Destiny? Fate? And interwoven tragedies.

I'm back after my week-long holiday. Hyderabad - Pune -Panchgani -Mumbai - Pune - Hyderabad. So much has happened in the past 10 days:

I lost my camera. It really is gone, and I still can't believe it.
Mel got married. It was the most amazing wedding I've attended.
I learned various lessons, etc.

Well, to spill everything out, I lost my camera after Mel's wedding. It was a fantastic wedding, first a gurudwara wedding, a Roce ceremony, a church wedding, and a very nice reception at the Juhu Hotel (Razz Rhino, where we've had loads of gigs - it is quite a special venue, and quite symbolic, and the sea was glorious.)

Anyway, so after the reception, we were all to go to the room the newly-weds had reserved for them at the Taj Land's End. I decided I wanted to go with Gary on the bike, and handed my bag, stuffed with everything - camera, phone, clothes, accessories, etc. to a friend who was coming to Taj by ric. I told him my camera was there and that he should not forget it.

Well, he did. Put it in the back of the ric and forgot to take it out. I was so shattered when I got there and asked for my bag and saw the shock on his expression. We did everything we could think of. Went looking for the rickshaw guy, went to the police, tried calling my phone. Most likely, the chap didn't know that the bag was there at the back of his rickshaw.

It was very difficult. It really killed me. I've been a lucky girl so far, and have had no tragic losses in my life. And this camera was my first most precious possession. So new... I can still feel it in my hands and hear the perfect mechanism click.

After it had sunk it, and I was crying slowly, all I could think of was, I'll get it back if the guy who finds it is nice. It all depends on him. He had my phone, and Mel's wallet, with his visiting card. He could get in touch with us if he wanted. He still can...

I felt as if I'd lost a person.. a best friend. Everyone assured me it was OK.. after all, no one was hurt, and it was only a material thing. I'd also lost my house keys, and oh God, lots of small but important things. I had to break into my house the next day. I really felt alone, rotten, horrid.

But then I had my friends comfort me. They all felt my pain, and I could see that they were hurting for me, and that was a priceless feeling... I felt comforted just to see their pain for me. And Mel had just gotten married, it was the happiest time of his life, and I wanted to share that.

The next morning was the worst ever. I had to call and inform people, and really hope that our search would prove fruitful. A friend did a sweep on radio. Nigel tried getting the Hutch people to trace the location of my phone. But they don't have technology to support it.. or maybe they wouldn't be bothered doing it for every misplaced phone.

My parents called me to Pune on the last day of my holiday. It was comforting just to see the whole family and their compassion. Everyone says I should get another one.

Of course I will. I have to start all over again, and the most painful part is the wait. I was so used to my baby. And the other annoying part is going to be the complexity of making the purchase. I have to find someone coming down from the USA who can buy it and bring it down for me. Quite a shame.

I've learnt a few lessons.
The value of people.
The value of money.
The need to look after your things. Very carefully.

The most amazing thing that came out of this was that, for the first time I saw that when my pain and sorrow was shared among my friends and family, how quickly it vanished. I feel as if the weight that I had for the past three days is now gone. And its only because of the people in my life.

Everyone says that everything happens for the best, and for a reason. It's hard to believe in many cases. But I hope there's some truth to it. I'm lucky, it could have been much worse.. and I'll get a new camera soon. A better version. (The dollar price is dropping.)

Google Maps and Vacations

I work for Google. I was hired to work for AdWords, but recently, I got the chance to jump into a small group that's working on a Google Maps project. Some engineers in Bangalore set up a tool that makes drawing maps (digitizing) very simple.

So, a small group (3 actually) started, a few months ago, a project to draw maps for India. At that time, there were NO maps for India, available. Well, there are maps, but you have to pay for them, and of course there is Wikimapia.com, which is great, but not 'reliable maps,' more like Google Earth, and mapmyindia.com, but still not very good. Not good enough for what we want to do anyway.

