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Friday, December 30, 2022

2022

In what has been an extremely difficult year for me, I've reached its end with a very important lesson: That not all acts of kindness may be reciprocated with kindness. Maybe, because compassion for approval or acknowledgement and wanting to be known as compassionate and generous isn't any more than a work of self-aggrandisement. 

As my world collapsed, I delved into books to retreat from hate and fear, I found wisdom in Hercule Poirot's deliberations and Fredrik Backman's humour. I picked up a new skill, GIS (Geographic Information Systems) that taught me that you can change the way you want to see the world and re-project what you want by changing the datum or the point of origin (0,0) in the coordinate system. And so here I am at the end of the year, with a new set of coordinates, a new course in life and career and maybe even identity (for what we call our identity is what others project on us). 

It wouldn't have been possible for me to get through the year without the support of those who stood by me in times of utter helplessness, some travelled continents after years to meet me, others dropped random forwards and jokes to bring a smile to my face, still others called to compliment me about the books, The Goa Saga, I had worked on for 5 years but did not have the chance to do a proper launch because of personal setbacks. (They'll have their time, I'm sure.) I am grateful to every one of you for being with me when I needed you the most. Thank you.

Wednesday, December 28, 2022

Book 57: Second Form at St. Clare's by Enid Blyton

Book 57: Second Form at St. Clare's
Author: Enid Blyton (England) 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿
Genre: Children's Classics
Set in: England đŸ´ó §ó ˘ó Ľó Žó §ó ż

Page 31:
It was not pleasant to be thought a tiresome nuisance by girls and teachers alike.

Flag score: 🏴󠁣󠁮󠀵󠀴󠁿 🇿🇦 🇨🇳 🇸🇦 🇧🇴 🇲🇸 🇬🇷 🇹🇷 🇦🇺 🇸🇪 🇪🇸 🇬🇭 🇹🇬 🇧🇫 🇳🇪 🇱🇾 🇹🇳 🇩🇿 🇲🇱 🇲🇦 🇲🇷 🇬🇦 🇧🇩 🇨🇦 🇲🇲 🇹🇭 🇵🇭 🇲🇾 🇸🇬 🇰🇷 🇯🇵 🇹🇼 🇧🇦 🇮🇶 🇳🇿 🇼🇸 🇵🇰 🇳🇬 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 🇬🇧 🇲🇽 🇮🇳 🇩🇪 🇦🇹 🇮🇹 🇷🇺 🇳🇵 🇦🇷 🇵🇾 🇵🇪 🇸🇷 🇮🇪 🇨🇿 🇵🇱 🇫🇮 🇱🇻 🇱🇹 🇪🇪 🇫🇷 🇧🇷 🇰🇿 🇺🇸 🇵🇹 🇸🇷 🇳🇱 🇮🇱 🇮🇷 🇵🇸 🇪🇬 🇺🇾 🇨🇱 🇯🇴 🇸🇾 🇨🇾 🇨🇭 🇸🇩 🇪🇹 🇦🇪 🇧🇪 🇧🇧 🇬🇫 🇻🇪 🇹🇹 🇨🇼 🇨🇴 🇬🇾 

#readingchallenge #enidblyton #childrensbooks #stclares #flagscore #read100books #readtheworld

Friday, December 23, 2022

Reading Challenge 2022; Book 56: Superman Darkseid

Book 56: Superman Darkseid
Author: Mark Schultz (USA) 🇺🇸
Genre: Comic 
Set in: Space

Page 9:
Only Superman would choose to write in the dead language of Krypton.

