An Internal referral.

Internal referals in an organizations are a common thing in most companies. Staff engage in it to get the referal bonus or to 'help' someone in their family or friends circle to get a job in the same company , often reluctantly and many times due to incessant followups which become unavoidable after a certain point of time. Some refer others to companies to get in their own clique of friends or ex colleagues hoping that they will form a coterie of like minded poeple who in turn can do great things for the company and also mutually benifit from it. Some do it for purely placing their own sources in strategic positions to wield power/influence.

Most of the times this action serves counterproductive to the reason why the person did the referal. Many a times, once the refered person gets on board, he/she starts to pursue their own agenda which in most cases are diferent from the reason why the person who refered him actually did. It is also seen that many a times, the person who has been referred goes on to build great credibility in the organization and becomes larger that the person who refered or is a very bad performer and takes down the credibility that the referer had built over many years of had work, PR and other commendable as well as unmentionable things.

After years of working in large corporations and refering some persons into the same organizations, I have now a fair understanding of the dynamics of the same and have arrived at some observations around referals that I find is amusing and common. This might be of help as pointers to follow or avoid when refering others to your organization;

Set your expectations and align agendas accordingly right at the start lest agendas clash or never meet.

Refer high performers from other companies, who are significantly junior to you and wait until the person comes on board and builds goodwill and then go to town with posters screaming , you refered the person and thus sucking away that persons hard earned goodwill and adding it to yours .

Refer successful and knowledgable persons to key positions that will never be a threat to your own line of work or reputation and you can still benifit from the success of the persons own capabilities and successes by passing on the word that you refered him in.

Refer and ensure that when the person becomes successful, the person himself goes tom tom that you refered him and helped him achieve what he did and thus transfering all of his success and credibility over to you.

Never refer intelligent and efficient people in your own area of work who can compete with you and even win - they might be a threat for your survival iteslf. Do so only if you know for sure that you are better than him and can ward off any such actions with stellar performances yourselves!

I recently refered a person into my company to a senior position than mine purely based on the need of my organization and the skills of the individual matching the same.Even though I am not paid any referal bonus for this noble act as we do not have a referal reward policy , I am happy that the organization seems to have chosen to hire the person and the person has been working at building his success story in line with the conpany's expectations. I hope I did the right thing and this will not boomerang some day. I also realise that I have just added on another dimension to the whole referal thing by refering a person to such a position. It has now partly become my resposnibility personally to ensure that he succeeds in this role so that the company, himself and I benefit from it. Well dint I have enough on my plate earlier?

A December Nostalgia

Let me engage in some rhetoric..its been a while.. Managed a quick visit to India and returned last evening. It was an official trip with a holiday of sorts squeezed in and as always turned out to be more hectic and tiring than a workday.
Scene 1: Nostalgia Bangalore Chapter
Meeting Location - Ranjith's house at Domlur, Bangalore .
In continuation to Sajith's note on our brief Bangalore meeting at Ranjith's house with Nostalgia's Bangalore chapter, here are some updates. Vimal and Manoj chose not to meet quoting busy schedules. We believe them and pray for more time for good things in their lives as well :-) I managed to make everyone wait for an hour before turning up for a short visit.I did not rendor apologies and was promtly thrashed verbally and then forgiven immediately. 1 full whiskey got over in 30 mins and only 3 were drinking! In the animated 30 mins or so that i spent there i noticed a few things: Madhavan remains the same but has sprouted a French beard and a glint in his eye that shows his success in his family life and business :-). Way to go mate :-) Sajith had the typical analytical eye of the successful HR professional that he is which was quite visibly represented by his expanding tummy :-). Pradeep's demeanor and his physical proportions demonstrated that the medical profession has no recession even if the world goes bankrupt. Ranjith in his everpresent kavi mund reminded me that here is a guy who might have been born wearing it! The nice fellow made us all feel at home literally and was the perfect host. The banker in him was kept beneath covers during the discussion and the naadan mallu changathi was the one visible. His mention that he doesnt want to travel via KSRTC to Palakkad with me but will drive the next day with his boss in a FORD has me rethinking about his character now. I will deal with him separately :-)

Scene 2 : Nostalgia Headquarters meeting
Location - Fort Palace Palakkad.
Rajith's mutiple efforts at organizing a Nostalgia meeting over two weekends finally bore fruit. We all agreed to meet at FP last Sunday at 4. I managed to be late by an hour thanks to my dear friend promising to get me my return ticket to Bangalore on KSRTC and then merrily driving around at Nelliampathy with his boss on the FORD while his dear friend Sunil desparately tried to get me a print of the ticket with the BSNL DSL connection being very friendly to connect and but unwilling! He finally succeeded and my father dropped me at FP so that I can meet(read drink) with my friends ;-) The setting was inside the 'AC' dark room inside FP..one of the upmarket bars in town! We cant change FP nor Palakkad, we can change the venue next time :-). Amidst plates of Beef fry and chikkan pepper fry and a few bottles of beer and soda bottles and some glasses, i could barely make out 5 men huddled around a table , when i entered the dark room . I uttered a namaskaram with a raised hand and a few others reciprocated. I realised I had found them :-) Rajith the arbitrator uttered the initial pleasantry and then all the others proceeded with similar courtesies and i reciprocated with equal elan. A few moments of sight acclimatization and i settled in and ordered a kingfisher to many surprised exclamations. Little did they know that I was trying to drink less by drinking more, read beer :-) Prashant was in the middle - nursing a beer with finesse; spoonsful of beef finding its way to his expanding waistline at a steady pace. We made polite conversation and then the table assumed quietness. Rajith popped the question - China visheshangal para. And the rest of the table assumed an audience mode while I assumed the speaker's stance and rolled out my speel of China. I was jabbed many times with questions and at some points of time, there were more longer questios than the answers itself with the questioners taking longer and longer to probe without providing me a chance to answer :-) some even complained that i was not loud enough! I must say I had a tough time keeping up with my beer that was going flat and eating answering the questions. Hope I did some justice to the questions. Sunil chinnathambi refused to recognise me initially and then went on addressing me as Etta throughout :-) He is a must have in all such parties. That guy rocks.. way to go mate :-) Sunil Shivadas with his classic sense of humour was very quick to captilise on every opportunity to crack a good one and we all thoroughly enjoyed it except for Sunil Chinnathampi who was at the recieving end most of the time :-) Govindan kutty was the typical academic - he grilled me with a QA session and then i saw disbelief on his face and even inacceptance many times of what i said because I was speaking about the Communist party and the Chinese govt. I was in fact positive and maybe candid which was the reason why GK was a bit disturbed. He demanded that i write a note on 'China visheshangal' everyday and I promised i would. I hope to keep up that promise GK ..but with a slightly reduced frequency. Sanjai turned up in between quietly and mentioned he was coming from the station. His first few words were - Kulichitilla, pakshe Pallu thechu! It sounded like both the activities were exceptions for him!! :-) I was surprised that he was actually trying to recognize each person. I then realised that he was faking ignorance. Not much has changed in terms of his appearance except for a few grey hair that comes as part of the grill in a Journalists life and maybe a few extra hair have greyed with the difficult times he is faced with for some time in his family. He went on to explain his child was recovering and we all hoped and conveyed our support that he gets well soon. Today's mail from him mentioning that his child is fine is a great relief and we hope and wish that everything looks brighter by the day for him and his family from now. He also spoke at length about his profession and it was great fun listening to him as always. Chinna thambi slipped out to have a separate meeting with some one then spoke loudly on the phone for a while while making himself the greatest entertainer around :-) Rajith looks the same. Looks like a disciplined health freak with no alcohol, no smoking , no meat and no tummy :-)Rajith the arbitrator asked some very strategic questions and let the others speak more and drank in many fruit juices along with whatever nonsense we all said :-) Thanks Rajith for oranizing the meeting da. You are doing a great job of keeping us together and in touch and such meetings certainly go a long way on carrying Nostalgia forward. I formally announced the plans that Ranjith and I had finalised one evening at Bangalore on making a film. We will be rolling out the project in 09 and will keep you all posted. Will seek your inputs very actively as it progresses. Sanjai also announced his movie creation plans and said he will confirm the date. I am sure Ranjith who joined later from Nelliampathy would have discussed the plan frward with Sanjai and the team. I, with Rajith sounding the alarm that i will miss the bust at 7.30 , i sought help to get to the KSRTC transport stand and our dear friend Prashanth offered me to be dropped in a chauffer-driven AC car to the non AC KSRTC bus :-) and after saying the right goodbyes and the customary hugs and handshakes later, I said bye to Nostalgia December 21 with the hope and promise to meet again soon for even more great times. Thanks guys for making it happen. I really enjoyed it. Hope everyone else also did.

Author - Pallassana Vadassery Vinod Kumar
Email - vinodvadassery@gmail.com

Valiya Vadassery Tharavad - A Rememberance

It is with deep grief and great respect for our Tharavad that I decided to write this piece. I recently went home with Achan, Amma and Vani and spent some time there. It was a great feeling and I wish to share some of my memories there that some of you will also identify with.

The house has withstood more than 400 years of tough Palakkad weather and might live another 400 more. We all know that I am being wishful and the reality is that it will fall anytime. Many parts of the great house has been falling from a long time.Our external walls have collapsed many times almost on passers by many times. I remember once the kitchen room fell on Amma's head and once the wall of the well caved in while she was drawing water from the well. I have had tiles fall on my head and seen many a displaced tile, stone, pillar, pattika, wall etc.

I remembered some occasions and experiences connected with our life at our Valiya Vadassery Tharavad and felt like writing and sharing them. Our school days at the Tharavad without electricity, without running water,without proper toilettes, without proper medical facilities, without much money, without any krishi, without any revenue, without any scope for improvement it in a long time, the times when we had visitors from our family residing in different parts of the country and the world who would come and live with us for a weekend rarely or for a few hours or minutes because we dint have facilities to help them stay longer like the above mentioned and yet we lived there for so many years with just the name of the Great Vadassery Tharavad and our Guru Karanavars and Muthi Muthashanmar and Ayyappan protecting and nurturing us till date. I have very fond memories of those days and will always cherish them. I am fiercely proud of our heritage and feel extremely fortunate to have experienced it in good measure. I can also imagine the greatness and glory of our Tharavad in the past which our karanavars lived and left for us to carry forward and handover to future generations.

