While I am still not convinced that any party will get even simple majority. I can only hope that either a single party, or an alliance forms a coalition government soon, without much crap, and actually does some good for the state.

For the state, the whole state, and not just North Karnataka, or South Karnataka, or Bangalore, or corporate companies, or even the religious organisations. Certainly not the political parties and politicians.

Can we hope for some development and growth in the state now?

There seems to be 65% turnout for the elections. But there are many who went back without being able to vote as their names have been missing from the list. My neighbours, who have been living here for a few years couldn’t find his name on any list. While my name, along with my mother’s, and sister’s was on the voter list, my father’s name was missing from the voters list.

We have seen a lot of drama till date during the whole campaign process. Now poll predictions on TV’s lead by News channels, with experts, astrologers, and political party candidates, is unfolding more dirty drama.

I still feel that we are headed towards a hung assembly. Who do you think will win?

Karnataka is today facing a very big challenge with the elections being held tomorrow.

Who will win the elections? Will the people of Karnataka have to face another five (Or few) years of political instability, and cheap drama that we have been seeing in the last nine years?

Already there is too much drama, we can see story’s about black magic, mudslinging, caste based vote bank politics, religious leaders warnings, astrological predictions, rituals to gain victory, the never ending flow of cash, alcohol, gifts, and silly promises by all major and minor political parties.

But who will win?

There is a total of 224 seats being contested. With 4.18 crore (418+ Million) voters casting their votes (Hopefully), in 50,466 polling stations, on the 5th of May 2013. Counting of the votes are scheduled to take place on the 8th of May 2013. 113 seats are required for a simple majority to form a government.

Let see how the political parties seem to fare this time:

Indian National Congress: 90 to 120 seats

There is a wave in the state where the Congress was expected to win a landslide victory, (Much like the Democrats were supposed to in the 2008 US Elections), but internal politics, the lack of proper candidates in many constituencies, and many controversies will hurt them badly.

Also the policy of not announcing a candidate for Chief Minister, could turn either into a boon or curse for Congress.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP): 45 to 60 seats

The incumbent government has been considered one of the most corrupt in the history of Karnataka politics, maybe even South Indian politics. The anti-incumbency feeling in the state, the exit of B. S. Yeddyurappa, and many of his supporters, leading to the split of the Lingayat vote bank between BJP and KJP, are major causes of concern for the BJP.

Janata Dal (Secular) [JD (S)]: 30 to 50 seats

The chances of JD (S) getting a majority is almost non-existent. Yet with the inclusion of Lingayat, they might just cut into the BJP’s and KJP’s vote bank, and might end up winning a couple of seats.

Also the consolidation of most Vokkaliga community vote bank, in Bangalore Rural and Southern Karnataka region might cause problems for the Congress.

Yet, JD (S), (Along with KJP), looks like they might just become the King makers this time round too. Any coalition government with either H. D. Deve Gowda, or his son H. D. Kumaraswamy, is a danger for the other party.

Karnataka Janata Paksha (KJP): 7 to 20 seats

While B. S. Yeddyurappa is considered one of the worst CM’s of Karnataka ever, he still has a major fan base, and many supporters. While he will certainly not be able to form a government on his own, the KJP, like the JD (S), might turn out to the King makers.

The question is not how many seats the KJP will win, but will the amount of seats make a major difference for any coalition? Chances of KJP forming a coalition with either BJP or the JD (S), are almost non-existent, and Congress will be cautious of forming an alliance with KJP.

Badava Shramika Raitha Congress (BSR Congress): 2 to 10 seats

While the BSR Congress might not win even 10 seats, they might either form an alliance, or give outside support to a JD (S)-BJP alliance.

Independents and others: 5 to 15 seats

Like the previous time, the independents, and/or other minor political parties might be the major winners if the assembly is fractured, with either the Congress, or an alliance between any parties, wooing them to form a government with promises of money, minister-ships, or posting in powerful positions.

While I am no expert, yet as a constant observer of regional, state, national, and international politics, and as a student of political science, I can see a rather divided, fractured, and hung assembly this time round too.

I will still be going out tomorrow and voting, hoping for a positive change for the future of Karnataka.

What do you think? And will you vote tomorrow?

Part 1 can be read here: http://byrappa.ws/blog/2013/02/things-to-do-before-turning-30-part-1/

Bold are things I’ve done. Italics are things I have yet to do and will someday, if not this year.

Part 2

251. Bet on a winning horse
252. Asked out a stranger
253. Had a snowball fight 
254. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
255. Be considered an expert resource on something
256. Seen a total eclipse
257. Ridden a roller coaster
258. Hit a home run
259. Danced like a fool and didn’t care who was looking 
260. Adopted an accent for an entire day

So Far: 142

261. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
262. Driven a motorcycle/scooter abroad
263. Visited all 28 states and 7 union territories in India (Or your own country)
264. Taken care of someone who was drunk 
265. Had amazing friends 
266. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country 
267. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
268. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them 
269. Visited Japan
270. Milked a cow

So Far: 149

271. Alphabetised your CDs/computer music files 
272. Pretended to be a superhero 
273. Sung karaoke 
274. Started a business  
275. Fallen in love and not had your heart broke
276. Toured ancient sites 
277. Taken a martial arts class
278. Seen Niagara Falls
279. Gotten married 
280. Been in a movie, either an extra or a significant role

So Far: 155

281. Crashed a party
282. Camped outside & slept on the ground
283. Gone without food for 5 days (More days and times than I want to count)
284. Made cookies from scratch
285. Won first prize in a costume contest
286. Ridden a gondola in Venice
287. Gotten a tattoo
288. Gone White Water Rafting
289. Been on a news program or in a newspaper as an “expert” 
290. Gotten flowers for no reason

So Far: 159

291. Performed on stage
292. Been to Las Vegas 
293. Recorded music
294. Eaten shark
295. Kissed on the first date
296. Followed your favourite band/singer on tour
297. Passed out cold (2012, Harry’s home, after drowning my sorrows)
298. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign county 
299. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over (London 2012)
300. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge

So Far: 163

301. Sang loudly in the car, and did not stop when you knew someone was looking with the windows open 
302. Had a one night stand
303. Survived an accident that you should not have survived (July 2006, Bangalore Railway station, & 9th November 2012, Warren Street, London)
304. Wrote articles for a large publication 
305. Lost over 100 pounds
306. Held someone while they were having a flashback
307. Piloted an airplane
308. Touched a stingray
309. Read The Iliad and The Odyssey
310. Selected one “important” author who you missed in school, and read on your own

So Far: 168

311. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
312. Skipped all your school reunions
313. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
314. Write a poem and make it public (Two already public)
315. Built or played in an Igloo
316. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream
317. Gone skiing/snowboarding
318. Gone surfing
319. Done something nice for someone just because…
320. Compete in a sports competition

So Far: 173

321. Dyed your hair 
322. Been a DJ
323. Shaved your head/donate your hair to charity 
324. Excel at public speaking in front of a large crowd 
325. Saved someone’s life
326. Send a message in a bottle
327. Run up an escalator the wrong way
328. Spend at least one weekend a month properly exploring London
329. Learn to play a musical instrument
330. Play a computer game to the end

So Far: 179

331. Have an embarrassing moment and get over it
332. Paint a picture good enough to hang on a wall
333. Learn to whistle
334. See a ghost
335. Fart and Burp in hilariously inappropriate places
336. Make a swear box
337. Act in a play
338. Win Something
339. Make a t-shirt
340. Stay up all night

So Far: 185

341. Meet someone famous
342. Invent a secret code
343. Learn to do a card trick
344. Grow something from a seed
345. Start a collection
346. Host a party
347. Visit: A safari park, a carnival, a fort, a theme park, a farm, an aquarium, the countryside, another country, a capitol city.
348. Start your own blog/website
349. April Fool someone
350. Do something charitable

So Far: 194

351. Pretend to be ill convincingly
352. Save your allowance (or pay check) for a month and spend it all at once
353. Learn to swim
354. Succeed at something you’re bad at
355. Be a daredevil
356. Invent a new trend
357. Know who your friends are
358. Plant a Tree (To climb when you’re older)
359. Start a band
360. Learn to live without something you love for a week

So Far: 200

361. Join a club
362. Cook a meal
363. Learn to juggle
364. Build the ultimate sandcastle
365. Take part in a TV show
366. Spend Christmas in another country
367. Do something nice without being asked
368. See your music idol perform live
369. Have a sleepover
370. Become a spy

So Far: 207

371. Make your own greeting cards
372. Drive something
373. Start your own secret society
374. Research your family tree
375. Write a story and get it published
376. Date someone who says, “I love you” first
377. Do a lot of solo drinking
378. Read a lot of books
379. Have sex in dirty hostels
380. Suck it up and buy a Macbook Pro

So Far: 214

381. Quit the job that’s making you miserable
382. End the relationship that makes you act like a lunatic
383. Lose the friend whose sole purpose in life is making you feel like you’re perpetually on the verge of vomiting
384. Do at-least one outrageous handshake with a friend
385. Be very alone for at least 3 months
386. Do something sexually taboo
387. Re-read books from your high school reading list
388. Date somebody 10+ years older than you
389. Date somebody 10+ years younger than you
390. Make a product and sell it from scratch

So Far: 218

391. Own a two wheeler
392. Live minimally
393. Work at a Start-up, and at a Step-down
394. Go to a world-famous party attraction
395. Get a custom suit
396. Go to SXSW
397. Go to Comic Con
398. Don’t ignore your spirituality
399. Don’t guard your heart too much
400. Waste your time on romantic relationships that don’t contribute to the person you want to become.

So Far: 224

401. Stop being in such a rush to grow up
402. Learn to use chopsticks. (WIP)
403. Find a planet using a telescope
404. Use hand tools to build something
405. Code a web page using a text editor
406. Write a journal
407. See at-least three different oceans (Two down, one to go)
408. Visit some religious places
409. Enter a race
410. Eat at-least one kind of food from every continent

So Far: 231

411. Give a speech to an audience
412. Drive a tractor
413. Take part in a parade
414. Ride a vehicle older than your grandparents
415. Design a logo for yourself
416. Write a short story
417. Devote one wall of your room for your own art
418. Read at least 10 new books (They must be worth reading as well)
419. Complete any “30 days challenge”
420. Stop watching so much TV

So Far: 237

421. Read at least 50 books on the to read list
422. Learn that failure is an option
423. Grow a pair and be more assertive
424. Learn that life doesn’t have to be dictated by our thoughts
425. Learn to just try it or do it
426. Stop trying to be perfect
427. Learn that Sex and Love are two different things
428. Don’t ever settle for the second best
429. Stop participating in gossip (WIP)
430. Learn that you can only change yourself, not anyone else

So Far: 246

431. Learn to express yourself better
432. Learn to express your love
433. Learn that helping others is the only way to improve every area of my own life, business, and personal
434. Learn to accept, even befriend change
435. Learn that what is right for you might not be right for others
436. Get a scooter (Or motorbike) and put a big card board box around it, on the side write Time machine, and say you came from the past to warn about something
437. Broken up with someone who was not the one
438. Helped an animal give birth
439. Won money on a TV game show
440. Broken a bone

So Far: 252

441. Gone on an African photo safari
442. Had a facial part pierced other than your ears
443. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
444. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
445. Ridden a horse
446. Been on a plane longer than 8 hours
447. Had a snake as a pet
448. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
449. Slept for a full day
450. Visited more foreign countries than Indian states

So Far: 256

451. Visited all seven continents (2 down, 5 to go)
452. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
453. Eaten kangaroo meat
454. Eaten sushi 
455. Had your picture in the newspaper 
456. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
457. Gone back to school
458. Parasailed 
459. Touch these creatures: cockroach, mouse, butterfly, worm, bird, spider, snake, frog, fish, bug.
460. Eaten fried green tomatoes 

So Far: 262

461. Stop worrying so much, it’s useless
462. Be yourself, not someone else, saves from a lot of heartache
463. Learn the “Best” way is the one that works for you best
464. Remember that you are not God (Thank you Yan for reminding me every day, not that I needed it)
465. Remember that people make mistakes
466. Remember never to act like a jerk
467. Learn that your true desires are will come true if you follow your inner voice
468. Learn to always act at the idea of the best person you can be, and you will become that
469. Learn not to worry about the worst situations
470. Learn that even if the worst occurs, you can handle it