Now Google is brilliant (it is a living thing) and we like to make money, and make our users happy. Making maps available online, and on your mobile phone is a nice thing. We would be able to give you detailed directions (which roads to take, which roads are one-ways and which roads go where, and so on) to you while you are in your car, driving to anywhere.

So that's how this team got started. Its very exciting. A few of us were invited to help draw cities we came from. I drew Bombay. It was awesome. We used the same satellite imagery that you see in Google Earth, and marked locations. It was like going home.

We've finished drawing all the big cities. I'm now drawing Jaisalmer, all alone. Good fun. Have never been there, but I know the names of the streets now...

Well, so this project is growing, and last week, I joined the team full time. I'm helping running the show... and its gorgeous fun. Look up your city.

There's lots more actually. A couple of months ago, after we launched Maps India, we had a nasty shock. Yahoo! without any warning, launched www.maps.yahoo.co.in. And with lots more maps than we had been able to draw. Though, of course, those maps had just been bought from other sources. They hadn't drawn it themselves, like we are. Our content is dead authentic, and in great detail.

So we're on a hectic but good journey of drawing everything.... small towns, tiny roads, everything. Everywhere. I think our maps in many cities are much better than Yahoo!'s. Though, ours have many errors too. If you find any, I'd be glad to have them corrected.

We have a long way to go. And many places to go to.
Check out Bombay. The 'Hybrid' view, will show you the map atop the Satellite Images.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=mumbai&ie=UTF8&ll=19.056439,72.849312&spn=0.086968,0.138702&z=13&iwloc=addr&om=1

PS: Also check out Gooogle Earth's latest version. You can upload pictures of places. It's stunning.

So, coming back to where I was, I was saying that there are many places we are going to get to. But, in the meantime, I'm going on a week long holiday. First, to Panchgani for the weekend, and then to Bombay for Melly's shaadi. Woooooohooooooooooo.

Mel is getting married

Met him little more than a year ago. Had heard much about him. Was eager to see him. We hit it off the first time we met. Melroy D'Mello. Mellund, as he's sometimes called, amongst other names.

Little background - ex-Xavierite. Didn't finish college. Worked at Channel [V]. Was guitarist for Split, in the old days. Then, one day, Mel got a job in Bangalore.

Worked in Bangalore for 2 years. Got smashed every single night. Played for a (very) nice band there, called Old Jungle Saying. Had a blast. Then decided he needed to come back to Bombay.

2 years after he left, Melroy was back.

I met him at the hospital. Nigel, the drummer had met with a very severe accident, broken arm and ruptured spleen, and we were all at the hospital. I was very upset. That was the first time I saw Mel.

He is very tall. Gangling. Has a purposeful stride. Confused look. Very smooth talking. Incredibly, spontaneously funny.

We soon left the hospital. And went for a drink. Toasted to Nigel.

And then nearly every evening, we'd meet at the hospital, and go for drinks. Shady bars, boy talk, Split talk. Garreth, Mel, Vishy (sometimes) and me.

Mel had ridden down to Bombay from Bangalore on his Thunderbird. Via Goa. And on his way from Goa to Bombay, he met a little abandoned puppy. Mel stuffed the little puppy, carefully, mind you, into his helmet and brought him home. He didn't think his mum would be too pleased to see the little abandoned puppy. And in a tactic of great foresight, he took the puppy home and asked mom to name him. She was distracted enough, long enough for the puppy to become a part of the household. Yea, she was the one who looked at him long and hard and said, "We will call him Brownie." Sigh.

And so, we'd go for drinks, bike rides, and then go home to get eaten up by Brownie. I've met many puppies in my long career as a vagabond. But, none have bitten me with as much vigor and persistence as young Brownie.

The first time I met Mel's parents, was at 6 in the morning. When Uncle woke up and came into the living room. Where I was asleep on the sofa. I woke up soon after and smiled politely, hoping Mel would wake up soon. He got up at noon. I'd left by then.