I remember the many Vishukanis that Saraswathy Muthi showed us by keeping awake and doing the Kani kootal. I remember the innumerable nights when Muthy opened the door for me with a smile when i used to come back late from secondshows or even otherwise.I remember her taking care of me when I was unwell and ensuring i et well.She is the most unbiased person in the whole of universe as far as I have experienced. I remember many stories told by Muthy regarding our family, its members and our desham.

Let me start with my young days at home. Ammamma helping Amma manage the two us us -Manojetta and I. The ageing Ammamma with many kadams and failing health but unfailing affection towards Amma and us even in her last days to ensure we grew up and had a life of our own. I remember the days when she used to use 'kozhal' for lighting pacha verake at the kitchen and manage with some maids in extreme conditions. I remember from hearsay from my mother and her siblings on the great grand woman that she was at one point of time with Muthacha as the Circle Inspector of police and other able and great brothers at tharavad with wealth that anyone would envy and all kinds of facilities unheard of for even wealthy people couldnt afford. I remember the picture of the Ford that was hers and which my mother and her siblings used to travel in. I remember Kalam and the various stories asscociated with it. I remember the kalam itself and the kolam near it . I remember some of the workers at kalam and some of the names when mentioned. I remember the days of greatness from what i have heard and experienced about our Tharavad.

I remember Sundaramamas walking trips and then cycling trips each week to Tharavad from Koduvayur and back,I remember Udaya mama visiting periodically and always sitting thinking at the Dharmathara or Thalam near Ammamma.

I remember the days when Kuttymama used to come and stay for a week during kali and made us all practice the steps at Nadumuttam and Dharmathara. I remember the days of Kuttymama being Kaliachan and then Papamama being handed over the same Sthaanam by Kutymama.I remember the days when we used to go for Kali kumbidal at Bhagavathy temple, nariyum puliyum kollal, Karivela, kali abyasam edakkali at Pathiyaatil veede, Praying at our Mache and Ayyapande thara before Kali.. giving guru dakshina to Ammaama and then later to Papamama when he became kaliachan and then proceeding for Arangu kali each day of the kali.

I remember Ammas struggle in managing us with the limited facilities available at home after returning from Kolkatta. I remember all my mothers efforts in very fine detail to grow us up into what we are today amidst all the crisis, pain, inefficiencies in the shade of our great tharavad. I will not venture into detail as I am sure my prose will not do justice to the magnitude of her efforts. She is a great women. A true Vadasseryite and I am proud to be her son and be called so because of her. She has been with me every moment of my life and will continue to be the most integral part of my life ever. I pray to all the gods and our Tharavaatu Deivangal to give her good health, long life, peace and happiness always.She is truly a great mother and I am proud to have her as mine.

I remember Acha staying with us there while coming on Holidays from Kolkatta. I remember Achan initiating and putting the first power connection at Tharavad in 1990 so that all of use could have electricity to study. All of us studied and passed out from there and went on to pursue our future better . Achan's effort to make a difference in our lives with such acts are many. I remember Achan initiating and ensuring that we have a telephone at home so that everyone is connected to Tharavad. I remember Achan coming home each year after travellling miles, with sweets, savouries, clothes and goodies for all. I remember Achan's fond care while he used to come and remotely via letters. I remember the great times that we spent listening to his advice on how to live life and make good of it. I remember Achan sitting at Dharmathara and discussing various matters with all of us at home.

I remember Papamama getting us all admission at Chinmaya Vidyalaya and requesting for donation waivers with the management committees since we couldnt afford it. Papamama was keen to make us all study at CVP to provide for a good future for us. He then helped pay our fees many times and then created a healthy competition to motivate us to perform well at studies and rewarded us with cash and many eatables each weekend as that was the most valued and scarce resource then. I remember Papamama teaching us the Kali steps and paralelly teaching us to ride a bike. I remember Papamama coaching us on the ways of the world and how to deal with matters in life. I remember him taking us around on the bullet and then the Kawasaki. I remember the numerous weekends when he brought us brookebond tea, chicken , chips and many eatables. I remember his engagement and then wedding to Ammayi at Kudallur. I remember Tuutus childhood days and their family visits and then later their visits with Teena when we used to run around carrying the beautiful girl baby around. I remember Ammayi adapting to our culture and the ineffiencies at home and supporting Papamama in everything.I remember the days when Kuttymama used to come and stay for a week during kali and made us all practice the steps at Nadumuttam and Dharmathara. I remember the days of Kuttymama being Kaliachan and then Papamama being handed over the same Sthaanam by Kutymama. I remember Papamama treating us as young men and then men and women when we grew up without the prejudices of an elder Uncle. I learnt character from him. I learnt principle, value of relationships, corporate culture, sales and mediation techniques, budget management, priroties and a whole lot of things from him over the years.

I remember Janardhana Mamas visit once in 2 months in his car just to collect the coconuts that belong to his one tree in the Vadakkorathe mittam, I remember Saromama's kalyanam at Kunissery, and reception at Tharavad.I remember Sreemama at home in Padinjaarara upstairs. I remember Cheriamma coming home with newly born Anitha/Sunitha and Pappu/Prasan in tow.I remember the girls starting to talk, they starting to walk, going to school, and turning out to be very naughty and lovable girls and now into great women. Little did anyone know that they will live there till 2008!

I remember Valiacha's table at Padinjaarara upstairs corner which later became Srikanth's studydesk.I remember Valiyachas Krishi management, koythu season, nel vevikkal, onakkal and vilkal, podikkal etc.I remember his many sabari mala seasons and his komaram thullal and sharanam vili during the season and at Vilakke times. I remember the difficulties that all our mothers at the Tharavad faced in helping is grow. I remember Valiammas doshas at her kitchen on many days and nights. I remember the great Vishu times when we used to get Kaineetams, new dresses and huge amount of crackers to burst. I remember her supporting Amma many times .

I remember the sacks of crackers we used to buy for vishu and the big heaps of tamarind at home with all of us helping to clean it up and eating kilos of tamarind in the process with Muthy giving us a earfull. I remember the secret room at Vadakyaara upstairs which was also called Nidhiyara,the kalyana ara, the 3rd floor Mache thatte, the room that Cheriama used - kezhakkaara, the room that we used - Thekkaara
I remember The many engagements, kalyanams, vela time, kali time, mandala maasam sharanam vili with valiacha and the numerous Ayyappan poojas at Mache and Ayyappans Mulla thara.

I remember enjoying atleast 10 Onams there with all of us putting pookalam led by Shobha chechi and Andha Sundh in tow, making Madhor and the daily thrice poojas and melnottam by Saraswathy Muthy for everything, sitting in our Thalam with Ammamma and Saraswathy Muthy Omana valiamma and Cheriamma and Amma on the Charupadi in the Ahaaya teaching us values in life.Valiyamma, Valiyacha, Amma, Cheriyamma, Sreemama and all of us children along with Ammamma, Muthy in the Dharmathara in the evenings seeing Anitha and Sunitha learning to walk for the first time and then seeing them grow up.

I remember Praveen and Prasan running around playing, Srikanth and I building temples at kezhakkoram and doing what all many young boys do - doing many fun things, Manojetta studying at Andraalathara - ensuring i get back home on time from mannam and study well, ensuring i go in the right direction in life, ensuring i dont pick up the wrong values etc, Shobachechi putting pookalam and Anitha Sunitha learning to walk and go to school. I remember we running to catch NTP to Pallavoor, we playing football and shuttle at mannam and the numerous 2nd show films at lakshmi talkies.I remember doing pressups and pushups at the Thalam upstairs everyday and having a great neendhi kulikkal at pudhukulam every day, twice, come summer, winter , rain or anyweather.

I remember the kadhakalis and the mudras which Amma used to translate for me, the ayyappan paatus, the poraattum kalis, the paana chaatam, the vettakaruman paate, the niramaalas, the sabhamadam , pudhukulam neenthal, the chiluke and the desham activities . I remember all of us growing up there breathing the air around, eating the food made in that kitchen on veraku aduppe, and learning kali steps at nadumuttam and tharmathara, enjoying the rains inside the house at the nadumuttam, the cool feeling of thalam inside during summer, the mysterious rooms upstairs and the wonderful smell of old wood.

I remember the day when Ammamma and Muthi breathed their last at Tharavad and left us all.

I remember the all the experiences the great Tharavad house has given us. Our Gurukkanmaar, Kaaranavars, Machiley Deivangal and Ayyappan at Mullathara blessed us all and ensured that all the members living there and connected with the great Tharavad lived safely and left the home for greener pastures with enough strength and capability to move on in life. Many of us who have lived in that house and grown up there know every stone and every grain of sand there and it pains to see it just fall apart piece by piece , slowly and steadily. I am sure everyone attached to that house feel the same.We need to do something quickly together to ensure we dont lose it totally to time. Our Tharavad is too precious to lose. It is invaluable and irreplaceable. We need to get together quickly and strongly to keep the Tharavad intact in whatever shape, form or size. We owe it to our generation and the future ones. Long Live our Great Vadassery Tharavad. Long Live all who helps keep its glory alive. Long live Vadassery Family

