All we can do is take Pictures!!!!

I recently got a chance to go to the Museum of National History in Washington D.C. I got to admit its very nice and a very beautiful place. There are lot of wonders there. Some things that we can't see anywhere else. 

But when I came across the Hope Diamond it was a whole different feeling. Sign below it read "Hope Diamond, 45.52 carats, India" I felt like why here?? why not its in India? I felt all the goodies from India are kept across the world and all we can do is go visit and take pictures. 

Same is the case with Kohinoor diamond in London. And so is the Shah Jahan's Peacock Throne also in London. Well true is the fact that these things were brought from the countries which were ruled by other nations but truly they belong to the county of their origin. 

The Hope Diamond is the Center piece attraction in the Gems collection in the Museum. Its the most famous piece of the entire collection. Actually myth runs that it was stolen from the eye of an idol of Indian Goddess "Sita".  

The room was crowed with a lot of people. All around the glass case trying to take a picture of the Hope Diamond. Seeing the precious diamond in the glass case in the center of the hall surrounded with people trying to get a glimpse of it all I was thinking, "All I can do is takes pictures and go home."

The Rubik's Cube Guy!!

We come across lots of people while we are travelling. Some are ok, some bore us and some entertain us. Well something like that happened to me on the way to DC from Dallas.

Everyone knows about Rubik's cube. Its a puzzle cube which has 6 colors and we have to arrange all the colors by twisting and turning the cube. The biggest I ever saw was a 3 x 3 x 3 cube. Now they have 7 x 7 x 7. Well I didn't knew that.

So I was sitting in my seat and an Asian guy may be from China or Japan came and sat next to me. I was solving sudoku from the book in the aircraft. This guy opened his bag and took out a big cube. I was thinking " Is that a Rubik's cube? hmm.... Let me count how many colors... OMG 7. Do they make that". He started solving it. I stopped my sudoku, kept the book away (It looked stupid in front of the cube).

35 minutes passed and I can see its almost done. 45 minutes its over. He kept the cube down on my side of the tray and drank his tomato juice and said to me "Can you scramble it for me?" I said "Wait let me take a picture first". I took a picture and then scrambled the cube. Then I said " How does it look? Do you think you can compete it before we reach DC?" He replied "Let's see. Its pretty messed up though".

30 minutes later I can see the colors arranging in the pattern. 50 minutes he finished it again. Man I was amazed. In a flight of two and half hours he finished it twice. I said "You are quick." He replied "I screwed in the middle otherwise it would have been over long back". I asked " So I think you can finish the 3 x 3 x 3 cube in like what 5 minutes." He replied "Actually 2 minutes." I am like oops that was a dumb question on my part.

So I took a picture of the guy with the cube. I thought well that was a good entertaining flight for me. Hopefully I will come across people like him I future flight where there will be a free show of skill and talent.

My First Train Ride in USA

Hi frnds,
Its been nearly 5 years I been in US but it was on 14th of April 2009 when I had my first train ride. I can say its been a fun ride.. but nothing is more fun than train ride in India. I felt a little bit like I was in India but there was no "chai chai.. kafee kafee... garam garam samosey" guys in the train..

I went to Baltimore a couple of days but I got a ticket to DC for cheaper rate. So I had to take train to Baltimore.. Actually I had to take 3 trains to go to Baltimore. While I was on train I felt something like I was in India. Ofcourse nothing is fun like in a 2nd class compartment in Indian trains but looking outside the window I felt.. "Ahaaaa!!! I miss Indian Railways".

There was ofcourse a Ticket Collector in the train with a hat and was funny. He shouted " All abroad" just before the train left the station.. Well that is something new for me.. The ticket was more like a filght boarding pass. It was a nice expirience for me to board a train in US.

Srikar's Surgery

Hi.. 

  Yesterday was my nephew, Srikar's Surgery.. I am in Baltimore and everything went fine.. He is in the ICU and is doing well. I request you all to please keep Srikar in your prayers and pray for his quick recovery.. thank you.

You can visit Srikar's blog to see his progress 

http://www.srikarpotluri.blogspot.com

Gokul.

Life isn't always fair!!!

