Meeting an old friend

So it was that I met an old friend for the first time this vacation, though I meet him regularly in every vacation. Well I said 'him' but I think 'it' would be more appropriate, especially since the friend whom I am referring to happens to be the Crossword book store at Shivaji Park which I love to visit during the vacations. Since the current vacation had kept me very busy till date I had no time to visit Crossword, but today evening since I had no other activity, I thought it only appropriate to call upon the Crossword corner. The Children of Hurin was the book I chose today for reading, though I have not yet finished it. Other books which caught my attention were "The Inheritance of Loss" by Kiran Desai and "The Kite Runner" Shantaram is of course only half finished and I intend to finish that one too in this vacation at Crossword only.
The Non fiction section had a new arrival on the no. 1 position. The book's name, "The Secret" which could be an interesting read as well. And if these books are not enough to keep me busy over the vacation there is always Jeffrey Archer, Sidney Sheldon, and John Grisham (Innocent man). So already the vacation seems packed even if I have no other activity, though I intend to socialise a bit with friends as well.
Can't help feeling that I may have missed a book. Waiting for some one to drop in a comment suggesting some other books as well.

Discovering Mumbai and bird watch

Yes of course the vacations are still in full swing. Being born and brought up in mumbai like so many others naturally I know a large part of the city quite well. It was an eye opening experience that the large part of the city i know is actually a very small part indeed. For instance even if I may know quite a few roads along the western side of Mumbai, saying that my knowledge along the central line of Mumbai and the far harbour line is poor would be a huge overstatement. And so it was that I discovered a bit about a place in Mumbai where I have never been before.
The bird watching expedition took me to Sewri, a part of Mumbai I had never been in before. It was an odd experience to see how different this part of the city is from the parts in which I have been. Huge godowns sprawled the extent along the eastern side of sewri. The roads were dusty and desolate, almost as though i had walked into a remote village and not the heart of the biggest metropolis of India. The godown and truck lined road finally brought us to the jetty at Sewri. The road was probably the filthiest one I have seen in Mumbai to date and probably the most desolate road as well.
Well we had come across all this unwelcome landscape to see the migratory birds(flamingoes) who nested on the mud flats of Sewri, Mahul, Airoli and Uran. We were not disappointed. A whole sprawling patch of pink lay before us, like the huge tulip fields of Amsterdam. Some daring flamingoes even ventured to come close to the jetty (though not very close) and all in all it was a most enjoyable experience, watching the curious little birds(they are not that little) digging in the shallows for their food. The hot sun beating down on our heads reminded us that it was time to go back home, so we turned homewards, back through the desolate lands, to the part of the city which truly looked like the Mumbai we were familiar with and from there back home.
Thank you.

And after exams come the holidays

So the exams are history and nothing to mar the relief and enjoyment till the results are declared, which i presume even others like me hope will be delayed as much as possible.
At first I thought that i won't have much work to do in the vacation but the first two days have clearly proved me wrong. Very busy fun filled days.
As Hardik kothare rightly said "An engineer's favourite watch - bird watch" so thats what i was doing today. then online time pass. Not to mention the cricket match at Shivaji Park and a much neede visit to the hajjam's (barber's) shop ensured that I have been kept busy. That of course has still not stopped me wondering what all my friends are doing over the long extended vacation (except the AILA spiritual party at mt. Abu) So drop in a comment somebody. Oh yes and I think I should make the blog open for public viewing now. (Just to grant the wishes of people like Raghav Ohri)