So Far: 265

471. Stop trying to get people to like you, love you, approve of you, agree with you, be impressed with you, or even trust you
472. Stop comparing yourself or any part of your life with someone else
473. Doing the right thing is always hard, still do it
474. Always be grateful to family, friends, and God
475. Let go of what is stopping you from being loving and compassionate, peace and joy will follow freely
476. Find & marry the love of my life
477. Be the best spouse
478. Run a marathon
479. Eat a deep-friend chocolate bar
480. Learn to solve a Rubik’s Cube in 10 minutes or less

So Far: 269

481. Donate at least a million to charity (WIP)
482. Help someone else achieve their dreams
483. Be on a movie set
484. Stand up for what is right, even if you are alone
485. Take a photo from the top of the Eiffel Tower
486. Take a photo holding up the leaning tower of Pisa
487. Have a significant positive impact on someone’s life
488. Visit Area 51
489. Get on a major talk show
490. Take a ride in a helicopter

So Far: 271

491. Make a Hail Mary pass in life (Risk everything in life on a single move) 
492. Become a game tester
493. Make a Youtube video that gets over 100,000 views
494. Raise happy & healthy children
495. Be the best parent a child could have
496. Go to an airport and get a ticket for the first available flight to anywhere
497. Get involved in politics at any level
498. Visit/Consult a psychic
499. Create/Be part of a documentary
500. Take a real elephant ride 

So Far: 276

That is 139 out of 250 in Part 2, and a total of 276 out of 500 things one should do before turning 30. Even though it is more than half, still feel rather weak, should do more before I reach 30 next year.

Level 01
1.    (x) Smoked a cigarette
2.    ( ) Smoked a cigar
3.    (x) Done weed
4.    ( ) Kissed a member of the same sex
5.    (x) Drank alcohol

So Far: 3

Level 02
6.    (x) Been in love
7.    ( ) Been dumped
8.    (x) Shoplifted
9.    ( ) Been fired
10.    (x) Been in a fist fight

So Far: 6

Level 03
11.    (x) Snuck out of a parent’s house
12.    (x) Had feelings for someone who didn’t have them back
13.    ( ) Been arrested
14.    ( ) Made out with a stranger
15.    ( ) Gone out on a blind date

So Far: 8

Level 04
16.    (x) Had a crush on an older person
17.    (x) Skipped school
18.    ( ) Slept with a co-worker
19.    ( ) Seen someone / something die

So Far: 10

Level 05
20.    (x) Had / Have a crush on one of your internet friends
21.    ( ) Been to Paris
22.    ( ) Been to Spain
23.    (x) Been on a plane
24.    (x) Thrown up from drinking (alcohol)

So Far: 13

Level 06
25.    (x) Eaten sushi
26.    ( ) Been snowboarding
27.    (x) Met someone because of social networking sites
28.    ( ) Been mosh pitting

So Far: 15

Level 07
29.    ( ) Been in an abusive relationship
30.    (x) Taken pain killers
31.    (x) Love(d) someone who you can’t have
32.    (x) Laid on your back and watched cloud shapes go by
33.    ( ) Made a snow angel

So Far: 18

Level 08
34.    (x) Had a tea party
35.    (x) Flown a kite
36.    (x) Built a sand castle
37.    (x) Gone puddle jumping
38.    (x) Played dress up

So Far: 23

Level 09
39.    (x) Jumped into a pile of leaves
40.    ( ) Gone sledding
41.    (x) Cheated while playing a game
42.    (x) Been lonely
43.    (x) Fallen asleep at work / school

So Far: 27

Level 10
44.    (x) Used a fake / someone else’s id
45.    (x) Watched the sun set
46.    ( ) Felt an earthquake
47.    ( ) Killed a snake

So Far: 29

Level 11
48.    (x) Been tickled
49.    (x) Been robbed / vandalized
50.    (x) Robbed someone
51.    (x) Been misunderstood
52.    ( ) Pet a deer

So Far: 33

Level 12
53.    (x) Won a contest
54.    ( ) Been suspended from school
55.    (x) Had detention
56.    (x) Been in a car / motorcycle accident

So Far: 36

Level 13
57.    (x) Had / Have braces
58.    (x) Eaten a whole pint of ice cream in one night
59.    (x) Had déjà vu
60.    (x) Danced in the moonlight.

So Far: 40

Level 14
61.    (x) Hated the way you look
62.    (x) Witnessed a crime
63.    ( ) Pole danced
64.    (x) Questioned your heart
65.    (x) Been obsessed with post-it notes

So Far: 44

Level 15
66.    (x) Squished barefoot through the mud
67.    (x) Been lost
68.    ( ) Been to the opposite side of the world
69.    (x) Swam in the ocean
70.    (x) Felt like you were dying

So Far: 48

Level 16
71.    (x) Cried yourself to sleep
72.    (x) Played cops and robbers
73.    (x) Recently coloured with crayons / coloured pencils / markers
74.    (x) Sang karaoke
75.    (x) Paid for a meal with only coins

So Far: 53

Level 17
76.    (x) Done something you told yourself you wouldn’t
77.    (x) Made prank phone calls
78.    (x) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose
79.    ( ) Kissed in the rain

So Far: 56

Level 18
80.    (x) Written a letter to Santa Claus
81.    ( ) Been kissed under a mistletoe
82.    (x) Watched the sun set with someone you care / cared about
83.    (x) Blown bubbles
84.    ( ) Made a bonfire on the beach

So Far: 59

Level 19
85.    (x) Crashed a party
86.    (x) Have travelled more than 5 days with a car full of people
87.    (x) Gone bmxing/skateboarding/roller-skating/blading
88.    (x) Had a wish come true
89.    ( ) Been humped by a monkey.

