Ona sadya served in banana leaf - from Melbourne

The planning for an Onam feast has started much earlier this time. This is my second Onam in Melbourne and last year I had only ‘Bread Omlette’ to stave off my hunger pangs. However, this time we had come up with plans to make a good Onam feast – each one has taken the ownership to take responsibilites. Hence the menu got finalized.

Kaalan, Aviyal, Sambar, Parippu curry, Cabbage Thoran, Koottucurry, Rasam, Pappadam & Payasam. And Kayu varuthathu (banana chips) we thought of buying it, pickles as well.

We took the ownership seriously, had started surfing Onam recipes and that’s the time I really knew that a google search for an ‘Onam recipe’ will retrieve you thousands of pages. I did save all the recipes as html pages, which has got images for each recipe. So the ‘Expected Output’ has been defined for each individual item. Now let’s wait some more time for the Actual Output.

On Saturday morning, we had gone to Victoria market to buy vegetables. We knew that banana leaves are available there. We had taken a whole round on the market and could not spot a stall which sells any banana leaf. A Malayali can’t even imagine Onam feast in ceramic plate. I still remember the good old memoirs in my childhood days. All of us in Kerala will have a plantain in their own backyard. That was me who cuts leaves from the plantains and I had to be alert to take the bigger leaf before my sisters grab it, when we are called for lunch. Gone are those days – and now I am going to buy banana leaves from market, that too for dollars. Since we could not find any leaves, we started asking people in stalls “Can I get banana leaf here?” Most of us told that there is no such shop here which sells banana leaves. Even though we did not stop asking for it and atlast one guy directed us to a Chinese shop and it was really happy to hear that it’s available in the market– So we are going to get banana leaves soon. We rushed to the stall as per he directed, Bad luck. The stock was over. No other option – we have to take Onam feast in ceramic plates. But we didn’t turn back, we had asked one of our friends who has got a mallu restaurant in Melbourne. From him, we knew that we get frozen banana leaves in Vic market. So the next aim is set. Sunday morning, go to Vic market again and get the frozen leaves.

And we got the frozen banana leaves, 15 or more banana leaves for $14 (AUD). Don’t you feel like achieved something when you tide over such small hurdles? It doesn’t matter for, if these are big or small things. Really felt cheerful for a simple thiing.

Hence we started cooking, had made sambar first, we do make sambar frequently. Kootu curry was made with pumpkin, chick peas and coconut powder mixed in. It turned really nice. And I did not even have any idea before even on it's ingredients. Because this dish, we usually have only in festivals or in hindu marriages.

Hence we had to start preparing payasam (Paal Ada). It is important that you have to stir milk and ada for a long time. And you need to add milk and sugar several times in between. And that was for the first time anyone of us making payasam. It was really tasty, rich with cardamom, cashew and other dry fruits.

In another 2 hours, we had prepared all the other items from menu. Kaalan, which is made of yoghurt, Aviyal, mixed vegetables, Rasam - made of tomato and tamarind, Pineapple pachadi - made of yoghurt & pineapple, Pappadom and 2 pickles.

It was Gaye who made cabbage thoran. She had taken the recipe from internet and prepared it very well. And that too the cabbages from her farm. Liz had brought parippu curry which was pretty good – dal fried with cumin seeds.

As a token, the genuine thanks goes to
Gaye: Cabbage thoran
Liz: Parippu curry
Rajesh & Shehnaz: Kaalan, Aviyal, Sambar, Kootucury & Pachadi
Shihas: Payasam
Adil: for the marathon run for arranging all the vegetables & banana leaves. Even it was a hard job to clean and make the banana leaves into a good condition since the leaves were frozen, folded and packed.
Tindu: external support, arranged all the necessary stuffs to kitchen. It is notable that for Onam feast we don’t take any Non-veg dishes. Otherwise, Tindu would have been on the main chef role.
&
Myself: Rasam

Ona sadya turned really great. It was real fun while surfing recipes, calling home for recipes, and while cooking those recipes. It was the first time for Gaye having a feast served in banana leaf and eating food with no spoons or forks. She had really enjoyed the food. And all of us too....

And here comes the Actual Output:


I wish for next Onam, we will have the feast and go for a boat race in Yarra river !!!
(Hmm…. Buddha said: Desire is the root cause of all suffering)

The Kayaking trip with Loc team.