Flag score: 🏴󠁣󠁮󠀵󠀴󠁿 🇿🇦 🇨🇳 🇸🇦 🇧🇴 🇲🇸 🇬🇷 🇹🇷 🇦🇺 🇸🇪 🇪🇸 🇬🇭 🇹🇬 🇧🇫 🇳🇪 🇱🇾 🇹🇳 🇩🇿 🇲🇱 🇲🇦 🇲🇷 🇬🇦 🇧🇩 🇨🇦 🇲🇲 🇹🇭 🇵🇭 🇲🇾 🇸🇬 🇰🇷 🇯🇵 🇹🇼 🇧🇦 🇮🇶 🇳🇿 🇼🇸 🇵🇰 🇳🇬 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 🇬🇧 🇲🇽 🇮🇳 🇩🇪 🇦🇹 🇮🇹 🇷🇺 🇳🇵 🇦🇷 🇵🇾 🇵🇪 🇸🇷 🇮🇪 🇨🇿 🇵🇱 🇫🇮 🇱🇻 🇱🇹 🇪🇪 🇫🇷 🇧🇷 🇰🇿 🇺🇸 🇵🇹 🇸🇷 🇳🇱 🇮🇱 🇮🇷 🇵🇸 🇪🇬 🇺🇾 🇨🇱 🇯🇴 🇸🇾 🇨🇾 🇨🇭 🇸🇩 🇪🇹 🇦🇪 🇧🇪 🇧🇧 🇬🇫 🇻🇪 🇹🇹 🇨🇼 🇨🇴 🇬🇾 

#readingchallenge #comics #markschultz #dc #gothamcomics #superman #darkseid

Tuesday, December 20, 2022

Reading Challenge 2022; Book 55: Marriage by Devdutt Pattanaik

Book 55: Marriage
Author: Devdutt Pattanaik (India) 🇮🇳
Genre: Non-fiction/India/Mythology
Set in: India đŸ‡ŽđŸ‡ł

Page 15:

The unruly behaviour of men in a baraat are said to be reminders of Shiva’s ganas, who are domesticated by the bride’s household. Shiva’s ‘baraat’ is a phrase to refer to a troop of unruly men.

Flag score: 🏴󠁣󠁮󠀵󠀴󠁿 🇿🇦 🇨🇳 🇸🇦 🇧🇴 🇲🇸 🇬🇷 🇹🇷 🇦🇺 🇸🇪 🇪🇸 🇬🇭 🇹🇬 🇧🇫 🇳🇪 🇱🇾 🇹🇳 🇩🇿 🇲🇱 🇲🇦 🇲🇷 🇬🇦 🇧🇩 🇨🇦 🇲🇲 🇹🇭 🇵🇭 🇲🇾 🇸🇬 🇰🇷 🇯🇵 🇹🇼 🇧🇦 🇮🇶 🇳🇿 🇼🇸 🇵🇰 🇳🇬 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 🇬🇧 🇲🇽 🇮🇳 🇩🇪 🇦🇹 🇮🇹 🇷🇺 🇳🇵 🇦🇷 🇵🇾 🇵🇪 🇸🇷 🇮🇪 🇨🇿 🇵🇱 🇫🇮 🇱🇻 🇱🇹 🇪🇪 🇫🇷 🇧🇷 🇰🇿 🇺🇸 🇵🇹 🇸🇷 🇳🇱 🇮🇱 🇮🇷 🇵🇸 🇪🇬 🇺🇾 🇨🇱 🇯🇴 🇸🇾 🇨🇾 🇨🇭 🇸🇩 🇪🇹 🇦🇪 🇧🇪 🇧🇧 🇬🇫 🇻🇪 🇹🇹 🇨🇼 🇨🇴 🇬🇾 

#readingchallenge #devduttpattanaik #marriage #books #booksonmarriage #hindu #hindumythology #mythology #india #indianweddings 

Wednesday, December 7, 2022

Reading Challenge 2022; Book 54: Diana Her New Life by Andrew Morton

Book 54: Diana Her New Life
Author: Andrew Morton (England) 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿
Genre: Biography
Set in: Great Britain 🇬🇧

Page 72:

For the Princess of Wales 'the royal business' had virtually destroyed her life, physically and emotionally.

