Portland Diaries

So I had a chance to visit Portland in the month of Feb. As many of you must be aware of, the city is known for its microbreweries and strip clubs ;) Sadly, I could not visit any!
It's a nice city with green areas and a downtown good enough to call it a city. Yes, I judge the city by its downtown. The people are nice and smiling. I unfortunately could not see the best weather days which is a rare thing in Portland but if you happen to visit in one of those sunny days, do try some of the street-side cafes and live music. In this city of roses, the most beautiful thing was Mount Hood. Every road I travelled, every bridge I crossed, I could see it. Not to forget, the city has a beautiful skyline. If you're a museum lover unlike me, then Portland has Museum of Contemporary Craft, Portland Art Museum and the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) to offer. Pittock Mansion is a beautiful place for the home makers. One must thing is to take the Portland Underground and also the Portland Aerial Tram. If you are a fan of lush parks, Portland has few to offer - Forest Park, Jamison Square, Tanner Springs Park and Washnington Park top the list. To me visiting the Willamette River was a must. If you get to visit the city for more than just a weekend getaway, a visit to Mt. Hood is must! Some of the other nice getaway places would be Mount St. Helens, the Columbia River Gorge, Oregon Wine Country, Multnomah Falls, nearby cities like Seattle, Vancouver and Eugene.
Portland is surrounded by water all over. On the north side is Columbia River which separates this beautifully lit city from Vancouver, WA (Dear Punjabis, it's not the one in Canada) I liked how the public transport was punctual but then it is not that frequent. Also you can see a lot many walkers and bikers. Of course, the services are well connected and good priced. Not to forget, Portland is well planned in terms of addresses and locations. You can very well survive without a GPS though I would not recommend that.  Well like any other city in US, Portland has its very own Zoo too. :) I was told by the locals that the International Rose Test Gardens was a huge visiting place in June when they held the Portland Rose Festival. So if you happen to be around, visit and let me know how festive it is.
Two things that I would definitely visit Portland again for is the Reed College and Powell's City of Books. The Reed college has a nuclear reactor at display :) and well I love books. Portland is home to people of many origin. It is one of the largest cultural mix I have ever seen. So that results in best food options. For the eating and being merry places, I would recommend Doug Fir Lounge, Quan Linh, Gravy, Detour Cafe, Nicholas' Restaurant, Portland City Grill, Byways Cafe, Ristretto Roasters, Portofino Caffè Italiano, Salvador Molly's, Voodoo Doughnut, Pazzo Ristorante, Andina, McCormick and Schmick's, Huber’s, Marrakesh, Riyadh's, Baan Thai (Warning: Spicest Thai food ever had. And for the record, I am a chilli loving Indian) and did I mention that they have foods on carts too. (YUM!) Some of these places are family owned which I always adore. What else could you ask for more than a good trip, good food, great people and warm hospitality. Oh and 'Coffee People' at PDX is a must too.

Adios!

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Till death do us apart

I often wonder what it would be like to say "I do" to some one and be sure that you would be with that one till death do you apart. In this uncertain world, aren't the vows something that you have to be certain of. Something that you wish to hold on. Blessed are those who have a partner to cuddle with and talk to even when they cannot move. Love, as we humans call it, is beautiful. But it comes with a price. Well, not a literal price but yes, a few compromise, a few knock-outs, too much of understanding and a lot of patience. But then not everything is free. With this price, one gets a companion who finds you amazing no matter what. So isn't having a love like having a friend forever? If it is then why do we expect. Why do we get those butterflies with just that one person? But then that is how love is.. it ain't enough ever :) And may be that's why some of us wish to hold on till death do us apart..

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Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar = God = Respect

Sachin :-) Yes! That is the topic every where. As long as my memory goes, I remember seeing him. He has inspired me by showing that 'Dreams do come true, just believe in them.' He is not always best, fails to keep everyone happy, has lot of haters but has played his game for 22 years and has been a star. I am sorry, a super star!

To all the wannabe's, who want to be famous, will talk bad about him. But deep inside them they know, they are the fans in denial. Yes, there is no single soul who is not his fan. He is extra ordinary awesome. No matter what happens, he plays strong. May be that's why he is called God.
Nevertheless, he unites the country. If it wasn't for him, India would have not scored many centuries or won those many matches. WC would still be a dream.

And to all those who claim that he would not be less loved if he did not score his 99, *in your face*. Every one wanted him to retire because he could not score a ton. How about all the 90's he contributed to the team? No one cared. And he on all this didn't care of the critics. He palyed for the country. He was there in the team scoring a century even when his father died. "To hit a century with that frame of mind, it's unbelievable." Yes Sachin, that is why you deserve a lot more.

If you still think that today the bad game was 78(98) rather than 100(138). Well I feel sorry! Sorry for the man who made it to the top. Sorry how he put everything for his passsion. Sorry for he grew unusually in a country where passion was less aprreciated. He is one person who defines cricket and that's how we react to him. Well, sorry for us! Each and every player once in a match takes 40 balls to get 22 runs. Some batsman don't even last 40 balls.
I remember Sharjah series; those 143 of 131 against Australia and the cokes. When mattered, he did it!
And any ways, even if he wasted some balls, why didn't the rest 10 played? No one can bowl good enough to stop a team like Bangladesh hit. I am glad we lost today when Sachin scored his 100th hundred. This way at least in future, people won't say he made his 100th because it was a losing team. They would know that despite his ton, the rest of the team failed to mark a victory.

And morons, no! we don't lose every time he scores a 100. We are so dependent on him that no one plays when he plays and we manage a respectable defeat which could otherwise have been a disaster.

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Happy Birthday Chicago

And wherever in the world I may be, you keep calling me home. It's a feeling and no matter where I've been, where I'll go, you keep calling me home, Chicago. On State Street, that great street, I'd just want to say they do things they don't do on Broadway. They have the time, the time of their life. Chicago, Chicago that toddlin' town. Your open arms, your simple charms, your people; I found no other place. My kind of town, Chicago is; my kind of people too; people who, smile at you :)) 

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