It was a very much awaited day for the Localisation guys. They were supposed to go for a trip by 10 pm, 3rd March Friday eve. We all left the office by 8:30 pm and reached Madiwala by 9:15. We saw the Tempo traveler parked at the road side. Seeing this, we started making fun of Tindu, if this van is going to be parked here for some more time, you will have a trip to Madiwala Police station only. But from that moment itself, Tindu was insisting me and Shihas to join the trip. I should say, it was much unintended for me and Shihas, to join with the trip with the guys in Loc. Truly, we didn't even think of going for a trip, by getting arranged in another one hour. Also I was supposed to go to office, Saturday morning. Anyway, we had decided to go for the trip.

The big problem we faced then was to arrange the wardrobes. Please note that it was a Friday. As we dedicate the weekend specially for washing clothes, we had no enough stock. I should thank my roommate, Shyam for his pro-activeness shown on to the situation. Somehow we managed to take all the stuffs and put it in bags. While walking out the house to the road, I was thinking whether I have taken all or not. I was just listing out things, Tooth Paste is taken... Oops the brush is not taken....

By around 10:30 pm, we had started the trip. We picked up people in another one hour. All of us except Yuva were in the thought of a deep plan to wish Yuva on his B'day. Even though it was on 23rd Feb, we wished him and presented the gift. The greeting card holds the people's writings in the card. The very nice one was of Neelima's, which holds the wishes written in the form of VB macros. Good work Guroo, you missed an A+ rating. Bad luck, Tele2 had called ExitSub().

The next day by 8:30 am, we had reached the camp, geared up in another 1 hour. While having our breakfast, guide was telling about the nature. We were asking him questions like "Is there any crocodiles in the river?" He said Ya, Not only crocodiles; this is the region where the King cobras are plenty. I got scared, even though I thought “Hmm King Cobra....” I looked at everyone. I could see everyone looking at Sandaya’s face. And I didn't express my dreariness even though from my child hood itself I am very scared of dogs and snakes.

After the breakfast, we have just started the journey to the riverside, for White water Rafting and Kayaking. It took around 2 hours to reach the spot. We were in urge to put the life jacket as well as to inflate the raft and kayak. The Raft and Kayaks are of Sea Eagles, imported from US. Rafting/Kayaking offered us the broadest array of river experiences available from mild to wild with everything in between. It was an awesome nature trip, focused on the flora and fauna of the forest.

The trainer had given us a good session on how to control the kayak, and what to do in several situations. He trained us on how to paddle and manage the kayak in case if it gets stuck in the rock. Also it included how to use the life jackets in case someone had fallen into the water. Just after he finished his instructions, everyone secretly said their own prayer and was drawing a deep sigh.

It was the most awesome trip I have ever had in water. The most thrilling moment during the Kayaking was with the rapids. In still water, it's pretty easy to manage or control the kayak. But in rapids, the strong flow makes the kayak, move to its own direction which will lose the control and in turn put into turbulence. But that is the very interesting part in kayaking. We enjoyed a lot, paddling in rapids. The instructor had a tough time to give instructions - I was in the back row in the Raft. The instructor was standing beside me. Couple of times, I got hits on my head while paddling, for the mistakes in making the right move. He used to say "Forward paddle..... Backward paddle..... From my childhood days, I have been always confused in finding directions. When someone says Right or Left, I often used to check my hands to see which one I usually use for eating.

The most memorable moment happened after lunch. We were amazingly thrilled to enjoy every moment in the water. In rapids, we were heading towards the rocks with water flooding over the sides of the boat. This truly was an exhilarating experience. When our instructor, Manju handed over the Fist Aid kit and some other packs to the other trainer, we didn’t know that it was an intentional act to make all of us fall into water from the raft. He also told his friend to wait somewhere at the end. At that time we wanted again to go against the stream so he told to paddle very hard to go against the stream, purely an upstream activity. Once we get into the rapid the aim to make a fast turn towards the flow. This will make it more turbulent and the people who sit at that side of the raft will have to struggle a lot to hang onto it. This happened to most of us. When we tried to do the same, I was about to fall down to water. But Shihas pulled me into the raft. It happened to Neetha too, where she was partially fell into the water. But others somehow managed to pull her into the raft.

