I know it’s been really really long since I blogged. The whole of last week I spent reading the Twilight series for a zillionth time. That’s when I remembered the survey one of my friends had mailed me long time ago (saying must reply), so I decided to answer that survey after a year.

1) Have you read twilight?

Yes.

2) Are you a fan?

A big Yes.

3) Have you read it multiple times?

Yes. I read the whole series again just 2 days ago.

4) Did you buy your copy off the street or from a bookstore?

Off the street… the originals were way too costly.

5) Who introduced you to the books?

No one. I just went to my regular book wala and browsed for new books on the shelf found twilight read the back of the book, liked it so I bought it. After reading 1^st book I fell in love with it and started counting days for next book to hit the racks.

6) Do you own any of the 4 books?

I own all the 4 . Though Twilight has been borrowed by someone and hasnt been returned yet (its been an year).

7) Do you think Twilight series are the best books you have read?

The best? No No, its one among the best but not the best. For crying out loud I have books like Harry Potter, Fountainhead, The God Father, Angels and Demons, And then there were none, Gone with the wind etc… so it cant be the best.

8 )Do you think that Stephenie Meyer should work on Midnight sun?

Ofcourse! I cant believe you are even asking me this question.

9) According to you, what works in the Twilight Series?

Well, many things do. I will list a few –

The first thing that works if you ask me is the romance between not so perfect girl and a guy who is perfect in every way. I mean, which girl doesn’t dream of a guy who loves her unconditionally, who knows all your flaws yet loves you beyond imagination, who puts your happiness before everything, who lives for you and would die for you? That’s the main reason why Edward Cullen has worked his magic on most of the girls.

I find the concept and the plot of the twilight series pretty interesting. Since I was a kid, I liked the whole vampires’ concept and they always fascinated me. So, when I read Twilight it did fascinate me for sure.  The Volturi, special powers of vampires, romance and werewolves are all very very intriguing.

To give credit to the author, she did come up with pretty gripping plots in all the 4 books. She has managed to make us feel for the characters and their emotional turmoil. She has given each vampire a good background story that makes you sympathize with them. And the whole vegetarian vampires’ concept works for me.

10) What according to you works against the books?

Well, I am a huge fan of Twilight but I think with few changes it would have been better.

First thing has to be the sloppy writing. Seriously, as gripping as the plots are, the writing is a big NO NO. She keeps repeating things so many times that right now I associate Alice with dance and Edward with dazzling. It’s kinda pathetic to keep reading same lines (descriptions) again and again.

I am not a huge fan of Bella. I firstly don’t like the way she addresses her father I don’t know… may be it’s the whole Indian thing in me but I don’t like it when she calls her Dad ‘Charlie’… I find it disrespectful.

Secondly, She has no personality, no goals, is self-deprecating and she is really stupid and annoying at times. If you ask me she needs to get a life.  I can understand (even though I don’t approve of it) her whole obsession with Edward and circling her whole life around him but I just wish that she had some goals in her life. It’s frustrating to see girls idolizing her wanting to be like her. If you ask me, she isn’t a role model in any way.

I am a huge Edward fan and I love him. But his over protective nature, obsession and dedicating terms of whom to friends with and all that doesn’t go down well with me. In fiction its fine… I guess but in real life it all would equate to unhealthy.

(I am sorry die hard twilight fans).

11) Did you like the book better than the movie?

A zillion times yes! The movies are pathetic when compared to books. The books are so better. You can feel for the characters in the books but in movies it’s just tough to care. The only reason movies work is because they have good looking actors (can’t say same about their acting though) and die hard twilight fans who will approve of anything related to twilight. And to make matters worse the imaginary people in my head are much better looking.

12) Which character do you like the most?

Hmm… it’s really difficult to pick. I like all the characters including Bella (I know, I know I said awful things about her but sometimes I do like her). Charlie is so real and such a typical dad. Edward is dazzling , Jake is awesome, Alice is sweet, and Carlisle is wonderful.

13) Do you like the character Edward Cullen or do you like Robert Pattinson, the actor? You can answer neither.

