Explorers on the Moon

Cartoon drawn by Hergé himself, in celebration of the moon landing

In honor of the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing and the incredible prescience of Hergé in writing Explorers on the Moon a full decade and a half before Armstrong walked there.

The text in the speech balloon translates to, "Welcome to the moon, Mr. Armstrong!"

Beg pardon for breaching copyright laws.

Flowers

I have seen them strutting nestled in arms
displaying proudly their wiles and charms

I have seen them settled in a lady's hair
chatting in the company of people fair

I've seen them gleaming in grand bazaars
Out doing a chandelier's crystal stars

But I cannot remember when last I saw
One in a meadow, earth wet from rain
spangled with dew
hidden from view

It has been long
but if I were there today
I'd go on my knees and say
"You look best where you belong"

There are days, and then there are days

There are songs, and then there are songs

There are books, and then there are books

There are people, and then there are people.

There are friends, and then there are friends.

There is life , and...well, there's just the one.

We Are Like This Only

Beg pardon to those few who read my blog. The recession's been keeping me wrought up with upheavals of every kind. Like they say, if you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans. All I have been doing for the past couple of months is realise how painfully bitter-sweet this statement really is.
My current post is an incident that happened while I was working in Chennai some years back, and had been at the back of my mind for a long time. I told myself that day, that this is definitely blog worthy, but never really got down to writing it. So here goes.

I was coming back from a customer visit and passing through Chennai city. The oppressive humidity and heat was getting to me and I kept dozing off in between. But halfway through the trip something happened and I was giggling the rest of the way.
Somewhere around Anna Nagar my car came to a halt at a traffic signal and I was jolted out of my doze. I lowered the window to let in some fresh air. There was an auto rickshaw standing elbow to elbow with my Ambassador, and in it was an auto driver who looked like he had just stepped out of a Rajnikant look alike competition. The lone passenger was a teenage bag packer, advertising her American nationality with a can of Coke in one hand and a packet of Lays in another. In the short span our vehicles were standing next to each other at the traffic signal, I managed to overhear the following conversation.
Girl: [Heavy American accent] "You know any place I can get traveller's cheques."
Auto Driver: [Quizzical expression]
Girl: "You know, international cheques"
Auto Driver: [Trying several pronunciations of the last word] "Sheckes, Seckes, SEX!!!!
[enlightenment!] International Sex! Ah I am knowing madam!! Lots of places!! American
Sex, Indian Sex, Chinese Sex!"
The traffic lights turned to green and the auto rickshaw zipped passed, before my driver had even put his foot to the gas, carrying its visibly thrilled driver and a slightly alarmed looking passenger.