based on comments on my previous posts – it’s not limited to Bombay – it appears to be a nationwide epidemic !

Somewhere in between all of the above – of course there are people who actually manage to date and develop relationships. I’m not saying its not possible – I’m just saying that it’s bloody hard to do it !! Like Naomi – I have found myself in a situation where the guy wasn’t quite sure what we had going on; to anyone else we would have been dating / seeing each other – to him – we were hanging out and being casual ! Some people are just confused – but that’s life eh =P

What are your thoughts on this ? I’d really like to hear different perspectives on this subject. Looking forward to your comments and feedback on this.

Wordless Wednesday #19 Smiling Sun

Hats off to whoever took this photograph !! I got it from my friend Sabu who had it as her profile pic on FaceBook.  However I did discover that this photograph has been floating on the internet from the first week of July.

Hope this brings a smile to your face :)

Music Monday #19 Leonard Cohen – In My Secret Life

I was going through my old music posts and had to re-post this for today’s Music Monday … The original post and comments can be found here

I heard this song for the first time in April 2009 after a weekend of R&R courtesy of my friend HS.  He got pretty fed up of my ‘house music’ and told me that he was switching the tone to some ‘real music’.  I couldn’t’  really blame him – we’d quite literally heard at least 2 albums of St Germain – and he told me to put on some Leonard Cohen. 

Until  that day, I had absolutely no clue who Leonard Cohen was – now of course I know better.  He’s a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet, novelist, artist who has also been in the music industry for four decades !

The very start of the music makes you instantly relax …. and then … THAT VOICE … the deep husky baritone and bass voice … it can make you melt ! The simple drum beats soothe every muscle in your body.  Every time I hear this song – I simply have to close my eyes – and just let Leonards’ voice take over. 

It’s become one of my favourite songs simply because not only does it have a lounge feel with a soothing melody; there is also the enough time between each line of the song allowing the listener to fully grasp and acknowledge each instrument playing and at the same time being able to ‘hear’ the lyrics word-for-word. 

With most songs, even slow songs – there are some verses of the songs that one isn’t able to grasp all the words being sung.  With this track – it’s impossible not to hear all the words.  Cohen and collaborator Sharon Robinson's vocals are absolutely gorgeous throughout.  Not to mention the perfect harmony of the various instrument – take it up another notch !

The unusual combination of music and lyrics is perfect. The lyrics are sheer poetry !! and just transports you to another world … It really does feel like a secret life ….

Can you picture a memory to each word you hear … doesn’t it create a warm fuzzy feeling inside ?  Sometimes it also causes a pull in the pit of your stomach … .. slowly releasing itself into your insides … doesn’t it increase your heart beat .. just a little bit … do you feel the tightening of your heart ….  

Do you hear the hum of a wind instrument against the bass and drums  ? Can you picture the fingertips gracefully moving on the keyboard … or the ones strumming the guitar ?

Do you know which verse I’m referring to with all my thoughts above ?   I closed my eyes and wrote whatever I was feeling …. I think you should try it … You never know what you come out with hehe 

Do you have a secret life ? I think we all do … Do you find yourself drifting off … someplace … away from where you currently are … when you ‘finally’ find a few minutes to yourself .. away from your busy schedule ?

That zone .. that someplace … it’s ‘your’ time to reflect back for a little bit …on anything … and everything …  to shut out the noise and daily communication … I’ve been needing a getaway for a few months now – but work is keeping me grounded.

Now that I think about it – I wouldn’t mind finding a pool just so I could ‘float’ around without a care in the world (I love that feeling of losing myself in the water).  And ironically HS – gave me a call earlier this week to figure out if I wanted to ‘get away’ for a break … soon I shall take him up on his offer …

So on that note – I’m gonna leave you to enjoy your secret life =)

Side Note : I was contacted by the management of Leonard Cohen for my original post – unfortunately that email got deleted =( So if anyone out there is reading this – I need to give you my address for a signed CD

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Sexy Saturday – Demi Moore

I can safely say that Demi Moore would top most of our ‘Sexy Ladies’ list and she’s got my vote for this Sexy Saturday ! Bill from Inside Hollywood has also featured this sexy siren a few weeks ago in case you want to check out some more pictures of her.