Author - Pallassana Vadassery Vinod Kumar
Email - vinodvadassery@gmail.com

Veendumoru Onam

Onappookalam, Maveli, Madhore, Onakkali, Onaghosham, Onashamsakal, Onappoda, Onasadhya okke Onathinde pratheekangalayi nammal karuthunnundenkilum.. sathyathil ippol njan kandu varunna Onangalil idhu virtual bhavathil aane ulladhe.. realityil ninnum valarey vidhooram. emailukalil, scrapukalil, chatukalil, phonecallukalil, advertisementukalil, sinimakalil, pinney shopping mallukalil, storeukalil, thunikkadakalil okkeyaane ippol njan Onam kanduvarunnadhe. Kaashu chelavaakaanulla upadhikalum, kaashu chelavaki medikkan pattunna chila anubhavangalum aayi maariyirikunnu nammude Ponnonam.. TV yude sthaanam living roomilum , bedrooomilum,endhine bathroomil polum aayi varunnu,kudumbaangangalde sthaanam telephoneindeyum, emailindeyum maru vashathe ulla kaanaankazhiyatha saadhanangalaiyi mariyirikunnu. Adhum manapoorvam aane.. Orumichu kudumbaothode Onam enna concept paade maariyirikunnu.'njanum ende TV serialum maathram'enna concept aane common. Angineyullaoru Onathinidiyail njanum ende bharyayum koodi theerumanichu..ee onam divasam nammal TV kanilla.. samsarichirikkaam.. pazhaya onakkalavum..anubhavangalum..manassinu sandhosham pakarunna karyangalum okke samsarichu.veetil nalla bhakshanam onnum undaakaan menakkedadhe.. nalla restaurantil poyi bhakshanam kazhiche, nalla baril poyi nalla kallu kudiche orupadu nalla nimishangal panku vechu Onam aaghoshichu. Njangaludey onathinde ee varshathe flavour 'family' focussed aayirunnu ennum orkunnu. Nammal enganey aane Onathiney kaanunnadhum aaghoshikkunnadhum ennadhe nammudey ishtamaanennum.nammude sandhosham aane typical Onam celeberationiney kaatlum pradhaanam ennum manassilaki ini mudhal eppozhum namukke nammadey flavour of Onam madhi enna bodhapoorvamulla theerumanam eduthe.. iniyulla jeevithathil oro onavum..valarey vithyasavum ..valarey sandhoshameriya oru sambhavam aayirikkumennum orthu aanandikunnu. Ellavarkum avaravarudey Onam valarey manoharamayirunnennum..iniyulla Onangal adhilerey manoharamavatteyenne aashichukondu njan ende vaakukal upasamharikatte! Nandhi! Namaskaram!

Author - Pallassana Vadassery Vinod Kumar
Email - vinodvadassery@gmail.com

Roissy Charles De Gaulle, Crakowie!!

Well 11 days ago, I was at the same airport for the first time. No money in hand, no idea if my cards would work and with no clue on what to do during exigencies.

Today, I am here 5 hrs ahead of my flight and have checked in my baggage.. figured out the cheapest ways to have some beer and food and am indulging in a beer called the Navigator from Amsterdam, with an alcohol content of 8.4%. I am gulping down this drink (half a litre) in between mouthfuls of Casino potato chips and typing this in the passenger lounge opposite Paul’s Restaurant at Terminal 2 next to the Delta Airlines checking counter which has just a few people now at the Roissy Charles De Gaulle Airport in Paris, France. I have managed to survive in Europe for 11 days and also learnt to find and do things that I feel like doing to add to my experiences in life.

While reflecting happily that I find writing increasingly interesting and practice this once in a while with passion, I also realize that this passion has been infectious and has touched my wife too. She sent me her 3rd blog (read as writing) today for proof reading which I found was wonderful to read because of the richness of its content.

I digress. When I first set foot at the Roissy Charles De Gaulle (CDG) 11 days ago, I learnt that it is a large airport with a few terminals and shuttle trains to take you from one to the other. I also learnt that there were only 2 ATMs across all the three Terminals and their variants ( A to Z!). The fact that none of these ATMs would accept my China Merchant’s Bank ATM card for cash withdrawal inspite of the bank’s call centre agent in China and the Union Pay (Chinese Equivalent to Visa/Mastercard) website and call centre agent also claiming that CDG and France had a total of 20000 ATMs that would accept the cards. Well this was another big learning!!!

Breaking into sweat out of anxiety, exhaustion from walking all over all the terminals and speaking to ill informed call centre agents in China, It dawned upon me that I had 3 more options which I hadn’t thought about before! One was to use the HSBC Visa debit card or the ICICI Mastercard or the Amex card to draw cash from the ATMs. At this same opportune moment, the memory gods that sometimes fail me, came swarming to me and reminded me that the HSBC account did not have any cash balance to withdraw from, and that I had received an email from the ICICI bank stating that my card had expired, plus I needed a new ICICI card to transact and also that I did not have my Amex card’s username and password for use in the ATM. Now stranded without any options, I called my wife in China to narrate my desperate situation. While I was doing the same , it dawned on me that the only option was to check if the ICICI expired card could work. I was also aware if the risk of it being eaten up by the French ATMs or risk the same with my China cards.

I found the two ATMs and decided to experiment with both the cards. The efforts at using the China Merchant’s Bank card at both the ATMs bombed. I was lucky to get a printout stating, card invalid! I was also lucky to have got the card back in spite of this. Well, the French Bank don’t have appetites for Chinese cards!! Then the hand of god waved over me and everything changed. The ICICI card that had expired, worked and I drew 300 EUR money from the ATM after which the ATM said that I had maxed my limit. I was fast to reconcile to the fact that I need to contain my expenditure for a day at 300 EUR. I was better off now than till now and proceeded with confidence to chekin for my flight to Krakow, Poland. I had planned to go to Les Fontaines, Chantilly, France directly from Paris and return to China but realized that I could go to Krakow and meet and discuss issues/opportunities with my counterparts there as I was in Europe and was logical thing to do. I checked with my boss who reconfirmed that I was right and gave me the go ahead. So here I was in the checkin area for LOT , the Polish Airlines and decided to write about the day’s proceedings.

I treated myself to a takeaway Cappucino and settled in cozily to start typing. A good 2 hours later after repeated delay announcements of the flight due to air traffic control clearance issues , I was finally allowed to board the aircraft to Poland. It was a 50 seater small plane that looked cheaper than even Deccan airways ( I felt proud that Deccan was better than this in India!). The flight rolled on and finally took off to Krakow under the sunny weather. I landed amidst loud clapping from all passengers at KRK to realize that it was warm ( 28 degrees C)and the airport was even smaller than our very own Coimbatore airport but was much more snazzier than the Bangalore HAL Airport! I disembarked and claimed baggage and was met at the arrival lounge by Lukaciej who spoke flawless English and wore a Ray Ban sporting a thin line of hair for a beard. He welcomed me with all his assumed Polish(read European!) demeanor of deliberate superiority trying to hide the deep seated East Block insecurity of all Poles!
He went on to say that It would be easier for me to pronounce Lukaciej and Lukas as most foreigners do that rather than attempt Lukaciej. I instantly surprised him with a clear and precise rendition of the name in the same accent and intonation and literally explained to him that I speak 7 languages apart from English and these had evolved from Sanskrit like many languages even in Europe and such small things were never a deterrent for us to pronounce names clearly. This sort of unseated him from his assumed European superiority which I had challenged and cut down clearly and quickly with my Asian superior demeanor and explanation of the Sanskrit intricacies and language etc! Now we were suddenly on equal terms and I made him feel at ease by mentioning that his country was beautiful and I need information from him to understand his country. This was an instant trigger for him, he fell for it and said that he liked me instantly after that and went about explaining all the sights, cultures and traditions of the Poles in between the 20 mins ride from the Airport to the Sheraton Hotel next to the Viswa River.

Author - Pallassana Vadassery Vinod Kumar
Email - vinodvadassery@gmail.com

Westward Ho!

One morning in March, a mail from the Director of training for the Outsourcing vertical in Capgemini informing me that I had been nominated for a 1 week residential course in Les Fontaines(les-fontaines.com) in Chantilly in France was a welcome surprise in an otherwise predictable work environment. It was an indication that my superboss(boss’s boss) who had nominated me believed that I was deserving of that opportunity and considered it a wise investment as well which was reassuring and comforting in its own way that I was valuable to the organization and to him for considering such an investment in my development! The bonus was a possibility to experience more of the beautiful country of France and also a possibility of realizing my dream of visiting Paris. My Parisian CEOs comment that Paris was the most beautiful city in the world and comparable only to Rome had ignited this inherent deep need to experience the beauty of Pari ( as he called it)! There was an additional opportunity to visit Krakow in Poland , another beautiful country in the East Block of the Iron curtain making the opportunity very attractive.. almost a dream come true!

The fact of having to leave my wife back in Guangzhou for 11 days while I go about experiencing my dreams without being able to share it with her along with me was a certain dampener to the whole scheme of things. I reconciled myself to the fact that this was a business trip which was necessary and unavoidable even if I did not want to do it! I reconciled to the fact and decided that I will make the most of this opportunity to experience every aspect of these places to the extent possible and share with my wife to make her experience the same through me.

The day came when I had to finally leave for the trip. The Murphy’s law has been so accurate in my life in many cases , I could be a living testimony to it and be a scientific evidence to people who doubt its existence. I managed to leave home late in spite of having 3 hours of lead time to reach the airport. As Murphy would have it, I managed to board the flight without any RMB, USD or EURO and 3 plastic cards which I did not know will be usable in the countries I was visiting! I realized that I don’t have a penny and didn’t know how to manage if I needed one! This is where the survivor instincts in me awakened and instilled affirmation that I would be able to manage in spite of my situation! I don’t know how this happens, but this happens always! My banks website and the agent who I spoke to from the Bank’s call centre informed me that the card would be accepted in Paris!. I realised on arrival at Paris that there was not a single ATM in any of the Charles De Gaulles Aeroport De Paris did not accept my card. I realized that I was now on foreign soil without a penny and without a way to arrange for any either.

In between the racing of my heartbeat and the sheets of perspiration breaking on my back out of anxiety, anger, stupidity and helplessness, it dawned on me that I had a Visa debit card! I realized in the next instant that I had received a mail from the bank stating that the card had expired last year and I was required to renew it. The bank had sent me the new card in India while I had been in China and the Bank decided to disable it as it had never been activated in 1 year after issue. I decided to take a chance with the old card risking losing it to a hungry French ATM tummy!

The hand of god that has always helped people like me in such circumstances came to my rescue and luckily I was awarded with the permission to withdraw cash from my India Account with the old ATM card. I don’t understand why I had always carried it. Maybe because I was destined to use it and appreciate the hand of god from Paris! Or maybe in the scheme of bigger things, this was the design sketched to add to my experience in life! My heartbeat and perspiration came back to normal and I realized that in between all this chaos, I had been drawing energy, reassurance and support from my wife via ISD calls all along to maintain my sanity and to get me through this situation. It had worked for me and I feel that is special!

Author - Pallassana Vadassery Vinod Kumar
Email - vinodvadassery@gmail.com

Beijing Olympiad!

