Truth is stranger than fiction

The gentle breeze blowing on your face, the incredible sun glistening on the horizon, the sheer beauty of nature that engulfs us is probably what gives immense joy while running outdoors.  My tryst with running commenced when I struck my first chord of friendship with the treadmill three years ago. However t reached a notch higher only in the past one year, post my miserable illness. It was with a vengeance that I hit the treadmill, pleading it silently to aid me as I improved my stamina. As time cruised by, September had arrived with just 3 months left for the Mumbai Marathon. The rains began to recede, giving way to the warm sunshine. It was my first tryst with the road. Surprisingly it went off well. Those three months made me a morning person completely.  It was a great incentive to look forward to the cool morning breeze, sunrise by the sea along Marine Drive and the refreshing orange juice at Cafe Mondegar post the run. My first marathon went off pretty well....

Last minute decisions at times gives one a satiated feeling of having done something worthwhile and making a difference to the society. Running the DNA Women's marathon last Sunday dated 11.3.12 was one such instance. It was hardly a month since I ran the Standard Chartered Mumbai Half marathon when my body was gradually recovering from the strenuous 21 km run. I had a few people coming up to me asking me if I was running in the Women's half marathon conducted by DNA. Not upto another 21 km stretch, I shrugged it off saying next year. However a chance browsing on the net made me learn of the other 2 categories in the marathon- the spirit run of 10 km and the fun run of 5 km. As I read about the causes asscociated, I was all geared up for the 10 km run. Contacts did come in handy as my husband helped me to register for participation and my confirmation came within a couple of days. I had signed up to support Girl child education, being a counselor and a writer. I strongly beli...

Books are our best friends, constant teachers and a window to the outside world. Reading enables one to meet different characters, gain a new perspective and revitalises ones mind. In honour of world book day today!

Punch dialogues, song and dance sequences or shrilling drama are the usual ingredients of a movie that lingers in the viewer’s minds for a long period of time. It is of a rare occasion where a silent film manages to capture the hearts of millions. It takes immense talent to convey a lot through facial expressions alone. It deserves nothing less than a standing ovation if it has managed to sweep 5 Oscars to its credit. Michel Hazanavicius's film 'The Artist has exactly done that and more. George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) is a successful silent movie star. On the eve of his premiere, he encounters a wide eyed fan namely Peppy Miller (Berenice Bejo). She accidently drops her autograph book and Valentine graciously picks it up for her. The next day, she finds herself captured in photograph with the reigning star. As a struggling artist, Miller manages to catch the attention of Valentin and soon she becomes the next sensation with her trademark beauty spot drawn by George Valentin. T...

Three-storey-high Buddha statues, stupas and monasteries that look like they have been cut out from fairytale books and yaks with floor-sweeping hair are some of the unusual sights you see when you visit Ladakh, says Swetha Amit http://www.domain-b.com/industry/Tourism/20120125_journey.html We woke to cloudy weather and a slight drizzle. Sincere prayers were rendered in silence to not let the weather play spoilsport on our drive to Pangong Lake. The clouds soon cleared. Snow-covered mountains all around made it feel like Christmas season in the month of August. Great heights : We soon reached the Changla Pass, one of the highest mountain passes in India. This is usually a stopover for many on the way to Pangong Lake. Similar to the Khardungla Pass, the signboard here too was adorned with colourful Buddhist flags. The hot cups of tea served were more than welcome in the freezing temperatures. Going yak yak yak: One of the wonders of the Himalayan region is its exotic fauna. Excitement ...

Three-storey-high Buddha statues, stupas and monasteries that look like they have been cut out from fairytale books and yaks with floor-sweeping hair are some of the unusual sights you see when you visit Ladakh, says Swetha Amit We had an early start as we had a long drive up the mountains ahead of us. It was a sunny day. We noticed something unusual; the mountains seemed to change colour as we drove along. As we climbed the steep passes, we realised how difficult it would be for bikers who were passionate about exploring these steep mountain paths. Approximately four hours later, we reached the Khardungla Pass. On top of the world : A cold gust of wind greeted us as we got out of our vehicles. It was about 18,380 feet above sea level. We were on the highest motorable road in the world. The signboard was decorated by little flags which symbolised the Buddhist culture. We were awed by the magnificent view. All around us were snow-capped mountains, which looked even more beautiful in th...

