a constructor of worlds

Architecture and war are not incompatible. Architecture is war. War is architecture.

I am at war with my time, with history, with all authority that resides in fixed and frightened forms.

I am one of millions who do not fit in, who have no home, no family, no doctrine, no firm place to call my own, no known beginning or end, no "sacred and primordial site."

I declare war on all icons and finalities, on all histories that would chain me with my own falseness, my own pitiful fears. I know only moments, and lifetimes that are as moments, and forms that appear with infinite strength, then "melt into air."

I am an architect, a constructor of worlds, a sensualist who worships the flesh, the melody, a silhouette against the darkening sky. I cannot know your name. Nor you can know mine.

Tomorrow, we begin together the construction of a city.

from: War and Architecture by Lebbeus Woods(1940-2012)

between tungnath and chandrashila

image via: Google Earth, photo by: Swati J Sharma

the views on google earth are pretty awesome when seen on the laptop,

but they are like at least 1250 times less exciting as the real deal.

there is no hail while you climb,

there is no relief felt from the hot tea sipped inside a hut,

you don't need to wear 'make do' raincoats, or feel the chill,

you don't get to the highest shiva temple in the world,

and it doesn't start to snow, the first of the season...

you don't start climbing further to chandrashila peak,

hoping to get a glimpse of mountains clad in snow,

there is no vista that's more than large enough,

there is no air purer than that you breath,

and the mind, cant be moving and at peace, both together...

there is no new path discovered to go downhill,

one where you will trek alone, a promise of new,

you don't trudge up and up and up,

you don't estimate the downhill trek time required,

before the sun sets...

you don't walk the face of the mountain,

and turn a ridge to see new paths afar,

you don't wait, hoping for the clouds to dissipate,

so that their motion reveals new peaks afar,

and just when you are about to trek back to base,
slowly the mountains clad in snow are revealed...

you don't feel excited that you got this far,

in spite of the doubts that crept up in between, 

your breathing doesn't stop still and so doesn't time,

there is no grandeur that is not explicable,

you don't feel as one with the earth...

the views on google earth are pretty awesome when seen on the laptop,
but, lets rephrase, they are like at least 12050 times less exciting as the real deal.

if i ever get back to this place, plan to see the peaks at sunrise...
nature will always amaze...

photo by: Swati J Sharma

hope to blog about the down hill trek,

it was, if possible, even more freakin awesome.

The EARTH is my TEMPLE..

source: Earth 2012 by Vollstad Wallpapers

Work

The man was not born of love,
save for his own destiny.
He strived for a better living,
a heaven of his own liking.

Life though, had a will of its own,
a conflict of his dream and reality.
And for the life long quest for immortality,
his work, he thought will be weighed in gold.

But the dream collapsed,
the earth gave way below his feet.
His acumen and know-how,
deserted him in the moment of need.

The fleeting glimpse became a reality,
as his dream continued for a lifetime.
And he gained immortality,
as love became his life's work.

(now read the lines again, with work replacing love... and vice versa)

Trumspringa

by kcdsTM

TRUMSPRINGA: n. The temptation to step off your career track and become a shepherd in the mountains, watching storms at dusk from the doorway of a small cabin, just the kind of hypnotic diversion that allows your thoughts to make a break for it and wander back to their cubicles in the city. (source: unknown)

                            Lightning at Dusk by Philip Schexnayder

honour

You dont hold a corner with one hand...
You hold a side with two.

open engine operation

the tappets in old bullets could be fixed by opening a side hatch in the engine.

now they have to open the whole engine, and here it lies in waiting.

new hydraulic tappets are not available in indore since the last three days.

(forgot to click the heartless bike's pic)

maybe the new bullets aren't made as they were before, 21000k's on the odo,

and the last two services have cost me rs 15500 and a bit more...

just another number

no wonder we are obsessed with cricket statistics...
its not just another number if all are talking about it, is it? ;)

keep riding...

en route to kanha national park, madhya pradesh

the bike thumps along on the open road,
while the eagle soars high, glimpses caught in between the trees.

the sun shines down upon the very few leaves,
the wind hits my body and gives cold relief.

the heated engine now performs at its peak,
a twist of the throttle and refined power within my reach.



now sets in a calmness while in blurry motion,
and the crunching up of kilometers gives languid peace.

the eyes are occupied with the changing vistas,
and the travel infuses new thoughts within.

while the road keeps going on forever,
times presence is only felt as the shadows lengthen.

for the lonely road too, does time stand still,
and the changing riders all get an opportunity to escape.

update

the house comes live on google maps!! :D

Its a dogs life

why cant i sleep the whole day... just wake me up for my meals!!

Maximus II, six months old, already!

plug em in

After all the planning to keep three devices charged optimally,

it is such an irony to get the same email on all of them together.

The digital needs of our times! A whole bunch of chargers and wires carried around everyday in the backpack.

# dell inspiron N5010

# blackberry 9700 bold

# samsung tab2 7" p3100

Think Again: India's Rise. by sumit ganguly

...unless its leadership can tackle problems from corruption to bureaucratic stagnation to political dysfunction, its hope for global standing in the 21st century will remain just a hope, says ganguly.


http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2012/07/05/think_again_india_s_rise?page=full

but who is listening?
people like me? busy with setting their own house in order, trying to build up their bank balance?
or the politicians and bureaucracy, who are also just think of their self, like i am...
hahahaha...

my way or no way at all

Seven lane one-way road?

just outside my office window; the center median of the two way road has been broken because of road widening and BRTS corridor work.
full license for the traffic to do as they wish? oh yes!! the attitude of everyone on my city roads is, "i have right of way before all else. let me get through, others will then manage." disregard for rules are second nature to people. like the sun does rise in the early hours, so does chaos during rush hour.
the consequence one fine day: seven lanes, all going the same direction, the scene is a little better at the other side of the junction with only 6 lanes of on coming traffic. traffic does eventually clear after 3hrs!

lack of governance, lack of civil responsibility and utter disregard for others.

and i read somewhere, how a city commutes is how its people live...
...

H-31

yeeehaaa!!!! :)

the new house is almost complete... cant wait to shift there soon.