goggly

Akshta was delighted to wear Yukata - a casual light cotton kimono worn in Japan during summer. I had a choice between silk and cotton - both brightly coloured designs but was recommended by Japanese friends to go for cotton. Silk in Singapore weather would have been painful as experienced with Chinese attire. The name Yukata comes from the word ‘yu’ (bath) and ‘katabira’ (under clothing). It seems during Heian era (794-1185), court nobles wore linen ‘yukata’ which were draped loosely after taking a bath. I couldnt get wide obi belt but managed to get matching geta (wooden sandals) and purse to complete the attire.

I don't quite understand when and how Thai immigration charge visa fee. This time, they didn't but previous time they did and before that they didn't. I guess it could be based on their tourist numbers. If an airport were to have transit hotel inside, would it run profitably? I think Dubai has one; others have day rooms that are often booked in advance. I stayed at Novotel to get my 5 hours of sleep and shower. Another chance upgrade to First Class avoided long walks and stands at the airport. How times change for Japan? A decade and half ago, Japan consumers were exhorted to buy imported products so as to make foreign trade gap palatable to her trading partners, mainly USA. Today, Japan's debt is almost twice that of her GDP, economic growth is slipping and Yen is below 85 to a dollar - 15 year low. I don't quite understand why Yen gets stronger when her economy gets battered? In most countries it's the opposite. Is it because its export driven eco...

Commonwealth games are still three more month away but India media is made sure that event is well publicized with news from ' Kalmadi wealth'. I wonder what effect would it have on business managers that would be working round the clock to match the deadlines. In most countries, such an expose would have been covered till the conclusion of an event and later would have taken the culprit on task. But democracy in India never stops throbbing so Auditor or comptroller , who so ever he is took upon him to do the task leaving media blazing with all guns. Organizing committe instead of worrying about functioning of games now must be thinking how to defend their decisions. I only hope no fatal disaster happens when games are in full swing. Almost 32 years ago, India hosted Asian Games to the perfection. It took New Delhi infrastructure at a new level but it also coined a brand ' Asiad ' from housing complex to Mumbai Pune Bus service. What would be the legacy of this year...

Bhanware Ki Gunjan... Life without songs from Kishorkumar would have been insipid. This song from early 70's hasent lost its charm after 45 years. Today, is Kishor Kumar's b'day and i am sure this song would make its presence. Bhaware ki gunjan hai mera dil Kab se sambhale rakha hai dil Tere liye, tere liye (2 ) Mujhe kabase thi pyaar ki justaju Meri zindagaani mein hai tu hi tu( 2) Main aaya hoon duniyaa mein tere liye Mere dil mein jhoome teri aarzooo Bhaware ki gunjan hai meraa dil Gagan se bhi ochaa mera pyaar hai Tujhi par mitungaa ye iqaraar hai Tu itanaa samajh le mere hamasafar Tere pyaar se meraa sansaar hai Bhanware ki gunjan hai meraa dil

It's almost three decades that I had my first exposure to this term but lessons taught by HP sales basics stayed, nourished and shaped my attitude and continues to be so. The written stuff was interesting but video presentation was more gripping. I remember borrowing bulky UMatic tapes from Blue Star video library over the weekend and watch them with great passion. A good coach would make those lessons live and vibrant with role playing techniques. Telephone speaking, non verbal communication, Art of Listening, making a proposal, Benefits versus Features and above all passionate zeal to lead a life. India lacks smart, great sales people. Era of salesmanship has now arrived. Prior to liberalization, an art of bribing Govt officials, securing licence and approvals shaped the path of success. Post liberalization, flurry of foreign investments created many job opportunities. With euphoria for foreign touch, customers flocked and art of salesmanship had to wait. Now with global recessi...

I remembered this day of 1974 when we got a message of passing away of Smt Anjanibai Malpekar. What I wasn't aware that the day was August 1st. Swarmandakini has profiles of musical maestroes. This is what it says about Smt Anjanibai Malpekar. Anjanibai was born in musicians' family in Goa on 22nd April, 1883. She started learning music from Ustad Nazeer Khan at a tender age of 8 years. She used to learn from Ustad and then practise for herself and the sessions would extend up to 10-12 hours every day. She had stated that Ustad first taught her Raga Yaman for three and a half years and then Bhairavi for one and a half years.(both the ragas together covered all the twelve notes of the octave). After the two ragas were thoroughly mastered by Anjanibai, he taught her many other special Ragas. He also taught her Sangeet Shashtra and the method of writing notation for Bandishes. She made her debut in a public performance in Mumbai at the age of 16 years. The performance was so exhil...