I had always been a spectator of the Mumbai Marathon every year until yesterday. I had read and heard a lot about the spirit that prevails throughout the race from my husband who had been running for the last 3 consecutive years. This inspired me enough to enrol for the 2011 edition. However fate didn’t favour me as I took ill enough to be hospitalized for 10 days which left me with no other choice but to skip the marathon. 2011 embarked a new journey ahead as I fiercely resolved to get my fitness back on track. I had lost a lot of blood and my physique had succumbed to weakness. The first quarter of the year was a slow and steady one with a lot of emphasis to get my strength back. The month of May took a positive turn as my intensity in my cardiovascular exercises began to show a marked improvement. My confidence began to grow as I hit the treadmill with a vengeance in July. Meanwhile I had also started to take coaching in Tennis which helped me improve my stamina. In August I was sig...

It just feels like yesterday when 2011 dawned upon is and its already time to say goodbye. 2011 embarks a rather evenful year. India winning the World Cup after 28 years and watching the golden moment live at Wankhede stadium. Visited places like Kashmir and Ladakh which proved to be a wonderful learning experience and a soul searching journey by itself. Met a lot of interesting people from different walks of life. Fitness has taken a turn for the better. While there have been downsides to the year, its time now to look forward to the awakening of 2012 which will bring in its share of unique experiences as well. Heres wishing all of you a wonderful 2012, loads of health and happiness always. God Bless.

This year we celebrated Diwali in an unusual manner. We decided to explore the jungles of Madhya Pradesh. After watching the first show of Ra one, we headed towards the airport to catch the evening flight to Jabalpur. After an overnight halt here, we drove down to Bandhavgarh National Park the next morning which took us around 4 hours. We reached there by noon and were escorted to our tree house. The little wooden cottage was perched among the branches with the interiors done up in a tasteful manner. The next 3 days were spent in exploring nature and experiencing the sounds of the jungle like never before. We didnt see the tiger as the big cats hardly ventured out during winters. However we enjoyed the game drives in the forest and the entire expedition of living like birds. A unique experience indeed. We managed to learn a lot about wildlife and birds. Travelling to such remote places no doubt makes you wonder why Wildlife in India isn't given the due credit.

Yesterday was one of those days that would have delighted any sports lover. The All Blacks won the Rugby world cup which was exhinited in Billy Bowden's signalling four runs with an unusual fervour during the India-England match at Wankhede. India cruised o another handsome victory against England making the series 4-0. And Manchester City managed to thrash the arrogant Manchester United 6-1 at Old Trafford. With the festival of Diwali approaching in a couple of days, it gives one a good reason to begin with the celebrations. A wonderful day for Sports indeed.

You brought about a cultural transformation in the music, mobile and the gadget world. RIP Steve Jobs. You will be missed. Loved his quote "Your time is limited,so don't waste it living someone else's."

I cannot teach you violence, as I do not myself believe in it. I can only teach you not to bow your heads before anyone even at the cost of your life."- Mahatma Gandhi In honour of one of the greatest freedom fighters. Happy B'day Bapu!! You are still alive in our minds.

It gets broken and mended several times, yet its strong and vital enough to remind us every moment that life is beautiful! Treasure it with a healthy lifestyle and beat that stress! In honour of World Heart day today! Happy B'day dear heart. We love you!

Being a book lover, it is always a pleasure to meet the personalities behind great works. Yesterday was one such evening which gave me the privilege of meeting a couple of authors whose books I had read recently and even reviewed them for a website I work for. Crossword bookstore had scheduled a book reading session by Amish Tripathi of his latest bestseller of the Shiva Trilogy series titled 'The Secret of the Nagas'- a sequel to his first book 'The Immortals of Meluha'. The event was supposed to commence by 6:30 pm. Anticipating the Mumbai traffic woes, I left a little early and managed to reach there a good thirty minutes before. Seating myself in the second row, I held the book in my hand and looked around the store. Couple of people in charge were running around making some last moment arrangement. A camera man walked in and clicked a few pictures of the dais assigned to the guest in honour. All on a sudden he turned to me and notified me of the Author's arriva...

