Monday, February 25, 2019

Graveyard photography?

Was that even a thing? Maybe not but me and a good friend - Sunil went about taking some great photographs in cemeteries in Bangalore, India. Revisited some of these photos.





We used to think of the time, effort and money that went into making these remarkable gravestones. Artwork eh?

Wednesday, July 11, 2018

Old lady singing "En Yesu Rajavukke"

This lady with such a strong, beautiful voice sang this song for us at Sothavilai Beach near Nagercoil, Tamilnadu. She told us that she had been part of the choir many many years ago when she was young. God blesses some people with such lovely voices!



Wednesday, January 17, 2018

Snowflake

I've always wanted to take a photograph of a snowflake. Finally did! Such beauty in the smallest of things.


Friday, October 21, 2016

Death was Arrested - North Point InsideOut

One of my most favourite songs - thanks to that special someone who introduced me to this song.....

Alone in my sorrow dead in my sin
Lost without hope with no place to begin
Your love made a way to let mercy come in
When death was arrested and my life began

Ash was redeemed only beauty remains
My orphan heart was given a name
My mourning grew quiet my feet rose to dance
When death was arrested and my life began

Oh your grace so free
Washes over me
You have made me new
Now life begins with you
It's your endless love
Pouring down on us
You have made us new
Now life begins with you

Released from my chains I'm a prisoner no more
My shame was a ransom he faithfully bore
He cancelled my debt and he called me his friend
When death was arrested and my life began

Our savior displayed on a criminal's cross
Darkness rejoiced as though heaven had lost
But then Jesus arose with our freedom in hand
That's when death was arrested and my life began
That's when death was arrested and my life began

Oh we're free free
Forever we're free
Come join the song
Of all the redeemed

Yes we're free free
Forever amen
When death was arrested
and my life began

Thursday, July 21, 2016

Very bad customer service from Amazon India

I was looking to buy the Mi Max - saw it was available in FK, Amazon and the mi app yesterday morning. Decided to buy it through Amazon since I like the customer service. But in my hurry, I placed the order using a card that didn't have enough credit amount left and the payment didn't go through. Got an email and the order page also said "Revise Payment".

Now comes the fun part. I click on the "Revise Payment" button and it takes me to another page - where I should be able to enter alternative details and get the payment through. But nothing of that sort happened - the new page just shows the order number and was blank. Tried in different browsers, no luck. Contacted support who assured me that it looks like a technical issue and that since the order was placed, the product will surely be booked in my name. I reminded them that the phone must be out of stock already and maybe that was why I am unable to revise payment. But customer service assured me it wasn't so.

Now started another bad set of customer service incidents - Amazon reps started behaving like Airtel reps - give false information everytime and this went on till 10 PM. I even taunted them saying that they are just waiting for 24 hrs to end so that they can place the blame on me - saying that I hadn't revised the payment within 24 hrs.

And that is what exactly happened - today morning, the oder was missing from my page. They had also sent me an email saying that the order was cancelled. I contact customer service and tell them the whole story from the beginning! The rep tells me that there is no choice but for me to place an order when it is in stock.

No, it becomes more fun. I open the Mi Max page and suddenly I see "Only 1 in stock" message. I quickly place the order. Order goes through smoothly. I ask the rep about it. He says - "yes, you were able to place the order. But it is not in stock. It will only be shipped when it goes back in stock!". I am flabbergasted. I was so stunned that I did not even know what to say.

So many issues from their end but they did not even acnowledge it or try to correct or placate me. Sorry but that was really, really bad customer service from Amazon! Pathetic in fact.

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Someday - Rob Thomas

Rob Thomas is one of my favourite singer/songwriters. Love the Matchbox 20 albums too. This song seemed so apt for these times...esp the last stanza...

You can go
You can start all over again
You can try to find a way to make another day go by
You can hide
Hold all your feelings inside
You can try to carry on when all you want to do is cry

And maybe someday
We'll figure all this out
Try to put an end to all our doubt
Try to find a way to make things better now, and
Maybe someday we'll live our lives out loud
We'll be better off somehow
Someday

Now wait
And try to find another mistake
If you throw it all away then maybe you can change your mind
You can run, oh
And when everything is over and done
You can shine a little light on everything around you
Man it's good to be someone

And maybe someday
We'll figure all this out
Try to put an end to all our doubt
Try to find a way to make things better now, and
Maybe someday we'll live our lives out loud
We'll be better off somehow
Someday

And I don't want to wait
I just want to know
I just want to hear you tell me, so
Give it to me straight
Tell it to me slow

'Cause maybe someday
We'll figure all this out
We'll put an end to all our doubt
Try to find a way to just feel better now, and
Maybe someday we'll live our lives out loud
We'll be better off somehow
Someday

'Cause sometimes we don't really notice
Just how good it can get
So maybe we should start all over
Start all over again

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

I'm coming home....

A narrow path through hallowed grounds
A silent walk among the clouds
A pile of stones hidden in the pine
Only seen through dead man’s eyes…

Autumn leaves turn brandy wine
Fall and dance in the wind outside
A shadow wanders though the fog
Searching for the light it lost

I’m not afraid
Because I’m not alone
She’s waiting there
To carry me home

A lifetime written in his weathered red face
Every triumph, every fall from grace
Another winters come and gone
It won’t be long…

I’m not afraid
Because I’m not alone
She’s waiting there
To carry me home

I’m coming home,
I’m coming home!

Saturday, January 02, 2016

Hole in my Soul


It’s getting dark and I’m lost in the woods
I’d find a way out if I knew where to look
If I could, I’d rip this page out of my book
Confused and misguided, my faith is beside me

I’ve got a hole in my soul where you use to be
There’s a thorn in my heart and it’s killing me
I wish I could go back and do it all differently
‘Cause now there’s a hole in my soul where you use to be

A fire inside but my bloods turning cold
I’m walking alone down this desolate road
Yesterday feels like a life time ago
The memories are fading, my dreams are all changing

There’s a hole in my heart in my life in my way
And it’s filled with regret and all I did, to push you away
If there’s still a place in your life in your heart for me
I would do anything, so don’t ask me to leave

I’ve got a hole in my soul where you use to be
You're the thorn in my heart and you're killing me
I wish I could go back and do it all differently
I wish that I’d treated you differently
‘Cause now there’s a hole in my soul where you use to be

Friday, November 06, 2015

"Judgement Of Heaven"

A lonely cry for help preaching out for help to anyone
A silent prayer to god to help you on your way
I've been depressed so long
It's hard to remember when I was happy
I've felt like suicide a dozen times or more
But that's the easy way, that's the selfish way
The hardest part is to get on with your life

You're searching in the dark clutching at straws to find a way
You take the tarot cards and throw them to the wind
You ? question your beliefs your inner thoughts,
Your whole existence
And if there is a good then answer if you will
And tell me of my fate, tell me of my place
Tell me if I'll ever rest in peace

If you could live your life again
Would you change a thing or leave it all the same
If you had the chance again
Would you change the thing at all
When you look back at your past
Can you say that you are proud of what you've done
Are there times when you believe
That the right you thought was wrong

All of my life I have believed
Judgement of heaven is waiting for me

All of my life now I have believed
Judgement of heaven awaits for me...

Was discussing on SMS (!) about some rock albums. Topic came up and I admitted that The X Factor is my favourite Iron Maiden album. With songs like the one above, how can I be wrong?

Friday, October 09, 2015

Naveen's Clicks

Yup, finally posted up 3 images on my naveensclicks.blogspot.com site. After 5 years! My camera has been crying :)