Flag score: 🏴󠁣󠁮󠀵󠀴󠁿 🇿🇦 🇨🇳 🇸🇦 🇧🇴 🇲🇸 🇬🇷 🇹🇷 🇦🇺 🇸🇪 🇪🇸 🇬🇭 🇹🇬 🇧🇫 🇳🇪 🇱🇾 🇹🇳 🇩🇿 🇲🇱 🇲🇦 🇲🇷 🇬🇦 🇧🇩 🇨🇦 🇲🇲 🇹🇭 🇵🇭 🇲🇾 🇸🇬 🇰🇷 🇯🇵 🇹🇼 🇧🇦 🇮🇶 🇳🇿 🇼🇸 🇵🇰 🇳🇬 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 🇬🇧 🇲🇽 🇮🇳 🇩🇪 🇦🇹 🇮🇹 🇷🇺 🇳🇵 🇦🇷 🇵🇾 🇵🇪 🇸🇷 🇮🇪 🇨🇿 🇵🇱 🇫🇮 🇱🇻 🇱🇹 🇪🇪 🇫🇷 🇧🇷 🇰🇿 🇺🇸 🇵🇹 🇸🇷 🇳🇱 🇮🇱 🇮🇷 🇵🇸 🇪🇬 🇺🇾 🇨🇱 🇯🇴 🇸🇾 🇨🇾 🇨🇭 🇸🇩 🇪🇹 🇦🇪 🇧🇪 🇧🇧 🇬🇫 🇻🇪 🇹🇹 🇨🇼 🇨🇴 🇬🇾 

#readingchallenge #books #bookoholic #diana #princessdiana #britishroyals #britain #andrewmortan


Tuesday, December 6, 2022

Quicksand

If you're walking on #quicksand (seen here as the black clay) on this beach on the Gulf of Khambhat (Cambay), you better tread lightly and quickly. This spot near Jambusar is the nearest access to the Arabian Sea from Vadodara, at less than two hours by road. The nearby Kavi Kamboi temple sees a trickle of devotees during low tide. The Gulf teems with wild prawns this season. Scenic and dangerous, even adventurists keep at bay. 

Tuesday, November 29, 2022

Reading Challenge 2022; Book 53: Anxious People by Fredrick Backman

Book 53: Anxious People
Author: Fredrick Backman (Sweden) 🇸🇪
Genre: Novel
Set in: Sweden đŸ‡¸đŸ‡Ş

Page 113:
The most expensive thing you can buy in the most densely populated places on the planet is distance.

Flag score: 🏴󠁣󠁮󠀵󠀴󠁿 🇿🇦 🇨🇳 🇸🇦 🇧🇴 🇲🇸 🇬🇷 🇹🇷 🇦🇺 🇸🇪 🇪🇸 🇬🇭 🇹🇬 🇧🇫 🇳🇪 🇱🇾 🇹🇳 🇩🇿 🇲🇱 🇲🇦 🇲🇷 🇬🇦 🇧🇩 🇨🇦 🇲🇲 🇹🇭 🇵🇭 🇲🇾 🇸🇬 🇰🇷 🇯🇵 🇹🇼 🇧🇦 🇮🇶 🇳🇿 🇼🇸 🇵🇰 🇳🇬 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 🇬🇧 🇲🇽 🇮🇳 🇩🇪 🇦🇹 🇮🇹 🇷🇺 🇳🇵 🇦🇷 🇵🇾 🇵🇪 🇸🇷 🇮🇪 🇨🇿 🇵🇱 🇫🇮 🇱🇻 🇱🇹 🇪🇪 🇫🇷 🇧🇷 🇰🇿 🇺🇸 🇵🇹 🇸🇷 🇳🇱 🇮🇱 🇮🇷 🇵🇸 🇪🇬 🇺🇾 🇨🇱 🇯🇴 🇸🇾 🇨🇾 🇨🇭 🇸🇩 🇪🇹 🇦🇪 🇧🇪 🇧🇧 🇬🇫 🇻🇪 🇹🇹 🇨🇼 🇨🇴 🇬🇾 

#readingchallenge #flagscore #anxiouspeople #fredrickbackman #sweden #books #bookoholic

Armour

She waited for a knight in the shining armour till the day she learned how to make her own armour and wear it.
- Eisha

Thursday, November 17, 2022

Reading Challenge 2022; Book 52: Istanbul - Memories and the City by Orhan Pamuk

Book 52: Istanbul - Memories and the City
Author: Orhan Pamuk (Turkey) 🇹🇷
Genre: Memoir/Travel/History
Set in: Turkey đŸ‡šđŸ‡ˇ

Page 244:
This was my first intimation of the thing that would nag at me in later years, the self-contradiction - a Westerner would call it a paradox - that we only acquire our own identity by imitating others.

