"Am not a quitter.... OR AM I?"

I have been smoking cigarettes for over 6 years. Not that I am proud of the fact that I am but, still, just for records, its been 6 years. My first cigarette was a Gold Flake King Size. Having lived in India for most of my life, I have been dominated by cigarettes from ITC, but my lungs have also been tarred by some not ITC cigarettes, mostly foreign, and also some of our more local beedis.

I have never been a chain smoker. In my defense, for a chain smoker, there are certain patterns, which are not found in me. Basically a chain smoker sticks to one brand of cigarettes and sticks to one pattern of smoking, neither of which are found in me. My brand of cigarette usually depends on the money I have, the time of the day, the company around, my health condition and the mood of the moment.

Anyway, having smoked so many different brands of cigarettes, I feel that the impact the pack of cigarette makes on a person looking at it is high. I have always personally liked smart looking cigarette packets. And I have no doubt that till a few days ago, ITC Classics came out with the smartest of cigarette packets. It was a pleasure to place a Classic packet in your hand, be it "The Classic Regular", "The Classic Milds" or even the (U/A) rated "Classic Ultra Milds" or "The Classic Menthol". The color combination of the packets were just super Smart. The Maroon - Golden Regulars, The White Purple Milds, The White Green Menthol and the all silver ultra milds. It used to feel nice to smoke a ITC Classic, and it was not just the nicotine.

I wonder why change is often necessary. Classics are out with new packaging for their cigarettes. A pathetic change I feel. I happen to catch a glimpse of the Milds in a girly blue and the Ultra Milds in a silver/gold packet with a saxophone on it. Just Disgusting. I probably will quit smoking in protest to this change. My protests probably wont affect anyone. So probably ill just buy loose cigarettes... no boxes. ;)

Cold Romance!!!!!

This is an excerpt from "Oceans Eleven", a scene in which Tess will be waiting for Terry her boyfriend when Danny, her ex-husband touches he shoulder from behind

DANNY: Hello, Tess.

TESS: You are 30 seconds late. (She looks around. Its not Terry. Its Danny)

TESS: What are you doing here?

DANNY: I'm out.

TESS: Out?

DANNY: Of prison. Remember? I went for cigarettes and didn't come back.

TESS: I don't smoke. Don't sit.

DANNY: SupposedIy I paid my debt to society.

TESS: Funny, I never got a cheque.

DANNY: You're not wearing your ring.

TESS: I sold it. I don't have a husband or didn't you get the papers?

DANNY: My last day inside, I told you I'd write.

TESS: Danny, go now before--

DANNY: Before what? Benedict?

DANNY: (To the waiter) How you doing? Whiskey and whiskey.

DANNY: You're doing a great job at the museum. The Yermeer is quite good. Vibrant! But his work fell off later.

TESS: Remind you of anyone?

DANNY: I always confuse Monet and Manet. Which one married his mistress?

TESS: Monet.

DANNY: And Manet had syphllis.

TESS: They also painted occasionally.

DANNY: All right, I'll make this quick. I came here for you. I want to get on with my life. I want you with me.

TESS: You're a thief and a llar.

DANNY: I only lied about being a thief. I don't do that now.

TESS: -Steal?

DANNY: Lie.

TESS: I'm with someone who doesn't have to make that kind of distinction.

DANNY: He's clear on both.

TESS: You have a problem.

DANNY: Only one?

TESS: You've met too many peopIe like you. I'm with Terry now.

DANNY: Does he make you laugh?

TESS: He doesn't make me cry. People you steal from have insurance. They get made whole again. I left New York to escape what happened. Can I get five years back?

DANNY: What you can do is not throw the rest of the

TESS: You don't know anything.

DANNY: You don't love me, you're with someone else, fine. I have to live with that. But not him.

TESS: Just like an ex-husband.

DANNY: I'm not joking Tess

TESS: I'm not Iaughing Danny

TESS: There's a confllct of interest when you giye me advice about my love life.

DANNY: But that doesn't mean I'm wrong.

TESS: Do you remember what I said when we first met?

DANNY: That I better know what I'm doing.

TESS: Do you? Now? You should go if you don't.

DANNY: I know what I'm doing.


Terry Enters from behind Tess


TERRY: What are you doing?

DANNY: Just catching up.

TESS: Meet my ex-husband. Danny Ocean.

TERRY: Mr. Ocean.

DANNY: I'm in your seat.

TERRY: Forgiye my lateness. A guest required my attention.

TESS: That's fine. Danny was walking through and spotted me.

TERRY: Is that so?

DANNY: Imagine the odds. Of all the gin joints in all the world.

TERRY: You recentIy were released from prison?

DANNY: That's right.

TERRY: How does it feel to be out?

DANNY: About the same.

TESS: Danny was just about to...

DANNY: I just stopped by to say hi to Tess.

TERRY: Stay, have a drink.

DANNY: I can't.