The Olympics is two weeks from now and Beijing is all set for the it as planned. Beijing, with the mammoth national government machinery can move just about anything in China with the stamp of the Govt seal unlike in all other countries! Beijing has ordered the the rain clouds hovering over Beijing like a Damocles sword to move away or be moved forcefully! A 40% probability for raining was announced by the govt media machinery - a conservative estimate! A country that claims to be 1.3 billion in population (the figure claimed by the same machinery that controls all media content-TV,Cinema, Internet, Radio, newspaper, magazines etc!We all know how trasparent these claims and the data are and hence HAVE to believe it!) is gunning for the top slot. Participants for team games like rowing are being encouraged so that if they win the event then as per Olympic rules,the medal tally goes up by as many team members that are in the team unlike in footbal where the team wins only 1 medal inspite of the team having 11 players. India on the other hand sends individuals for Olympics for events like shooting, TT, weightlifting, badminton!!

I was in Beijing and the saw the state of the art media centre(read govt machinery!),the Nest and the Aquatic Bubble-the world's most advanced stadia complex ever built. The govt moved all industries in that region to be relocated to another part of the country to make way for the complex and to clear up the air so that athletes can breathe clean air while the rest of the country breathes the air that was exchanged! The govt has banned fluids, bags, even cell phones into the area. Cameras allowed only with permits.1 cop for every 5 persons have been deployed and still terrorists(??)killed 16 cops yesterday as reported by the machinery! Nations have boycotted the games in protest against the absence of human rights in the China and yet the West hasn't! The country has been ravaged by a 7.4 richter quake, a snowstorm,floods and famine this year and yet the country is gung ho for the games!! Viva Beijing!!

Author - Pallassana Vadassery Vinod Kumar
Email - vinodvadassery@gmail.com

Pudhukkulam

Nadakkaan padikunnadhinoppam Pallassanakkaran padikunna iniyoru karyam neenthal aane. Pudhukkulam nammadey kalariyum. Njan orkunnu..pudhukulathil chandi niranjirunna kaalaam. Kadavil irangiunnavadam maathram vittu valarunna chandi.Aadhyamonnum kulichu kayarumbo choriyarillatirunnu..pala arshangalke. Pinney chorinju thodangi.. sahikkavayyadhaayappo..dehsam kolam vrithyakaan theerumanichu. Chandikal muzuvan vari orathu ittu!Divasangalolam..motor vechu venalil kolam vattichu..onangiyappo..vellam ullappol nashipikkaan pattadhirunna chandikke nereyulla deshyam theerkan onangiya chandiye kathichu kalanju..verum chandi nissaaram! kathi chaambalayi! njangal jeyichu! Vellam vattichu kalanjappol adhaa adiyil 4 adikke chere! adhu naatam thodangi. Meena maasathiley sooryande tejussil avar polum vaadi unangi..man kattakalayi..naatukaar vetti tractoril ketti valamayi kondu kandangalil ittu! dashakangalayi adhil kidannalinja plasticum, meenindeyum manushyandeyum avashishtangalum koodey! Valamo? Veshamo! 2 maasathinullil kolathil ella chandiyum cherum eduthu kalanju. Nadukkiley paara pottichu kalanju. Idhoru valiya sambhavamaytirunnu. Diwasavum orupasdu per joliku vannu man/cher kadathumayirunnu. Joli illaathavar kolavakki8l ninnu idhu nadathikunna bhaavathil ninnu. kandaal aagey aa bhaagathe joli therakke! anganey 2 maasathil kolam mozhuvanum vrithiyaaki..mazhakkaalam vannu! melle melle kolam neranju..oppam nammudey ellavarudeyum manasum! theli vellam..varsha kaalathey mazha kolil neranju nammaudey pudhukulam niranju. Chila budhi raakshasanmaar paranju"nalla avasara,mane..namukke meen valarthaam. Damil ninnu nalla meen kittum..njan konduveraan..desha sneham!!! anganey korey tractoril meenkunjungaley kondittu! aaro paranju..meen nereye undenkil vellam vrithiyaakum..appo korey meen koodey ittu! appol theli vellam aayadhu kondu meenukalku bhakshanam illa..appo veendum budhiman paranju"namukku theeta ittu kodukkaam....panni kaatam best aane"anganey tractoril korey load theli vellathil panni katam kalakki cherthu!

Author - Pallassana Vadassery Vinod Kumar
Email - vinodvadassery@gmail.com

Mukundettaney orkunnu!

Neran randu mani.Karipuranda iruttumoodiya chayakkadayude adukkalayil..mukundettan chaya adikunnu.Pala thavana upayogicha tikkashanteyum..karapurandu katta kuthiya aruppa thuniyudeyum aduppiley nanavu maraatha pacha veraginteyum gandhamano..atheyo mukundhettante chundiley anaswara saanidhyam pidichitulla 10aam numberinteyum kadakakathu shirtidaathe veyartholichu nadakkunna mukundhettante veyarpinte durgandhamano ennariyilla..ver thirichariyaan prayasam.Sramikkadhirikunnadhanu nalladhe! Ithinidakke..ucha choodinte ksheenavum, undu vayaru niranju kavinja paravashavum..ellaam koodi aakey oru vallatha ashwasthatha. Undu yeledukkan marannu yechil ila itittu pokunnavarey cheetha parayunnu mukundhetta.njan avadey korey neramayi onnum 'order' cheyyathe manorama pathram vayichu sthalam modakkiyirikunnathinu aakshepam nerey parayaan pattathey irkunna ente nerku manthrichu..naasham! Evettakalu chorunnuano..atheyo verey vellathumo! Madu pettathu polundu..naasham. Ullil ayaal ennodano parayunnadhe ennalochichenkilum chevi kolladhe irunnu vayichu kondeyirunnu. Kadayil aalozhinju..mukundhettan ellam odukki vannu ummarathey meshayil malarnu'...'amme deviye' .. 'kirathamoorthey' yennoru kottavaayude idayilude japichu! Ninakku poikoodey..njan onnu mayangatte enna bhaavathil enne onnu noki..njan manapoorvan shradhichilla..mukundhettan kannu chimmi. 11 mani mudhal..ayaal varuthunna pathram..ayalko..kadayiley 'customer's ko kodukkadhe njan vaayikukayairunnu..idhu kazhinjittu..venam enikku..pathrathil ninnu padicha kaaryangal pareekshekezhuthaan enna bhavathil..aareyum koosathey..prathyekichu onnum 'order' cheyyadhe chumma irunnu chair choodakunnadhu enikku ishtamulla vinodam aayirunnu..enikku maathramalla..mukundhettaney ariyunnavarum aa kadayil varunna mikkavarum inginey thanneyayirunnu.. Ummarathey kolaayil vechirikunna 'counter' paruvathil ayaal upayogikunna venalkaalathey sarvath kuppi 'stand' vaikunneram bar 'counter' aayi maarumayirunnu. Angineyulloru chayakkadayude 'proprietor' aanu nammudey mukundhettan.Nalloru manushyananu

Author - Pallassana Vadassery Vinod Kumar
Email - vinodvadassery@gmail.com

Frankfurt,Germany!

Travelling to Europe from Guangzhou is tough. Its a 9 1/2 hrs flight and across the vast expanse of China/Russia and cutting through Northern Europe as Lufthansa's navigation system lets passegers know isn't a very pleasant experience. Cold and old airhostesses! Very German! So was the food! At 5.25 AM , Fraport (Thats what they call Frankfurt Airport!) is cold and dry.Very German again. Why do I get this association that all things German are cold and dry. I just remembered the Fuhrer briefly when I saw the cold airport interiors with the unfriendly looking huge German co-travellers in long wintercoats walking to the numerous passenger bays with some expression of boredom!It must be the winter! Or is it German to be that way!

Anyways...stepped out of Fraport on to the road and was stung by the cold. The leather glove that I used in Manali last year to protect me from the cold wasnt good enough. I ran back in and enquired at the 'enquiry' how to get to the city centre hoping I would get a cold German answer. I was pleasantly surprised, the lady answered in perfect English with a beatiful smile and recommended me to buy an all day ticket via train to anywhere inside Frankfurt and save money instead of buying a ticket each time I travel from any point to any point! I just realised, the western world is different from Asia. In GZ & India I would have been cheated into buying something I didnt want! Went to the platform, and found cold platforms, with a cold 'funtional ' looking train. Boarded in and invited some 'looks' from some Caucasians; was surprised to see many Chinese though. Gotoff the train at Wachtkopf, the city centre. It was 7 .30 a.m and dark like the night. I walked around the city under the street lights, in the cold, drinking up the sights of the city before the first few Frankfurters started their day. A few coffee shops that were open all night were still open. Everthing else was closed. I remembered my hometown in India! 7.30 a.m is the most busiest part of the day there! Thats India! I walked through city streets..

Author - Pallassana Vadassery Vinod Kumar
Email - vinodvadassery@gmail.com

Frankfurt Morning!

At 8.00 AM a few cars went by on the roads. It was slowly starting to dawn. The sun was slowly starting to rise! I was suddenly in the city centre with beautiful buildings ..more than a century old. Very wide public places, no litter and fresh air. I could see the rising rays of the sun glint off a building a few blocks away. I looked up and stared the the headquarters of Deutsche Bank! What a Majestic Building! The seat of Power of the DB world! My wife would have loved to see this sight. She loves DB(was an employee hehe). The new age glass building seamlessly blended into the 18th century acchitecture of the buildings around it. The underground metros, the Mercedes benz taxis, the electric cars(mostly hatchbacks) all seamlessly merge into the landscape. The land of the Fuhrer! The Rhineland! I was cold and it was time for me to return and I headed back to the metro to get back to the airport. I had another flight to board. Life of a BPO executive! I brushed, shaved and cleaned up at the airport changed into another pair of air worthy clothes and checked my jacket pocket for the ticket and passport. I have an hour before the next flight. I decided to walk around and look at Fraport. I found many German stores, very efficient and understated signboards(very German) that helped me explore around. Grabbed a Cappucino at Starbucks and a German cold sandwich at 'Leftwache' and went about souvenir shopping! I realised that Futball and Beer very the selling attractions in Germany. All souvenirs were either proclaiming soccer star names or the Oktoberfest! It was time to move to the check-in area..I turned around and started walking to Counter A9. I heard the lady announce that check-in for my flight would commence immediately. I lugged my Thinkpad and edged ambled along towards 'Security Check'. I was carrying 30 electronic memory card readers in my cabin baggage intended for my colleagues who I would be meeting later in the day. The bag went through the scanner and I was asked to move aside for interrogation!

