So what was it like? I didn’t carry a camera with me on this trip and even if I did … any of my photographs would have been anything but injustice to the beauty of nature. You got to see it and feel it in person.

Some of the best pictures I ever clicked are in my eyes! And to such life stopping moments I add the second one in July. Way too human to describe the first one, even the Niagara Falls is yet to sink in as a reality for me. This day in life I have seen a rainbow that reappears every second with mist flying in the air and with that a heavenly experience of clouds forming right in front of my eyes (yes seriously!).

]]> http://annkur.com/2010/08/a-hint-the-picture-from-my-eyes/feed/ 1 http://annkur.com/2010/01/office-office/ http://annkur.com/2010/01/office-office/#comments Sat, 16 Jan 2010 14:44:02 +0000 Annkur http://annkur.com/?p=775 2010 is here and after a good year and a half of blogging on Annkur.com; I have slowed down. The frequency of posts have fallen and now I can so much relate to @thakkar speaking about “his 6 dead blogs” at Blog Camp Mumbai around a year back. While blogging still remains a integral part of my day to day work (at OnlyGizmos) the reason Annkur.com was created, was to share what I like, what I feel and not just gadgets and technology.

I am wondering what I should do to get back those wonderful thoughts that made some really memorable posts here. Any suggestions?

One of the ideas I might explore is to integrate a photo blog here; but the writings for now are rare

Btw the post is titled office office, as I have just got started with a new office routine. Though not the first office for me, but a first with a good 5 member team and a hectic 12 hour office schedule almost everyday. And yes, I am loving it! Leaving you with a few pictures below:

but as much as I love you, I believe that Love is superstition. Thats the only thing that can probably help me get over you!

“Friendship demands trust. For me trust is the respect that a friend gives me, I value that and I like to give the same in return. For any reason (and generally many) If I fail to see that respect for me and/or I feel I cant give that respect to you, we shall seize to be friends!”

Also read Darshan Chande’s views on friendship. I quite like and agree with what he says. 1) What is friendship? 2) Is friendship driven by purpose

1. Redbull and Pain killers dont work on me (no I am not happy about this)
2. watches <strike>all</strike> most movies in the last show
3. upto class VIII wanted to be a scientist (dont ask me why)
4. if i end up replying to you on gtalk in all CAPS; it would be safe to assume that i was eating something and wasn’t looking at the screen
5. believes in love at first sight, at the same time promotes the philosophy that love is superstition
6. has a unique ability to sit over shit load of work and do nothing
7. when alone and doing nothing, would be smiling / laughing visualizing some silly pjs / incidents

What meme?

A blog meme is something that requires active participation by the blogger and (rarely) traces back to an originating source. It is a question that a blogger answers to share some personal perspective or experience on random topics.

Meme rules?

* Link to your original tagger(s) and list these rules in your post.
* Share seven facts about yourself in the post.
* Tag seven people at the end of your post by leaving their names and the links to their blogs.
* Let them know they have been tagged.

Bonus: some more:

• Likes to deliver more than promised
• wants to measure his typing speed some day
• my most common search on google is ‘define: xyz’ (trying to improve the poor vocab)
• tries hard to make a top score at the rifle shooting game at oberoi mall (will get that some day)
• can enjoy mcdonalds, subway and ccd equally
• doesn’t believe much in astrology, but this iphone app result is so real
• finds it a boring process and utter formality to wish someone on his/her birthday
• says Hieeeeeeee like you heard in ’small wonder’
• invests on and off in stocks since in school
• twitter interactions and my about page dont reveal much. Jasa diste, tasa naste
• temptation: sizzling brownie
• desire: superbike
• easiest distraction: tall girls
• hates the idea of writing a meme, and the silly thing that I have to do is tag 7 people here

Having sold my Avenger a little over a month back, I am getting used to a new lifestyle depending on public transport. After 4 years of non stop biking adventure, here is a new turn to life; Life without a Bike

A motorcycle is an amazing companion and as I always realized it adds a lot of flexibility and efficiency to ones movement in a crowded city like Mumbai. Though it has its own share of risk, troubles in rains etc etc … its still the coolest thing I ever owned: A bike

So what does this Life Without a Bike bring?