TESS: He can't.

DANNY: Well, then....

TERRY: I imagine we won't see Mr.Ocean anytime soon.

DANNY: You never know.

TERRY: I know everything happening in my hotels.

DANNY: So I should put those towels back.

TERRY: No, the towels you can keep.

DANNY: Good to see you, Tess.

TESS: Take care, Danny.

DANNY: Terry.

TERRY: Danny.

fun with "Two malls and the full"

Friday
6 AM
"The journey begins"

As Sunil, Deepak and me left our home on a trip, we didnt know what was coming. We didnt want to know what was coming.
We just left... Just us and the car. Next pitstop - Mysore.


Friday
12 Noon
"The drive into the clouds"

The scroching afternoon sun, sunil at the wheel, all of us charged, having completed the first leg of our journey succesfully and starting off on the first important leg, towards the gods own country so to say. Clear blue skies, where the road ended. Bright white clouds somewhere at the end of the road it seemed. And we drove on into the clouds. But as we headed to the clouds, we realised we had lost our way. We actually didnt have a destination to reach, but the road seemed to go no where. No one knew where it would end. We had to do another 50 km back approximately. We had lunch and retraced back our 50 kms, only to realize that the map, the only source of information we had on our whereabouts was left in the restraunt we just got back from. It was decided to head on, and unlike men, this time we would ASK for directions.


Friday
11 PM
"A romantic walk with 2 Malls and a Full"

The day had almost ended. We had decided that we would stay in a place called "Lakkadi" for the night. But as we reached there at around sun set, we got to know that there is nothing to see there and there is no place to stay. So it was decided we would go to a beach, the main reason for this trip.... I wanted to see a beach.... It had been long. So we reached kozikod and checked into this hotel called "The Beach Hotel". Nice place with an ancient setting. AC rooms which overlooked a lawn which overlooked the beach.

As we had a drink, the first bit of alcohol on the trip and headed out to the beach, the scene was set. It was a full moon day, or atleast the moon looked full. The tides were relatively high I suppose, and the beach was lonely. As I walked in the beach, a little dizzy on the drink, a little tired of the drive, it just felt so nice. The waves coming and hitting the shore and the cool breeze blowing constantly, making music to the ears, the shadow of the moon somewhere far away in the sea, the sound of the drizzle that was hitting the ground, it was perfect. The most romantic setting that I had ever been in. The thing was that I was stuck with the two mallus on the beach and a full bottle of Royal Stag in the room. I passed on both.





Saturday
12 AM
"Welcome to the jungle"

After an early morning walk on the beach at around 10 and a quick shower, we headed towards the silent valley. We had to choose between "Mahe" and this place but it was decided that we had seen the sea, now lets go check out the forests. The journey was amazing. We stoppoed at this small sidey place for lunch. 3 mallu unlimited meals, 2 fish fries, one beef fry, 2 cups of tea cost us a whopping 82 bucks. It was a very small price to pay for the quality of the meal. "Annadata sukhee bhava" Small roads into the jungles. It had become dark as we entered the denser part of the jungle. It was just brilliant. We got to this forest check post. We enquired about the safari thingie. We would have to come back tomorrow morning. It was too late for today. We got more information saying that there was no place to stay well. We had no place to go. Decided to first get our ass out of there.


Saturday
11 PM
"Bang Bang and there she was gone"

We retired into our rooms in coimbator. Yup thats where we landed next. Why and how I have no clue. We just landed there. Thats all I know. Once we had a terrible meal, we decided to do something about our bottle of whisky. It had been with us 2 days, and hardly consumed. We got our glasses ready, ourselves in comfortable positions, cigarettes in place and suddenly out of the blue my had swiped the bottle to the ground. And the baby was gone!!!

Sunday
12 Noon
"...But it rained"

Heading back, we had 2 choices. One was the super fast national highway to reach us home in like 6 hours. Other was thro ooty, a more treachous route and a round about one too. But ofcourse we chose tha later :). So we headed to ooty. Another amazing drive. Partly forests, partly mountain... and partly rain :). It was such a pleasure to see the rain. The forest suddenly looked fresh. It just completed the perfect picture. Awww what a wonderful world!!!

Sunday
7 PM
"Go green till the finish!!!"

We left my house in mysore at around 630. Destination was bangalore. But we ended up in greens. One of the most romatic places I have ever been to. Greens is this hotel in mysore. Its called "The Green Hotel". Open to the air, lots and lots of space, amazing lighting and the best part is no music. We had our coffees and left for bangalore. First time I was driving bangalore mysore at that hour. Just about dark and everyone in a hurry to get back home. And I was in a hurry too. Was just too tired. I needed to hit the bed. And so I ripped... Schumi style. Amazing fun driving a car as fast as it can take you, lighting up the streets on the way.



Summary:
Total Distance covered : 1489 kms
Total Time of the trip : 3 days, 2 nights
Places saw/visited : None