Author - Pallassana Vadassery Vinod Kumar
Email - vinodvadassery@gmail.com

Januariyil Ororma !

Kaarthika thilangi nilkunna kaalam..Suresh Gopi Mohanlalinde cinimakalil villian aayi nadikunna kaalaghattam..Mohanlal..superstar aanankilum..adhu muzhuvan thalayil keraadhe..saadharana manushyarde roleil orupaadu anaswaramaaya padangal abhinayichu vijayicha kaalam..80sinde suvarna kaalam. January oru Orma enna aa chitram njan Pallassanayile oala menja 'Lakshmi Talkies' il vecha aane kandadhe..Ende veetilninnu oru kilometre akaleyulla aa 'sinimakottayi' eoopozhum aarodum punchirikunna oru manushyandethayirunnu ennu njan orkunnu. Scooterilo bussilo sanchirichirunna ayaal aarodum..eppozhum punjirichu samsarikunna oru prasanna mukhan aayirunnu ennum orkunnu..Pallassanayil aa sinima kottayil maattineeyum, first showum, second showum okke kalichirunna kaalam..chilappol nalla pazhaya Hindi padam..allenkil English padam..allenkil 'A' padavum aa theatreil morning show aayi kalichirunna kaalam njan orkunnu.Saadharana diwasangalil Randey mukkalinu maatinee thudangum..randey kaalinu porathu paatu vekkum..Pallassanakkaarku muzhuvan kelkaan paakathil uchathil sinimakottayil ninnu Yesudasindeyum,Jayachandrandeyum, Chitrayudeyum madhura gaanangal naatukaarey sinimakku veraan preripichu kondeyirunnu.. Ucha veyilindey choodum..uchayooninde ksheenavum theerkaan mannathe poovathin chuvadil athaniyil kidakkumbol..aa gaanangal oru tharaataayi marumayirunnu.Oru ghadikaarathinde role polum aa sinimakkottayi undayirunnu..palarum.”.paatu vechu.. ..appo randekaal aayeeley..namukku pokaam” ennokke paranju pala karyangal cheyumayirunnu. Vaikunneram aaremukkalinu padam thodangum..sinima paatu theatreinde microphoneil.sinima thodangunnadhinu 10 minit mumbe kottayude akathu paatu vekkum..porathey mike set off cheyyum..adhinde artham..padam thodangaarayi..porathu sigarettu valichum..'moothramozhikkanum' mattum poyavar odi thirichu theatreinakathekku varaanum aayirunnu.

First class moonu roopa(pinnedu anju roopa aayi), second class randu roopa(pinnedu mooru roopayayi), pinney bench ticket( 1 roopa pinnedu 2 roopa) pinney thara ticket(vela ormayilla).Firstclassil seatukal pushback aayirunnu..ellaa classilum moota kadi free aayirunnu.. first classinde pinnelayayirunnu projection room.. adhiloodey verunna sinima velichathilekku nammal thirinju nokiyaal..operatorude beedi puka kaanaamayirunnu! Aa theateriley furniture poley oru dedicated operator undaayirunnu aa talkiesil!Puka vali paadilla ennu ezuthi kaanikkarundayirunnenkilum..padam thodangi..kottayinakathe lightukal keduthiyaal piney valikkunnavar muzhuvanum cigarettum beediyum kathichu valikkum..pinney ellavarum oru poka maraviloodeyayirunnu sinima kaanunnadhe. Stereo vum..Dolbyum, digital soundum, dtxum okke illatha aa theatreil ‘Mono’vil aayirunnu shabdham. Kathakalum..kathaapaathrangalum minni maayunna velli thirayil palappozhum ola menja perayiloode olichirangiya mazhavellappaadukal undaayirunnu.Aa paadukal kathapaathrangalude mukhathe paadukalaayi maarumayirunnu!Sinima ‘Interval’ inu vidumbol..kottayude akathu paatu vekkum..naatiley beedi companikaludeyum, raastriya party kaludeyum, mattum slide show parasyangal kaanikkum。Kottaiyude purathe kadakalil aalukal thikki thirakki..beediyum, cigarettum, kadalayum , murukkum chaayayum medikkumaayirunnu..ennittu interval kaziyunnadhinu munpe..chaaya kudichu theerthu..beedi valichu konde akathu vannu kadala tholichu tholum..beedi kuttiyum thaazhe nilathittu koosalilladhe padam kaanumaayirunnu.Neenda sambhaashanangal..karachil..mosham abhinayam – idhinokke thakathaaya swarathil kooki vilikkaanum ashleelam vilichu parayanum kanikal keman maarayirunnu. Adhupoley thanney nalla prakadanangalum..thattu polippan sambhaashanangalum parayumbol verey tharathil kooki vilikkanum..whistle adikkanum..paper kashnangalum mattun screenilekke valicheriyanum midukkanmaarayirunnu Pallassanakkaar.

Sinima vital..ellavarum koodey oru koota thirakkaane..cycle standukalilekkum gateilekkum..ellavarkum aadhyam pokanam! Vaikunnerangalil mannathu irunnaal sinima vittu pokunna manushya changalakaley velli, sheni, njaayar diwasangalil kaanaam. Raathri mannathe raathrinjaranmaarku veetil pokaan ulla alaaram aane..second sow vittu madangunna aalukalude varave. Sinima vidunnadhum kaathu nilkunna verey chilarum unde..kallanmaar!!!!! Naatiley moshanangal mikkavarum second show kazhinju aalukal poya sheshamane nadannu ketittulladhum.. Ultsavakaalangalil nalla superhit latest release padangal Lakshmi Talkiesil varumayirunnu..parichaya mulla expert announcers sinima poster otticha jeepindey akathirunnu..kolaambiyilude valarey vinodakaramaaya parasya prasthaavanakal uchathil vilichu paranju konde naatukaarey sinima kaanaan preripikkumayirunnu..jeepinde pinvaadhilil kodey parannuyarunna bahu varna notisukaley pidikkan porakil odunna kuttikaleyum ormikunnu.Korachu kollangalku mumbe sinima kottayikku thee pidichennum..annu pootiya Lakshmi talkies piney thurannittilennum arinjathil njan khedhathodey velippeduthatte. Innu Pallassanayil oru sinimakkottayi illa. Pakaram ellavarum Palakkaatum..mattu sthalangalilum Multiplexukalil Digital technologyil sinimakal kandu verunnu. Bangaloreil oru multiplexil oru show matinnikku innu ticket vela 500 roopa yaane. Njan 12 arshangalku mumbe Pallassanayil ‘Lakshmi Talkies’ il 2 roopakkum..moonu roopakkum beedi valichum..murku thinnum kanda padangal aaswadhicha aa sukham ee multiplex sinimaaswaadhanathiney kaatilum ethreyo madangu aayirunnu enum orkunnu.Anginey Pallassanayiley Sinimayum..sinima kottayiyum related aayulla oraayiram ormakalunde. Eee dhanumaasathil..’Oru Meenanmaasathiley Sooryan’u vendi kaathunilkunna ‘oru venalpakshi’ yude ‘Januaryil Ororma ‘yayi ee chapter ‘Ividey thudangunnu!’

Author - Pallassana Vadassery Vinod Kumar
Email - vinodvadassery@gmail.com

Decemberil Oru Orma!

Decemberil oru Sandhya,njanum Bharyayum Pearl nadhiyude orathu koodi oru sayahna nadatham' evening walk' inu irangi. Naatil ninnum vittadhil pinney nadatham thanneyilla, ulladhum liftil ninnu carilekkum, ofisil ende deskil ninnu 'break out area' ilekku maathram. Anganeyulla njangal ee nadatham aaswadhichu. Pearl nadhiyude olangal melle kaatinde koode balle kalichu, chilappol penninde chiripole ilaki marinju , chilappol.. penninde vayar pole thulumbi..enthukondum valarey romantic. Sandhyayude pokkuveyilinde swarna niram doore aakasham churandi(sky scrapers)kalude idayile cheriya gappukaliloodey njangaludey mele padhichu....Decemberinde thanuppil ninnu rakshappedaan..oru sweatshirtinde pinbalam enikkum , oru corduroy jacketinde pinbalam bhaaryakkum ulladhu kondu njangal aa kaazhchakalum, thanuppum okke aaswadhichu nadannu. Nadakkaan irangiya foriegnersiney noki punjirikkukayum, athishayathodu koodi nokukayum cheyunna Chinakkarey noki njangalum punjirichu.Jenichichittu nammal aadhyam padikkan shramikunna taskukalil ettavum pradhaanamaaya ' nadatham' njangal valarey neenda kaalathinu shesham oru vinodathinu vendi upayogichu.Thammil aa kaazchakalum aa anubhavavum pankidaan melle kai korthu Pearlinde arikiloodey nadannu neengi. Seafood restaurandum, Volkswagon taxikalum okke nithyopakaranangalaaya chinakkarkidayil njangal randu malayalikal melle nadannu neengi. Oru boathousil chennu aangyaaksharam kondu samsarichu ticket medichu pearlinde akkarayilekku porapettu. Aa pearlinde manoharithayude mokaliloode njangal kadannakkareyilethi boatil ninnaringi nadannu.Pearlinde akkareyil ninnu ikkarayethi nokumbol..akkarapacha enna prayogam thettanennu thonikkum vidham ikkarayum athi manoharam! Pearlinde ee vashathulla bhaagam vinodajilla(Entertainment District) aane. Barukalum, discokalum, nightclubbukalum, restauarantukalum okke valarey vrithiyayi oniininarikil mattonnayi nilkunnu.Madhyapaanam valarey nalla oru kaaryamaanenna bhaavathil ivadey madhushaalakal ethreyere. Njangal nadannu neengi..Kaikorthu Pearlorathukoode

Author - Pallassana Vadassery Vinod Kumar
Email - vinodvadassery@gmail.com

Just December That!