• Autorickshaws: The amazing three wheelers of Mumbai are my best companion now. Something that bikers truly hate on roads. As a biker I rarely had to take an auto, but things have changed now. This post can well be titled on ‘Life traveling in an autorickshaw’

• .. I actually discovered some weird auto rickshawas. Like one with a TV? yeah!! More on that in a future post.

• Previously on occasional trips in an auto, I used to hand over a 10 rupee note to the rickshaw driver even for minimum fare (that’s Re1 Tip). But since I now make 2-5 trips daily in an auto rickshaw now, I stopped doing that.

• The best part of traveling in an autorickshaw is that now I can actually watch all the girls on the street, without the fear of crashing. And as I now notice, there are pretty gals in my around my area

• I can also attend all calls while traveling, check my SMS and Tweet from my mobile (along with reading blogs) . Interestingly during the initial days in a rickshaw I would let the phone ring in my pocket, before realizing that I can actually answer it now … (unlike the bike where I had no option to answer calls)

• Another habit I have developed is of texting unnecessary (now being replaced by mobile twitter). So things that can be discussed on the Instant Messenger, email etc, I would actually sit in the rickshaw and compose SMSes for those things. Killing time ….

• I have learnt about this new cool autorickshaw by TVS. It has nice plastic dashboard, different gear switching technique, 250cc 200cc engine (hope my memory is serving me right on this), mobile charging points etc.

• I have now started to plan my travels. With a bike there was a unique convenience to drop in anywhere any time. So if I am to visit 3 locations between Vile Parle and Jogeshwari, I could cover them in any order on the bike. But now I need to consider the traffic, time, routes etc. >> at the same time –  (During rains when getting autos is a pain) … Rickshawalas are usually used to hearing one place as destination before accepting or denying, but I might be the only one who gives asks them for 2-3 destinations at a time.

• Catching a rickshaw is an art. You need to realise that there are other people around you looking out for an auto. You need tactfully place yourself and wave to the rickshaw wala.

• Over the past few days with problems catching a rickshaw, I have realised that whoever taught these autowalas how to say ‘NO’ is probably the best teacher on planet earth!

• I occasionally remind rickshaw-walas that there is a GAS station near my place. So if they are running low on CNG, they should go there for a refill…

• I have also noticed that my love for friends who own a car has suddenly increased

And if you are wondering why I sold the bike … here are a few speculations (choose your favorite ):

• My girl didn’t like bikes (I am planning a car)
• Recession
• The sprained shoulder / ankle
• It wasn’t sold, it was stolen
• I got bored
• mere sapne mein raat ko maa santoshi aayi, aur bola beech de

(This post was composed in parts on my mobile …. while traveling in auto-rickshaws)

…but then I cant bear daily sms messages from the store in Oberoi Mall bugging me with offers like BUY 3 GET 1 FREE on Women’s wear ..!

1. I never opted for this SMS spam
2. There is no easy way to opt out of these irritating messages
3. I only inquired for a blazer that was not in stock, and the store was supposed to call me when that is in stock. Instead I start receiving these buggy messages. That too daily, at times more than 1 message a day!

These irritating SMSes are one reason I prefer Cleartrip over Yatra aswell. Yatra.com bugs me (though not so often) with these promotional SMSes which I really don’t want.

And you already know why I will move out of Loop Mobile as soon as number portability comes in. I really feel its time we consumers should unite and boycott such irritating marketers  - TEACH THEM A LESSON!

Update June 14th: Sunday morning and I receive 3 messages from Allen Solly before 9AM. Too much for me to tolerate – Visited their Oberoi Mall outlet and conveyed my frustration to the staff there. They took my number and promised I won’t receive any more messages. No Sms, No longer a Allen Solly customer – CASE CLOSED!

So what is HeadStart? What exactly is StartupSaturday? Why is annkur here? How is it relevant to you/me? – I would take this opportunity to answer all these for you today!