So Far: 63

Level 20
90.    (x) Worn pearls
91.    ( ) Jumped off a bridge
92.    ( ) Screamed “penis” in class.
93.    ( ) Swam with dolphins

So Far: 64

Level 21
94.    (x) Got your tongue stuck to a pole / freezer/ ice cube
95.    ( ) Kissed a fish
96.    (x) Worn the opposite sex’s clothes
97.    (x) Sat on a roof top

So Far: 67

Level 22
98.    (x) Screamed at the top of your lungs
99.    (x) Done / attempted a one-handed cartwheel
100.    (x) Talked on the phone for more than 6 hours
101.    (x) Stayed up all night

So Far: 71

Level 23
102.    (x) Picked and ate an apple right off the tree
103.    (x) Climbed a tree
104.    ( ) Had / been in a tree house
105.    (x) Scared to watch scary movies alone

So Far: 74

Level 24
106.    (x) Believe in ghosts
107.    ( ) Have / had more than 30 pairs of shoes
108.    ( ) Gone streaking
109.    (x) Gone to jail / visited someone in jail

So Far: 76

Level 25
110.    (x) Played chicken
111.    (x) Been pushed into a pool (Or into water) with all your clothes on
112.    (x) Been told you’re hot by a complete stranger
113.    (x) Broken a bone
114.    (x) Been easily amused

So Far: 81

Level 26
115.    ( ) Caught a fish then ate it later
116.    ( ) Made a porn video
117.    (x) Caught a butterfly
118.    (x) Laughed so hard you cried
119.    (x) Cried so hard you laughed

So Far: 84

Level 27
120.    ( ) Mooned/ flashed someone
121.    ( ) Had someone moon / flash you
122.    (x) Cheated on a test
123.    (x) Forgotten someone’s name
124.    (x) Slept naked
125.    ( ) French braided someone’s hair
126.    ( ) Gone skinny dipping in a pool
127.    ( ) Been kicked out of your house

So Far: 87

Level 28
128.    ( ) Rode a roller coaster
129.    (x) Went scuba-diving / snorkelling
130.    (x) Had a cavity
131.    (x) Black-mailed someone (My sister)
132.    (x) Been black-mailed (By my sister)

So Far: 91

Level 29
133.    ( ) Been used
134.    (x) Fell going up the stairs…
135.    ( ) Licked a cat
136.    (x) Bitten someone
137.    ( ) Licked someone

So Far: 93

Level 30
138.    ( ) Been shot at
139.    ( ) Had sex in the rain / rainy night
140.    (x) Flattened someone’s tires
141.    (x) Drove/rode your car until the gas light came on
142.    (x) Got five dollars or less worth of gas

So Far: 96

Level 31
143.    ( ) Crying and smiling while dancing.
144.    ( ) Eat too much candy and then passed out.
145.    (x) Tried learning French so you can go to Canada.
146.    ( ) Yelled at the sun for being too hot.
147.    ( ) Pretended to be nobility.

So Far: 97

Level 32
148.    (x) Punched something till your hands bled.
149.    (x) Made plans to live as a hermit.
150.    ( ) Perform a rain dance in a busy city square, naked.
151.    (x) Talking faster than you can.
152.    (x) Run around screaming that you don’t want to see the dentist

So Far: 101

   Level 33
153.    ( ) Lay down on the train tracks.
154.    ( ) Stick your head in a crocodile’s mouth.
155.    ( ) Eat glass.
156.    ( ) Skateboard on the high way.
157.    (x) Jump in front of oncoming traffic .

So Far: 102

   Level 34
158.    ( ) If someone asks you if you are gay, straight, bi-sexual, or asexual, say “All of the above”.
159.    (x) Set off fireworks in your house.
160.    (x) Trying to reason with an inebriated, irrational psychopath.
161.    ( ) Go swimming in a frozen lake.
162.    ( ) Go head banging at stoplights

So Far: 104

   Level 35
163.    ( ) Scuba diving in a shallow fountain.
164.    ( ) Pull out a large sum of condoms and place them on the check-out counter at a store as you dig through your pockets, searching for money.
165.    ( ) Dress up as a wizard and challenge people to duels
166.    ( ) Take a rock band guitar out and strum on it while singing a ballade
167.    (x) Insulting someone with Shakespearian insults (Or similar level)

So Far: 105

   Level 36
168.    ( ) Dress up as Sherlock Holmes and search for clues, at random intervals shout NO! DON”T STEP THERE right as the person is stepping down.
169.    (x) Try to hide from people
170.    ( ) Dance a jig
171.    ( ) Wear a sign that says the end is near, all the while singing “Always look on the bright side of light”, “Don’t worry, be happy”, etc.
172.    ( ) Buy and sell ice over the Internet.

So Far: 106

   Level 37
173.    ( ) Burnt butter and used the smoke to try and summon demons.
174.    ( ) Sing we will survive to your mom.
175.    ( ) Call someone 8-80 times demanding that they stop calling you.
176.    ( ) Downloading a virus to see how long it takes to kill your computer.
177.    ( ) Seeing a monkey dance for your own pleasure.

So Far: 106

   Level 38
178.    ( ) Hug a blind man and scream “I FINALLY FOUND YOU DAD!”
179.    ( ) Adopt a kid just to teach him Kung Fu and trying to pull a karate kid.
180.    ( ) Make strange faces at your mail man.
181.    ( ) Hug a random person on the street and then just walk away.
182.    (x) Tried to guess the hair colour of someone one on an online forum. (On their request obviously).

So Far: 107

   Level 39
183.    ( ) Attacked your local grocery store with a plastic knife.
184.    ( ) Danced like a mad man in the middle of your city.
185.    ( ) Start a snake fighting ring.
186.    ( ) Got really drunk then hugged a police officer.
187.    (x) Attempted magic rituals.

So Far: 108

   Level 40
188.    ( ) Smear poop all over your walls.
189.    (x) Use a piece of paper with your name on it as a fake Id.
190.    ( ) Moonwalk everywhere.
191.    ( ) Smashed a brick over your head.
192.    ( ) Dress up as Michael Jackson for Halloween.

So Far: 109

   Level 41
193.    ( ) Flip over tables when you’re mad.
194.    ( ) Burned all the photos of yourself.
195.    ( ) Licked a computer screen if there a picture of ice cream on it.
196.    (x) Trying to get your car so clean it sparkles.
197.    ( ) Clapping along to strange techno music.

So Far: 110

   Level 42
198.    ( ) Rolled the dice because that decides everything.
199.    (x) Used foreign currency to pay in your city.
200.    (x) Tried to guess credit card numbers.
201.    (x) Tried to pick a lock with a paperclip.

