why i cried on the flight...

returning back frm Tokyo on a spanking new Singapore Airlines Airbus A380...bigger entertainment screens and a not so cold cabin (or maybe the wine warmed me up!)...it was a great travel.

Had been planning to watch Agora (a movie on the 4th century lady philosopher/scientist Hypatia)..and here it was on the menu!

the movie is ok..as a film its not all that great...but the movie somehow managed to bring all the pain of history out..how religions had been twisted by people for power....and how religion had killed science over and over and over again...

The movie shows Hypatia making the mental leap of explaining the difference in Sun's size by using elliptical orbit(instead of circular) for the Earth in the heliocentric model. Before she has a chance to discuss it..she is killed by fanatic Christians...you can see her looking at the elliptical opening in the ceiling as life goes out of her...and that just broke the dam....

As a history and science student - it touched two raw nerves..at how mankind has regressed over the last two centuries, and religion has taken over people's lives.

Is there hope for mankind while we still let people manipulate us with religion?

Melaka Calling!

I managed to atlast steal some time and take a peek at Melaka (aka Malacca) in Malaysia! I was interested because its a historical port and changed hands so many times over the last few centuries!

Melaka did not disappoint! Its a great little town that you can just walk around and soak in..dont miss the river cruise and Jonker Walk night market. The food is great (try the grilled and skewered potato with pepper!) and cool down with Baba Chendol (@Jonker 88)...or simply have a full chettinad meal on banana leaves on Indian Street!

Transport from Singapore is easy (i liked Luxury's coaches and service), immigration and customs was fast..all in all..a great weekend!

Oh yes...if you like Kites as i do, you can get some good ones in a shop on Jalan Banga Raya!

Kite Festival in Singapore

Spent a good saturday evening at the Kite Festival (thank you NTUC!) on Marina Bay!

Good weather, beer and Kites make a 'heady-n-high' combination!

on the mumbai-shanghai connection!

i don't exactly know why the erstwhile CM of Maharashtra picked Shanghai as the aspiration for Mumbai, but all i can say is - fat chance!

I was in Shanghai a month ago and in Mumbai a week ago, and i got a first hand, stark, reality-bites moment in Mumbai....it seems to be actually sliding back into an ugly, dark, impersonal metropolis.

and i hate that!

The citizens of Mumbai have let the city down...the 'chalta hai' attitude has reduced mumbai to a 'kuch nahi chalta' situation. No point blaming the BMC or the politicians - we elect them, and so we deserve 'em.

Unless we citizens take it upon themselves to fix the city, things will only get worse - there will be perennial digging, pollution, flooding and crazy housing prices for badly built, sad looking apartments.