It was the third or fourth attempt to go against the stream to head the rocks in the rapid. We were paddling very hard to go upstream and suddenly the raft got slid to the left side. I saw the people sitting on the left side making the effort to get into the raft. Ultimately, it happened. Sandaya fell off the raft. Everyone saw what had taken place. But we couldn't see her for 2-3 seconds. Most of us were frightened and stood in the raft to look for her. She had drowned into the water, and was unable to surface up as she was below the raft. After some tine we saw her around 50 meters away the raft. Because of the big commotion, we lost control of paddles to the water. Manju told to retrieve it quickly. At the same moment, Sandaya was drowning again but somehow managed to make use of life jacket. Easily she was able to float on the water. She was around 200 meters now. We paddled quickly to reach Sandaya. Our hero, Tindu was roaring '' Sandaya, we are coming. Don’t worry...” Later Sandaya told that she had heard a voice that finally somebody had come to help her. (Pls note that Tindu has recently been selected to the Fire Task Force too). This is a memorable moment for everyone and will be too especially for "Sandaya from Kerala".

Alappuzha(Alleppey) is the land of backwaters, lakes and rivers. It is also known as 'Venice of East'. I take great pride in telling everyone that I hail from Alleppey. We finished rafting at the bank and the other group was just sitting on the rock which was in the middle of the river. And I wished to swim upto there. Easily managed to swim up to the stream and when I tried to cross the stream, I felt it was pulling me towards the flow and it was very hard for me to keep afloat. At the end of the story, HELPDESK had to come to my rescue by throwing the rope towards me. Nowadays, I don't tell anyone that I am from Alleppey. :)

A camp fire was arranged on Saturday night. Neelima was in high spirits to try out few dance steps. Even though our van driver was in some other dance mood, at last he agreed to play the songs to make us dance. We were very tired by the end of the day. And we got to sleep inside the tent which was really nice. That time also, I remembered Manju mention about snakes. I kept looking at the corners of the tent to see whether everything was covered fine or not.

On Sunday, we were on our way back to B'glore. But once we got into Malpe beach, we heard about another island nearer to that. We thought of going there by making a new plan suddenly.

Malpe is a natural harbour and an important fishing centre that enriches Karnataka's coastline with its' fabulous beach. The endless stretch of golden sand, clear blue sky and gurgle of the sea, all set the perfect mood for an idyllic holiday. Fishing boats bobbing in the distance make a pretty picture.

St. Mary's Island, another delightful get away is only a boat-ride away from Malpe Harbour. Here one can find a unique formation of volcanic rocks which have crystallized into columns and split into hexagonal mosaics. This is neither a swimming nor a strolling beach. It's a beach to be gazed and wondered at; and it's the only one of its kind in India. Legend has it that Vascoda Gama appears to have set foot on the island in 1498 before he reached Calicut. It has a coconut grove, which makes it the shadiest island of the group and gives it true South Sea colour.

The boat ride to the island leaves everyone, the breathless with excitement. For some people it seemed like a good place to have a film shooting. Dona was busy in pointing out the best places for shooting, seems that she got an aim to produce a film soon.
The return journey was also enjoyable. Everyone was in great gusto to take pleasure in. We were dancing under Neelima’s guidance, by just following her dance steps. Also Yuvaraj recited couples of poems. And Gitika’s Tumka dance was a noteworthy event for the trip.

And it’s very heartrending that just one week after the trip, the whole T2 team got scattered. The moments we had spent together, the instances we got together all have become reminiscence now.

I feel the time is getting close,
We all have to part soon.
And I will miss you, dear pals
But you will always be near.

We must be dreaming,
For it has gone to fast.
The time we have spent together,
will soon become the past.

Just hold on to our memories,
To move on to the future.
Now I say, Thanks a lot.
And I say, Goodbye.

Manju, you live in our hearts

It was a nice interview in "Radio City" today morning with Dharmendra. It is the Mumbai Marathon 2006 which made Dharmendra known to the public. He has gone to Mumbai to run the Marathon for Manjunath, his friend and IIM-Lucknow batchmate. Dharma had the long run with the bandanna written "Remembering Manju" which got hefty attention in the run.

I think everyone still bear in mind, Manjunath - who was brutally murdered for doing his job honestly in Lakhimpur-Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh on November 19th 2005.