Flag score: 🏴󠁣󠁮󠀵󠀴󠁿 🇿🇦 🇨🇳 🇸🇦 🇧🇴 🇲🇸 🇬🇷 🇹🇷 🇦🇺 🇸🇪 🇪🇸 🇬🇭 🇹🇬 🇧🇫 🇳🇪 🇱🇾 🇹🇳 🇩🇿 🇲🇱 🇲🇦 🇲🇷 🇬🇦 🇧🇩 🇨🇦 🇲🇲 🇹🇭 🇵🇭 🇲🇾 🇸🇬 🇰🇷 🇯🇵 🇹🇼 🇧🇦 🇮🇶 🇳🇿 🇼🇸 🇵🇰 🇳🇬 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 🇬🇧 🇲🇽 🇮🇳 🇩🇪 🇦🇹 🇮🇹 🇷🇺 🇳🇵 🇦🇷 🇵🇾 🇵🇪 🇸🇷 🇮🇪 🇨🇿 🇵🇱 🇫🇮 🇱🇻 🇱🇹 🇪🇪 🇫🇷 🇧🇷 🇰🇿 🇺🇸 🇵🇹 🇸🇷 🇳🇱 🇮🇱 🇮🇷 🇵🇸 🇪🇬 🇺🇾 🇨🇱 🇯🇴 🇸🇾 🇨🇾 🇨🇭 🇸🇩 🇪🇹 🇦🇪 🇧🇪 🇧🇧 🇬🇫 🇻🇪 🇹🇹 🇨🇼 🇨🇴 🇬🇾 

#readingchallenge #orhanpamuk #istanbul #turkey #travel #history #memoir #memories 

Wednesday, November 16, 2022

Reading Challenge 2022; Book 51: The House of Ulloa by Emilia Pardo BazĂĄn

Book 51: The House of Ulloa
Author: Emilia Pardo BazĂĄn (Spain) 🇪🇸
Genre: Novel
Set in: Spain đŸ‡ŞđŸ‡¸
Publisher: Penguin Classics

Page 192:

Everywhere, it is true, politics is a cloak for self-interest, hypocrisy and lack of principle.

Flag score: 🏴󠁣󠁮󠀵󠀴󠁿 🇿🇦 🇨🇳 🇸🇦 🇧🇴 🇲🇸 🇬🇷 🇹🇷 🇦🇺 🇸🇪 🇪🇸 🇬🇭 🇹🇬 🇧🇫 🇳🇪 🇱🇾 🇹🇳 🇩🇿 🇲🇱 🇲🇦 🇲🇷 🇬🇦 🇧🇩 🇨🇦 🇲🇲 🇹🇭 🇵🇭 🇲🇾 🇸🇬 🇰🇷 🇯🇵 🇹🇼 🇧🇦 🇮🇶 🇳🇿 🇼🇸 🇵🇰 🇳🇬 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 🇬🇧 🇲🇽 🇮🇳 🇩🇪 🇦🇹 🇮🇹 🇷🇺 🇳🇵 🇦🇷 🇵🇾 🇵🇪 🇸🇷 🇮🇪 🇨🇿 🇵🇱 🇫🇮 🇱🇻 🇱🇹 🇪🇪 🇫🇷 🇧🇷 🇰🇿 🇺🇸 🇵🇹 🇸🇷 🇳🇱 🇮🇱 🇮🇷 🇵🇸 🇪🇬 🇺🇾 🇨🇱 🇯🇴 🇸🇾 🇨🇾 🇨🇭 🇸🇩 🇪🇹 🇦🇪 🇧🇪 🇧🇧 🇬🇫 🇻🇪 🇹🇹 🇨🇼 🇨🇴 🇬🇾 

#readingchallenge #penguinclassics #spain #spanishauthors #womenwriters

Monday, November 7, 2022

50 Books 50 Countries; Book 50: Agatha Christie's The Secret Adversary

My reading challenge 2022 is to finish 50 books that have been published/authored/set in 50 different countries. I shall post about the ones I have read, mention the country they are set in and where the author is based. Instead of a review, I shall open a random page in the book and quote a line/para. My reviews and ratings are available on Goodreads, for those who wish to know.

Book 50: The Secret Adversary
Author: Agatha Christie (England) 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿
Genre: Fiction/Crime
Set in: United Kingdom 🇬🇧

Page 222:
Conrad snarled impotently, and said sullenly, as the man with the beard swung round upon him:
'He gave the word. How was I to know?'