Edward Cullen! I prefer R Patz as Cedric Diggory than Edward Cullen. I actually like Taylor Lautner the actor. He is hot!

14) Team Edward or Team Jacob?

Both! I am Switzerland.

15) Favorite quotes from the series.

Edward: And so the lion fell in love with the lamb …
Bella: Stupid lamb.
Edward: Sick, masochistic lion.

Edward: Before you, Bella, my life was like a moonless night. Very dark, but there were stars, points of light and reason. ….And then you shot across my sky like a meteor. Suddenly everything was on fire; there was brilliancy, there was beauty. When you were gone, when the meteor had fallen over the horizon, everything went black. Nothing had changed, but my eyes were blinded by the light. I couldn’t see the stars anymore. And there was no more reason for anything.

Bella: I was afraid… because, for, well, obvious reasons, I can’t stay with you. And I’m afraid that I’d like to stay with you, much more than I should.

Bella: About three things I was absolutely positive. First, Edward was a vampire. Second, there was part of him — and I didn’t know how potent that part might be — that thirsted for my blood. And third, I was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him.

Edward Cullen: “You’re like my own personal brand of heroin”.

And many more… actually I could write a whole post on quotes.

16) Did you read any vampire literature before Twilight? If yes please specify the names of at least two books.

No. But I had seen loads and loads of scary vampire movies.

17) Do you believe in vampires?

No! But if all ever Veggie vampires I wouldn’t mind to share my world with them.

18) How did you come to believe in vampires? Through books, movies or other.

I don’t believe in them.

19) What do you associate vampires with now? Horror or Romance? Please elucidate.

Romance! The whole forbidden love thingy appeals to me.

Firstly, I would like thank all you guys for all the wishes and blessings on my Bday. It made my day that much more special and made me feel like celebrity. So, thank you from bottom of my heart.

Secondly, I am really sorry for being so irregular in posting as well as commenting on your blogs. I have been busy being happy . But I promise to be more regular from now on .

Ever since I was a kid, I have been a day dreamer. I always dreamt of things I wanted, things I wanted to do or things I want others to do for me. I called it ‘my list’. Even though people say I am a grown up now, I am no different. I still have my list written in my diary which gets upgraded every now and then. The list doesn’t have a time line. Its just a list of things I hope to do in this life time.

Anyways, today I have decided to make my list public. Here is my Bucket list -

♥ Get a job that not only pays well but I also love.

♥ Travel to 4 other countries other than India.

♥ Get to my ideal weight not size skinny mind you.

♥ Get married to guy of my dreams and have a happy family with him.

♥ Live in another country for atleast an year.

♥ Learn Guitar.

♥ Work or open a charity organization.

♥ Write a song.

♥ Get one of my works published.

♥ Write a book.

♥ Make a snow man.

♥ Own my own personal library.

♥ Run a marathon or even half.

♥ Get my Dream Camera.

♥ Get interviewed.

♥ Visit as many places as possible for this list.

♥ Go on an African Safari (if i cant then any safari will do).

♥ Learn dancing (preferably Salsa or Belly Dancing).

♥ Learn to swim and go for Scuba Diving in the Great Barrier Reef.

♥ Learn to drive.

♥ Go to a live concert.

♥ Go to the top of Eiffel Tower.

♥ Make a difference in someone’s life.

♥ Donate my eyes.

♥ Donate blood (I m ready to give, none are ready to take).

♥ Learn to make cookies and cakes from scratch.

♥ Fly a kite all by myself (i.e without Dad yelling at me, snatching the kite off my hand and flying it for me).

♥ Learn skating.

♥ Travel in a ship.

♥ Paint on canvas and for once have guts to show off the terrible painting.

♥ Kiss a dolphin.

♥ Go bungee jumping or sky diving.

♥ Ride a hot air balloon.

♥ Go trekking (did it once loved it, wanna do it again).

♥ Build a sandcastle.

♥ Own my own personal library.

♥ Watch an opera or Broadway musical or play.

♥ Watch a cricket match in the stadium.

♥ Spend a day doing crazy things which I would never do in sane mind.

