American Set Dosa

It was 2 days after Thanks Giving Day and we wanted to venture into the Deals post the Black Friday. At 11:30 in the morning, Srivatsan, Ashok and I left from Spruce towards Union City in Community Lines(bus service).

Un-boarded the bus and got into the complex. First into Staples and then Circuit City. Checked all the deals and it was almost lunch time and IHop restaurant opposite to the complex was inviting us.

We wanted to get more hungrier so that we could have the "American Set Dosas" to our Heart's content.

Chekced into Office Depot stores opposite the Restruant and spent like half and hour seeing the deals.

We then got into IHop and the worst thing was we were 3 and we had to wait for 20 25 mins to get a table. The crowd was huge, it being a Sat and moreover holiday season. People say "America lives on Mc Donald". Maybe, we could change it to "America lives on IHop".


At last, we got a table and the menu in our hands. The Menu was literally mouth watering. Pancakes with Bluberry Sauce, with Stuffed Banana and Strawberry sauce; Combos.. Awesome!! Ashok and I were afraid how it would be. But once the order arrived, it was more than delight that we could taste the American Set Dosas and believe me, its close to the Set Dosas we have it in India. Amazing, Delicious!!

Wanna try Pancakes, try the Corn Pan Cake, or the combo with potatoes. If you are like my sweet heart who likes sweet a lot!! Try it with Strawberry Sauce or Blueberry Sauce (ofcourse with Cream).

Ram Setu - Myth or Fact?

With the Indian Govt wanting to destroy the Ram Setu to get a new Ship route so that the ships do not have to take the route around Sri Lanka to reach from West coast of India to East coast, the controversy started with the TN Chief Minister and the Central Govt of India questioning the very existence of Ram and denied the whole Ramayana as a baseless manuscript, just mythology.

A NGO expertise in research of history, has proved the existence of Rama and the Exact Dates of his birth and his achievements. This news is startling and will give directions to the case pending in the Supreme Court.

Is it Ram Setu? Or Adam's Bridge?
Is it natural or Man Made?
If Man made, How? who was the Civil Engineer? (Rama was just a King, not any Civil Engineer; neither were Vanaras)

Websites worth reading for this:
http://www.bharathgyan.com/hrama.htm
http://historicalrama.org/

NGO gives ‘proof’ of Rama’s existence

Claims He Was Born In 5114 BC; Sethu Built In 5076 B C

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bangalore: Lord Rama is not a mythological figure, but a historical one who lived 7,200 years ago. In 5076 BC, He walked the Rama Sethu to reach Lanka. Built by Nala and Neel, the civil engineers par excellence, the bridge was built using ‘pore pressure’ concept of marine engineering.

Quite dazed? But a Chennai-based NGO, Bharath Gyan, gives even more specific dates and times of events in Rama’s life. The NGO engages itself in extensive research of Indian history. In its study, Bharath Gyan employed a varied approach, including historical, geographical, archaeological and archeo-astronomical, to chalk out Rama’s life. The study says Rama had a family tree of 60 generations and was born in 5114 BC.

While Valmiki’s Ramayana has been considered as the historic text, various reports and findings from the Archaeological Survey of India, Space Application Centre, National Institute of Oceanography, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, astronomical skycharts, geological survey, coins and inscriptions have been used in this study.

Neela Sethu, the 35-km long and 3.5-km wide bridge connecting India and Sri Lanka, was built in 5076 BC and named after its architect Neela, son of Vishwakarma. It is actually a linear structure scientifically built by connecting 103 small islands in the sea.

The construction of Sethu was in three stages — the area was surveyed to find a suitable place, utilisation of technical skills was analysed and then it was executed. “It wasn’t random throwing of stones into the sea
that made the bridge, but an aligned use of strings while logs of bamboo, sala, dhana were used to form a wooden cushion on which stones were placed to create the walkway,” said D K Hari of Bharat Gyan.

