Sunrise from the plane.

As the flight to Pune took off at 5:50 today, the sun was relaxing behind the clouds. As the plane climbed to cruising altitude, sun looked like a beautiful damsel coming out of the river after a bath. A radiant top with a mild cloud covering the latter half. And in a few minutes, the damsel turned into a bright and majestic fellow. 

Amazing what hyperactive hydrogen atoms a few billion miles away can do -  comfortable radiant warmth thorough the airplane window. And a bunch of wispy cotton clouds floating below, forming little mountains in the sky.  Bliss. 

Crater riding - Puncture or Massage?

(Apr 1, 2014 - Lunch time commute to home)

Decided to ride home for lunch. The typically busy Old Airport Road is quite empty.  A rider on moped zips past me making full use of the empty stretch. But this road is moon-like, filled with craters! He is about 10’ away and I see him dipping into one. Ouch. Lucky he did not fall. As I cross him, he stops to check. Tyre punctured. So much for the careless bravado. And I ride mindfully, palms light on the handlebars, the craters massage me.  Ah I love cycling!

Sketching by running

(Mar 30, 2014 - Headache recovery run  - 5.59km/33mins)

A bad headache on Sunday meant indoors most part of the day. The pain subsided when the sun set. And a good run was what I needed to clear up the head. A casual run criss-crossing the locality. Warm weather, sweaty run. Felt great. 5-Tibetians at the end. 

And don't you think that the run map picture looks like a (scary)runner in motion?

Motorcycle Suryanamaskar

(Apr 1, 2014: Morning commute to office by bicycle)

As I turned east into Old Airport Road, the sun right in the front, the ride to office slowed down considerably. Pedalled slowly, wondering as to the reason for the jam. And I could see it , a big dark wet patch possibly gooey. Hopped on to the pavement and cycled slowly. And the real reason emerged. A motorcyclist on the side with dirty wet patch on his full shirt, rubbing his hands. And a second one does a slow skid, falls and gets up. No injury. Motorcyclists are doing "Suryanamaskar". Possibly wet slippery mud mixed with oil. Glad no injuries.

Back on to the clear road and a peaceful ride to office. Everyday is interesting. Enjoy it.

“Catch me if you can”

(Mar 31, 2014 : 10.06 km run in 1:06 hrs at 06:33 pace)

Being Ugadi festival today the roads were empty. Nice cycle ride to Cubbon Park! 8AM . A big German Shepherd chasing a small dog and the little guy was fast - it was "Catch me if you can". Well, the big guy could not manage to catch him. Delight to watch.

Along the road into the trail. Sunlight filtering through the trees, golden tubes drawing circles. Quiet cool wind. Run across a small metal bridge, it shudders. Fallen dry leaves. Just you and your fluid motion. Peace.Trail ends into the road. Circle the library, suck up the sun and then back onto the trail. Broken fluorescent tubes on the side. A stray plastic bottle. Bamboo arch welcomes you to a mini bamboo grove. Two more small bridges, no shudder though. Back on the road and into the park, two circles on cemented pavement, 10km done. Time to head home. A relaxed cycle ride back.

Do you see a dog sniffing in the run map picture?  (Tilt your head anti-clockwise)

Brownian motion.

(Mar 28 - Morning commute to office by bicycle)

Delayed start to office.
Car from the opposite direction takes a U-Turn. Car in front veers left. The motorcyclist wants to overtake me and rushes past me. Broken down bus on the side blocking the road. Pedestrian crosses the road, with his outstretched hand - STOP sign. I meander though.

A typical day at Bangalore. The scene at Marathahalli. Brownian motion on road. Cycling is fun. Driving a car though this - you need to be in state of Zen.

"Ma can we go to the park and play?"

(Mar 28, 2014: 10.39 km run in 56 mins at 05:21 pace)

Crescent moon today too. But the star has moved to the centre of the crescent. I am late for the dog-walk. Moon goes home. As I step out for the run, see two young teens, in conversation. The boy holding a small teddy bear with a red heart. Enjoying the togetherness after the school exams, I presume. As I jog and turn, a young frisky puppy (my friend) with his master sees me and jumps. An energetic and happy 'Good Morning'. Love that. Smile, nuzzle him, and continue to run. Boys playing cricket in the ground. As I speed up, the batsman lofts the ball, it is a SIX and the ball lands near me.