♥ Get a tattoo.

♥ Learn to cook many more dishes.

♥ Go dancing.

♥ Sing in public… something like karaoke.

♥ Own an amazing pair of stilettos and learn to walk in them in lady like manner.

♥ Own a house of my dreams and do the interiors myself.

♥ Go to the top of Eiffel Tower.

♥ Kiss in rain.

♥ Have a candle light dinner.

♥ Learn Spanish (I don’t know why but I love this language).

♥ Go on a picnic (can u believe it, I have never gone on one?)

♥ Travel in a ship.

♥ Have pet dog or cat or any animal.

(all pics from weheartit.com)

This is all I can think of now. And everytime I do something in my bucket list, I am gonna blog about it .

When we dream, we feel safe. Our dreams are our own and there is no way that anyone would be able to know them. You can dream of things that you would never want anyone to know and yet feel that the secret is safe within you… right? Wrong, if you living in the world of Christopher Nolan not even your dreams are safe. Your dreams, deepest buried secrets and thoughts are pretty much out there to be stolen. In the world of Christopher Nolan there are extractors.

Dominic “Dom” Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) is an extractor. His latest victim is a very powerful business tycoon… Saito (Ken Watanabe). But Saito manages to spoil the plans and the very next day makes an offer to Cobb that he simply can’t refuse. The offer is to plant an idea (Inception in other words) in mind of Robert Fischer (Cillian Murphy) to split his company so that Saito has no more competition. To accomplish this task Cobb gathers a team that includes Arthur (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) … the point man, Ariadne (Ellen Page) … the Architect, Eames (Tom Hardy)… the Forger and Yusuf (Dileep Rao) … the Chemist. They along with Satio set out to perform dangerous (as Fischer is trained) and complex process of inception. But Cobb has a secret that can not only cost his life but also his teams.

‘Inception’ is a visual treat to your eyes. From first scene where Cobb is washed to the shore till the last scene, the visuals are breath taking. Especially, the zero gravity scene in the hotel lobby with Arthur is high-tech, action packed and extraordinary. The other scenes are impressive too. Actually, the whole movie is well edited together into an overall action romp.

The movie could have gone either way as the plot is very novel and complex. But this movie has been so intelligently made by Nolan that you can’t help being blown away by it. There is never a point in the movie that you don’t buy what Noah is trying to sell. I have had high expectations from Noah since I saw Memento and with this movie my expectations have raised higher.

This movie has one of the best cast. Everyone from Leonardo DiCaprio to Marion Cotillard (who is Cobb’s wife Mal) have performed exceptionally well. The acting takes the movie to a complete different level and makes it that much better. Leonardo as Cobb is brilliant. I seriously think he is one of the best actors in Hollywood and I wonder why hasn’t he been given an Academy Award till now.

Anyways, coming back to the movie… its one of the visually spectacular movie I have ever seen. And it’s a must watch.

My Rating – 9 ½ out of 10.

I am really bored so I have decided to take up a tag for which I have been tagged by Guria, Avada Kedavra, Me-Era*.

Ten how’s:

1. How did you get one of your scars?

The scar on my forehead is from when I was jumping up and down and my kitchen shelf (which was made of concrete) hit me.

The scar near my feet is when by mistake I put my feet in the wheel of a cycle (was in second grade).

The scar on my thigh is thanks to a dog bite.

I guess those are the only things that left scars .

2.  How did you celebrate your last birthday? With family and friends.

3.  How are you feeling at this moment? I am bored and also in physical pain.

4.  How did your night go last night?

Oh nothing great, just there was water on floor and I ran to open my door, slipped fell down in a weird position pulled a muscle or two, threw the flower vase on my knee. I popped in 2 pain killers but nothing helped.