Flag score: 🏴󠁣󠁮󠀵󠀴󠁿 🇿🇦 🇨🇳 🇸🇦 🇧🇴 🇲🇸 🇬🇷 🇹🇷 🇦🇺 🇸🇪 🇪🇸 🇬🇭 🇹🇬 🇧🇫 🇳🇪 🇱🇾 🇹🇳 🇩🇿 🇲🇱 🇲🇦 🇲🇷 🇬🇦 🇧🇩 🇨🇦 🇲🇲 🇹🇭 🇵🇭 🇲🇾 🇸🇬 🇰🇷 🇯🇵 🇹🇼 🇧🇦 🇮🇶 🇳🇿 🇼🇸 🇵🇰 🇳🇬 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 🇬🇧 🇲🇽 🇮🇳 🇩🇪 🇦🇹 🇮🇹 🇷🇺 🇳🇵 🇦🇷 🇵🇾 🇵🇪 🇸🇷 🇮🇪 🇨🇿 🇵🇱 🇫🇮 🇱🇻 🇱🇹 🇪🇪 🇫🇷 🇧🇷 🇰🇿 🇺🇸 🇵🇹 🇸🇷 🇳🇱 🇮🇱 🇮🇷 🇵🇸 🇪🇬 🇺🇾 🇨🇱 🇯🇴 🇸🇾 🇨🇾 🇨🇭 🇸🇩 🇪🇹 🇦🇪 🇧🇪 🇧🇧 🇬🇫 🇻🇪 🇹🇹 🇨🇼 🇨🇴 🇬🇾

#50books50countries #readingchallenge #agathachristie #crime #fiction

Wednesday, November 2, 2022

50 Books 50 Countries; Book 49: Colin Thubron's To a Mountain in Tibet

My reading challenge 2022 is to finish 50 books that have been published/authored/set in 50 different countries. I shall post about the ones I have read, mention the country they are set in and where the author is based. Instead of a review, I shall open a random page in the book and quote a line/para. My reviews and ratings are available on Goodreads, for those who wish to know.

Book 49: To a Mountain in Tibet
Author: Colin Thubron (England) 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿
Genre: Travel
Set in: Nepal 🇳🇵 Tibet  🏴󠁣󠁮󠀵󠀴󠁿 (the emoji doesn't show up in India)

Page 54:

The value of things no longer belongs to cost or beauty, but only to memory. The chipped and faded teacup is more precious than the silver tray that nobody used.

Flag score: đŸ´ó Łó Žó €ľó €´ó ż  🇿🇦 🇨🇳 🇸🇦 🇧🇴 🇲🇸 🇬🇷 🇹🇷 🇦🇺 🇸🇪 🇪🇸 🇬🇭 🇹🇬 🇧🇫 🇳🇪 🇱🇾 🇹🇳 🇩🇿 🇲🇱 🇲🇦 🇲🇷 🇬🇦 🇧🇩 🇨🇦 🇲🇲 🇹🇭 🇵🇭 🇲🇾 🇸🇬 🇰🇷 🇯🇵 🇹🇼 🇧🇦 🇮🇶 🇳🇿 🇼🇸 🇵🇰 🇳🇬 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 🇬🇧 🇲🇽 🇮🇳 🇩🇪 🇦🇹 🇮🇹 🇷🇺 🇳🇵 🇦🇷 🇵🇾 🇵🇪 🇸🇷 🇮🇪 🇨🇿 🇵🇱 🇫🇮 🇱🇻 🇱🇹 🇪🇪 🇫🇷 🇧🇷 🇰🇿 🇺🇸 🇵🇹 🇸🇷 🇳🇱 🇮🇱 🇮🇷 🇵🇸 🇪🇬 🇺🇾 🇨🇱 🇯🇴 🇸🇾 🇨🇾 🇨🇭 🇸🇩 🇪🇹 🇦🇪 🇧🇪 🇧🇧 🇬🇫 🇻🇪 🇹🇹 🇨🇼 🇨🇴 🇬🇾

#50books50countries #readingchallenge #mountkailas #tibet #travel #colinthubron #nepal #books #bookoholic #buddhism #tibetanbuddhism #religion #padmasambhava #amitabhabuddha #lama #hinduism #shiva #lakemanasarovar #meditation #monks

Sunday, October 30, 2022

50 Books 50 Countries; Book 48: These Alien Skies by C T Rwizi

My reading challenge 2022 is to finish 50 books that have been published/authored/set in 50 different countries. I shall post about the ones I have read, mention the country they are set in and where the author is based. Instead of a review, I shall open a random page in the book and quote a line/para. My reviews and ratings are available on Goodreads, for those who wish to know.