Hi friends,
You guys remember my nephew, Srikar. A few months ago Srikar was diagnosed with a rare brain condition known as hemimegalencephaly. Hemimegalencephaly is a rare condition characterized by the enlargement of one-half of the brain. Children suffering from this condition often suffer from intractable seizures. To learn more about it you can visit wikipedia.

We came to know about his condition in his 3rd month. Since then life isn't very smooth going for our kid nor for us. Lots n lots of doctor visits, lots and lots of tests, MRIs, CAT scans.. oh gosh. Children with hemimegalencephaly must undergo a Hemispherectomy to stop seizure activity.

Hemispherectomy is a surgical procedure where one half of the brain is removed or disabled. In Srikar's case his left side brain is bigger and has to be removed. He is undergoing surgery on 15th of this month i.e., on Wednesday at John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. Even the thought of it runs chill in my spine.

Well srikar is leaving for Baltimore tommorow morning. We are so worried, for the kid had to go through all this at this small age in his life. Life isn't always fare, I guess. I pray to God to give him strength and couage to pass through these hard times. And I have a request for you guys too.. Please keep him in your prayers too. This is the time when he can use all the support and well wishes of family and friends.

May God bless you Srikar and be by your side all time during these hard times.
luv Babai...

We are starting a new blog for Srikar which will update details of his surgery. The blog address is www.srikarpotluri.blogspot.com

Happy Birthday Venki !!!!

Hi Venki..
Many More Happy Returns of the Day... HAPPY BIRTHDAY.. Bava !!!

Hope you have all the happiness in the world and success be at your feet.

Here is a small something I guess U will like.. A couple of pictures for sure.. ;)

Guess U liked one picture better than the rest.. Have a nice and wonderful day..

Happy Birthday !!!!

Earn Cool & Free Stuff on Club Live !!!

Hi frnds..
Well here's an cool thing I wanted to share with you guys.. Microsoft's Live Search Club (http://club.live.com) is an fun website to earn free stuff by playing word games. The games are free and the prizes are free. It is definitely not a scam and no strings attached. All you guys have to do is register at club live and start playing.

I have already received two prizes a XBox 360 wireless controller and a Xbox 360 game in the mail from the Website. Not only do they have great stuff to win, but they are also quick on shipping the items. I received both items within four weeks of cashing out my tickets.

A player can earn a max of 1000 tickets per day. That may be a bummer for hard core players but for most players it won't matter. I have only reached the 1000 ticket per day 2 or 3 times. I usually average around 400 tickets per day. You guys can play during your coffee break, tea break, lunch break, etc., etc... Well I am aiming for a Zune which is not that far..

Have fun playing games.. and winning prizes...

Happy Birthday Vodina !!!

Many Many Happy Returns of the Day Vodina...... "HAPPY BIRTHDAY"
Where's the party?? Srikar was asking.. not me..
Have a wonderful day.. May all ur wishes come true...

A small video for you...

Grand Theft Auto - IV

So I finally completed GTA - IV yesterday. It took me lot of time to complete. Although I completed the main missions long back but the side missions which contribute for 100% completion of the game took a lot of time. The most boring was the one where I had to find 200 pigeons in Liberty City and kill them. GTA 4 is the best so far the best GTA game released.

Here is the trailer for the game. PC version is also out. I played it on XBox 360.

WIsh U a Happy Married Life Swapna !!

Recently my cousin got married last month. Wish you a happy married life Akka. Congratulations to you both and much happiness on your wedding day. May your love shine warmly forever.

Good Old Times !!!!!

Well today I was going through my old hard drive and somewhere in the middle I saw a video file by the name Goli Soda.. well 'goli' means marble in Telugu. I opened the file this was what was in there. So I thought of uploading it to the youtube and share with you guys. These were the good old time in Border Trail 218... well that was the apartment no. when i was in school. Ok for those who don't know what a goli soda is.. It is a soda especially from south India. It has a Marble in the middle like a lid to the bottel... keeps the pressure in.. Now we got a chance to get it in US.. So we thought to shoot a video.. well the person opening it is Venki and camera man is ofcourse me.. :)...
Check it out and leave ur comments.. well the third person's identity is unknown ... :D....




Well guys.. miss those good old times...