Fight Science

If you are a guy, a lover of Martial arts or simply an inquisitive soul with an interest in human ability this is a "must see" video before you die.

National geography brings together the best of science and the best of Martial Arts to evaluate the myths and legends about the supernatural powers in different styles of fighting. With the help of high tech equipment the scientists evaluate knockout punch, the deadliest kick, the ultimate weapon and many more.

A truly wonderful documentary. The whole series used to be on youtube, but most of it has been taken off due to copyright infringement. But you still might be able to find a few clips if you search by the name "Fight Science"

First impressions of DC

District of Columbia, the capital of USA, my first time there - not impressed

DC as far as my opinion counts is a city of monuments and places of historical interest. Unlike Boston (my benchmark of a great city) everything was far away from each other. It takes ages to move from one place to another and mind you in the middle of the summer this is not a pleasant thing to do.

The Lincoln Memorial, Washington monument, White house, are few places that will be in a first timers check list, but apart from that to cut a long story short, nothing caught my eye (except maybe for the clean subways)

Attractions I supposedly missed - The 1001 museums, Cherry Blossom festival (once an year at the dawn of the Spring) and the rest of the political monuments

The main purpose of the visit was to meet our friends Aruni, Prasad and Malinda, and the relations that I had never met before; Gamini Bappi and his family. Aruni's landlord has two boats, five cars, a chocolate Labrador and a Toshiba Tough-book. Now that's happening. Also a special thanks extends to Malinda our generous and wonderful host, who took every measure to make our stay in DC comfortable. Girls he's single and available.

Boston

Date: 26, 27 and 28th, May 2007
Purpose: Fun, Sight seeing

The memorial day weekend called for some form of "break away" from the normal routine, so four of us Cheri, Rita Aunty, Chatura and I left Stanford Friday evening to Boston

Saturday
Boston is truly a beautiful place. For a New Yorker (damn I called myself a New Yorker) the first that catches your attention is how relaxed and happy the people here are. I guess maybe that is why most of the the main colleges in US decided to end up here.

Our first stop was the New England Aquarium. Highly recommended as one of the "must do things" in Boston comes with a price tag of $17.95 per person. Despite all the publicity I found this place to be much smaller than expected. But never the less it had some cool features to it. The penguins, the giant turtles, the jelly fish and the cylindrical tank are some of the things to lookout for. Can I justify $17.95 for this excursion? Hmnn.. I guess its something that you would want to do once when you are in Boston. Missed the Whale Watch rides and the IMAX theater experiences due to lack of time.


Quincy Market
Now this is a remarkable place. An open market with a very relaxed atmosphere with plenty of shopping and entertainment. Food, clothes, jewelery you name it. The street entertainers are a treat. All sort of circus acts, musicians, dancers can be seen on every corner of the Quincy market. People come here to shop and relax. Its one of the most popular tourist attractions in Boston and it definitely justifies its reputation.


By this time everyone (Cheri, Kesh, Rita, Ajantha and Shantha) had decided to call it a day. So I was set on my own to explore the streets of Boston. I decided to explore the western part of the "Freedom Trial" which I had carefully mapped on a piece of paper. But I discovered later on that you need not have a map, and that the whole path is mapped with stone on the pavement



Freedom trail
" There is no other place in the United States where you can take in the rich history of America’s Revolution — the events that lead up to the historic break from Britain and the brave people who shaped our national government. The Freedom Trail is a 2.5 mile red-brick walking trail that leads you to 16 nationally significant historic sites, every one an authentic American treasure. Preserved and dedicated by the citizens of Boston in 1958....."
Source - http://www.thefreedomtrail.org/

I don't know anything about American History and I don't think I really cared anyway, but this walk was one of the best walks ever. The architecture and the atmosphere in this city is absolutely amazing. People are so relaxed, and even the apartments give you a real sense of "I am home" feeling. Maybe its the colonial feeling style that creates this

Sunday
The main event for the day was a Cricket match organized by some Buddhist temple welfare committee in Boston. The tournament turned out to be a rather disappointment but never the less we had our own fun. The venue for the tournament was rather interesting. It was at a state park which on different circumstances would have been an great place to hang out

Harvard Square
The highly acclaimed Harvard Square was a big disappointment. Nothing was happening and I didn't find anything interesting. But i was assured by well informed sources that this was because it was a Sunday night. So maybe next time I will have better luck in being a part of the action

Monday - Memorial Day
After an eventful weekend we headed back home. Nothing of major significance happened along the way, apart from our stop at Bangkok garden in Yale for lunch. Good food for cheep - that is the place to be. A combination that is very rare in NY.