Just December That!
Njan orkunnu. Malayala mimicry paripaadikalil ettavum adhikam parihasikkappettathum ettavum avatharikapettathumaaya Commissioner enna Chitrathiley Bharathchandran IPS inde musthi churithi ulla..asleela chovayulla aangyathodukoodi Bharath Chandranayi abhinayicha Suresh Gopiyude mookiloode porathu verunna shabdham 'Just remember that'. Mimicry kaar palappozhum English ariyaatheyo..ariyum pakshe manappoorvam thetikukayanennu veruthitheerkanum koodi upayogikunna 'Just December That' enna aa shabdhangaley. Idhaa veendum vannirikunnu oru December. 2007ile December vannirikunu..ee varshathe vida parayaan..puthuvaltsarathey aanayikkaan..Christmasinde December, Ayyappan Vilakkukalude December, Thanuppinde December, Vazhivakkiley choodu by two chaayakalude December, kambany kathum verey cigarettu valikunna December, Oru pudhiya varshathinde pradheekshakal kondu verunna December, oru neenda sambhava bahulamaaya , innaley thodangiyadheyullu ennu thonikunna varshavasanathiley December..veendumoru December.Varaanirikunna ethreyadhikam Decemberukalunde okke mumgaamiaaya december..Decemberennaal orma vidarthunna anubhavangal thannu poya December, kadannu poya Decemberukalude pingaamigalaaya Decemberukal iniyum ethre baaki..anganeyulloru Decemberiney njan orkunnu.."Just December That' !

Author : Pallassana Vadassery Vinod Kumar
Email: vinodvadassery@gmail.com

Emotional Luggage!

Indyayile pazhaya joliyil oru citiyilo gramathilo ullappol orikkalum poyi kaanaano..endhenkilum kondu kodukkaanayitto polum pokaan kootaakadhe vitta chila aalkarey valarey bhaarameriya leaveinidayil thirichu pokumbol leavil veraan pattatha veroru NRI suhruthinu vendi 2 diwasam yaathra cheydhe ooru packet murukkum..poruvalangaayum avande achandeyum ammadeyum veetil ninnu medichu foreignil makanu ethikkan shramikunna NRI ethra valiya bhaarangalane chumakkunnadhe. Oru NRI leavil verumbo undaavunna expectationde bhaaram NRI de luggageiney kaatilum bhaaramaanenna vivaram njan arinjadhayi saadharam ariyichu kolunnu. NRI de luggage thalavedhana eppazhum permitted weightinu mokalil luggage yedhe airlinum sammadhikilla ennulladhaane..pakshe eppazhum NRIke luggage over aayirikkum..adhinu poramey..expectationsindeyum..promisesindeyum bhaaram! Pinney jeevidha bhaaram..pinne thulaabhaaram..anganey orupaadu bharicha oru paripaadiyaane NRIkke leave ennu njan vinayapoorvam manasilaaki aa bhaaram ettu vaangunnu!Nammudey Bhaarathalilekku..Bhaarathode eeyullavan yathra purappedunnu..8aam thiyadhi..November maasam ..kollavarsham 2007aam aande..veendum kaanaam..

Author : Pallassana Vadassery Vinod Kumar
Email: vinodvadassery@gmail.com

Kilometres & kilometres!

Kilometres and kilometres !
Adhu sambhavichappo njan andham vittu..pinney korchu neram..ayaley nokininnu..ayal vandiyil ninnum irangaan aangyam kanichu chineseil entho paranju. 'get out house' ennu mazha peyyunnu madhalam kotunnu vil (kilometres and kilometres scene) jagathy srinivaanodu paranja adhey artham aanu aa chinese vaakinennu njan manasilaki..vandiyil ninnum irangi..sambhavam raathri onnara mani..njan endey friendinde(indian engaged -male!)veetilne ramgopaal varmayude aag enna thallipoli padam kandu praandhayi porathirangi..kai oyarthikanichu..roadarikil. Oru taxi vannu ummarthu nirthi..njan "Yile lu" ennu gauravathil paranju seatbelt ittu. Rathriyanenkilum ivar ella street lightinde mumbilum nirthum..speed limits palikkum..so nammade naade poley rules flout cheydha ..china godhambundadey ruji ariyendiverum.Adhu venda vechittu belt iduppil murukki..Odichodichu 30 mintayi..20 minutes veetil saadharana ethunna njan 30 mins aayum ethunilla ennorthu tension aayi..ende mumpiley metre aanenkil odi odi theyarayi! avasanam otichu veetinde aduthu kondu nirthi,njan ayaalku sankadathode 40 yuan enni koduthu..metreil kanda figure adaane. Ayaal thirichu ende kayyil 15 rmb thannu! Njan andham vittu.ithenthappa sangathi? Ayal global bhashayaya aangya bhashayil enikku paranju manasilaki thannu..ayal vazhi thetti korey koodudhal dhooram poyennum..korey samayam adhukondu chelavayennum..kshamikkanam ennum..njan andham vittu poyi..ayal vaadhil thorannu uchathil 'get out house' enna bhaavathil endho paranju..njan athyadhikam bahumanathode..xie xie..ennu nandhi paranjirangi veetilekku nadannu. Bangaloriley..'meter mele double kodbeku'..ennulla rathirikalil autokarande standard dialogue ende ormakalil muzhangunnundayirunnu

Author : Pallassana Vadassery Vinod Kumar
Email: vinodvadassery@gmail.com

Chayakkada

Neram randu mani.Karipuranda iruttumoodiya chayakkadayude adukkalayil..mukundettan chaya adikunnu.Pala thavana upayogicha tikkashanteyum..karapurandu katta kuthiya aruppa thuniyudeyum aduppiley nanavu maaraatha pacha veraginteyum gandhamano..atheyo mukundhettante chundiley anaswara saanidhyam pidichitulla 10aam numberinteyum kadakakathu shirtidaathe veyartholichu nadakkunna mukundhettante veyarpinte durgandhamano ennariyilla..ver thirichariyaan prayasam. Sramikkadhirikunnadhanu nalladhe! Ithinidakke..ucha choodinte ksheenavum, undu vayaru niranju kavinja paravashavum..ellaam koodi aakey oru vallatha ashwasthatha. Undu yeledukkan marannu yechil ila itittu pokunnavarey cheetha parayunnu mukundhetta.njan avadey korey neramayi onnum 'order' cheyyathe manorama pathram vayichu sthalam modakkiyirikunnathinu aakshepam nerey parayaan pattathey irkunna ente nerku manthrichu..naasham! Evettakalu chorunnuano..atheyo verey vellathumo! Maadu pettathu polundu..naasham. Ullil ayaal ennodano parayunnadhe ennalochichenkilum chevi kolladhe irunnu vayichu kondeyirunnu. Kadayil aalozhinju..mukundhettan ellam odukki vannu ummarathey meshayil malarnu'...'amme deviye' .. 'kirathamoorthey' yennoru kottavaayude idayilude japichu! Ninakku poikoodey..njan onnu mayangatte enna bhaavathil enne onnu noki..njan manapoorvan shradhichilla..mukundhettan kannu chimmi. 11 mani mudhal..ayaal varuthunna pathram..ayalko..kadayiley 'customer's ko kodukkadhe njan vaayikukayairunnu..idhu kazhinjittu..venam enikku..pathrathil ninnu padicha kaaryangal pareekshekezhuthaan enna bhavathil..aareyum koosathey..prathyekichu onnum 'order' cheyyadhe chumma irunnu chair choodakunnadhu enikku ishtamulla vinodam aayirunnu..enikku maathramalla..mukundhettaney ariyunnavarum aa kadayil varunna mikkavarum inginey thanneyayirunnu.. Ummarathey kolaayil vechirikunna 'counter' paruvathil ayaal upayogikunna venalkaalathey sarvath kuppi 'stand' vaikunneram bar 'counter' aayi maarumayirunnu. Angineyulloru chayakkadayude 'proprietor' aanu nammudey mukundhettan. Nalloru manushyananu

Author : Pallassana Vadassery Vinod Kumar
Email: vinodvadassery@gmail.com

Ponnonam!

Innaley Uthradam..appo innu thiruvonam..Innaley gambheera sadhya veetil..i mean naatiley veetil.. ivadey raviley 11 manikku korachu indyakkar cricket kalikkaan Tianheil koodaaam ennu paranjirunnadhu kondu kalathey enichu..nalla mazha..match washed out by rain..appo ini yenthu cheyyum. Fridgeiley Pearl River Cider Beer eduthu kudichu diwasam thodangaan annalochichu..pinney madhuramulla aa beerinde swaad aalochichu venda vechu. Onamalley ..venda.Kulichashesham fried pok bun and glutinuos chicken rice dumplingsum kooti oru pidutham pidchu..Uthrada sadhya..ennitu porathu kadannu biejing lu enna roadilekku oru taxiyil chennu..oru saha indyakkaraney kandu..korachu shoppingum..korchu kachavada varthamanavum paranja shesham..oru vietnamese restaurantil chennu . Oru sanmigul pls..adhu randayi..moonayi..aaril avasanipichu..koodey oru veg saladum..oru minced meat egg fried Vietnamese pork chopped riceum .. pay cheythu porathu irangi..nadakkan vaayadhe olanjia chagathiye taxiyil kayattityittu njanum oru taxi pidichu..'ni hao..yile lu" eenu manthrichu..vandi neengi..Ni hao ennu vecha - Hello.. Yile Lu ennu vecha yile road.Innu kulichu aapisil vannu..jolicheythu kooti..naatiley tharavaatilekku vilichu cheriyammayodu samsarichu..pinney adutha veetiley South Africayil poyi oru decadeiney kaatilum meley missing aayi thirichu familiyode vanna oru changathiyodum.Uchakku..oru thai restaurantil mrishtannam thai egg fried miced meat riceum cucumberum tomato saladum broccoliyum kazhichumadangi..bharyayude kaikondu sneham ozhichu undakiya ada prathamanum..aviyalindeyum orma onnu minni maanju.Happy Onam!

Author : Pallassana Vadassery Vinod Kumar
Email: vinodvadassery@gmail.com

Adiyanoru Kuravananey!