“There have been alllegations of such claims being baseless. But the ASI has drilled 11 holes in the Rama Sethu over a period and confirmed that the bridge was made of wood, and that plans have grown over the old structure.”

Source: Times of India, Bangalore: Date: 25th Nov 2007, Page 9

Sri Rama Navami - Birth day <-> 10th January 5114 BCE
Birth of Bharatha <-> 11th January 5114 BCE
Pre coronation eve <-> 4th January 5089 BCE
Khar, Dushan episode <-> 7th October 5077 BCE
Vali Vadham <-> 3rd April 5076 BCE
Hanuman's Visit to Lanka <-> 12th September 5076 BCE
Hanuman's Return from Lanka <-> 14th September 5076 BCE
Army March to Lanka <-> 20th September 5076 BCE
Source: http://historicalrama.org/dateevents.html

I live in Jersey City.. NOT US

Surprised with the title!! But thats the truth!!

Geographically, yes; Jersey City is very much the integral part of NJ. But morally, and actually, if you are new to US and you decide to stay in Jersey City, my friend, you are not going to experience the rosy picture that you have painted in your minds before coming here.

Especially if you are 2 miles around the Journal Path Station, be prepared to experience everythin you are accustomed to in INDIA.

The first thing you notice as soon as you land in Journal Square is, you see all familar faces (INDIANS); it would take you atleast 2 mins to spot a group of Americans. If you are making you way towards the Indian Square(The actual name is Newark Avenue), be prepared to see all Indians in the stores and streets.

Thers is a concept of Pedestrian signals even in India, if you are the one who is unaware of it, and got prepared to enter US learning it, you could as well unlearn it, if you decide to stay in Journal Square/Jersey City.

There are laws for the Cars that if there is anyone on the Zebra crossing, you are supposed to wait till he/she/they cross the road. This is followed strictly in US and thank god, they do. If the Pedestrian Signal starts counting down 5..4..3.. you can see people walking faster just to touch that Zebra crossing, coz after that you can take a stroll and you are sure that the cars will not move unless u cross. If in India, you will surely be run down by the cars/mopeds/bikes.

Thanks to the JCNJPD (Jersey City New Jersey Police Department) and their strict patrolling, (unlike in India), the cars still follow all the traffic laws afraid being caught and end up paying a huge fine.

If I were to tell that I saw people in the US crossing the roads in the middle of the road, if you were in Journal Square, you would at once ask me "Are you referring to Jersey City?"

Well, I do not say that the Indian population is to be held responsible for all this. I have not seen it and I do not comment on anything that I have not seen personally. However, watching some Hollywood movies, featuring Jersey City, I feel it has been like this for ages. I have also seen Americans doing the same as above. I dunno if they have been inspired by the Indian community here (or if again its been like that for some time now).

Its not that I do not do any of those things listed above. I agree to a certain extent that it depends on the urgency of the pedestrian. People may be running for a connecting train; some emergency; late to office and what nots. One would buy the excuse once in a while, but not always. RIGHT?

Did not go to the temple..

I did not go to the temple today for the deepavali celebrations as I was in a bad mood!!!..

But the prasadam and sweets came home for me in Packets.. :P :P

Diwali pooja and celebrations in US at home

"Yaar!! Humne bhi Lakshmi ki pooja ki!! Wo bhi Dollar wali lakshmi bhaiyya!!!" ya!! We all came home and did the pooja and aarthi at home.

The temperatue outside is very very cold believe me.. 41F (translates to 5 Celcius). My colleague (Kiran) I left office by 15:15. Roamed around the WTC looking for some electronics and later got to the Path to get to Journal Square. Started walking all the way from Journal Square Path Station(a little far it is that I stay in Sprice Street). Wearing a Jacket and also covering head till ears with a woolen cap, we are still shivering while walking. We decided to go to a restaurant and have some Indian Chaats. Samosa Chaat was hot, spicy and delicious. I stay with a gujarathi family; they being Swaminathan followers, do not use even Onions at home. So after a long time had food with Onions. Also took a hot "masala chai" for go and hit the streets to get to home.