Thank you House 2.0

Players from left to right: Deedee, Sahadev, Aileen, Isuru, Amith
Missing in the picture: Oscar the friendly dog
Place: 39th Street and 6th Avenue, Manhattan, NY


In the heart of NYC, you would be surprised to come across a cool and calm place like this. Who said NY's were busy? Who said NY's were bitchy? These 5 (some call it 6 with Oscar the dog) guys are the most relaxed bunch of people that I have seen in NYC since I came here

Now I knew Isuru from High school. So there is nothing interesting to write about him except for that everybody thinks that he will be the richest "hippi" in the world once of these days.
Saha (Sahadev) and Amit are entrepreneurs and they work from home. They have their own web development stuff. And this is my source of inspiration to take up the "introduction to venturing" class that I am taking right now. What a life. And these two make the best pizza in the city.

The girls -
Deedee is a middle school teacher and the proud owner of Oscar (the friendly dog). Has a habit of dropping big objects from her 4th floor window. Always with a smile and a very easy going person just like the rest of the crew.

Aileen works at one of US's leading consultancy firms. Always on the run. And have a crazy sense of humor. And she gave me a small bottle of wine. She's cool

Things to look out at House 2.0
1. The Apple Laptops (about a dozen)
2. Wednesday nights with "Lost"
3. Oscar the scapegoat signs
4. And the one of a kind parties

Wanna check out their events
http://www.amitgupta.com/house2.0/

Thanks ever so much guys for putting up with me for one whole month. It's really appreciated

From the Big Apple

Hi... I guess I am already late. But late is better than never, so here goes

I am originally from Kandy. Sri Lanka (awesome quiet place.. maybe I will write about it sometime in the future), ended up in NY, USA at the dawn of 2007. To be precise arrived here on 30th of December 2006. The moment I set foot on this wonderful...y busy city of NY I realized the need to pen down my initial reactions before I accepted this madness as the norm.

So NY - the big apple... The first view I had about this city of 8 million people was of Harlem, the biggest ghetto in the world. Now that is one extreme of NY... Maybe I shouldn't say much about it.. who knows I might be the next to end up dead tomorrow. But what the heck who's going to read my blog anyway.

Harlem - A community of a vast amount of Black people and Latin Americans. Not the most niche place that you can be. But this is where I get my train and this is the neighborhood that I have to cross everyday to get to my university. So I ain't complaining

New Yorkers
It surprises me how people can pretend this much. Don't get me wrong, but the first thing that I realized about New Yorkers is how much they try to pretend that they are busy so that they can avoid a conversation. But surprisingly if you take time to talk to one of these so called busy New Yorkers you will realize that they are very courteous and nice. And sometimes would go out of the way to help you. So why pretend to be bitchy? beats me. Maybe its the trend

Things to do in New York
Lol! You should ask "what cant you do in New York?". But everything comes with a price, and a high one at that. For some of the folks back in Sri Lanka hopefully reading this here is a rough comparison chart

Tea / coffee - min 100 Rs (Except at Starbucks it will be something between 350 Rs - 750 Rs)
bus ride (any distance in NYC) - 200 Rs
Movie Ticket - 1100 Rs
Books - absurdly expensive
(all prices assuming that the currency exchange rate is 1$ = 100 Rs)

Hmn.. what else for starters? Oh the University I attend; Wow a truly wonderful place indeed. Everyone is so focused, very career minded and busy as every other person in NY. Full of East Asian and Indian dudes (looking for better career prospect like me I guess). So many things to do. But again money talks.

In general NY is a place that anyone will fit-in, in a matter of few days. I guess it simply because there are so many things to do and everyones interest can be catered in someway. But I guess unfortunately no-one ultimately "belongs" here. For me the city lacks the definition of a what takes it to be a home. But maybe I am wrong, and maybe I will change my views in a couple of years. But as of 114 days this is what I feel

Ok... so that is good for a starter. If this becomes any longer its going to get boring

So adios for now