That didn't take very long.

My friends-only journal is back up. I was expecting to take ages to make a decision on my blog software but the choice was pretty obvious when I surveyed what was currently available. B2evolution is, by far and away, what I have been looking for. A long while back, I tried the demo version out and although it was good, it still wasn't advanced enough at that time to do what I wanted it to do.

Now, its features have much improved and installation took barely an hour. I've still got to configure the sidebar and tweak stuff here and there. I think I'll take my time on that since I'm pretty busy now that university's begun once more.

Anyhoo, that journal is ready for blogging albeit its slightly unpolished look. So yeah, if you were reading my friends-only posts and want in, drop me a message there or e-mail me. This blog here at Blogger still remains to be my public blog which I shall update from time to time.

Change is good.

It first started with bots spamming my site. Then, I grew weary of the same old blogging system - Geeklog. Handy as it may be, I craved to play with another CMS, I just do not know which one to choose. There's always Blogger, thankfully, for now.

So, yup, if you've come here from my old journal, you'll already know that I'm planning a revamp. Maybe doing away with PureDew altogether (gasp!) and switching to Livejournal or Vox or Blogger or maybe Wordpress... who knows? I'm still considering my options.

Give me sometime to think about it and I'll get back to you. :) In the meantime, you'll find me here on Blogger blogging away.

Oh, and incidentally, happy birthday to me. (What better way to start an addition of a year to my (increasing) age than to pick a new blog system? Woohoo! :)

Fuschl-am-See

Fuschl-am-See, originally uploaded by thushara.

Nothing is more memorable than a smell. One scent can be unexpected, momentary and fleeting, yet conjure up a childhood summer beside a lake in the mountains.
~ Diane Ackerman

For me, the smell of a fresh water lakey breeze reminds me of Fuschl-am-See, Austria. Up till the second I saw the lake [Fuschl], I always believed lakes were simply niches for fishes and the Loch Ness, not Muggle swim spots. Fuschl-am-See convinced me otherwise. I can't wait to go back again.

Taken with a Nikon CoolPix 2100.
Exposure: 0.003 sec (5/1643)
Aperture: f/5.2
Focal Length: 4.7 mm

Puchberg

Puchberg, Austria, originally uploaded by thushara.

Climb the mountains and get their good tidings.
Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees.
The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.

~ John Muir

Taken with a Nikon CoolPix 2100.
Exposure: 0.011 sec (5/439)
Aperture: f/2.6
Focal Length: 4.7 mm

Whirls of red

Whirls of red, originally uploaded by thushara.

Are women just headless beautiful bodies?
Taken at Leopold Museum, Vienna.
"Körper, Gesicht und Seele" Exhibition (Body, Face & Soul).

Taken with a 1.6MP Samsung Camera Phone.

Taken just for kicks.

Taken just for kicks., originally uploaded by thushara.

World Cup 2006 - Germany. Leipzig. Argentina-Mexico. Argentina won: 2-1. Taken with a Samsung 1.3MP camera phone.

Quotes from the players post-match:

"My granddad always told me to try to hit the ball with both feet, but I nearly always go with the right. I've got the left one, as they say, to get on the bus."
- Maxi Rodriguez, Argentina's right-footed midfielder, after scoring a wonder goal with his left foot to beat Mexico.

I swear I touched it, I swear!"
- Hernan Crespo's splendidly-desperate plea to be awarded Argentina's opening goal against Mexico.

Life's 10 Simple Pleasures

It's been long overdue... I'm sorry. *sheepish look*

Tagged by Rajinder and that's how I got roped into this. :P

Life's 10 Simple Pleasures:

1. Sipping a marvelously chocolatey hot/cold chocolate while watching an episode of Simpsons/Friends/favourite comedy (and laughing till chocolate comes out of my nose... heh)

2. Sharing a comfortable silence with the one I love (Mr. Lion), holding each other's hand while walking on the beach at sunrise.

3. Having a shower and just enjoying the water beat down on my body.

4. Enjoying a good book with the best chocolate ice cream sundae in the world beside me.

5. Vegging out with my best galpals and laughing over the latest goss in a girlie magazine.

6. Eating a damned good roti canai and spicy curry, with an iced Milo at the roadside mamak, with good company, to boot.

7. The afterglow one gets after a particular spiritual Ruhi sesh/devotional/deepening.

8. Shopping the whole day and finding my clothes size in everything I choose to buy.

9. The good ol' times of playing Monopoly and/or Scrabble with my family and catching my father cheating (or trying to!) so that he wins.

10. Being alone with my Thushee, listening to music and just mindless Internet surfing.

And I'm tagging:

1. Wyn

2. Michelle

3. Matze

4. Dr. P

5. Alkam

6. Michali

7. Prema

8. Rajiv

9. Sindhu

10. Onyx