Singapore Sojourn - The Merlion Story

My aha moment came when I was researching Singapore attractions. Merlion was a must-visit, they said. Merlion.......now what could it be? I deciphered the word and there it was....mer and lion. (Ain't i clever!)  
A creature with the head of a lion and body of a fish. Pretty much like a mermaid which has an upper body of a maiden and tail of a fish. Incidentally, as Merlion is the icon of Singapore, Mermaid is an icon of Copenhagen. I wonder if there are any more varieties of mers? 

Now that the mystery behind Merlion was solved, there seemed another logical connection. The word Singapore seemed to be made up of "singh" (lion) and "pur" (city). Trust Brits to anglicise "pur" as "pore" (Jaipur - Jaipore). Singapur literally means a city of lions. Here comes the story behind the name. Once upon a time, there was a Javanese prince. When he landed on this island, he spotted a strange creature and was told that it was a lion. So he named the city as Singapura.
However, in ancient times, this city was called Temasek (sea town). 

The symbol of Merlion was designed by one Mr. Brunner, for the logo of Singapore tourism board. It commemorated both the names - lion ( from Singapura) and the sea ( from Temasek). Since then, Merlion has become an icon of Singapore. 

When we first visited the Merlion Park at One Fullerton, it was late in night. By the time we were ready to shoot our customary Patel shot, the Merlion just dried up. Yes sir! He declared himself to be tired and stopped gurgling water. Imagine a tourist with his mouth agape, standing at a perfect angle, all ready for his next FB cover picture, when the lion calls it a day. We never knew that the Merlion too retired at nights. Anyway, without the water, the shots would have been incomplete and our whole Singapore experience would have been questioned. So we decided to make it on another day. By the way, someone please tell the Singapore tourism board that they need to do a better job with the pipe in Merlion's mouth. It's unaesthetic and plain unSingaporean. And while they are at it, a good scrub in the front wouldn't be amiss.

The next time we made it to the Merlion was on the 9th day of our 9 day trip. We had gone to watch a 6D show at the Flyer and then decided to walk till the Merlion. It was a hot day and by the time we reached Esplanade, we got so exhausted  that D suggested to shoot pictures from there itself and be done with it. I gave in to practicality and took a few snaps. But then, the Merlion was too small and we were too big. So like a true tourist, I decided not to be lazy and earn my 'been there, done that" moment by walking till the Merlion. 

The place was crowded and we had to wait for our turn to take shots. I never thought I would fall in the trap of posing for the "drinking from the Merlion" shot but when a tourist, do as tourists do and so I did try to give it a shot. D can't be trusted with such shots and the proof lies in the pudding. There goes water right behind me!

In his defence, it was mind-bogglingly hot, a toddler was to be constantly monitored and a stream of tourists had to be contended with.

Merlion stops spouting water between 11 pm and  6:30 am. We saw the Merlion both in night and in daytime. Both have their charms but I am glad we went again during daytime because my night photography is not upto the mark. 

I chanced upon this fun-manual on the internet.

I think I have tried the second pose.

Well, again I didn't do a great job in supporting the leaning tower but I did try :) Also, the picture is from the pre-digital era where we did not have the luxury to take as many shots as we fancied. (Note for my Mom and didi: I found this picture within 30 seconds after I commenced my search. Hence proved, my house is not that cluttered!).

Referring to the manual, I have been in the 1st and 7th situations too, but never tried those poses. Will definitely refer to this guide if I visit any of the above attractions now! 

For the record, there are four other official statues of Merlion in Singapore. The original one comes with a cub, facing the other side in the park. The third is at Mt. Faber. 

The fourth at Sentosa.

This is not a horizontal one. Try as I might, I am not able to post this picture upright! So there:) 

And the fifth is near the tourism board office.

So whenever you reach the shores of this interesting country, choose the Merlion you want to hang out with. My vote goes to the one at One Fullerton. 

Weird Nursery Rhymes

I guess I stopped thinking about nursery rhymes soon after I passed out of ....well, nursery. The only thing I distinctly remember from that age is the exotic nature of English rhymes.
Why did the cock say cock-a-doodle-doo when in Hindi it said a plain and more exact kukdoo-koo? What were hot cross buns? What was whey that little Miss Muffet was eating before a spider spoilt her party? Why did little Johnny want the rain to go away while we in Rajasthan were very happy at the onset of monsoons? (We loved getting drenched in rains and the puddles left behind were a bonus.)