5. How did you do in high school? I was alright.

6. How did you get the shirt you’re wearing? I got it along the DVD set of ‘This is it’ by MJ.

7. How often do you see your best friend(s)? Very rarely

8. How much money did you spend last month? I have lost count!

9. How old do you want to be when you get married? 22-26.

10. How old will you be at your next birthday? Figure that out… Oh btw, my Bday is in less than a month

Nine what’s:

1. Your mothers name? The name that was used for a Princess in latest Telugu movie that went on to become a huge hit.

2. What did you do last weekend? Shopped, visited relatives and had huge family dinner.

3. What is the most important part of your life? Family and Friends. And also love and happiness.

4. What would you rather be doing? Sitting on my terrace, eating corn and watching the rain.

5. What did you last cry over? Pain I felt last night when ever I tried to move my leg. It still hurts .

6. What always makes you feel better when you’re upset? Talking to friends.

7. What’s the most important thing you look for in a significant other? Must be loyal and intelligent.

8. What are you worried about? My career

9. What did you have for breakfast? Puri.

Eight you’s:

1. Have you ever liked someone who had a girlfriend/boyfriend? Not that I know of.

2. Have you ever had your heartbroken? No… I guess I m lucky in that department.

3. Have you ever been out of the country? No

4. Have you ever done something outrageously dumb? Ofcourse!!!

5. Have you ever been back stabbed by a friend? Yes.

6. Have you ever had sex on the beach? No!

7. Have you ever dated someone younger than you? No!

8. Have you ever read an entire book in one day? Yes, if I like a book, I usually complete it in a day.

Seven who’s:

1. Who was the last person you saw? Saritha.

2. Who was the last person you texted? My friend M.

3. Who was the last person you hung out with? With my family.

4. Who was the last person to call you? Dad

5. Who did you last hug? My niece.

6. Who is the last person who texted you? Vodafone people.

7. Who was the last person you said “I love you” to? S.

Six where’s:

1. Where does your best friend(s) live? In a different country

2. Where did you last go? Grocery Store

3. Where did you last hang out? Mall.

4. Where do you go to school? Hyderabad, India

5. Where is your favorite place to be? With people I love.

6. Where did you sleep last night? On my bed.

Five do’s:

1. Do you think anyone likes you? Yeah!

2. Do you ever wish you were someone else? Nope, I am happy with who I am. I don’t like to ape or be anyone else.

3. Do you know the muffin man? Nope

4. Does the future scare you? Sometimes.

5. Do your parents know about your blog? Yeah! I once made my Dad read it but he dint bother much He isn’t so net savvy.

Four why’s:

1. Why are you best friends with your best friend? He is the best.

2. Why did you get into Blogging? I was curious about it.

3. Why did your parents give you the name you have? They had to name me with ‘Ha’ as astrologers said it would be lucky and also because its Goddess Lakshmi’s name.

4. Why are you doing this survey? I am bored and I thought it was fun at first.

Three if’s:

1. If you could have one super power what would it be? Wishful thinking.

2. If you could go back in time and change one thing, would you? Nope,  Because I believe that everything happens for a reason and by changing something I might end up changing lot of things.

3. If you were stranded on a deserted island and could bring 1 thing, what would you bring? A speed boat with full fuel in it.

Two would-you-ever’s:

1. Would you ever get back together with any of your ex’s if they asked you? I don’t have an ex.

2. Would you ever shave your head to save someone you love? Yes, only and only if it saves someone. Just curious, how is gonna save them?

One last question:

1. Are you happy with your life right now? Yes.

Now I want to tag – Insignia, The Rain Crab, Neha, Rajlakshmi, Shilpa Garg, Kanagu, HaRy, Nahl, Shanu, Tbg and Dipti

It was difficult to hold cam (my mobile)  in one and snap another hand

I have always loved going on vacations, be it those vacations where all I did was relax and enjoyed the beauty in leisure or those, where I was running with time to soak up the place in as little time as possible.

Infact, when I was a kid I so wanted to travel around the world that I decided to marry Jeff Corwin. Jeff Corwin why you ask? Well, its simple, he traveled around the world to shoot his program and also he loved animals. But as I grew up, I realized how stupid that idea (and also he is married) was and decided to get married to some celebrity who has lots of money to take me any where I want. Later I realized even this idea would flop. My new plan is that I will earn money all by myself to enjoy those vacations that I crave for.