Three circles around the park and then onto a longer stretch on the main road. And then the Sun spots me. He is there in full glory. As I near the turn on the main road, he rushes in through the trees on the road-side, making a beautiful golden arch and embraces me. Energised. 3KMS done.

Criss-cross into side streets, over rough jelly stones spread on the road under work. Cross the main road and run on the pavement. 300m of dancing on the uneven granite slab pavement soothes the legs. Greet a cyclist who is racing. Into the tech park and yet another date with the Sun. 7KMS done. U-turn with Sun warming my back. Long shadow in front, really long legs. If I could stride with those long legs, I will faster that a cyclist - That would be great!

Two young girls playing badminton on the street. Five dogs sprawled on the street basking in the warm sun. Two young puppies jumping up and down to their mother's head possibly asking her "Ma can we go to the park and play?", and the mother screws her head up- Sweet. Two ducks bobbing quietly in the lake. NikePlus announces 10KMS done.

Another KM and today's run comes to an end. My fourth consecutive 10KM.
Nice. 5-Tibetians is soothing. Off to office by bicycle.

Another nice morning. Have a great day!

Catch the shadow run - Attempt #2

(Mar 26, 2014: 10.39 km run in 56 mins at 05:21 pace)

Squiggles in the neighbourhood around the park for 3 km and then an easterly straight run towards the fresh warm sun. Eyes on the sun, arms outstretched, deep breaths, sucking up cosmic energy - Feels great. Love the Sun in front. Sweat drops sliding slowly, glistening in the warm radiance, caressing the face. Simple pleasures.

As I turn back, the shadow teases me from the front. "Catch me it says". And I continue to chase. Armin van Buuren music fills me, arms and legs in a flowing rhythm with the music and 10km happens. Time runs out, I stop in the park. Shoes off, barefoot walk, stretches and back home with shoes in hand.

A lovely morning! Have a great day, my dear friends.

Trying to catch my shadow.

(Mar 25, 2014 : 11.02km run in 59mins at 5:22 pace)

A pacy run after resting on Monday - Great way to start the week! Love the morning Sun in front, the warm sun rays give me energy and my fastest km happened then - 4:54.
"I am fast when I can catch my shadow" - My new goal!

Smiley moon & the welcoming Sun

(Mar 27, 2014 : Morning run of 12.21kms in 1:08 at 5:33 pace)

A beautiful crescent smiley moon today with a lone bright star just below said "Good morning". My dog ack'ed with a big woof and off we went on a morning walk. Walk done, stretches and then commenced the run. Do not know why, right leg was slightly wooden. Steady pace for the first 5 kms (5:22-5:26 pace) scrawling the neighbourhood and then turned east to my morning date with the Sun. And there he was, waiting for me as I crossed the road. Bright & yellow, fiery yet soft, filling me. And he hid as I turned ran along the lake. Another fleeting glimpse as I entered the tech park area and 400 metres later, right in front. Bathing me fully in a radiant glow, warming me and softening my stiff leg.

A young kid of 3 years playing ball with his mom. Another tiny fellow in school dress running fast pulling the reel tape from a broken cassette. A dog basking in the sun. Two young girls playing badminton on the road. A young couple returning back after a jog. 8 km done. U-turn and sun warms my back. Soothing. Hide and seek with the sun for another one km. And then back to the park for a walk and cool down.

12+kms done, my third 10 in a row. Consistent pace between 5:22-5:32, perhaps due to a slightly stiff leg? My first 5-Tibetians today. Felt nice after doing it. Have a great day!

Normal and Special occasion - A matter of time.

Yesterday my younger son who is attending a summer camp had an overnight stay at the campsite. The organizers organized a pot-luck dinner and the parents too were invited for the dinner. The children were having a blast, and it was wonderful to see the energy in each child late in the evening! The children sang songs, danced and then finally sat around in a big circle to have dinner. Each child took turn to go around the circle sharing his/her food with each one seated in the great big circle -  it was indeed a beautiful sight. For the parents, it was a wonderful dinner, with a variety of dishes from all over India.