Book 48: These Alien Skies
Author: C T Rwizi (South Africa) 🇿🇦
Genre: Sci-fi
Set in: Space


Location 149:

History can be a burden sometimes. I should know. Growing up on a Martian arcology as a third-generation immigrant from South Africa, I was neither among the wealthy founding families nor was I among the desired demographic of settlers. It never quite felt like my home world wanted me, a curse many Africans in the diaspora have never truly escaped.

Flag score:  🇿🇦  🇨🇳 🇸🇦 🇧🇴 🇲🇸 🇬🇷 🇹🇷 🇦🇺 🇸🇪 🇪🇸 🇬🇭 🇹🇬 🇧🇫 🇳🇪 🇱🇾 🇹🇳 🇩🇿 🇲🇱 🇲🇦 🇲🇷 🇬🇦 🇧🇩 🇨🇦 🇲🇲 🇹🇭 🇵🇭 🇲🇾 🇸🇬 🇰🇷 🇯🇵 🇹🇼 🇧🇦 🇮🇶 🇳🇿 🇼🇸 🇵🇰 🇳🇬 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 🇬🇧 🇲🇽 🇮🇳 🇩🇪 🇦🇹 🇮🇹 🇷🇺 🇳🇵 🇦🇷 🇵🇾 🇵🇪 🇸🇷 🇮🇪 🇨🇿 🇵🇱 🇫🇮 🇱🇻 🇱🇹 🇪🇪 🇫🇷 🇧🇷 🇰🇿 🇺🇸 🇵🇹 🇸🇷 🇳🇱 🇮🇱 🇮🇷 🇵🇸 🇪🇬 🇺🇾 🇨🇱 🇯🇴 🇸🇾 🇨🇾 🇨🇭 🇸🇩 🇪🇹 🇦🇪 🇧🇪 🇧🇧 🇬🇫 🇻🇪 🇹🇹 🇨🇼 🇨🇴 🇬🇾


#readingchallenge #50books50countries #africanwriters #blackauthors #scifi #space #africa #southafrica #amazonoriginals

Tuesday, October 25, 2022

50 Books 50 Countries; Book 47: The Black Pages by Nnedi Okorafor

My reading challenge 2022 is to finish 50 books that have been published/authored/set in 50 different countries. I shall post about the ones I have read, mention the country they are set in and where the author is based. Instead of a review, I shall open a random page in the book and quote a line/para. My reviews and ratings are available on Goodreads, for those who wish to know.

Book 47: The Black Pages
Author: Nnedi Okorafor (USA) 🇺🇸
Genre: Novella 
Set in: Mali 🇲🇱
Page 19:

They want to erase the history of our people. They want to erase our ancestors. Wipe them all away and replace them with the memory of the Arab. It is a false jihad against the genius of the black African. It is not Islam at all.”

Flag score: 🇨🇳 🇸🇦 🇧🇴 🇲🇸 🇬🇷 🇹🇷 🇦🇺 🇸🇪 🇪🇸 🇬🇭 🇹🇬 🇧🇫 🇳🇪 🇱🇾 🇹🇳 🇩🇿 🇲🇱 🇲🇦 🇲🇷 🇬🇦 🇧🇩 🇨🇦 🇲🇲 🇹🇭 🇵🇭 🇲🇾 🇸🇬 🇰🇷 🇯🇵 🇹🇼 🇧🇦 🇮🇶 🇳🇿 🇼🇸 🇵🇰 🇳🇬 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 🇬🇧 🇲🇽 🇮🇳 🇩🇪 🇦🇹 🇮🇹 🇷🇺 🇳🇵 🇦🇷 🇵🇾 🇵🇪 🇸🇷 🇮🇪 🇨🇿 🇵🇱 🇫🇮 🇱🇻 🇱🇹 🇪🇪 🇫🇷 🇧🇷 🇰🇿 🇺🇸 🇵🇹 🇸🇷 🇳🇱 🇮🇱 🇮🇷 🇵🇸 🇪🇬 🇺🇾 🇨🇱 🇯🇴 🇸🇾 🇨🇾 🇨🇭 🇸🇩 🇪🇹 🇦🇪 🇧🇪 🇧🇧 🇬🇫 🇻🇪 🇹🇹 🇨🇼 🇨🇴 🇬🇾