When  Anya, my daughter, came along,  I bought a CD of nursery rhymes and one day while playing it, I stopped dead in my tracks. Some of the rhymes were politically incorrect, some were cruel and others were plain nonsense. Did I hear them right? I played them again. Here goes one:

"Mickey on a railway, picking up stones;

Down came an engine, and broke Mickey's bones.

Ah, said Mickey, that's not fair.

Oh said the engine driver, I don't care!"

Is it really a nursery rhyme? I wondered. What  is it supposed to convey? If the lesson is that one shouldn't be ambling on railway tracks, then it's a pretty grotesque way of saying that. Or that it's ok to break somebody's bones and not even be apologetic about it? Ughhhhh......

Another one goes:

"Three blind mice, see how they run
They all run after the farmer's wife
Who cut off their tails with a carving knife
Have you ever seen such a thing in your life
As three blind mice?"

"Goosey, goosey gander,where shall i wander
Upstairs, downstairs in my lady's chamber
There I met an old man who wouldn't say his prayers
I took him by the left leg and threw him down the stairs."

Imagine innocent toddlers trying to mouth these lines. I for one, would never want Anya to even listen to these words. Censor board for nursery rhymes, anyone?

Sample this:

"Where are you going to, my pretty maid?

I'm going a-milking, Sir, she said,

What is your fortune, my pretty maid? 

My face is my fortune, Sir; she said.

Then I can't marry you, my pretty maid! 

Nobody asked you, Sir, she said.

Sir, she said, Sir, she said."

Teaching kids early the value of moolah, are we? Whoever thought dowry was an Indian issue, might get new insights.

Conclusion? That as a parent, I should be more selective in what I read out to my kid. Just because some nonsense was written long back and it somehow made to the traditional collection of nursery rhymes, I shouldn't be singing it to my toddler. I did a little research on the origin of these rhymes. There were interesting stories about the hidden political or royal connotations. While they make for an interesting read, there is no justification in furthering these weird rhymes.

Nursery rhymes also have a penchant for 'falling down".  Here's my list. If you can add to it, let me know.These are harmless rhymes but I couldn't help noticing that so many popular ones highlight this verb. 

Humpty-Dumpty had a great fall...
Jack fell down and broke his crown...
London bridge is falling down...
Husha busha we all fall down...
When the bough breaks, the cradle will fall....

The only one which had a positive message and I enjoy listening to is (mostly because Anya recites it very cutely):

"Five little monkeys jumping on the bed
One fell down and bumped his head
Mama called the doctor, doctor said
No more jumping on the bed."

Here is a contemporary kids' rhyme by Kenn Nesbitt which I totally enjoyed. It's topical - especially in a place like Bangalore.

"I think my dad is Dracula.
I know that sounds insane,
but listen for a moment and
allow me to explain.

We don't live in a castle,
and we never sleep in caves.
But, still, there's something weird
about the way my dad behaves.

I never see him go out
in the daytime when it's light.
He sleeps all day till evening,
then he leaves the house at night.

He comes home in the morning
saying, "Man, I'm really dead!"
He kisses us goodnight, and then
by sunrise he's in bed.

My mom heard my suspicion
and she said, "You're not too swift.
Your father's not a vampire.
He just works the graveyard shift."

When i heard this I couldn't stop laughing!

Which are your and your toddler's favorite rhymes and why? Which ones do you find weird? Share your thoughts.

My love-hate relationship with Bangalore autowallahs

Bangalore autowallahs! Everybody has an opinion about them (mostly unflattering). We all have a favorite auto-wallah story. I know of someone who was pushed to buy his own vehicle in a jiffy because he had come to blows with the autowallahs during his daily commute.10 extra, 20 extra is passe'. One and a half or double is routine. Dark and rains are conducive for cooking up a random figure which is guaranteed to make one swoon. If you dare to utter 'meter se', you are looked down upon with such disdain that you run the risk of losing all your self-worth. Tampered meters, (ill-) tempered autowallahs......the travails are endless.