So Far: 113

   Level 43
202.    (x) Dabbled in things best left alone.
203.    ( ) Start a random collection of at-lest 5 objects
204.    ( ) Eat something weird and disgusting looking
205.    ( ) Roleplayed/Cosplayed your favourite person or character.

So Far: 114

Re-blog/Re-post your results like this… I have done 114 out of 205 stupid things

Dear friend,

I am writing to you today to convey a few things, one of which is my deep and sincere gratitude towards you, for everything during the last one year.

I have taken this opportunity to name everyone of you, (Hopefully I have got everyone here, and yeah I have just copy pasted this part from Level 29-Part 2), who have showered me with help, support, advice, guidance, kind words, scolding’s (at times), food, money, clothes, (or some other gift), and more importantly, friendship, love, compassion, and trust. Thank you. In no particular order, they are:

Seher, Hussain, Raj, Rima, Yan, Goretti, Sabrina, Liana, Yifan, Katia, Salma, Kate, Ana Claudia, Giulia, Luka, Hannah, Alexandra Plesner, Alexandra Zorilla, Andri, Ann (Guinan), Alen, Charlie, Thain, Sanjana, Chana, Rosa, Deepak, Sebastian, Carolina, Dragos, Nick Jeeves, Demi, Max, Una, Aaphriqueana, Christine, and Saravanan, last year would have been very different without you guys.

Also Swetha, Abhishek, Vishwanath uncle, Adrian, Ana, Andrei, Channesh, Rehman, Ahmed, Tanzeel, Prakash, Dhruv, Kenneth, Nikil, Murali, Sandeep, Anne Julie (AJ), Jane (And her sister), Cody, Helena Copsey (and Menier Gallery), Jennie, Harry, Lee, Jing, Lina, Gautam Dhingra, Nicole, Anjali Shah, Barun Shaw, Keijiro Niino, Eriko Iijima, Keita Kasahara, Genichi Ide, Abeer, Alvaro, Bim, Celine, Daniel Lackey, Daniel Hatton, Raquel, Garvey, Tamsine, Wing Ting, Fabian, Iman Safia, Alexandra (Richiteanu), Shaker, Nick Green, Evegnia, Emily (Nemii), Dodi, Jade, Laurel, Winnie, Umesh Sir, Amanda Fanning, Prerana, Harish Gagan, Jayaprakash Santhanam (JP), Sanjit, Ranjana, Arjuna K, Sangke, Morgane, Varun Chakrapani, Radu Stefan, Laura Southall, Penny Jerrum, Noriko, Nick Howe, Michael Nourmand, Lajpat Dutta, Katerina Zherebtsova, Ambika, Ayo Bakare, Georgina Tibboitt, Bhavana, Eason, Josie, Chloe Hope King, Jess Piddock, Jon Medcalf, Harish Kumar, Bharath Jain, Kiran Kumar, Rajashaker, Sateesh, Om Prakash Pawar, and many other staff from NJ & SKJ.

Thank you for letting me into your life, even if it was for a moment. Thank you for helping me. Thanking for blessing me with the opportunity to in minute way repay it.

Last year and up until right now, (And a small part of the foreseeable future), has been one hello of a journey. One filled with major vicissitudes.

It was a major downward spiral, where I lost a lot of things, the worst of which was people and my memory. I have suffered a major memory loss. Having my project stolen by a corporate. Being accused of stealing another student’s project. Being failed in Unit 2. I did lose my mind due to many problems, most hurtful of which was betrayal by a person whom I cared about the most.

Failing physical, mental, and emotional health, along with my fear of failing people I cared about, terrorised and paralysed me. Leading me to make many of my stupid decisions to hide my problems, playing the Bad cop, along with my undercover past, being under surveillance, (Especially since September, till two weeks ago), and many other things have actually caused more pain to myself and sometime to others than I intended.

While many things have been quite painful and hurtful, none can compare the self-inflected pain that I have and still am going through for causing pain to a few people.

Also turning an alcoholic and a chain smoker have been the only things which have let me remain sane and connect to my inner child, enabling me to understand my mistakes, to connect myself with the one true self of mine, the inner child stuck at the age of 7.

A lot of my behaviour has confused people, the more closer and comfortable I was to a person, the more childish I became, and the more I was able to connect to them, and the more they thought I was really bonkers. Just so you know, I still stick with the statement, that I am a psycho, as I still can’t find a higher level of passion for people and projects than being a psycho, (For more details stay tuned for the soon to be announced, and tentatively named Rovirek Passion Meter).

I have had the pleasure and honour of spending so much great time with you all in the past year. I told Goretti once, that we meet people at the crossroads of our life, who shine their light on us, inspiring us to do what is important for our growth. You have in one or the other way shined your own light on me. For that I can’t thank you enough. A few of you have left an inedible mark on me which I might need a few dozen life’s (Rebirths and reincarnation) to repay.

Today I am back here due to my visa and financial issues. It has been very difficult for me to say bye, (Not goodbye) to many of you. Yet as Charles Dickens said, “Life is half made up of partings, and these pains must be borne”.

Yet I will be back, soon. I have people I care about. I have work to finish. I have to clear my name, and it can only be done by coming back and resubmitting my project by May end.

I have to thank all of you for the support you have given to me, and some who are still giving me support. For the friendship, love, and trust. Thank you once again. (How many ever times I thank, it still feels less). And I hope to see you all soon.

Thank you, and I wish you the best in your life. Anything I can do for you, please remember me and I will do anything I can.

Warm Regards,

Vi

To,

Subject: Request for a job

Dear ,
I am writing you to enquire about a possibility of a job. I am aware that this approach is highly unusual, nevertheless I am hoping that I might be able to get an opportunity.

When I first saw you, my heart skipped a few beats. I felt an instant connection, something deep and hidden inside me awoke and took over me. We got acquainted and soon became friends, things have moved so fast and I am thankful for trusting me and spending your valuable time with me. Yet, I couldn’t ignore these feelings, and as much as I have tried to remain neutral, it has made it difficult, and I have been thinking to ask, what would you say if I told you that I loved you?