We have one of my friend's Mamaji and Mamiji who is visiting US and they stay along with us. They are so energitic even in their age that they came up with doing the pooja and all sung and done for 30 or 40 mins.

Mamiji also started preparing Poori with Aloo Mutter. It will. be a yummy yummy dinner; poori with Aloo Mutter and Pulav.

Morrow all set to go to the temple. Here in Jersey City, there is a Swaminathan Mandir and atleast huge expectations set for me that there will be 1000 types of food items!! YES BOSSSSS.. THOUSAND.. I have not put zeroes by mistake..

I will blog morrow with my enthralling experience(hopefully) in the temple.

Till then, to all of you!! Wish u a very very happy and safe diwali once again!! Have FUN!! But carefully!! Do not hurt others or either get hurt urself!!

Wish you a very happy Diwali!!!

Little I had actually imagined that Diwali of 2007, I would not be in India. Infact, back home, celebrations of the festival are after 4 yrs. (due to some customs and traditions that my dad follows very orthodoxly).

Diwali that is celebrated for 3 days is a grand festival for us Indians all over the world. It does not matter if we are in India or AU or UK or US. Atleast all of them(like me) remember how its celebrated in India and have a virtual festival. Sweets is the order of the festival.

This is the season that most of the Indian companies also announce their Diwali Bonus. Most of the IT crowd do not even have this phrase "Diwali Bonus" in our vocabulary coz we are not entitled for it. We live for the yearly appraisal and yearly salary correction that happens in our companies

I saw a thought provoking article in one of the websites online. How one shud make use of the Diwali Bonus as an investment to get the value for money over time. The share market is all prepared for Diwali. The Share market already galloping from Dussera on I must say atleast 10 horses, now in the 19000s mark now. Reached the magical 20000 once in the transit too. And Diwali for the Ambanis must be a memorable one, celebrating to have been "The World's Richest Man" for some days and ofcourse the World's richest brothers now. CHEERS to Ambanis.

This yr, I'm not home for both the Dussera and the Diwali. Even in US, we colleagues and roomies have been doing the countdown for the festival for almost 2 weeks now. My colleagues also made sure that they buy some new clothes to wear for the festival.

This time its Diwali without crackers. Its almost been like 10 yrs since I Stopped bursting crackers as I had started to think, I am not a kid to burst crackers and had the thought that I'm adding to pollution by doing it. For the sake of my parents, I used to just pick u one hydrogen bomb from the Cracker box and burst it early in the morning by 7 AM and after that I used to jus prefer sitting at home, watching movies or doing some crap work!!

This time, its been more of thinking about what sweet to prepare at home and whats the reciepe. Seems like "Rice Payasam" will be the easiest and the fastest.

Incidentally, this weekend is again a long one. Monday being "Veteran's Day" here in the US. So, the tables have turned around. It is more of a thinking as to where to travel this long weekend. We have postponed all our shopping for the Thanks Giving as I will be leaving 10 days after then. Also my shopping list being a small one, I am sure I can finish it off in one day (half day would be an exageration).

Being in NJ and staying in Jersey City where most Indians stay, the Dussera was good with the Gujarathi crowd (they being dominant here) celebrating it with some stage shows and Dandiya all night. Even though, the Dussera night, we had been to Atlantic City and returned only by 3 AM in the morning, we could still see the crowd in the Indian Street. So, by that experience, it would not be an exageration to say that the Diwali celebrations *MIGHT* be as good as Dussera. I doubt though if I would be in Jersey City to witness it.

OK.. The Diwali has started and with the India v/s Pakistan Match scheduled for today noon, I guess most of the crowd would finish bursting the crackers and get glued to thier TV sets to see the Indians and Pakis burst it on the cricket ground. Hopefully India will get to celebrate Diwali at night 11 PM by bursting the crackers celebrating the Indian victory!! ALL THE BEST INDIA!!!