Brown Motion

Cool cat the Japanese are Tokyo at dusk  My second visit to this land of the rising sun after almost a decade. Back then clearly I was wet behind the ears product manager and likely didn’t pay attention to all (efficient) things Japanese. But today I did and of course continue to be impressed. It is as much the obvious stuff like on time travel that is both clean and comfortable and all that which makes it possible. The impressive landmark and landscapes that these humans have put together despite their cramped (or because of it) surroundings and precarious geological conditions could amaze a novice architect among us. But it’s also the little things that someone had to think about which have a phenomenal impact on day to day lives that make the Japanese stand apart. Below are few random examples- 1. Providing a very fine machined wooden toothpick in every packet of wooden chopsticks. The said chapsticks are simply set on the To Go counter of any food vendor/ convenience store wher...

Narmada river and site of Omkareshwar Indore Rajwada or palace of the Lady Holkar   Somewhat geographically centered in India is the hot landscape of MADHYA PRADESH. A region I had a faint memory of visiting as a young lad eons ago. Now in my (along with my best half) quest to get to know lands far and wide I got an opportunity to visit Indore city and surrounding areas in MP. It begins with an evening visit to a bustling old market selling native snacks both savory and sweet. It is the realm of jewelers who run night time street side restaurants once they close their primary operations at dusk. Think of it as desi style block party that I am told goes into wee hours of the morning. My impression was it is worth one visit.  The humid and hot ambience along with crush of humanity doesn’t make for a pleasant dining experience but the sheer variety of foods sort of makes up for it. From piping hot coconut filled fritters to oodles of milk based sweet confections, I gorged on item...

 The title is a Hindi (language) expression meaning 'this world of ours'. Famously sung in poetry by erstwhile poets and today a topic of consternation for the global leaders when it comes to its state and its imminent future. It is today inhabited by the highest order of organic beings which is us humans (I know right?) and we seem to have lost our way in minding its ongoing stability and health.  Home to 8 billion of our kind it is largely occupied above an imaginary line called the equator with some 90% of our species occupying a land mass that is merely twice as big as in the southern part of the globe. So clearly it is crowded up here. We can handle the crowds but when it comes to geo political stability and well being it is quite a harsh story.  While overall metrics for life expectancy and education and wealth across the planet have gone up over time the distribution among sapiens is far from perfect. Most world order post WWII concluded that the collaboration betw...

 I did not know what TikTok was until very recently so one might argue this blog is biased. I say go ahead. So apparently the Chinese have started creating products so well that they control a global mindshare beyond your pantry and closet space. This means what you think (if you do) and where you look and what you might say or do; what you ultimately buy; when you sleep or wake, is ever so cleverly manipulated through code written by Chinese programmers.  Marketers (many of them from America and Europe and everywhere) pay big money to be on this channel called TikTok. Created by a 20 something engineer from China, the social media short video channel or platform as these things are called created a buzz instantly.  As of this writing it is claimed that half the American populace (approx. 170M have an account here). People clearly have a lot of spare time. I mean what with ordering pizza from your couch to zooming on pretend work calls what's a gal got to do? So with this...

 2024 has been a whirlwind of travel.  All good before time runs out. As in the passage of our being through this galaxy while the faculties still work. Each trip is a glimpse into human endeavor in different geos, and how it evolved with its local conditions and temperatures and political motivations. The beginning of the year was the trip to Cote d'Azur and new years day in Antibes, France.  What a gem of a place with its perch on the Mediterranean; a former haven for aristocrat and artistes and today a reminder to take life slow and savor sunsets. Night lights at the church Grasse perfumery in the hills Cannes on the coast That was then followed by a summer jaunt across the Atlantic this time to hit the northern fringes of Europe in Scandinavia. Oh what joy! As a train nerd it was especially fabulous with sights like no other from vast fjords to the mountainous regions of Norway.   A trip on the Fjords Flams Bana along the 20 km journey from Flam to top of th...