As you know, I am honest, straight forward, sensitive, goofy, generous to a fault, slightly naïve, caring, candid, a bit tactless, stupid, open-minded, forgiving, and occasionally reckless. I usually intellectualise, philosophise, or make fun of situations. I am polite, and chivalrous, (Both are regularly confused as flirting), and the greater fool. I am not perfect, am not the best, am not better than anyone, I struggle with things, am uncertain about many things and have been proved wrong time and again, yet I try to do what is right. At any given moment, I don’t know where my head is. My past is filled with potboilerish problems, my future’s fortuities are foreign and my present’s predicaments are precarious.

Many things are still stormy on my side, but it will get better, easier, and worthwhile. I can’t tell you when, hopefully soon, as it can’t rain forever. I can’t fix any problems, but assure that you don’t have to face them alone. I don’t know where life will lead us to, and it doesn’t matter anymore. What matters is that I get to ride along with you in this journey. And in this journey along with you, I want to learn what pleases you, what makes you happy, what warms your heart, what scares you, and so much more. I want to learn everything about you. I want to get old with you, I want to spend every moment of my life loving you. Would you let me do that? Would you give me that job?

I seriously hope you will consider me for this job. I will not try to improve my credentials by making exaggerated claims or bullshitting you about non-existent past experience, nor request anyone to recommend. Nevertheless, if you decide against it, and just want to be friends, then I am totally fine living in that constant pain, and will still love you. As you are more important for me.

Thank you for everything. Tu me Manques.

Yours Sincerely,
With Lots of Love

Ro

Part 1 of the challenge is to score myself in living each of my core values, on a scale of 10

Part 2 of the challenge is to identify five specific actions I will commit to doing in the next month to take my score higher than where it is now.

Part 1: My core values – And the score card.

1. Friendship – 7 out of 10.
2. Love – 3 out of 10.
3. Loyalty – 9 out of 10.
4. Honesty – 5 out of 10.
5. Karma – 8 out of 10.
6. Dharma – 7 out of 10.
7. Trust – 7 out of 10.

Part 2: Five actions to improve the score.

My low score in Love and Honesty are due to my lack of truthfulness about my own issues with people I care about. Hence, making them doubt if my friendship with them is superficial. My actions are to improve my relations, both personal and professional and to be more at peace with myself.

1. Express gratitude to people who have been supportive to me in the last 1 year, in anyway. (WIP)

2. Tell the people I care about how much they mean to me. (WIP)

3. Apologise to the people whom I have wronged. (WIP, still some way to go)

4. Get myself together after last year’s debilitating issues. (WIP)

5. Be truthful about my feelings to the one person whom I care about the most. (The most difficult)

Previous month’s post can be found here:

January 2013: What is ‘your word’ for the year? The Design Trust Challenge January 2013

February 2013: Your why’s? & your core values – The Design Trust Challenge February 2013

Part 1 of the challenge is to find 15 why’s? Why’s like: Why we do what we do? Why I behave like this? Why I help people? Etc.

There are three rules.
1. Be as descriptive, detailed and specific as possible. (Difficult for me)
2. Be honest with yourself. Don’t self-censor. (More difficult for me, but WIP)
3. And make sure they are your why’s, not somebody else’s! (this is trickier than you might think …) (Aha)

Part 2 of the challenge is to find five core values. (This is actually easier for me, just that I have seven).

Part 1: My 15 Why’s

1. Why Love? Love is what I feel for everyone, there different kinds and types of love with each person, but at the end it is this universal love for the welfare of everyone.

2. Why working for welfare of everyone? I worked as a consultant, facilitator, and networker as I have known the pain when I needed someone in my life, maybe not to help me, but to be there for me. I don’t want anyone to feel that pain.

3. Why are you so passionate about being there for people? I have had a few people come into my life at really desperate times of my life and have created an impact on my life. While I know I can never repay them, even if I had a million years. I can always support another person in need, and like the movie says, “Pay it forward”. I want to see the smile on a person who knows there is someone for them even in their moment of crisis. That kind of confidence motivates a person a lot.

4. Why do you want to help a person who doesn’t want your help? Everyone needs something, for some it is help, for some it is a kind ear, a shoulder to cry on, a person who trusts them, a person who will guide them, a person who will care for them, or something else. I haven’t met a person who doesn’t need anything. Yet, many people, like myself, find it difficult to accept help, for whatever reasons.

5. Why don’t you accept help or support from others? I have done a few things in my past that I am not really proud of. Some people have forgiven me, but I haven’t forgiven myself. Hence, most of the time I don’t feel I deserve any more help, yet that is what I need at times. Many times. A lot of people have, I feel, betrayed me. Yet if I reflect back on it, it wasn’t their fault, it was me who got closer to them and felt that I could trust them and expected better behaviour from them. So, as a self-protection mechanism, I tend to limit my interactions and not get very close to people.

6. Why will this work help me achieve my goals? I just want a better life for myself and others. Especially people I care about.

7. Why will this work be of value to the world? We as people are living in this constant sense of fear and loneliness. We need to destroy the walls we have built around ourselves and build more bridges, connect with others, develop themselves, and be happier.

8. Why will this work be of value to me? This work gives me the opportunity to be a better person myself, to learn new things, to destroy prejudices, to understand people better, and more importantly to be of better service to others.

9. Why is serving others is important? Is it a religious thing? At a young age of 7, when my family was in a deep financial crisis, my dad didn’t stop being generous, or helpful to others, this confused me. I was being given less food, yet my dad didn’t think a second before helping someone who asked him (At least that is what I thought, though my dad never compromised the welfare of the family). Then I heard an old Hindi song, the message of which was, if you are without support, then support someone else, and you will get the support you want, help a wandering boat reach it’s shore, and you will find your shore too. That left an inedible mark on my soul. This has nothing to do with religion, it has to do with God.

10. Why God, and not religion? I believe in the existence of a force, I call it God, some call it nature, some think aliens, some don’t believe it at all. However, I don’t believe in religion, it is very divisive. I believe in God, irrespective of name or religion, but just God.

11. Why do this work alone? I believe in doing my work and leaving the rest to god. A few times my work has got the ire of people who don’t like this. And have tried to stop me. I don’t want other people around me to be hurt in such circumstances.

