Author: manuscrypts

  • Look, Druk! Part Two

    Continued from Thimphu

    Part 2: Punakha

    We had to make an early start as we wanted to get to Punakha by lunch. Early during vacation is around 8AM. The journey time itself isn’t much – between 2 to 2.5 hours, but we had a few things to finish off before that. The first stop was Dochula, about 40 minutes from Thimphu. Thimphu is at an elevation of about 2300 m, and Dochula is 800 m higher, and quite colder. On clear days, it is possible to see the Eastern Himalayas, and specifically Gangkhar Puensum, Bhutan’s highest peak. Clear days are a rarity though, to the extent that even Sonam (our guide) hadn’t seen the peaks. The 108 stupas there are themselves worth the visit though, and the mist and the sun playing hide and seek also offer some excellent views. The Druk Wangyal Lhakhang temple is there as well, though we didn’t visit.

    For most people though, the cafe and its loo (not usable unless you’re a customer, and a rule that is more often than not broken) are important points in the journey!

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  • Look, Druk! Part One

    Bhutan was always a when, and never an if. And our program management now is such that we are fairly clear of the when-where for the next 3 years, assuming life doesn’t throw tantrums. We also realised that what gets lost in us planning everything down to the last detail are the aha moments. So now, we figure out the broad things to do and let tour operators do the rest. This also ensures that there’s just the right amount of time to relax, and actually vacation! Have to wonder if age is catching up! Anyway

    Part 1: Thimphu via Kolkata

    My last trip to Kolkata had been 18 years ago. Our only interactions after that have been restricted to the airport, which is probably my least favourite among all that I have visited. But Kolkata I have had a fascination for. I have admired the way in which its populace has held on to traditions, and I have loved the history it contains. I don’t think any other city has these many functional Ambassadors!

    Based on suggestions from our friend P, we had decided to dine at Aaheli, and chose to stay at Kenilworth. Small, but elegant and functionally adequate rooms, and very courteous staff.

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  • No help for it

    No, not the help. A different kind of noun.

    Reflecting on a few recent events, I realised that we are capable of providing different kinds of help.

    There’s the help that we think we can give. It’s the story we tell ourselves so as not to make ourselves seem unkind or miserly with respect to our self image. It’s convenient, and we don’t really lose much on this, except..

    There’s the help we want to give. A part of our mind knows we should probably be doing more. We tell ourselves a story to make up for the deficit – “but that other thing we want for ourselves is something we really need“. Besides… (more…)

  • A Working Theory of Love

    Scott Hutchins

    As a character in the book asks, “What is love?” He proceeds to provide at least three alternatives to his own question – a biochemical emergent property of evolution? A social construct? Or just acquisition and deal making involving assets two people have?

    In ‘A Working Theory of Love’, Scott Hutchins takes a stab at it through its characters in ways real and artificial. At the centre of it all is Neill Bassett, a resident of San Francisco in his mid-thirties, working at Amiante Systems with two others to build an artificial intelligence that will pass the Turing test. He is not a programmer/technologist – his essential connection with the project is that the machine’s “character” has been built using his father’s personality as manifested through the journals he (the father) had kept. He serves as the interlocutor for the machine as its creators try to make it a sentient, ‘lifelike’ phenomenon.  (more…)

  • Cafe Max

    I realised that though we had visited the place, I’d never written about it! And that a lot of the newer set in Bangalore don’t know of the place. I have to admit that it’s pretty well hidden in broad daylight, so that’s not surprising. The last time I was there for lunch, from work, I realised that the ambiance would actually be great for a dinner setting! And that’s how we made a visit on D’s birthday!

    The muted lighting, the tree canopy and an excellent playlist confirmed my cosy dinner spot hypothesis! We decided to start with Sangria – champagne for D and red for self. I have to say, I liked mine much more, for a change. Lots of fruits, and exactly the right amount of wine for a wholesome combination.

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