25 things about me

PK tagged me first. Then I read 25 things about 3 people. RA also sent her 25 things about her. And now KB has tagged me. No, no, not under pressure from my boss, I am writing 25 things about myself out of sheer joy of recollecting and sharing things about myself...

1. I prefer sea over hills.
2. I like the summer season.
3. The best cities in India are Chennai and Delhi.
4. If not in Chennai or Pondicherry, I would like to retire and live in a small house in Prithviraj Road, Delhi.
5. In Chennai my favorite weekend/weekday haunt is Thiruvanmiyur beach.
6. In Delhi my favorite weekend haunt was SDA’s Aurobindo market and the Midland book store.
7. Before I die, I want to witness an opera show in Venice, and visit Budapest as a tourist.
8. The only thing I like in winter is to grill stuff over coal fire in angethi.
9. I have tasted snake meat and octopus. Shrimps are one of my favorites, minus the smell.
10. I get pleasure from driving.
11. In Delhi, I avoid driving through the IIT road.
12. I love traveling, and prefer exploring places alone.
13. I enjoy clicking pictures of people and monuments.
14. I enjoy the company of people who have a good sense of humor. Though I prefer the serious non-philosophical, no nonsense types.
15. When I was in class 8, I wished if by magic I gained physical appearance like that of John Travolta, I would then sport his hairstyle and sing songs for my Olivia Newton John! I even memorized two songs.
16. I had an OCD for cleanliness. I am glad I am normal now.
17. I like to read and blog – my favorite authors are Ruskin Bond and Thomas Hardy. And my favorite book is the Mayor of Casterbridge.
18. The best movies ever made are Love Story and Life is Beautiful. The others that I like are Miracle, Aandhi, most of Julia Roberts’, The Gods Must Be Crazy, The Great Dictator, and The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly.
19. I enjoy listening to Beatles [Love Me Do], Jim Reeves [Each Beat of My Heart], and Lata Mangeshkar’s ‘Mera Saya.’ Asha Bhosle has the sexiest voice.
20. My favorite cartoon characters are Tom and Jerry. I also love watching Charlie Chaplin. The Lucy Show was my favorite once upon a time.
21. Facts about my best boy & girl friends – both are:
    >>Instructional Designers
    >>From South India
    >>Followers of Christ
    >>My ex team members
    >>Bloggers
22. While in school, my aim was to join the artillery unit of the Indian Army. In the Forces Request Program I used to send my requests to fictitious friends marked as, ‘From 2/Lt Vishal Thakur’. And I changed my rank to that of a Lieutenant after two years.
23. After I was rejected by the Army Medical Board and exhausted my chances of appearing for selection, I ensured I was invited to the Passing Out Parade for the next three years that I was in Dehra Doon.
24. The only army general I have liked was General K Sundarji who had written a book – ‘Blind men of Hindoostan.’ I like the names of Pakistani Generals, they carry some weight – ‘Gen Mirza Aslam Baig’, ‘General Jehagir Karamat’, ‘General Ayub Khan’, and ‘General Zia-Ul-Haq.’
25. I just hate:
    >>box beds
    >>songs which have too much use of synthesizers and organs
    >>haryali tea advertisement