I hardly take autos - maybe a couple of times in a year. But the last time I took one, I was in for a pleasant surprise. We had to go to Cantt. from Bellandur. After we had declined 2-3 autowallahs for their unreasonable demands, one autowallah offered meter plus 10. We accepted. On the way, as the meter galloped, I wondered aloud if the meter was right. The driver then told me that he was a student who goes to college by day and drives an auto in free time to earn an honest living. He took us to the destination in just 170 Rs. (plus 10).On the return trip, I enquired the fare at pre-paid auto stand. It was 220! This instance was an exception rather than a rule.

Generally speaking, the only time when I find autowallahs angelic is when I am driving. They give the best directions as they are living encyclopedias of city roads. It's easy to ask them for directions because autos have no rolled up windows and unlike 2 wheeler drivers, they don't have to fiddle with helmets to hear what I have to say.  They are never rude. On the contrary, they are eager to help and many a time have kindly guided me to the right road with a cheerful 'banni' (come) by driving ahead. They even oblige by walking to the car to hear me better. So, as soon as I am stuck for directions, I start looking for an auto. For their navigation services, I am eternally grateful to the autowallahs of Bangalore.

It's sort of ironic. When I seek their service as a customer, they drive me nuts. But when I have a non-economic transaction with them, they humour me. It kind of reaffirms one's faith in humanity!

PS: This article was published in 'Right in the Middle" in Deccan Herald.

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/395330/ways-autowallahs.html

A delightful find

When I was in Stockholm, I fell in love with a Swedish song which used to play quite often on the radio. It had a lovely melody which created scapes of sun-drenched beautiful meadows, crystal clear blue lakes and gentle mountains. The kind of tune which would make you dance with joy and make your heart feel full. An all-is-well-with-the-world kind of feeling, very summery and happy.

I could not make out much of the lyrics as my Swedish was in its infancy. 'älskar' (love) and 'från det högsta berg' (from the highest mountains) were the only parts that I could comprehend. Adding two and two together, I decided that this was a song about a person's love for Swedish mountains.

Time ticked on and took away the summers. A faint memory tells me that this song was a summer-favorite as I did not get to hear much of it in winters. As the time drew near to bid goodbye to Stockholm, I wanted the song as a souvenir. But the trouble was, I did not know the singer, the album or the lyrics. My classmates from Swedish class were my main source of information but they themselves being new to the country, could not help much. I asked localites and someone gave me a clue that the singer's name started with a Z. I spent hours on Google, the know-all but it did not throw any results. It was frustrating. If you can't find anything on Google, is it worth searching!

I came to India but did not give up the hunt. I would ask any new Swedish contact about the song. Disappointingly, it was a nada every single time.

Approximately six years later, today, I renewed the hunt. I thought of asking a Swedish friend on FB but gave a last try on Google. Voila! The phrase was there and it was part of a song! I explored further and found that it's a Swedish band called Sarek and the album is 'Genom eld och vatten'. I clicked on the Youtube video with bated breath. The first link didn't deliver but the second one took me to my favorite song. 

When I heard those bagpipes, I was on cloud nine. Haven't stopped playing the song since and might get sick of it today itself. What a beautiful feeling - to have found after I seeked for so long. A worthwhile day, indeed. Life is beautiful because of little pleasures.

Well, the song is a romantic number. It comes straight from the heart. The lyrics and translation can be found on Youtube. My favorite line is 'Genom tid och rum Ja alla mina dagar ska du få'

'You'll possess my days, across time and space" - a rarity in today's world.

http://www.myvideo.de/watch/7322092/Final_Fantasy_Genom_Eld_och_Vatten_Sarek

Oh the ruthless ticking of the clock!

"Time is like a handful of sand - the tighter you grasp it, the faster it runs through your fingers" It can't be truer than this!

As I dread the end of my stay on this beloved campus, I get jittery and anxious. Beautiful, fun-filled and carefree moments spent here have painted the canvas of Apr'09 - Mar'10 in cheerful hues. The cocoon has grown so comfortable that the very thought of leaving it is painful. In my last post in mid-October, I had apprehended the beginning of the end. Now as 45 odd days separate us from the D-day, I am wilting. I try to make up for the short time by staying up late, taking in all possible experiences. But days are passing at the blink of an eye!