12. Why doesn’t someone want me helping others? Some people who I have worked with believe I have had some hidden agenda’s or ulterior motives behind my work. They just couldn’t accept that I didn’t expect any gain. Also they didn’t like being upstaged (In their words), whereas that was never my intention. Still I like to make things clear and even be of service to them rather than create enemies.

13. Why be of service to people who oppose? In Ramayana, Lord Rama, even though Ravana had kidnapped his wife, and with whom he was at war, didn’t hate Ravana. Lord Rama was equally concerned about Ravana and the people of Lanka, as he was concerned about his wife, brother, and his army. Without trying to compare myself to the Lord, if Lord Rama can still care about Ravana and the people of Lanka after all that. I think I can love and care about people who do hate me or see me as their enemies.

14. Why is it important to love the ones who hate you? We have always fought with our enemies, as Gandhi said, “An eye for an eye, is going to make the whole world blind”. Why can’t we just love each other and be of service to one another for the welfare of both ourselves and others.

15. Why be motivated to be of service to others? Why not?

Part 2: My values – I have seven instead of five.

1. Friendship
2. Love
3. Loyalty
4. Honesty
5. Karma
6. Dharma
7. Trust

Previous month’s post can be found here:

January 2013: What is ‘your word’ for the year? The Design Trust Challenge January 2013

Bold are things I’ve done. Italics are things I have yet to do and will someday, if not this year.

1.    Take a weekend break more than 1000 miles from home
2.    Boot Linux on your home PC
3.    Spend more than your monthly income on a pocket sized gadget
4.    Post bail for a friend
5.    Break a really large plate glass window
6.    Make a parachute jump on a hangover
7.    Buy a samurai sword
8.   Delay paying a bill until the summons arrives
9.    Destroy a speed camera
10.  Refill an inkjet cartridge

So Far: 6

11.    Say something obscene on national television
12.    Break a sledgehammer
13.    Require medical treatment as a consequence of kinky sex gone wrong (STDs don’t count.)
14.    Tip a waiter with something other than money
15.    Light a fire with petrol
16.     Kidnap someone
17.     Own a convertible
18.    Live abroad
19.     Drive at more than 140mph
20.   Get something for free

So Far: 9

21.    Give yourself a mains electric shock
22.    Completely dismantle an object larger than yourself
23.    Write off a car
24.    Fall asleep and get really hilarious sunburn
25.    Stay up all night listening to a girl have an emotional crisis
26.    Lick the terminals of a 9 volt battery
27.    Take part in motorsport
28.    Stay at the office for more than 24 hours
29.    Set off a fire extinguisher
30.    Drive at least 600 miles in a day on two lane roads

So Far: 16

31.    Hotwire a car
32.    Watch all the Monty Python films in one sitting
33.    Shag an ex-girlfriend by mistake
34.    Commit a faux pas which means that a friend will never speak to you again
35.    Make a bet you couldn’t afford to lose
36.    Read a 500 page book in one sitting
37.    Escape a perfectly justified parking ticket
38.    Move out of your parents’ home
39.    Lounged around in bed all day
40.    Played touch football

So Far: 20

41.    Gone scuba diving
42.    Kissed in the rain
43.    Played in the mud
44.    Played in the rain
45.    Gone to a drive-in theatre
46.    Visited the Great Wall of China
47.    Have an unwise haircut
48.    Shave your head
49.    Purchase, then dispose of, some deeply unsuitable footwear
50.    Lose a fight

So Far: 27

51.    Attend a wedding and/or funeral of a contemporary
52.    Start writing a novel/film script/slim volume of deeply embarrassing poetry
53.    Blow a week’s wages in a casino or on a big night out
54.    Live in a capital city
55.    Have an office romance
56.    Have sex somewhere peculiar / public
57.    Be naked in public
58.    Do something that terrifies you
59.    Injure yourself in a way that you’re embarrassed to admit to
60.    Have a quarter-life crisis

So Far: 34

61.    Do a McJob
62.    Go to work/class drunk
63.    Work overseas
64.    See a stripper
65.    Do something illegal and get away with it
66.    Try speed / online dating
67.    Drink yourself unconscious
68.    Have embarrassing photographs of you posted on a website by friends
69.    Stay in dodgy hostels/hotels
70.    Meet amazing people that will change your life

So Far: 40

71.    Go crowd-surfing
72.    Pretend to be someone completely different for one night only
73.    Go skinny dipping
74.    Learn a rap song from start to finish
75.    Go on a road trip across America
76.    Lie about your age (Had to say I was older than I actually was so I could get into a society)
77.    Visit 30 countries before 30 (Almost improbable now, let’s see, been to 3 till now, 27 more to go)
78.    Go on an outrageously beautiful holiday you probably cannot afford
79.    Head home after a night dancing when the sun is just coming up
80.    Go to a full moon party in Thailand

So Far: 42

81.    Travel alone
82.    Sort out a pension
83.    Grow a beard
84.    Co-habit with a friend
85.    Have a threesome or a more-some
86.    Dump the debt
87.    Build up your black book
88.    Take your body’s physical limits to the extreme
89.    Write a book
90.    Make a million (And lost it, so trying to make it again)

So Far: 49

91.    Find yourself (WIP)
92.    Have a summer of love
93.    Go to a comedy club
94.    Have a good plan for the future
95.    Attempt to grow a moustache
96.    Follow a dream no matter the consequences
97.    Own works by these authors: Gay Talese. Ernest Hemingway. Tom Wolfe. Specifically – “Frank Sinatra Has a Cold,” “The Sun Also Rises,” and “The Right Stuff.”
98.    Volunteer with an organisation that cares for unfortunate people or animals
99.    Live with someone you are in a relationship with
100.    Spend a week in the woods

So Far: 52

101.    Learn to tie a tie
102.    Seek out a mentor whom you respect and look up to
103.    Mentor someone younger for more than 6 months
104.    Take a road trip with friends
105.    Spend time immersed in a culture completely different from your own
106.    Make friends with someone who does not like you
107.    Learn how to manage your money
108.    Thank your parents
109.    Take part in the political process
110.    Practice fair fighting