Manjunath (27), an IIM-L graduate worked as a Sales Manager with Indian Oil Corporation (IOC). He refused to accept bribe and sealed the pumps that sold adulterated petrol. This irked the pump owners who eventually got rid of him by cruelly murdering him.

It is poignant to see a person paying his life for resisting corruption and adultery. His martyrdom lays emphasis on the rising need for a combat against corruption. May this tragic happening change the outlook of our society. Let the incident herald the Indian youth to strike against the infidelity among the society.

Manju, I have never seen you. And I didn't know you. But you are a friend of mine now. Only because, you were brave enough to shell out your own life.

RIP

The lament of a 12 year old Kazakh girl

Last time when I went church, there was a visitor. He is Tippu Raj, born and brought up in a Tamil Muslim family, later accepted Christianity in his life. He got thrown out from his family and community after he had taken the Bachelor of Divinity (B.D.). He became a missionary and spent the days worked among the school/college students. Once he heard about Kazakhstan and the insipid life of people there, he wished to go there only because he deeply wanted to go to a Muslim country. After one year, he got the door opened.

Kazakhstan is a republic in Central Asia, bounded on the north by Russia. It was the second largest republic of the former Soviet Union, after Russia.

Although high mountain ranges fringe the republic’s eastern and southeastern borders, the terrain of Kazakhstan consists mostly of deserts, steppes and hilly upland areas. Deserts and semi deserts cover more than two-thirds of Kazakhstan’s surface area.

The climate of Kazakhstan is extremely continental, with hot summers and cold winters. Extreme summer temperatures can reach 45°C (113°F), and extreme winter temperatures can fall below -45°C (-49°F). During winter, most of the country is covered in snow and the summer thunderstorms often produce flash floods.

Between 1949 and 1991 the Soviet government conducted about 70 percent of all of its nuclear testing in Kazakhstan. Nearly 500 nuclear explosions occurred near Semipalatinsk, while more than 40 nuclear detonations occurred in western Kazakhstan. More than 1 million of Kazakhstan’s inhabitants were exposed to dangerous levels of radiation because the Soviet government did not evacuate or even warn nearby populations.

Living standards deteriorated for most people in Kazakhstan after the republic became independent in 1991. Many people could not afford food and other essential commodities. Unemployment and underemployment remain high, and many people continue to live in poverty.

But for Tippu Raj there were things more than all of these. The Kazakh people detested him for; he made a bunch of people to rise against a community or a government. He was beaten and intimidated several times, and was in prison for several months. At last, he got exiled from the country itself.

When he was sharing the insipid happenings, the whole mass in the church was wholeheartedly listening to his words. I was a kind of heartfelt on hearing the whole story. Deep from my soul, it felt like something sensed my whole body. And my mind went to some somber state when he read a poem written by a 12 year old Kazakh girl.

I don’t remember the lyrics wholly. See some of the lines below….

I was in some agony; you didn't come to see me
I was in great pain; you didn’t come to me as a relief
I was thirsty; no one had given me anything to quench off
I was hungry; no one had given me anything to eat
I was bankrupt, fallen, sad and ill.

Come and lend your kind hand towards me.
You please come lest I have sleepless nights and dreary thoughts

Now I ponder for any good days to come
Please come near to me. I wanna see you....

A year in Accenture

It's one year for me in Accenture. I still remember the day, went for the Group Discussion. One of our acquaintances who work with MBT told me on the same day morning about Accenture. He told me about the global brand name and the work environment in the organisation. Even though I was going for the selection process, I was unaware of the massiveness of this organisation. But still after one year, I am feeling it.

What I like most here is the work culture itself. The people in Accenture say about the work environment because most of the clients are listed in Fortune 100's. So we get a good exposure while dealing with them. Accenture projects are demanding and require a high engagement but at the same time they are rewarding.

See below one of the site review. (http://www.big4.com/Accenture/Overview.aspx)

Accenture has been rated first among Fortune's "America's Most Admired Companies"

Accenture is a global technology services, outsourcing, and management consulting company. Almost 80 percent of Fortune 100’s companies work with Accenture. It is one of the Big Four firms with more than 115,000 people in 48 countries; the company generated net revenues of US$13.67 billion for the fiscal year ended Aug. 31, 2004.