Anyways, when I was going through the old dairy of mine, I came across the list of places I want to visit. I know, it’s nearly impossible to strike off all the places but I hope I can get atleast a few off my list. And here is my list -

♥ Taj Mahal

♥ Delhi

♥ Golden Temple

♥ Nagarjun Sagar Dam (Been there when I was kid (I think) but hardly remember anything)

♥ Kashmir

♥ Kolkata (during the Durga Maa Pooja)

♥ Mumbai (I have been there before but want to go again and this time during monsoon season)

♥ Kerala

♥ Rajasthan

♥ Corbett National Park

♥ Ajanta and Ellora Caves

♥ Goa

♥ Ooty

♥ Nainital

♥ London

♥ Los Angels

♥ Las Vegas

♥ Hong Kong

♥ Pyramids

♥ Paris

♥ Maldives

♥ Venice

♥ Rome

♥ Napa Valley

♥ South Africa – Cape Town

♥ African Safari

♥ New York

♥ San Francisco

♥ Bangkok

♥ South Island

♥ Great Barrie Reef

♥ Bora Bora

♥ The Grand Canyon

♥ Great Wall of China

♥ Sri Lanka

♥ Barcelona

♥ Sydney

♥ Rio de Janeiro

♥ Hawaii

♥ Ireland

♥ Machu Picchu

♥ Victoria Falls

♥ Niagara Falls

(all pics from weheartit.com)

What places do you guys have on must visit list?

Ok… I am not in love with it but it wasn’t all that bad. Yeah, yeah its one of those typical love stories which is way too predictable yet somehow it feels fresh.

The story is pretty simple. The boy (J played by Imran Khan… who btw is amazing) is a Casanova who flirts with any and everyone and doesn’t believe in love. The girl (Simran played by Sonam Kapoor) is a hopeless romantic, who believes in true love and has found her Mr. Right in her childhood pal. The boy meets the girl, flirts with her and the girl falls for him even though he is the wrong guy. Will the girl go with Mr. Right who is perfect in every way or the Boy who is not perfect and wrong yet makes her feel alive? I guess we all know who gets the girl here.

The thing I liked the most in the movie is that Karan Johar had enough guts to produce a movie that mocks his own style of movie making.

The acting in the movie is top notch. The lead pair of Imran and Sonam looks awesome and their chemistry just makes the movie that such more better. The fat friend played by Kevin Dave and Samir Soni as a spoof of ace directors like Karan Johar himself are brilliant and funny (at times). I dint like Sameer Dattani as Raj… he looked very stiff.

As a first time director Punit Malhotra does a good enough job. He gave the movie a fresh feel in terms of narrative and style and laces it with some extremely laugh out loud one liners. But the thing that lacks is the story. The story could have been better. I know it’s a funny take on the typical love stories but it could have been less predictable.

Even though the movie is fun and first half is fast paced, you feel like few scenes in second half have been dragged more than necessary.

The screenplay and the editing of the movie weren’t that good. But the cinematography is good.

I personally like the music of this movie and the songs in the movie have been placed at the right times rather than just throwing them in there.

If you are one of those persons who likes chick flicks, cheesy love stories, Imran Khan and predictable movies with happy endings you will like the movie. If you don’t belong to any of the above categories, avoid the movie.

Rating – 3 ½ out of 5… half only and only for Imran Khan. He was superb in the movie.

PS – I am eagerly waiting for the movie Aisha.

PPS – Why doesn’t someone cast Imran and Ranbir together in a movie? It would surely be worth a watch.

PPPS - If you havent guessed it yet, I am a hopeless romantic who loves love stories with happy endings  .

So here’s a tag – Please list at least ten things you have ever wanted or done which your gender is not supposed to.

The tag is called ‘My Sins against Gender-Stereotypes’ . And you must tag twelve blogging friends  or else you will be cursed to wear blue clothes pants if you are a woman and pink shirts if you are a man – for next twelve years .

I am tagged by Neha, Pins and The Bald Guy to do this one. Actually, I wouldn’t mind spend the next 12 years in my blue jeans… they are very comfortable. Anyways, here are my list of … err… sins?