One of my friends started a group called Pallassana and I was invited to be part of it. Then he asked me to introduce myself to my fellow member Pallassanites. By now I had already assumed a strong sense of self importance and was almost tempted to ignore the request. The evil side of my ego took over and made me write my introduction..here it goes..I dont need to give my name because it is quite obvious who I am. My name travels far and wide (it has reached China you see) and so does my fame (sorry that was a spelling error..i mean..my frame). I dont need to speak sense and choose to speak nonsense because I feel there is no sense in sense anymore. Nonsense is sense and hence by speaking nonsense I speak sense. Alright now that I have managed to convince all the bored readers (why else would you come to orkut/blogger and into this page!!) that I am sensible or insensible (see that becomes the readers responsibility now to decide!!)..I would move on to introduce my humble self (see I am so humble that I am almost elated that I am about to flatter myself).I am from a family of traditional landowners and farmers. the types who like things like..thekkua, thekua, vellam thirikkua, chakram chavittua, nadua, pakua, koyyia, thallua, onakkua..however I dont do these things..I work with a French kambany called Capgemini in China as a Senior Manager for BPO Client Engagaments & BPO Consulting. That sounded important right? That was the intention. Sherikkum paranja ..kayilu kutthua athanu pani! Anyways..thats me..lets have some more intros of members and more new in intros to this group. Desham : Pallassana Nair amsham, Tharavade: Vadassery Tharavade, Bhavanam: Nemmara, Thozhil: Kayilu kuthal,

Author : Pallassana Vadassery Vinod Kumar
Email: vinodvadassery@gmail.com

Pichakkarude maanadu..

Is it pretty there? can u take walks outside?a friend asked! It sure was looking pretty when I first came here.fantastic compared to India. My office is on the riverside. I have a great view from my cabin..amazing cars..ferries on the river..colourful cheerful people..strobes on top of buildings..LED lit flashy skyscrapers..etc. I was floored when I came!now I have started seeing the beggars..the trash on the roads..the dirty taxis..the garbage dumps..the pollution..the humidity and sweat..the poverty and crime..the language barrier and the difficulties!It reminded me of the day before leaving to China. One of my elderly friends wanted a treat for me landing up with a plum assignment to China..highly praising my talents for getting this job. I gave him a bottle of Honeybee for which he behaved like I was the most generous guy on earth..then he said..China Pichakkarude maanadanne..nee yenthina avadekku ponathu!!!!!!!

Author : Pallassana Vadassery Vinod Kumar
Email: vinodvadassery@gmail.com

An Evening in Hongkong!

vaikunneram kulichu purathirangi..oru saha nemmarakkaraney meet cheythu.."what do you want to do in HK" he asked."what do u have in mind" i asked..Are you game for some fun he asked..goes witout saying pal i said..enna vaa!..the night is young ennu friend!Thottaduthu Irish pubbil start cheythu..carlsberg and budwieser! Nice wooden tables and cairs and counters..lots of whites...a Nepali waitresses with a flirting smile served us ..spent an hr there..another friend joined us. They are into busines..we spoke business. Opportnity nallathu varikayanenkil onnichu cheyyaam enna unwritten but drida theerumanathil adutha sthalathekku neengi.My friend was in a mood to rock!

We went to a street with only restaurants..multi ethnic..anglo..american..spanish..armenian..lebanese..vietnamese..philipino..inian..pakistani..afgahnistani..german..mexican etc! everyone was on the rods drinking and eating. It was dark..we had crossed the kowloon bay and were in HK island..what an amazing sight both the islands are from the harbor! I was high on the sights and the beer. he ordered a malaysian mutton curry and roti..they served us kerala poratta and mutton fry!!!!!excellent food..We moved to menwick..a disc where mostly foriegners go..Nepali security kadati vitilya..bribe cheythu ullil kadannu! naanam illyatha pennungal kodichu musikinde oppavum alladheyum thalam chavittunu..flesh trade is legal in HK..velapeshal nadakunnu..thalodalum..verey paladhum..asleelam illya..ellam open aayathu kondu..discreet alla..everythings in the open..ha ha ..i mean..most thigs! Black label ozhuki..4 manikkor..avidey chelavaki. Philipino girls..vella karey choonda yidunnu..avarudey chilavil kudikunnu..avarudey koodey pokunnu..chilappol randum moonum per oru vellakarande koodey pokunnu..nidhi kittiya bhavathil avan avareyum kondu hotel murikalilekku pokunnu..Indians kammi..arabsum..africans unde.. the girls keep away from them..yenthukondo.Avideninnu..amazoniayelekku poyi..pinneyum more black label! Live band nrithavum..paattum..hotelil madangiyethi.3 am!

Author : Pallassana Vadassery Vinod Kumar
Email: vinodvadassery@gmail.com

Karkadaka Perumazha

..ente favourite season.. naatiley mazhakkalam.Pandu bhagavathy ambalathiley oottu purayullappol mazha thodangiyaal ellavarum koodey odi avidey chennirikkum..ini athinu vazhilyalo..10aam nambarum..koottine..neram iruttumbo thaliyil mundittu veetilekkodumayirunnu..nalla mazhayathu puthukolam kavinjozhukumbo..idival minnalum idi vettalinteyum oppam neenthi kulikkumayirunnu.vaikunneram..mazhayathum chettilum puthan kaavum maidhanathum vettakarumante maithanathum..footbal kalichirunna kaalam..pinne kulichu..kodayum eduthu..palancheri mokkil..koodi 'gossip' adikunna kaarya..rashtriyavum, naatu varthamanavum, sinimayum, kushumbum, kedumbum, chandayum, souhridavum pankitta kaalam..ente ishtappetta kaalam..njan innathu miss cheyyunnu..ningal pallassanayil irikkunnavarku adhu ippazhum aaswadhikkaam ennu orkumbol santhoshavum..assoyayum..njan verum..iniyum oru perumazhakkalam aaswadikaan..aghoshikkaan..pallassanayilekke..

Author - Pallassana Vadassery Vinod Kumar

Honkongil oru divasam!

Ethrey manoharam ee Hongkong nagaram! Kazhinja aazcha poyirunnu! Raviley Chinayiley Guangzhou East stationil ethiyappo antham vittu! Chinayilum inganeyokke cheyyaan pattiyittundalley! Nammal Indiayil entha cheyyaan pettathe! athishayam! Guangzhou East Station Bangalorew International Airportiney kaatilum valuthe! Ulytra modern! Very efficient. Trains from GZ to all parts of China and HK. I was bound to HK..semi official trip!350 kms from GZ to HK..took 1.50 mins! They are consructing abridge and after that it would take 50 mins! Imagine 350 kms in 50 mins. Palakkad to Bangalore is 410 kms! 1000 rupees ticket charge!one way!HK ethi immigration kazhinju .. the Hunghom Kowloon terminal is even larger and fantastic than Bangalore International airport or Delhi Intl or chn internatnl..!!!I must see HK aiport! By far Changi Airport at Singapore is the best i have seen! Wifi enabled ..extremely organized..smart looking and friendly! Porathu irangi..Hongkong soil il kaal vechu..nera nerey ennu taxikal..Toyota crown taxis..GZ poley left hand drive alla..british colony ayirunnalllo!..right hand drive.. i was appy to be on the right side of the roads! In GZ i am confused!taxiyil keri.Imperial Hotelilkku poyi..room book cheythirunnu.. vazhiyil kandathellam oppiyeduthu manasil. All roads and short and meet at right angles after 4 blocks..amazing bustling activity and everyones in a hurry. Nice small flashy shops and big malls! Nice ads ..no hoardings!! I remembered chennai! hoarding city!Kulichu purathirangi..thottaduthu oru mall il indian restaurant..sheekh kabab..roti chicken au chai.oru punjabi serve cheythu..adipoli..nalla beeku beeki!Porthairangi..uchathil samsarikunna indians korey..i could see the Victorai harbor onmy right..what a sight! Amazing..one could see the Hongkong skyline from here..its as good as Manhattan! I spent the afternoon shopping and just walking around..picked up some Indian DVDs!

Author : Pallassana Vadassery Vinod Kumar
Email: vinodvadassery@gmail.com

An Ode to my beloved

I can move the sun, the moon & the skies..
How can I move you?
The warmth in your eyes when you smile..
Your fleeting glance, a faint glimpse of hope..
I soar high like a marquee.
I plunge like I have jumped the bungee..
free suspension..my heart popping out of my mouth.
Gay abandon..light in the head,
And wish time freezes the moment.
Lo and behold, you are gone.
I hear your footsteps, and smile.
I wonder how you are able to elicit in me,
A volcano of emotions that have erupted and is overflowing.
Your eyes, innocence in them..
I wonder in awe, how beautiful and tender, He made you..
An orchid....rare and aloof.. wild and beautiful.
Why did he make me meet you..
I wander through the maze of people everyday
And my mind stays on you.
My heart ..like a chocolate in summer.
Your thoughts like the fragrance of a lone rose in the breeze
Soothing the senses, opening up my heart.
Worried I am, that our eyes might never meet again
If I keep putting off the thought of letting you know,
That I cant live without you anymore
So here I wish to declare to the world
That I love you, and will love you till the sea meets the sky
I yearn for your attention..
that cannot be earned by a few million.
Tell me how can I move you , tell me how?
I‘ll change the course of the Danube..
I’ll build you a Taj..
I’ll conquer mighty kingdoms..
I’ll lay at your feet the Kohinoor..
I’ll sing a ballad for you every night..
I’ll be your Man Friday..
With my heart in my mouth
and hope in my heart, I ask sheepishly..
Will you be my Valentine..?