Just a few days back, I was anticipating Chaos and now the only conversation I can hear is of placements and Convo. I was all starry-eyed when I came here. Though I had not come as a student myself, I'll leave with the taste of being one, having had the brilliant chance to be a part of PGP, PMP and PGPX classes! A year well-spent with equal measures of fun and learning. I could have done a few things differently and in a better way.....but as someone wisely said 'hindsight is always easier than foresight', I am quite happy with the way things have turned out.

As I look at the picture of LKP on my desk-calendar, I realise that after a few days, pictures are all that will be left of my memories here. I won't be able to behold my favourite sight everyday. How I would miss it!! Those walks to the faculty block or library or classes or electrical and estate department! The walk from the New Campus to the Old. Meetings with friends in MSH pathways which turned into marathon gossip-sessions....all will soon be a thing of past.

 

The end is inevitable. I just hope to enjoy the next few days to the hilt and with the least melancholy. Is that possible?

The Thing about Fun

It was a long cherished dream to be in Gujarat during Navratri. When D got selected in IIM-A, it was a triple whammy. IIMA is the best, Ahmedabad is close to Udaipur and I could enjoy garba in Gujarat.

As I write this post on last night of Navratri, I find the glass to be half empty. Though I did go out on 8 nights, something was lacking....sometimes it was a group, sometimes the steps. The event at IIM was good to begin with but deteriorated as Bollywood took over the garba numbers. It was easy for the DJ to dish them out and the crowd lapped it up. All of us who had come with the intention of dancing the garba till 3 in the morning were disappointed and left.
Garba is fun when you are in a group which loves dancing and more importantly, knows how to!
So even after Gujarat, the quest for a perfect Navratri continues....The thing about fun is that it is quite elusive. I might have the spirit but if I don't have a group which shares it, it's not adequate.

While I was anticipating Navratri, I was also aware that its onset would mark midway of my stay at IIMA. Six months done, six more to go. The arrival of new PGPX candidates for interviews heightened the feeling that the innings are drawing to a close. It's already the beginning of the end!

Piggybacking to LKP

I would not be exaggerating when I say that Louis Kahn Plaza (LKP) is to IIMA what Trafalgar Square is to London or Times Square is to NY. LKP is the heart and centrestage of IIMA.

It was in LKP during T-Nite that I got to share the stage with the creme-de-la creme of future managers in India. T-Nite is a misnomer as in fact, it is a 5 night long cultural event, which showcases the talent of freshers. The feeling of not having earned the right to be on the same stage creeps in....but you hush that feeling, shove it under the carpet, go out there and have fun! It's an opportunity handed down to the spouses and when such an opportunity knocks, grab it with both your hands :) We all had loads of fun participating in the T-Nite. It wouldn't have been the same had we just been a part of the audience.

Pub-run was awesome and took me by surprise.The atmosphere was electric. Standing in the wings as one of the runners, I felt like an Olympian. Pub-run (Gujarat is a dry state and pub-run doesn't mean that the first ones to reach the finish line get to down as many beers as they want) is short for publicity run where a team of 5 girls and 5 boys have to run and grab spaces in the mess for displaying their posters. These posters advertise the cultural events that each team would dish out in the coming nights.

The coming nights were a mix of events. Fashion show, dance, music and non-stop rehearsals. I was on stage each night and enjoyed myself thoroughly. I also got to choreograph a Rajasthani dance. What amazed me was the immense talent that students displayed. Given the constraints of time and academic pressure, they still managed to enthrall with their ideas and performances. Shouts of 'Ek, do , teen, chaar....band karo ye atyachaar' and 'Awesome' were the two most dreaded and cherished sounds respectively during the event.

Each evening, we would assemble at a designated place. The whole bunch would then march to the Main Campus to the beats of drums. At times, it felt like we all were baraatis, following an invisible dulha. T-Nite brought us together, closer and introduced us to hidden traits of people. There were Moms who were so keen to participate that they practiced till late in night after the kids had gone to bed. Some even took painkillers to keep themselves going. In the end, it was all worth it, as the event left us richer with some wonderful memories.