It has extensive relationships with the world’s leading companies and governments and work with organizations of all sizes, including more than two-thirds of the Fortune Global 500.

(See the print ad above)
Do you test the wind?
Or do you use it?

And I love working in Accenture....

Are you dare enough to do this?

If you ask anyone in Bangalore “What troubles you most here?” The rapid answer will be of the messy traffic. It has become very worst nowadays. I have realized this last time when I went home at midnight from office. It took only less than 15 mins to reach my home. And if I go by the 6:30 or 8:30 pm shuttle, it takes around 1 hour.

Even in the midst of these traffic hitches, some of my friends take advantage of it. If you call an Auto-rickshaw for a minimum fare ride here in B’glore, they will shrug the shoulder only. I have experienced this couple of times. So some people started asking for a long ride and whenever their location or nearer signal comes, they will throw the minimum fare (since it is Rs.10/-, that’s also easy) to driver and they will run out of the AR. Poor AR driver! What he can do in the mid of the traffic?

Next time, if you want to have a ride for the minimum fare, ask for a long ride (which costs Rs. 25/- or more) and follow the same steps specified. But you should be daring enough to throw the money, run out and to vanish swiftly.

(I don’t know when I will start practicing this. But I am daring enough….)

The true hunt for defects….

From my childhood days itself, I am pretty good in finding faults. Especially in the food matters, I had good fights with my Mom. Several times, I used to lift up issues like “Salt is more/less, How spicy this is?” Also it was easy to make my Mom angry by comparing our food with Veettil (This is my grandfather’s brother’s house, which was next to my home) food. But my grandmother used to call me, wanted to taste and give suggestions on food, especially when she prepared food for some guests or on some special occasions.

Above all, the fights with my sisters, both of them on one end and I am alone on the other end. At last, it would go to Pappa/Mummy, to execute. I was good in listing out their faults even though I was alone.

When I had started my career, it turned out in Testing fortuitously, where I need to find the slip of software, the outcome of great efforts of some people. So I need to look on a singular angle to hit upon the defects of an application.

I have raised 70 and more defects till now and I don’t know whether, whatever I have gained through the small fights assists me to go further in my career or not. May be….

But last time, when I went home, I told, ”Mom, the food is very tasty now…..”

Who is this Baanish Jaahn?

Qn : “Who is Baanish Jaaahn?”
Ans : “I don’t know....”

Our’s is a Telecom project, with a teamsize of around 70 people. Since this project is outsourced to IDC(ACN-India) from Canada, lot of Canada-ACN employees works with our project. People of different nationalities - Japan, China, US, Canada, Pakistan, SriLanka etc.

Have anyone of you conversed with the Chinese guys?
Tag on the tale for, why I have asked this?

I was sitting idle for the first week, after I joined the project, given a stack of documents to read. After that given some development work, in which I had to modify a function for several products. It needed to lock the function so that concurrent usage could be avoided. Same work to be done for all the 35 or more functions. So I checked-out(locked) most of the functions, so that no one was able to modify the same. The people who wanted to work on these products saw my name “Function locked by Binesh N John” in the history data. The main character of our story, Kenny Ho Chenng, one Chinese guy also saw my name and he had some urgency to do with the same function. He went to everyone and started asking “ Who is this Baanish Jaahn?”. His accent is very tough, to get a hold. He came to me and asked “Who is this Baanish Jaahn?”. I told very confidently “I don’t know”, like a rapid fire answer. He went to most of the cubicles and asked everyone. But he got the same answer only. Atlast, he went to Masood, who assigned me the work and he told him that one guy here named “Baanish Jaahn” locked around 35 functions and I am in urgency to do with those functions. And both of them came and Masood pointed me, said “This's the guy you are searching for.....”. At that time only, I realised that Kenny was asking my name.... I couldn’t control my laughing, they were also laughing and he explained the incident to Masood. But I enjoyed it very much and so the blog also. The interesting story happened in my first fortnight in Accenture :)

Qn : “Who is this Baanish Jaahn?”
Ans : “I don’t know....”

My prayer

Every day I need you Lord.
But this day especially.
I need some extra strength ,
to face what ever is to be.

This day more than any day
I need to feel you near.
To fortify my courage,
And to overcome my fear.