Moore became one of the highest paid actresses in Hollywood with her successes in Ghost (1990), A Few Good Men (1992), Indecent Proposal (1993), and Disclosure (1994) which led her to become the first actress to reach the $10 million salary mark.

Her marriage to Aston Kutcher is her 3rd one; Moore is the surname of her first husband; and she maintains a great rapport with Bruce Willis (with whom she has 3 daughters).  In 2009 she legally took on Kutchers’ surname however uses ‘Moore’ in her professional life.

From what I recall there was a huge controversy that sparked off when Demi  Moore posed in the buff for the cover of Vanity Fair whilst she was heavily pregnant.  I found the cover of VF and all I have to say is that ‘daaaaaamn she’s so pregnant and still smoking hot’ …. It’s no wonder that her foray into music was aptly titled – Desire !

Branding : Nissan Juke Lights Up the Night

Coming from the events background – I’m always looking out for new ways to highlight a brand especially when it comes to the launch of a new product.  Some brands are more open to creative ideas whilst others are a bit more conservative in how they want their audiences to perceive them.

I came across a campaign by Nissan which used a 3D video projection mapping for the launch of their new Nissan Juke – and it really lights up the night !!

For those of you that are unfamiliar with the term projection mapping … traditional video projection is in 2D format; however 3D projection mapping allows for moving images to match the surfaces, contours and shapes of whatever they are projected on to i.e. the projections can even look as if the building is crumbling, changing it structure, being battered by heavy rains, and more !

Recently 3D projection mapping has emerged as one of the coolest forms of advertising.  The beauty about such campaigns is that it really catches the attention of anyone  passing by – and with the aid of mobile phone cameras and digital cameras – the campaign gets shown online on various social media networks; particularly on YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook etc thereby creating a massive viral marketing campaign !

Of course there is a large cost associated with putting together a 3D projection mapping campaign – however the viral effect after the campaign makes for money well spent in my humble opinion.

Have you seen any 3D projection installations before and where ?  What do you think about them and their place in the future of advertising for brands ?

Wordless Wednesday #18 We All Need Ice Cream

I had taken this picture on 16th May ‘10 near the Gateway of India after my girlfriend Sabu and I had returned from the Elephanta Caves.  It was sooo hot that even the doggy needed to cool off with some ice cream !!

Dazed Poet : Who Am I ?

As I mentioned in my last post ‘Dazed Poet : Actions’ – it’s been years since I have written any sort of poetry and I’ve recently come across my old writing (the original post was put up in July ‘08 when I first started this blog) … here’s a piece which is a favourite of mine …

Who Am I ?

Do you know me?
What is my identity?
Who am I to you
amongst all those
you've met?

Will you remember
my name long
after we've parted
ways?
Or will I remain
a hauntingly
familiar face?

How many of 'me'
have you come
across today?

Next time, perhaps,
you'll remember
me by name...
perhaps you'll know
me for me...

© DazeDiva

I’d like to know how you feel when you read this ? What image comes to mind ?  Do the words express what happened in that image ?  Have you experienced something similar ? Are you able to relate to this ?

I suppose it’s safe to make the assumption that all of us at some point have had a moment of self-doubt; where we have wondered or asked ourselves (or someone else) ‘who am I?’ … what are the characteristics that make one more unique than the other ? 

In today’s day and age – we as individuals have more of a social life and are constantly meeting people offline AND online.  Someone who might have had an impact or influence on you today – may not even be a part of your life 5 years down the line.   From all the people that we meet – how many of them truly ‘know who who are’ ?

We as individuals are an amalgamation of perspectives, ideas and personalities – and until we really know ourselves – it would be impossible for someone else to really know us right ? So do you know who ‘you’ are ?

When I think about it now … I’m pretty sure I will be remembered by name; or as the party girl who has a camera permanently attached to her hand or as my sister likes to put it – as ‘the paparazzo’! The people close to me would be able to say much more about me when the time comes ..

Whether you like it, love it, hate it or think it’s not real poetry – I’d really like to know .. so don’t be shy with your comments !