All the children were enjoying the dinner, it looked like an extended family. A friend of mine keenly observing the proceedings commented:

 "When we were young, we  went back to our hometown for holidays and occasions like these were a pretty normal affair as all relatives landed up at the hometown too. In the urban setting, eating with a large group of friends is a special occasion. On the contrary, what is normal for the today's child was indeed special for us! Buying new clothes, going to a movie, getting new toys,  were tied to special occasions in the past."

An interesting observation! As we urbanize/modernize, simple things that we used to take for granted in the earlier days are becoming special, and what was special then is becoming normal. As we complicate things now (though we like to believe that we are making things better with new technology!), the most simple things fade way and become memories to cherish. Alas, the newer generation never encounters some of the simple pleasures!

In a conference in US that I attended last year, the conference person after outlining the agenda for the day, said they have designed special breakout sessions to enable the participants to network. He said "Do not use SMS, Email, Facebook, Twitter...", the audience had a perplexed look on their faces. He sensed that,  and keeping a straight-face, said slowly & loudly "Walk up to a person and say H-E-L-L-O. It is called talking".  Everybody had a hearty laugh!

Enjoy the simple things of life.
Have a great day.
Ashok

Structure, order, discipline - How it aids to creativity

Structure, order, discipline -- Grr... People hate it.. Claims it restricts them.  

General belief  - Freedom encourages creativity, discipline restricts it.

My view - order allows us to see the non-order better!

When information is presented in a neat/disciplined way, it allows the receiver to assimilate the information quickly, aid better analysis and see the gaps i.e the "non-order" i.e rough edges.

I get upset when information is presented in a unstructured way, as I need more energy to sift them and assimilate leaving me with less energy to see the gaps. It is easier to see the "jumble" when anything is presented in "orderly" fashion. "Jumble" is the creative part!

Enjoy

Ashok 

Are we focused enough? Learn using Google Earth!

I was recently chatting with my colleagues on the topic of ‘focus’. The question was “Are we focused enough in our business?” The answers I received were surprisingly wide-spectrum. I assumed that the question was well understood and there was no scope of confusion in the question. That set me thinking. I thought we were sharply focused on what we do. I believed this was largely true. So why did this variation occur?

My analysis goes like this…

Here is the picture of Bangalore as seen from an eye altitude of 40000 feet above the earth (Courtesy Google Earth).

What I see is a bunch of buildings and some lakes (green colored water bodies).

Let us go to a lower level – eye altitude of 4000 feet. Here is what we see:

Lo behold - I see the indoor stadium and the nearby velodrome! I see that there is a lot more greenery near the stadium. But wait a minute – This is just part of Bangalore, not the whole. Sure enough, the eye can see only this much at this level!

So what do we learn from this little Google Earth experiment?

1. What we see depends on the ‘eye altitude’

2. How much expanse we see depends on ‘eye altitude’

3. What degree of detail we see depends on the ‘eye altitude’

4. The inference that we make depends on the clarity of data and this depends on ‘eye altitude’

See the correlation now…My analysis of “Focus i.e. what we see” was from a certain ‘eye altitude’ (40000 feet), whereas my colleagues looked at the same from a different ‘eye altitude’ (4000 feet). I saw the whole picture (Bangalore), understood the overall picture and then came down in my ‘eye altitude’ for specific businesses, while my colleagues saw just the stadium and possibly missed the rest and then construed that I was not focused enough!

Focus according me is setting the context to the right ‘eye altitude’, setting the size of the canvas and then capturing the image. If what we do fits in this canvas then we are focused enough, else we are probably digressing.

I am a software test professional and to me FOCUS is very important. Within the given limited time I need to check the software and release it if it meets release criteria. Although I would like to test the software thoroughly, it is a daunting task. Hence I need to focus on what is most important to customer, what features are most used. …

FOCUS buddy....

I would like to hear your comments.

Have a great day!

T Ashok