Some small budget films evoke several emotions in a person that can put blockbusters to shame. 'I am Kalam' is one such movie which manages to tap the sensitive side of the viewers. Set in Rural Rajasthan, the film revolves around a young boy Chottu who is employed in a Dhaba run by Gulshan Grover. Instead of going to school, Chottu washes vessels, serves the tourists and manages to charm them with his earnest ways. However the thought of reading never evades the young lad as his fascination for learning comes through the movie. He befriends the son of the Thakur, a school going boy who also yearns for some good company. Gradually a bond forms between the two as one aspires to learn something from the other. The film slowly takes a turn into how Chottu is accused of being a thief and forced to run away to Delhi. As the truth unveils itself, a search party goes to Delhi to bring back Chottu to the land of the sand dunes and restore his righful position in the school ...

Some movies tend to instil faith in life and yourself. Soul Surfer is one such film which gives a heart-warming message. Based on a true story, it’s about a girl named Bethany Hamilton who aspires to be a professional surfer. She is all set to participate in the competition to win the title. However fate takes its cruel turn as she loses an arm in a brutal shark attack. The story goes on to narrate how she copes up after this traumatic experience. Her courage and grit propels her to take a plunge into the waves again. She takes part in the competition and manages to score points for her highest wave. However due to the incompletion of her surf within the time limit, she loses out on the title. The beautiful dialogue follows this climax where she says even though she didn’t win, the last wave did make a difference. The movie teaches one a lot. Winning isn’t everything in life. What matters is whether the attempt makes a difference to our state of mind. Despite losing an arm, Bethany do...

‎26th July 1999 was the day when the brave-hearts of the Indian Armed Forces fought and won the Kargil War. This is to commemorate the valor of those who laid down their lives and also those who fought with grit to serve and defend this nation! Jai Hind!

Often road journeys and travel to exotic locations makes one discover a part of their personality which was probably oblivious to them till that moment. It takes probably one of many moments for that realization to dawn. Zindagi na milegi dobara is one such film which takes you through that soul stirring journey. The story begins with three friends from College deciding to go on a trip as a Bachelor party as one of them is tying the knot soon. The entire adventure in Spain brings out the inner demons one is fighting with and how they conquer it by the end of the trip. The movie cruises through its fine moments and embarks some thrilling adventures. Scuba Diving in the Mediterranean Sea makes Hrithik discover a whole different world altogether which enables him to feel the magic in his life. Sky Diving sends a whoop of delight amidst the viewer’s tempting them to indulge in the same. The tomato festival in Spain is highlighted in a vibrant manner as well. Lastly, the traditional bull fi...

It was just about another normal day where mumbaikars were winding up and getting ready to go home. Around 7 pm, a ghastly news spread like wildfire about 3 blasts that occurred in South and Central Mumbai. Panic and fear struck the city as frantic calls were made to assure that people were safe. Its been 5 years since the 7/11 blasts where victims are still nursing their scars. 2 and a half years since the nightmarish 26/11 incident. Justwhen we were about to resign to a peaceful year, today's blast has ruffled some feathers. Terror seems to have raised its ugly head again. It just makes one wonder: Are we really safe at all? Life has become so uncertain. One hand there are natural disasters like earthquakes and Tsunamis. And on another side, we have man made disasters in the form on terrorism. Why kill innocent lives to fulfill a selfish motto?Why target the common man? It seems to be a disease for which one is yet to find a cure. Such is the death spell of terrorism. Sad but tru...

Themes like comedy and action have always ruled the roost. Crime and thrillers seem to be making their own mark along with a few artistic films which are categorised under 'Intelligent' Cinema. It is a rarity among Indian film makers to make a Children's movie linked to that of a social cause revolving around an animal. This is something many Hollywood filmmakers have explored. UTV productions' Chillar Party is a film centred on a group of kids in a colony and how they fight against the municipality to save a stray dog. The film starts off with an introduction to the several characters present in Chandan Nagar Society. Funny nicknames accompany the kids and the adults too are presented in a quirky manner. Calling themselves ‘Chillar Party’ their mischief would cause exasperation among the grown-ups. One fine day a young orphaned lad enters the colony along with his dog Biddu. After the initial bullying and apologies, Chillar Party and the dog become thick friends. One ...