By myself, I cannot meet the challenge of the hour,
There are times when humans help,
But we need a higher power
To assist us bear what must be borne,
and so dear Lord, I pray -
Hold on to my trembling hand
And be near me today.

The Great Interview....

Hi,
It’s pretty long time since i have written something. Precisely saying, it’s of three months. And I became very blissful; for some of my friends asked me to continue the writing. Even though, all of it was mainly doomed to laugh at my friends.

This time I would like to share with you the hilarious experiences happened during the last three months.). This comprise of “Job Thending, my great Hindi speeches, Mumbai Trips” etc and a lot. “Job Thending” is a very funny experience for everyone. (It’s not relevant for those who got selected in Campus interviews.)
The same happened in my life earlier after my BSc. Study, tried in several universities to join for MCA. At that time, I had tried in many of the Colleges in Kerala and South India. I have written a number of entrance tests. And I even thought of writing a “’Guidance Book” on how to join MCA, because I have got good knowledge on several universities and their selection procedure as well as the test pattern. Finally, Bishop Heber got the great privilege to teach me. (Like Abdul Kalam did his study in St. Joseph’s)

I was very reluctant to move from my beauty land, Karuvatta (happy to say you that it’s going to be a Metropolitan very soon). And I kept in my mind, the proverb, “Failure is the stepping stone to Success”, just because I have come across several failures through out my life. I have gone for a number of interviews here.

The most awed one happened, when my Didi (Cousin Sister) referred me to her ex-boss. He was the VP of her Coy. He is around 65 years of age. He telephoned me at 9.00 a.m. and asked me to be there at his house at 11.00 a.m and gave me his address. (I still continue my routine system of getting up at 9.00). Since it is very far from my locality, my Appacha also accompanied me. We reached there at 11.10 am. And he invited us into his house. Very frankly, he said “Binesh, you have lost the first impression, just because you came with your uncle”. He added “A software engineer should be initiative and ready to take challenges”. I was really bewildered. But I started answering “Sir, I am new to this place; that’s why…” I found him, not listening at my reason.

And he came with some usual HR questions and I answered. I told him that I am interested in Quality Assurance. He started questioning on this topic. The very first one was “What is Quality?”. I thought of Britto (who taught us “Software Engg.”). I told him “it’s Cost estimation, Time limit, execution speed etc.” He listened carefully to my answer and meanwhile a telephone call came to him”. And I thought, he got impressed in me. After the call, I felt of seeing a horror movie in which only two characters playing the roles. (Myself as a ghost and him as a ‘Mantravadi’ who makes the ghost fail in all tricks) He told me “You are wrong; you don’t know what quality is”. And he said “Quality is the breaking up of software inorder to make it error free”. Again I thought of Britto, teaching a lot of “….ities” (such as portability, interoperability,reliability,flexibility etc”) .But Sorry Britto Sir, no ….ities worked there. Atlast he asked “Which book you had for you studies?”. (I didn’t even see the referred book for Software Engg. ) – Who remembers these things, since we have the “Corres Book”. Anyway I told him “Pierrson” (Actually it is Pressman). But he was also confused of the same (I think, it happened after hearing my answers) and told me that’s the good book on SW Engg. “Do you have the book?, You brought it here?” I said confidently “No Sir”. That enabled to lose all the impressions. And I would have to appear for the MBT exam on the next week. He advised me to buy that book soon, study well and come again after MBT exam. “You are going to pursue your career in QA, and you must have the SW Engg. Book.“. He gave an idea on the technical book stalls also.

And for several days, I dreamt this interview session. It turned as a nightmare. (Like Shane Warne dreamt Sachin, smashing at his bowling). And meanwhile, I attended several tests and that delayed me to go again there. And Accenture saved me from another horror movie.

Thanks to Accenture. And last week he called me and it was incredible for him to hear that I got thru Accenture. He called me to ask the reason of not going there. Anyway he is a great person. He is the Ex- VP of a Coy. And what’s my position? (Only printf and scanf…Jabaaa Jabaa Jabaaa)

I firmly believe, that happened of God’s Grace. That really prejudiced me and after that I collected several HR questions and prepared on the same. He asked me several sort of questions, that paved torch on how to answer the same. And that helped me a lot.

“Aim at the sky; you will hit atleast the tree.”

Binjo