So Far: 61

111.    Wait tables
112.    Read the paper, cover to cover
113.    Lie in bed all day with the one you love
114.    Enjoy cheap (Affordable) eats
115.    Write a 5-year plan
116.    Forgive someone
117.    Have your fortune told
118.    Do your own laundry
119.    See (If possible swim in) the ocean
120.    Lived in another city internationally (London 2012-2013)

So Far: 69

121.    Bought a house
122.    Gone strip club hopping
123.    Ridden a camel
124.    Been on a cruise ship
125.    Spoken more than one language fluently
126.    Watched 25 of the top 500 movies out there
127.    Raised children
128.    Learn to love yourself
129.    Have an epic karaoke night at your house using just YouTube, booze, and your natural star quality
130.    Hand in an essay early

So Far: 74

131.    Teach someone something
132.    Read a book that isn’t study or work related
133.    Make your own booze
134.    Join a society for something you’ve always wanted to do, but never got round to
135.    Apply for internships and jobs
136.    Go and see the art departments’ end of year shows
137.    Get involved in a play or some kind of performance (e.g. fashion show, etc.)
138.    If you think a lecture was particularly good, try and instigate a standing ovation
139.    Do something – anything! – silly, for charity
140.    Play an elaborate prank on a housemate

So Far: 82

141.    Win a pub quiz (whatever it takes)
142.    Make a kite and fly it
143.    Make a movie starring your friends and your favourite places
144.    Celebrate something by doing the classic shake up a bottle of champagne and spraying it all over yourself and everywhere (or at least do it with sparkling wine..!)
145.    Make friends with a student from a country you’ve never known someone from or been to before
146.    Do nothing constructive – an entire month or week where you do nothing constructive, nothing that accomplished anything, just pure living
147.    Set a non-selfish goal, and achieve it
148.    Learn something new (fact) for an entire month
149.    Get the Harry Potter thing out of your system
150.    Learn how to make fudge

So Far: 87

151.    Buy a bumper pack of crisps and eat them all in one afternoon
152.    Get an unpaid internship
153.    Learn how to meditate
154.    Attend a guest lecture
155.    Attend a fraternity party
156.    Participate in a psychological study
157.    Befriend a professor
158.    Take a leadership role in an organisation
159.    Learn random skills
160.    Philosophise

So Far: 95

161.    Photocopy my face
162.    Do Yoga
163.    Go to the Ballet
164.    Go to the Opera
165.    Drink fancy tea in London
166.    At-least try to learn to knit (Tried, major failure)
167.    Learn some sign language
168.    Learn to rollerblade
169.    Learn to say hello in 50 language
170.    Read the Bible (The Holy Book of your religion, I have read books from 16 different religions, namely: Hinduism, Christianity, Judaism, Sikhism, Islam, Buddhism, Jainism, Zoroastrianism, Confucianism,  and more)

So Far: 100

171.    See a live representation of The Rocky Horror Picture Show
172.    Dance and sing in the rain
173.    Donate blood
174.    Learn how to play chess
175.    Face one of your fears
176.    Start a random collection of at-lest 5 objects
177.    Eat something weird and disgusting looking
178.    Learn to write with left hand
179.    Watch 26 movies starting with each letter that I’ve never seen
180.    Complete a 365 days photo challenge

So Far: 107

181.    Find an inspiring quote and build it in an art piece or home deco
182.    Cut someone’s hair
183.    Learn how to take good pictures
184.    Learn to recite the alphabet backward really fast
185.    Complete a 30 days photo challenge
186.    Give a rose to a stranger
187.    Take random photos
188.    Spend 24 hours technology free
189.    Burn a piece of paper with a magnifying glass
190.    Own a designer item (It was gifted, I would never buy one)

So Far: 113

191.    Don’t buy ANYTHING that is made in China for a month
192.    Celebrate at least 5 stupid holiday’s
193.    Learn to walk in high heels
194.    Own a crown or diadem
195.    Take a sunset photo in every city in which I stay the night (If not possible, take a photo of the rising sun)
196.    Help someone cross a number of their own List
197.    Go on a trip with one of my friends, no parents
198.    Have an epic kiss
199.    Try a food you can’t pronounce
200.    Participate in a flash mob

So Far: 118

201.    Pull A (Fun) All-Nighter
202.    Have a meaningful conversation with a stranger
203.    Get a job, any job
204.    Write a love letter to yourself. Open 10 years later
205.    Stop placing all the blame on other people
206.    Stop trying to get away with work that’s “good enough.”
207.    Stop being stingy
208.    Stop blaming yourself for being human
209.    Stop seeking approval
210.    Stop meeting anger with anger

So Far: 124

211.    Stop beating yourself up
212.    Take time to revisit the places that made you who you are
213.    Forget who you are, what your priorities are, and how a person should be
214.    Go out and watch that movie, read that book, listen to that band you already lied about watching, reading, or listening to
215.    Make a habit of telling people how you feel
216.    Bought everyone in the bar a drink
217.    Swam with dolphins
218.    Climbed a mountain
219.    Taken a sports car (Porsche, Lamborghini, Ferrari, etc.) for a test drive
220.    Been inside the Great Pyramid

So Far: 127

221.    Held a tarantula
222.    Taken a candlelit bath with someone
223.    Watched whales
224.    Stolen a sign
225.    Backpacked in Europe
226.    Taken a road-trip
227.    Gone rock climbing
228.    Taken a midnight walk on the beach (Mamallapuram)
229.    Gone sky diving
230.    Backpacked in Asia

So Far: 129

231.    Said “I love you” and meant it
232.    Hugged a tree
233.    Bungee jumped
234.    Visited Paris or Italy or Greece other romantic European location
235.    Watched a lightning storm at sea (Mamallapuram – 2011)
236.    Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise (Multiple times)
237.    Seen the Northern Lights
238.    Gone to a huge sports game (Cricket match in Bangalore)
239.    Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
240.    Grown and eaten your own vegetables

So Far: 134

241.    Touched an iceberg
242.    Slept under the stars
243.    Changed a baby’s diaper
244.    Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
245.    Watched a meteor shower
246.    Gotten drunk on champagne
247.    Given more than you can afford to charity
248.    Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
249.    Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment (With family in Jnr 3rd block house)
250.    Had a food fight

So Far: 137

That is 137 out of 250 Things to do before turning 30 in Part 1

Edited: Part 2 was posted on 1st May 2013.