#readingchallenge #50books50countries #africanwriters #mali #amazonoriginalstories #amazon #nnediokorafor #books #africa 

Monday, October 17, 2022

50 Books 50 Countries; Book 46: To the Sky Kingdom by Tang Qi

My reading challenge 2022 is to finish 50 books that have been published/authored/set in 50 different countries. I shall post about the ones I have read, mention the country they are set in and where the author is based. Instead of a review, I shall open a random page in the book and quote a line/para. My reviews and ratings are available on Goodreads, for those who wish to know.

Book 46: To the Sky Kingdom 
Author: Tang Qi (China) 🇨🇳
Genre: Fantasy
Set in: China đŸ‡¨đŸ‡ł

Page 2:
The pain spread through her heart like a drop of ink being sucked into a sheet of thick rice paper.

Flag score: 🇨🇳 🇸🇦 🇧🇴 🇲🇸 🇬🇷 🇹🇷 🇦🇺 🇸🇪 🇪🇸 🇬🇭 🇹🇬 🇧🇫 🇳🇪 🇱🇾 🇹🇳 🇩🇿 🇲🇱 🇲🇦 🇲🇷 🇬🇦 🇧🇩 🇨🇦 🇲🇲 🇹🇭 🇵🇭 🇲🇾 🇸🇬 🇰🇷 🇯🇵 🇹🇼 🇧🇦 🇮🇶 🇳🇿 🇼🇸 🇵🇰 🇳🇬 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 🇬🇧 🇲🇽 🇮🇳 🇩🇪 🇦🇹 🇮🇹 🇷🇺 🇳🇵 🇦🇷 🇵🇾 🇵🇪 🇸🇷 🇮🇪 🇨🇿 🇵🇱 🇫🇮 🇱🇻 🇱🇹 🇪🇪 🇫🇷 🇧🇷 🇰🇿 🇺🇸 🇵🇹 🇸🇷 🇳🇱 🇮🇱 🇮🇷 🇵🇸 🇪🇬 🇺🇾 🇨🇱 🇯🇴 🇸🇾 🇨🇾 🇨🇭 🇸🇩 🇪🇹 🇦🇪 🇧🇪 🇧🇧 🇬🇫 🇻🇪 🇹🇹 🇨🇼 🇨🇴 🇬🇾

#50books50countries #chineseauthors #fantasy #readingchallenge #china #tangqi #totheskykingdom #bookoholic #books


Finished GIS Course 2: Data formats, design and quality

Finished course 2 of a five-course GIS specialization. This one was about data and its formats. I love infographics and data design but this one has challenged me with algebra and Python. The capstone project was called Moving Valmeyer, a real situation where the town of Valmeyer in Ohio moved because of the loss of property and life they faced during consecutive floods for years. Years ago, as a journalist, I covered the settlements that were submerged because of the increase in the height of the Sardar Sarovar Dam. Now, on the other side, I got a faint idea of what goes through the mind of a town planner in the records department to decide where the villagers should be resettled. 

#ucdavis #coursera #gis #dataanalytics #data #dataformats #algebra #python #geographicinformationsystem #TheScienceofWhere #esri #ArcGIS

Thursday, October 6, 2022

Nafrat (Hate)


Nafratein toh humne bhi bahut dekhi hai.
Afsos toh yeh hai ki humein nafrat karna nahin aata.
- Eisha