What? What we do: In StartupSaturdays we bring together industry veterans to speak in front of  entrepreneurs, aspiring entrepreneurs, students and experts. At the same time give startups a platform to present themselves in front of a very knowledgeable crowd. The atmosphere encourages healthy debate and discussions on various topics ranging from PR, marketing, funding to legal & accounting. The feeling of being present between a 100 aspiring entrepreneurs on a StartupSaturday cannot be described in words.

The HeadStart Network is a not-for-profit organization run by volunteers and full time professionals to create and promote the innovation ecosystem in India. We define the innovation ecosystem as consisting of entrepreneurs and startups, researchers in academia and industry, adopters of new technology and products, and investors.

Why? -  Why am I here: My about page speaks less about things I did (or rather tried). I started working when I was 15 (right out of school); worked all 5 years in college. Without a doubt I can claim that all my learning and knowledge in life has come from my 7 years of work as an entrepreneur. Having faced the toughest of times in business, amongst friends, family – I always missed someone who would stand behind me, correct me, give me directions, feedback, constructive criticism… At the same time there were a few who came from nowhere, became friends, motivated me and kept me going. Did it come too late? Not sure, but here at Startup Saturdays / Headstart – I have this opportunity to give back something to the entire community. Its my turn to contribute to and support the dreams and ambitions of the ones who have decided to step out and face the challenges of being an entrepreneur. Give a backup, a platform to all those who refuse to live as second-handers in the society … to those who would dare to stand up and take that step towards making a difference, realizing their true dreams… In whatever small way I can!

There are so many around me who have that desire to start something, make a beginning of their own and seeing them get motivated after attending any StartupSaturday is a pleasing sight. I haven’t spent too much time here to claim that I have seen any of them excel, but many around me (myself included ) are making a start. I am sure in the coming months I would be writing about how xyz came to SS, got inspired and fulfilled his dream.

How is it relevant to you? – If you are reading my blog chances are dim that you are a Ambani or Biyani. You are very much similar to what I am; filled with dreams and ambitions, dodging day to day problems and planning for the future. Or may be just an careless ignorant butterfly. Either ways if you have that desire to learn new things, meet some great people (myself included ), debate your ideas, plan your startup, present yourself / your thoughts / your startup, get inspired, take home some motivation or just test your knowledge – This is the place for you.

In Mumbai StartupSaturdays are conducted on every 2nd Saturday of the month. Venue is S.P Jain, Andheri.

Also coming up on 2oth June is HEADSTART, which is held twice a year and much larger than StartupSaturday. If you are a startup – waste no time and register yourself here. This would be your opportunity to present in front of industry leaders, investors, incubators … !

Guest post by my lovely sister: Anchal

Our journey to Delhi (coming back from Agra) was adventurous. Highly frustrated with the long wait at the Agra Railway Station…OMG our train was over an hour late. Bearing the heat was the biggest fear. We managed to find a seat in an air conditioned waiting room. I doubt if the AC was switched on. Anyways, after a long wait, we went to the platform to discover a non Indian chap even more frustrated. Hehe and Annkur couldn’t have missed clicking him; and, why not? They make movies on Indian slums, we just got a picture.

And then the conversation began… Mr. Ohio truly inspired by “Jab We Met”  (that was the last Hindi movie he saw ) booked a train ticket to the capital without realizing the difference between an AC coach and a General Coach. But then, the sight of 200 people traveling together in the same coach in this heat scared him. And annkur inspired by Aamir Khan helped him get out of this. Hmm… negotiations with the TC fetched Mathew a seat… point to be noted: I and annkur had to share a seat. Mathew somehow managed to fit into that berth…I don’t know if he was too giant or the berth was too small.

Nice guy he was, studying films in Bangalore… This gave us a point to discuss; movies ranging from Jab We Met to Dev D and Deepa Mehta to Mira Nairji.

I hope that he has got his camera repaired by now. Lets see if he meets Annkur on the 19^th of this month when he lands in Mumbai.