first contact – skechme.com

Well, today was indeed a blessing!

Got a call from a guy I met at Printo in december – who was into caricatures! Well – he didn’t have his card, so I left mine with him! I did check the internet for sketchme.com and found a very different site with no contact information. Then – I gave up!

Today afternoon, I get a call from Geeth (the guy I gave the card to at Printo) mentioning “can we meet up?” Of course!

And so we did meet up at Cafe coffee day at btm layout, Bangalore along with Subhash (a experienced marketer)

I drank cane juice from Cane Crush (the established cane juice retailer!) and then we  had a great time sharing what we do.

Caricature was indeed something I loved, but have not gained any expertise in doing. Now I do believe that caricatures will aid greatly in communicating visual stories (And that is what I do – www.storypreso.com/blog). So I must indeed thank God for bringing us together. We do not know the future before us, but we begin with a desire to share our strengths to impact the world (in small measures)

We have arrived at the simple truth: Co-operation is the key to making a difference in this world, through our respective start-ups.

So here’s to Skechme (www.skechme.com)and StoryPreso (www.storypreso.com/blog)

PS: the reason I mentioned Cane crush, is because caricature artists have been in India for a long time, but now Geeth has brought many of them under a professional banner – skechme. This is similar to how Cane crush has taken on from the roadside cane juice vendors. The add-ons of course are cleanliness, hygiene, presentation and variety!

The Vacation 2009 – Part Two

Finally on 28 December, we set foot in Nagerkovil. With hunger ruling our minds, we rushed to the home of the Bensams (who were waiting for us after celebrating their wedding anniversary). Ate a hearty meal of piping hot idlis, mutton curry and chicken fry! yummy!

Well, the next day we checked out the beautiful, well-maintained Vattakottai (Round fort), built strongly on the beach. Climbed the elephants staircase, stood on the parade grounds, sat on the fortifications and mainly struggled to keep ourselves on our feet from the powerful winds that simply swayed us.

Moved on to Kanyakumari (where is the  beach?) – saw the Gandhi madapam, viewed the Thiruvalluvar statue and Vivekananda rock from a safe distance. Spent time shopping and shopping at ridiculously low prices, but sad at the state of poor maintenance and neglect. Enjoyed thoroughly the wax-museum at Bay watch (on a site once the property of my parents) with both Kevin and Priya striking some great poses.

The next day, moved to Thuckalay (home of my mom’s sister). From there we moved to Thiruparappu falls (waterfalls + swimming pool + dangerous swirls) – then ate at a small hotel there (Won’t recommend it – but that is the only option, unless you have packed food with you). Then went on to Thotipalam (Asia’s tallest water canal bridge between two mountains, stretching for over a kilometer). Drank coconut water, checked out the famous and nutritious red bananas and while uncle bought some stems to grow at his house, Dad bought a whole set (bunch – more than 30 red bananas).  Climbed, jumped and ran around Davy’s uncle rubber plantation. Even saw how the sap of the rubber tree is collected each day. Ate hot-hot egg bondas at a local roadside eatery. From there we moved to Muttom beach. (wow – rocky, dangerous, less tourists).

Rested the night with some lovely kerala parotas and beef curry. Set out for Padmanabapuram palace. Loved the whole dreamy roaming in that palace! Learnt that there is a tunnel from the palace to Vattakottai fort (collapsed now) through which people can move around. Beautiful place and found lots of great carvings and artifacts (including the famous lamp that does not spill-out the water or oil even after you tilt it!)

Overall, exhausted, thrilled and filled with many memories to last.

So when are you going to all these places?

The vacation 2009 – Part One

Well, everyone needs a break – and so did we (especially my wife!)

With a trip, planned with dreams and nurtured with excitement, we did set out from Bangalore – on the train ride to Thanjavur (the place of the Chola kings) in Tamil Nadu. Spent 4 wonderful days with my wife’s parent and siblings. Went wandering into Kalannai (Grand Dam) in Trichy, ate tapioca and corn cooked on a slow charcoal fire, played to our heart’s content at Punavasal (home-town of my Fil), spent moments praying at Poondi church and finally wandered around the sivagangai gardens. Also spent time at their new home in Thanjavur.  From there we moved on to Madurai and after a time of saying hi to my parents – we set out to Nagerkovil, for the second part of our vacation. Check it out in Part Two.

Xmas decos + Santa

Well, the reason I live is simply this:

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16 NIV)

So each day I live is because of Him alone and all that He is doing for me.

Well, Christmas is a celebration of joy – when we remember His birth at Bethlehem. So like many we did decorate the house.

And oh! by the grace of God and the blessing and acceptance of many wonderful people at our church (Koramangala Methodist Church) and our apartment (Ittina Sarva 2), I did become Santa Claus (the dark skinned type!)

our small xmas tree

Streamers on the roof

mix of plum and date cakes

Santa giving sweets at KMC – HAH

Ready to sing carols at Ittina Sarva 2

Singing carols – women and children

Inside Sheeba’s house – carol time

Balloon and sweets – telling the good news

The dark skinned Santa – Me!

Checking the list – with Vijay Saradi at KMC

Expressing the Xmas wish – with Sharon

My first blog: Birthday

A new life begins at birth: for me this new blog will start with my birthday!

December 20

The year of this blog’s birth: 2009

This birthday was special – because of the number of people who wished me!
Facebook did have its roll and so did my Pastor Hosea in announcing my name when praying for all those who celebrated their birthdays. Not to forget the Xmas dinner we all had at church on that same day! So you know, all those who remembered did wish me and the list is really big!

these are the paper cards and gifts (from my wife Priya) I got for my b-day:

my acer raised tall on the new iball stand

Paper Bcards

Overall, the blessings God has given me by forgiving me; calling me; inputting daily into me His wisdom; equipping me to be His instrument.

Thanks to all, who did remember me on my bday!