1)  I jumped walls, climbed tress when I was a kid. I never ever remember using the gate to go to my neighbor’s home. I always jumped our common wall and voila I was in their home.

2)  I never played with toys or with kitchen set when I was young. I spent most of my evenings outside playing and getting all muddy… much to the agony of my mom.

3) I love playing cricket and football. When I was young we dint have a bat, so I and my cousins played with a wooden stick. And I remember vividly that I hit a ball into neighbor’s house breaking their flower pot.

4) I never sat one sided as a pillion and probably never will. I love speed. I would never ask anyone to slow the down, the faster the better.

5) I love dogs… why are they even considered male things?

6) I hated grooming myself and dressing up. If given an option I would visit parlor very rarely and spend most of my days in PJ’s and would go any and every where in denims. But now when I feel like it, I do dress up.

7)  I don’t like soap opera’s and Hindi soaps. I prefer watching Cricket, football and Tennis than those boring soaps. And here’s a secret… I have never ever seen a single episode of Sex and City and it gets better, I dint like the movie.

8 )  I hate cleaning and I throw everything on my bed. But when someone else does that on my bed, I yell.

9)  I love playing with electronic gadgets and fixing stuff. When things need connecting or fixing its me who does that and if I cant do it then Dad bothers.

10)  I go out alone even at 9 in night which most of my aunt’s consider unwomanly and dangerous.

Yet, the Y Chromosome is recessive in me and I have many girly things in me like – I love chocolates, I love soft toys, hugs, cuddling my pillow and sleeping, bubble baths, scented candles, pretty stuff, more pillows than required on bed and sofa, color pink, romance, chick lit, cooking, bangles,  mehandi etc… etc. No wonder, I m a girl .

I now tag Guria, Kanagu, Choco, Scotch, Urvashi, Chatter Box, Sulanga, Sid, Sourav, Esther, Chandana and Rajji.

The whole world is right now bitten by the FIFA World Cup bug and I am no different. I won’t say that I am a Football fanatic but I do love the sport. It all started during the 2002 World Cup. My Grand Pa was a football fanatic and during the WC he never ever gave me the remote. So, I had no other option but to sit and watch the matches. At first I found the matches very boring but as days progressed my interest in them began. My Grand Pa very patiently explained about the game, answered my questions and told me about the days when he played with his friends in Guyana. His interest in the game rubbed on to me and now I love the sport much to my Dad’s dislike. The only problem I m having right now is that I m unable to zero in on my one favorite team. I m torn between my love for 3 teams… Germany, Brazil and Argentina.

During the 2002 World Cup for no particular reason I chose to support Germany during the start of the World Cup. As the World Cup progressed I fell more and more in love with them and more so with Michael Ballack and Miroslav Klose. From that day till today it remains my favorite team and Miro remains one of my all time favorite players. In both the World Cups he scored five goals and I hope even this time he continues his record.

In the first match with Australia they looked and played like the world champs. In the second match they lost it and in third they weren’t that impressive. But Germany is a great team and Miroslav Klose will be back from suspension with England.

Brazil is a champion team and you can’t deny that. I respect Brazil for the kind of team it is. Even without Ronaldo, Ronaldinho they still are a champion team. They have one the best Goalkeeper in the world at the moment in form of Julio Cesar. They have few of the best players in the game like Kaka ( ), Elano, Fabiano and Robinho. The reason I m supporting them is because they were my Grand Pa’s favorite side .

The only team to win all the 3 matches in the Group stages. The team that has one of the all time greatest as its coach. A team that has few of the best players like Messi, Gonzala Huguanin and Javier Mascherano. How can I not cheer for Argentina?

As I type this Klose scores a goal and this tally goes to 12 World Cup Goals. And also Lukas Podolski scores too.

PS – I never wanted a match between Germany and England. I like England… it has Rooney and Lampard in it .

PPS – I am happy that India have won Asia Cup after 15 years. And even more happy that Sania Nehwal is ranked number 3 in the world.

PPPS – On a even sadder note… I had to formant my computer and I lost everything… all my half written posts, music, pictures… everything !