Mel didn't have a job for few months after he got back. I had just finished college and had a long holiday. Gary had taken 2 months off. We'd meet often, go drinking, attend gigs, and have band practice. I was declared band manager and I supervised all practices. I was the most devoted fan.

Gigs started coming. Big gigs. Big stages. New songs. Everything was awesome and so much fun.

Gary and Mel introduced me to punk. And then started a punk band, Forcefield. They're fab. We'd have superb discussions over beer and rum, about cops, rebellion, politics, music, drugs, Goa and our plans to save the world. Was nice.

But then, I had to leave Bombay and come to Hyderabad. For my first ever job at Google. I hated to go, and Mel said I sucked. He said I would be sucked into the corporate world, and become a corporate slave. I promised I only wanted to work for a year and I'd be back. I'm going back soon.

Well, anyway, I tried my hardest to go back to Bombay for every Split gig. But then, the gigs became so frequent, that I had to miss many. But I'd still go every month, and there'd always be a gig for me to catch.

Mel got me to ride a rickshaw once. When I was very drunk, and it was way, way past midnight. Mel, also, lost his brand new guitar once. When we were all very drunk. We found it the next day. We'd left it outside a bar, on the pavement.
Mel spent one night in a local police station. I don't remember what for, but it was a funny story. A few days later, he was stopped again by cops for being out late.

Cops: Where are you going?
Mel: I dunno.
Cops not pleased; Cops: Are you drunk?
Mel: Yes, and I'm also high on marijuana.
Cops little alarmed; Cops: Do you have a job?
Mel: No.
Cops: What do you do?
Mel: Nothing. (Stares rudely)
Cops: We could take you to the police station.
Mel: Ah, its OK, I was there a few days ago. Is there anything you want, or can I go home?

Mel goes home.

Split's now a big band. They've recently been selected for Channel [V] Launchpad with 15 other bands. Best band goes to Hard Rock Cafe, New York. There's so much more to say about Mel.
Especially recently, I've noticed that he is something of a legend in our small Bombay rock scene (spreading upto Delhi and down to Bangalore). When he's on stage, every one's looking to see what he's doing next. And what he's saying. It's weird, and very powerful. And its only building up.

Somewhere along the way, Mel met Simrat. Petite, very pretty Punjabi girl. Fashion designer. Mostly silent, peaceful. But also, strong enough to handle Mel.

They're getting married next week. I can hardly believe its happening so soon, but am very happy and excited. It was the sweetest wedding invite I've ever got. Via email. In a few 'Melly' words. Now, I've got to go. Still can't figure a wedding present.

Potter

I told you, Potter fever's coming up.

Yesterday, I received an email, with an e-book. The 7th Harry Potter Book. I have no idea how this person got their hands on the e-book of the book that isn't released yet, and everyone is waiting for.

I'm not sure I quite believe it is the thing. So, a bit wary, I opened it and read it suspiciously. The writing seemed accurately her style. J. K. Rowling I mean. But then I was reluctant to read more, for one, I've lost touch and wanted to read book 5 and 6 again. And then again, when I read Dumbledore's name, I felt an immense pang.

Also I wonder if someone has actually been crazy enough to write their own version of Harry Potter and the Deathly Harrows. I can't wait to find out.

I'm reading book 6 now. E-book, though. I mostly hate reading books online, in fact I never have. But this time, I dont have a choice, coz I'm reading it during work hours and I'm hooked. I could never ever get hooked to an e-book. Its just difficult to read too much text online for long. But, Harry Potter makes it otherwise.

Anyway, gotta get back to the book. I just wrote this because:

1. I haven't blogged for a while and have missed it.
2. I was impressed or intrigued, rather, by how many times I've been in near tears while reading Potter. Quite affects me.

Later, then.

PS: Been also tripping on Depeche Mode the past week or two. Brilliant stuff - Playing the Angel (the album). Check out.