I'm 21 years old..

I'm 21 years old. And I am ashamed. Ashamed of being a part of this world. Ashamed of my people. Ashamed to face the fact that those who teach me the difference between right and wrong themselves don't know what they are talking about. Ashamed to see the sun set down every single day and still the world doesn't change. Ashamed of waking up in the morning and genuflecting in front of the almighty in hope for a better world, in hope of a better life, in hope of more love amongst us. Ashamed to know the fact that I'm successful in my young life only because I was lucky enough to have a 'good' education, lucky enough to be born the way I was, lucky to have grown up under a safe shelter, lucky to have access to more than 3 meals a day.

I'm ashamed to know that I'm only one of the 6 billion grains of sand on this beach we call earth, yet I have never learned to feel at one with all. Is it because I was never taught this way? Is it because of the paradigm shift in the education I received throughout my life, which slowly changed from learning what's 'right' to learning what's 'right for you' ? Or is it because the world around me is just too ignorant to look at the the fact that there are ever-increasing problems that surround us and yet we go to sleep every night and pray to God to make our 'own' lives better. Pray to make our 'own' day better tomorrow. Pray for getting a good Job. Pray for getting rich. Pray for being famous.

I'm 21 years old an I am ashamed. Will we ever realize that the wars we wage are only a part of the vicious cycle of rage and resentment that keps on increasing every day? Will we ever realize that our brothers and sisters are out there who are dying of hunger and poverty and epidemics and illiteracy? Will we ever see beyond the bounds of our petty lives and differences that we ourselves have created amongst each other? Will we ever learn? Will we 'ever' learn?

Or is that too much to ask for?

Leger-de-Man !

Traveling can be a lot of fun. Especially traveling alone. Even more so, if you are keen and observant of the surroundings and the aura of opportunity hat surrounds you. I've been lucky enough to have been given this chance. The chance to travel the world and meet so many different kinds of people, their lifestyles, share their thoughts, their emotions, their stimulus to what surrounds them and the life that they define. In my 21 years of existence, I've become learned enough to know that people vary magnanimously ! And here I am, sitting alone and just observing the people who surround my existence. It's all an opinion really. Some would consider 'holding a nosegay in front of a porch' as stupid, whereas others would interpret the same as logical and brave.
The world's an oyster of variegated personalities, a multifarious plenitude of characters and a plethora of experience in living. The more you explore, the more you're left baffled. In this age-an-era, it's easier to travel and explore contrary to what Magellan had to go through to accomplish his ambitions. Technology has served in our favor and made it essentially trivial to go to different places. All you need is a tutorial on the web and some greens in your pocket. Our generation hangs between the valleys of the Angels and the Daemons. On one hand we're surrounded by the comfort and ease of technology and progress, and on the other we got Guns waging bloody tales in the newspaper every single day. Who's to make a choice anyway ! We can't really turn back time to go back to the dark ages, nor can we zoom into a distant future where television would be on a handkerchief.

I sit here, in a posh restaurant with a glass of Apple Martini and a bowl of my favorite, fish and chips. And I consider myself lucky. Lucky to be born this way. Lucky not to have been poverty stricken. Lucky not to be suffering from some epidemic in a third world country. Lucky to have an education. Lucky to be traveling the world at this an age. And more so...
Anyways, I got a flight to catch soon so I'll just go down and dig into my sumptuous banquet and fly off.. :)

Chao..

Oracle and Aerosmith !!!!!

It was a dream. I had to pinch myself to believe it. Oracle Open World could well be, to most, categorized as, a dream come true. When I entered the gates of Open World. A sort of whim hit me. I was taken back to those nostalgic lanes of childhood when I used to dream and wish I'd find a place where all sorts of chocolates and cookies and ice creams and cola would be strewn all over the floor and I could just pick it up and eat or drink it. Ah, Open World was of such standards. Except one difference- instead of the cola, they had Liquor !! Yeah baby - Beer, red wine, white wine... You name it, you got it !

To add to this fantasy, there were free rides, games, beverages and the big daddy of them all - THE AEROSMITH CONCERT !!!! There was a different high altogether. The atmosphere was gaining voltage, and you could feel the pulse going high. In front of me was a stage - with a mammoth drumset visible from up front (Man! how much would that cost !! ), some 5 zillion Watt Speakers, the size of .... well ... me and a HUGE ORACLE sign in the background. Suddenly the curtains dropped and it read - Aerosmith! There was a huge cheer by the crowd. People pushing each other up front in their best attmepts to get as near as possible to the legend himself. After an hour long wait, finally............ the lights went off, the curtains came down, and there he was ... right above my nose ! Steven Tyler - The lead vocalist of Aerosmith. It was surreal. To see them live. To see them in flesh and bone singing your favorite tune right in front of you. It's a different high altogether.

Aerosmith is undoubtedly one of the greatest bands of the present era. Steve's voice resemebles no other's and his inimitable style of singing and music is what makes this band legendary. Not to take any credit away from the rest of the guys, the guitarist Joe Perry, is a fine master himself. They blew the crowd away with songs like "Walk this way", "Livin on the edge", "Dream on" and "I don't wanna miss a thing".

The crowd had lost itself in a different world. As for me, I was no different ! His voice spoke to me ! It was unbelievable. The range of his voice is impeccable and original. Although I hoped that they would play a few of my other favorite Aerosmith songs too, but nonetheless, it was definitely worth it. To add to the worth Steve's joke about Windows was definitely a checkpoint of the show ! :) I'm sure Larry talked money with him and convinced him to do that stunt !

In the end, the night was mesmerising and breathtaking. A night to remember definitely ! Aerosmith rocks ! (And so does Oracle :) )... !!!