Author : Pallassana Vadassery Vinod Kumar
Email: vinodvadassery@gmail.com

IC 2

He said that people who knew English were arrested..because they were spys. Why would someone learn English unless they wanted to be a spy!! The KGB used to sniff them out. My boss apparently manged to hide and avoid arrest. He learnt English by copying and writing down English books in the night and watching Polish interpreted English movies and tuning into radio stations from the west after midnight . The clarity was low it seems, however he was persistent at it because some day he wanted to escape from Poland and didnt want to land up in the west without the knowledge of English. He seems to have known that it was important to know English then. He said everytthing was state owned. No one could own land. If you wanted to buy cars..go to Germany. The IC fell in the early 90s. He had learnt Russian as his 2nd language for 13 years also hoping that Russia will beat America and become the best place to migrate to. And then Russia fell. He had to rely on his English to find jobs. All media opened up after the IC fell and they were able to prosper as a country. They are democratic now and richer than India. India used to be richer than Poland in the 80's it seems. Whatever happened..the Poles who have been a suppresse race have got freedom and have chosen to be a democratic country..another fall for the communist regime. We both work in Communist China now..both carrying a different experience of communist experience in our homeland. My mind runs back to the CPM regime in Kerala and Jyoti Basu..they dont realise the IC has fallen..its over.. it has served its purpose and is behind the times..Poland has learnt it..China and India is yet to learn! I can see the difference. I report to a Pole!

Author : Pallassana Vadassery Vinod Kumar
Email: vinodvadassery@gmail.com

Jun 28 East of the Iron curtain

Had an interesting conversation with my boss today over lunch at a German restaurant. Conversation veered from very serious topics at work to the east of the Iron Curtain. I will not venture into the gory details of the work topics and will highlight the lighter side of the discussions.My boss is Polish and is a fine man with varied interests in life apart from a thriving professional career with a large successful MNC company in China.We were having lunch at a German restaurant called the Vlandestgorgen' means appetite! My boss explained that he was born Polish and was in Poland until the last 2 years. He had been in Poland when the Iron curtain was strong and at its peak; the 80's being the IC era (I will refer to the curtain era as the IC era henceforth). People were forbideen from learning English. There were no ties with the western world even though Poland was a European country. Germany had a strong cultural influence on Poland by virtue of being the more aggressive race and by being neighbours. He had learnt German as part of his life in Poland as a youth when everything German was supposedly better than the ones in Poland. He speaks English with a thick German accept and I believed he was German until recently when I came to know that he was Polish. Imagine if someone assumed you were tamilian because you are from Palakkad and have a tamil influence in your Malayalam. Worse for a Tamilian if someone tells him he is a Mallu! His uncles had fled Poland in the 80's and had established themselves in the USA and Canada by infiltering. They had been great men in Poland but hated the suppression of the communist regime and escaped to a capitalist country looking from freedon and life. America gave them that. He says that they used to send packages of Marlboro cigarettes, Marlboro shirts etc. He said he used to steal books to learn English. He is a qualified Scuba diving licence holder, is a mountaineer, hiker, trekker, and a successful manager.

Author - Pallassana Vadassery Vinod Kumar

Chinarogyam 2

Avarku kaashu kodukkathe exercise cheyyaam..nammalku onnenkil kaashilkya..allenkil..thalennathey kudiyude hangover allenkil..thaalparyamilya..avar pallu thekkunnathu poley thanney kuttikal nadakkan padikunna kaalam thottu excercise routinil buildup cheyunnu.. raviley 8 manikku mumpe..fruits and vegetables breakfast..nammal..iddali..dosha..puttu..beef..kadala..chutney....lunch uchakke 12-30 avar noodlesum vegetableum..pallenkil vegetablesum riceum..nammal..2-4 PM beef, chiken, venda rice..no vegetables..pinney thaiyirum..neyyum..avar ratahri bhakshanam kazhikkarilya..6-6.30 pm dinner..same vegetables, whitemeat, sea food..no rice..nammal..pinneyum neyye..chore..pinneyum chore..pinney venda chorum..athinu mumbe naalu beerum..randu largum..allenkil 6 peg rum.. ennittu matta malachu orangum..avar 6.30 bhakshanam kazhichu nadakkaan pokum..evening walk..8.30 back..vayar full aayi ayanjittundaavum..korachu vellam kudichu..fat dissolve aayi pokaan special herbal teas kudichu orangum..athiraaviley enikkum..nammalo..raviley enichu..cigarettu kathikum..nammal ennu parayumbo nammalku parichayamulla bhooribhaagam indhyakaar ennaane udheshichathu..athukondu choodaavan onnum muthiranda..moru polikkum..ithanu chinagyakkatha..

Author : Pallassana Vadassery Vinod Kumar
Email: vinodvadassery@gmail.com

Chinarogyam 1

Lokathil ettavum life expectatncy kooduthal ulla rajyam americayanathrey..avar ellathilum superior aanennulla kaaryam varuthitheerkaan ethu statistical analysisum avarude favouril aaki theerkaan midukkaranallo. Life exoectancy valiya kaaryamanennau vicharam..athu potey..nammalku Chinayil veraam..Ivadey aalkaar noorolam vayassu verey jeevikkunnu.Oru thalamura muzhuvan 60-80 ghattathil ethiyirikunnu..pineyoru thalamura baby boomers under 25..ividey madhayavaskar valarey kuravu..1985il China niyamam paasaki..ini adutha prasthaavana varunnathu verey aarum randu kuttikal undakaruthennu. Ennu vecha..big bbom for the contraception industry and the abortion industry.Its surprising that this country comprise of only old people and young people. No inbetweens. The new eneration is so diferent from the older ones , however they have been very careful to ensure the values of the old world chines are passed on to the new generation without filtering. The young Chinese practice century old customes the same way it was practiced 100 years ago. Scne change..imagine a restaurant in Idia..you will find people ordering oily, fatty food, chese burger with extra chese, beef fry, pork chops, potato chips, french fries, and lots of kallum. Scene change..china restaurant.. you will find people eating spagheti and noodles steam cooked or boiled..no fat .. sea food and not red meat..again fat...less rice and more vegetables unlike us who do neyyum chorum, sambharum chorum, pinney payasam, pinney rasam chorum pinney thaiyirum chorum..pinney one for the raod oru round payasavum koodi.. vayar athaa kedakkunu roattil.Nammal undittu orangum..oonu kazhinja onnu murukki..oru cigarettu valichu..oru pan parag ittuttu..onnu orangiyaal..aaaha..yenthu sukham..Chinakkaar..raviley pallu thechu .. nature call meet cheythu kax=zhinja pinney..excercise..nammadey parkukaliley scene eppozhum, old women walkers and men walking with walking sticks..with children runnin around..chinese parks have excercise machines..no need to pay..thodarum

Author - Pallassana Vadassery Vinod Kumar

Chinopadesham!

Bhasha padikkukayanenkil chinese padikkanam..ithu shabdhathinte bhaashayane..aksharangaludethalla..ennu vecha..englishil..phonetic languange aane..alphabetical alla. Ithil consonants maathrameyullu..vowelsum alphabetsum illya.Mukhavura neettunnilya...ee bhsha lokathil ettavum adhikam samsarikka pedunna bhaashayane. Kaaranam..lokathiley aettavum valiya ethnic gruop chinese aanu..indhyakkarey pole..chineseum lokathe ella idathum kanduverarunde.. chayakkadakal..chinese restaurant enna peril ivar pala rajyangalilum pravarthichu verarunde. Ivar cheruppu, bagukal, slideukal, watchukal, beltukal, underwearukal, thukal sadhanangal enniva avarudey naatiley cheap labour upayogichu original branded sadhanangaley kaatilum nalla qualityil undaki..velarey cheap aayi lokathell idathum kondu poyi vilkunnu. Phalathill branded kambany kaar ivarudey shalyam kaaranam kachavadam nadathan pattathey aayirikunnu..oru ayiram roopa velayulla oru porulinu ivar 100 roopakku originaliney kaatilum nalla nilavarathil undaki vilkunnu..appo valiya branded kambibikkaaran enthu kaatum..manufacturing order ivarku koduthu..ivarey kondundaki.ivarudey kadayi, thanney vilpikkum..atleast market share okilya lo. Salper dushperavaathirikkaan..ivarudey kadayiley saadhanangaley duplicate aanenum paraym..paavam branded bheekaranmaar..yenthu cheyyum..ivar midukkar thanney..chinakkaarnammal padikkenda oru paadamaane..chinakkaarku cheyyamennundenkil..yethu poleesukaranum cheyyaam..

Author : Pallassana Vadassery Vinod Kumar
Email: vinodvadassery@gmail.com

Jun 18 Oru Chinakkatha

Njan Guangzhou enna dakshina Chinese nagarathilane. Hongkongil ninnum oru manikkooril thaze by train.Oraazhchayayi.Aadhyathe videshayathra.Chinayil presence ulla Oru French consulting companiyil Senior Manager aayi Join cheythu. Bangaloreil aayirunnu last 11 years. Edakke oru varsham chennaiyilum. Pandu 2 kollam Coimbatoreum, 4 kollam Calcuttayilum irunnittunde.Varshathil palatharam vinodayathrakku povaarundenkilum, oru neenda yaathra varshavasaanam Indiayil oru sthalathekku pokarunde. Goa aayirunnu 2005 Dec.Kullu manali shimla aayirunni 2006 Dec. Njan ithu verey kandathil ettavum sundaramayoru sthalam undenkil athu mazhakkalathe nammade Palakkadan pradehsngal thanne..pinney..Himachal pradhesiley Beas Thaazvara. Ini Uttaranchal,kashmeer,tibet baki unde vadakke Bharathathil..Himachal ithra sundaramenkil..Kailasam..kaashmeeram ehra sundaramayirikkum..I digress..SO I am in GZ(Guangzhou) a port city south of China in the same tropical lattitude that passes through Calcutta.The weather is similar. Cold Winters..no snow. Hot summers and heavy rain..typically tropical.Ee nagaram enney adhishayipikkunnu..China is 4 times bigger tha india gegraphically. Has been one of the older civilisations of the planet..Mohenodaro..Harappan..Mongolian..either sides of the Himalayas. The Gobi desert and the Himalayas seprating any possible cultural or other interludes between these great civilisations.Our cultures are so similar yet so dissimilar. The Chinese speak mandarin and Cantonese. canton is spoken in Canton(English name for GZ) and nothing else. Not even english. I have worked i the coprporate sector in India in Bangalore as part of large successful organizations like HP, HSBC, TCS etc..and know that we are as good as or better than our western counterparts. The Chinese live in their own world calld the ASia Pacific rim. This is the so called emerging market globally for all commodities or services.They dont need the west or the developed markets..its vice versa!!!!!!!!!They are getting better at thier game!!!!!

Author : Pallassana Vadassery Vinod Kumar