Wednesday, October 5, 2022

When the humble khakhra became a lifesaver

Flashback 2005: Six students from University of Mumbai's Masters of Communication and Journalism course were handpicked to go to Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry in January 2005 to make documentary films on the devastation caused by the December 2004 tsunami. None of us had ever been to Chennai and only one, a Malayali, knew a few words of Tamil. As we boarded the second class of the Chennai Express we discovered that between the six of us we had to share three side berths. The two smaller girls, Lakshmi and Kavita took one. Ashu and I grabbed another. And Ram and Ziko took the third (both almost six feet). The lights were turned off and I could hear the snores. I don't sleep well or at all in new places. Some wise ass had decided to leave the doors open so we were crossing interior Maharashtra, freezing our butts off at temperatures 3-4 degrees. None of us, except Ram (and we'd made fun of his leather jacket), had planned for it. Ashu had wrapped my stole as his blanket and was fast asleep while I hugged my knapsack tight. Then I heard the chattering. Ziko and Ram kept whispering and shuffling. I asked them to sit down on the berth opposite mine next to the man who snored loudest. Ziko was white, his rheumatic knuckles had swollen, teeth were chattering and he was shivering in spite of wearing Ram's jacket. We rubbed his palms to generate heat. Then I remembered the khakhra mom had packed into my knapsack in spite of my protests. I handed one to him. The chewing helped generate some heat and he had four khakhras before he was warm enough to utter thank you. The next afternoon, the swelling had reduced and the smile had returned to his face. I managed to grab some sleep. The memory of that night replays every time I bite into the humble khakhra. 😁

Friday, September 30, 2022

50 Books 50 Countries; Book 45: The Visit by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

My reading challenge 2022 is to finish 50 books that have been published/authored/set in 50 different countries. I shall post about the ones I have read, mention the country they are set in and where the author is based. Instead of a review, I shall open a random page in the book and quote a line/para. My reviews and ratings are available on Goodreads, for those who wish to know.

Book 45: The Visit
Author: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Nigeria) 🇳🇬
Genre: Novella
Set in: Nigeria đŸ‡łđŸ‡Ź

Page 4:

Eze, the tall, handsome ball of fire, burning things in his path, and Obinna, inward, focused, always walking on the edges.

Flag Score: 🇸🇦 🇧🇴 🇲🇸 🇬🇷 🇹🇷 🇦🇺 🇸🇪 🇪🇸 🇬🇭 🇹🇬 🇧🇫 🇳🇪 🇱🇾 🇹🇳 🇩🇿 🇲🇱 🇲🇦 🇲🇷 🇬🇦 🇧🇩 🇨🇦 🇲🇲 🇹🇭 🇵🇭 🇲🇾 🇸🇬 🇰🇷 🇯🇵 🇹🇼 🇧🇦 🇮🇶 🇳🇿 🇼🇸 🇵🇰 🇳🇬 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 🇬🇧 🇲🇽 🇮🇳 🇩🇪 🇦🇹 🇮🇹 🇷🇺 🇳🇵 🇦🇷 🇵🇾 🇵🇪 🇸🇷 🇮🇪 🇨🇿 🇵🇱 🇫🇮 🇱🇻 🇱🇹 🇪🇪 🇫🇷 🇧🇷 🇰🇿 🇺🇸 🇵🇹 🇸🇷 🇳🇱 🇮🇱 🇮🇷 🇵🇸 🇪🇬 🇺🇾 🇨🇱 🇯🇴 🇸🇾 🇨🇾 🇨🇭 🇸🇩 🇪🇹 🇦🇪 🇧🇪 🇧🇧 🇬🇫 🇻🇪 🇹🇹 🇨🇼 🇨🇴 🇬🇾

#50books50countries #nigeria #africanauthors #readingchallenge #adichie #books #novella


Thursday, September 29, 2022

Laughter and Koffee with Karan

Maybe dumb jokes and sarcasm is all you need after a really tough day and I am glad Karan Johar provided that in the last episode of #koffeewithkaranseason7. I have watched the show since its inception, having worked with and known many of the production crew in its early years and followed it year after year just to see how brilliantly its creator/anchor crafts the season to keep the audiences glued. It's a study in itself, in how dumbing down can be an intelligent decision and change the course of pop culture and commentary in a country. I used to hate David Dhawan's movies in the 1990s that were played over and over again on Zee Cinema (I still remember Varun Dhawan as an 11 year old I met when I was 15 at one of his father's film previews at Liberty in Mumbai). Too crass, I'd say and shirk them off. But today, I lapped up all the crass with belly-hugging laughter. 😁