AnuragBhateja.com Blog

Fun Time At Noodles Bar Chandigarh

I always love the way we decide to have a blast hehe. I got a message from Safdar (A friend) about the plans for the yesterday evening to which my reply was “Make some plan as I am not in mood to stay at home and watching TV”. After discussing with a few other friends we decided to hit Noodles bar (A bar cum restaurant) in sector 26 Chandigarh. I along with Safdar and Naveen, went there and Kaustabh, Sandeep and Varun were already there when we reached. The funniest part of the decision making process was that I didn’t asked Varun if he can come or not. As soon as he picked up the phone, I asked what he was doing and said “Be at Noodles Bar @ 8:00 PM”. Giving orders to friends is always fun .

After few seconds of hi hello, we all were sitting and waiting for the order to come. The place is just awesome as there you will find dim light, loud music, great service, decent food (a bit costly but once in a while its not that pinching) and hehe super hot girls too . More we ordered, more we were enjoying. Varun and Sandeep needed to leave early (Side effect of marriage). As the time passes, we started getting a bit low as all were getting tired but then the real fun part came in. A few girls along with their friends entered and then the boy stuff started between us. Till it was limited to our table it was all going in secret but suddenly the Sardar ji sitting just next to us joined in the conversation and after that those 15 minutes were full of laughter. Cracking jokes, pulling legs and delicious food was a topping on the great time. And yes, trying funny named mocktails was also a big time fun. I have Lychee Paradise and Varun orders Sex On The Beech (LOL).

I pity on that poor waiter who was serving us. I think all six of us pulled his leg atleast once . We left the place at 11:50 PM. After food Paan was another delight but paying Rs.15 per Paan was horrible hehe. How can that guy charge so much for a simple paan . After that Kaustabh was they prime attack and we all three asked him so many questions that he just stood silent then

At around 12:35 AM I reached home. The overall time was fun and enjoyable. The only thing I want to say is if you are planning to go to Noodles Bar in Chandigarh, be there by 8:00 PM otherwise you will not find seats and have to wait outside for your turn then.

Photowalk 04 Jan 2009 — Rose Garden Chandigarh — What a walk it was!!!!

That should be called a blast! I was amazed, happy or whatever you want to think! First of all claps to those who really managed to come on single call and reminder for the photowalk. As so many of them wee present I would like to list them first. I am also adding flickr ID and web addresses of the members.

1. Anurag Bhateja – Flickr – Orkut – Facebook
2. Noor Sandhu – Flickr – Orkut – Facebook
3. Sandeep Gupta – Flickr – Orkut – Facebook
4. Ashwini Verma – Flickr – Orkut – Facebook
5. Nipun Tantia – Flickr – Orkut – Facebook
6. Gangadhar Kamte – Flickr – Orkut – Facebook
7. Nishkam Chatrath – Flickr – Orkut – Facebook
8. Avi Arora – Flickr – Orkut – Facebook
9. Minank – Flickr – Orkut – Facebook
10. Raman Sharma – Flickr – Orkut – Facebook
11. Kaustabh Ray – Flickr – Orkut – Facebook
12. Vivek Bansal – Flickr – Orkut – Facebook
13. Varun Bajaj – Flickr – Orkut – Facebook
14. Ricky – Flickr – Orkut – Facebook

Ok, now linking is over and lets get back to business! The morning started with a bet between me and Noor that who will reach first! Well I won!!!! hehe… I was to reach late, a bit late, as I had to deliver a CD to client but somehow I mnaged to reach before anyone else! The time was 11:00 AM, (Accidentally I messaged all 11:30 AM which was noticed by Noor and I had to resend message to all!), but I reached 10 minutes before. Getting myself ready was easy as it was not too cold as it was a day before.

After waiting for a while, Vivek ji came and signaled in a very unique manner! He blew horn and flashed head lights and I was like “Is this signal for me or someone else?” I was scratching my head and suddenly a waving hand came out of the car and followed by Vivek ji . Oh yes! th signal was for me hehe! He came directly from Sukhna Lake. As he did not have breakfast so we moved to the canteen typo thing in Shanti Kunj to buy something to eat. We were in between of a chat when Raman gave an enterence! “taliyan ek aur aa gaya!”

After some introduction we continued chats. Now the population of photographers was increasing. Kamte came in a while. It was fun all four standing there, having chips and listening to Vivek ji! Then came Noor! I recognized her although her face was covered. Guess how! Come on EYES!!!!! Anyway, after her arrival we all decided to move in. I do not know how many time they all cursed me for setting up meeting place there. They all asked me again and again why not on the main side of Rose Garden. hehe even I do not know!

After we went in and started clicking I was a little worried about rest of the people. I messaged them to inquire where are they but no reply! Anyway, we all started chatting and clicking. Then came Varun Bajaj. I had a chat with him over the phone in morning and he was quite sure that he will come and so he did! The photoshoot kept in going and we all were looking at what camera everyone is having. It was fun to see Pocket cams, Semi DSLR, DSLRs in same photowalk!

After that Nipun and Ricky came. Nipun was there on the last meet and this time he bought his friend Ricky with him. A funky guy who was fun loving by nature. After their arrival we were happy that people are coming. We found children playing, people selling chana and popcorn, flowers, birds, chipmunks and whatever you can think of. After sometime our dear Late Latif Nishkam arrived.

Now the fun part. To everyone I was telling we are in the middle of Rose Garden without noticing that we are on the other end!! That was fun. They all keep on coming till end one by one and then gave a weird look to me. Hehe poor people! After sometime it was the time for the old buddies to come in i.e. Ashwini and Sandeep. They were late as Sandy ji forgot his memory card at home hehe. Anyway, it was good to see them both!

Lastly arrived Avi and Minank. Avi a very good friend of mine and Minank a very good friend of Avi hehe. After intro sessions we all kept on clicking, pulling legs, cracking jokes, getting info on cams and settings and much more. We spotted a father and son team. Clicking them was fun. I must say all members are dedicated towards photography! They do not even think what other photographer is capturing keeping them in frame!

After a while some of us started feeling hungry and over to that, people there in Rose Garden were having loads of home made food items. Whenever we cross a family sitting there the aroma of food was banging the head more and more! As we all decided to move to Citco Food outlet just a road cross, some of us decided to move back to home. Anyway, even after deciding we stil spent some time in garden clicking here and there. A well know photographer from Dainik Bahskar also clicked a group photograph of the whole group.

After a while we moved to the Citco center and scattered in groups. 2-3 people in one group chatting. I was with Noor, Sandeep with Nishkam and Varun and Avi with Minank. Those were not proper group typo thing as we were together. Do not think that we all never met again lolz. The only thing was there was difference in speed of walking. On the way we met Noor’s friends playing cricket. One of them first spotted Noor and them saw loads of necks with cameras behind her and said “Aa toli kithe Challi?” Hehe toli! (Toli means group of people).

Anyway, the list of order which we gave was:

1. Anurag: Rajma Rice (First order which came on last grr)
2. Noor: Prantha
3. Nishkam: 2 Parantha
4. Varun: Juice (On diet???)
5. Sandeep: Bread Omllette (One of my favs)
6. Avi: Chowmins (hehe accidentally full plate came)
7. Minank: 7 UP (Well I came to know why he is so slim. He do not eat!)

Well as written above, I ordered first and my order came on last and I was too hungry . Anyway, after having a foodie time, I came to know how plates are cleaned there and mind you! You will not eat there again if u see that lolz. The time we spent there was full of jokes and leg pulling. I twice or thrice said something about running and when Noor got this really on head she said “Yeh kaun keh raha hai!” hehe people I have some extra pounds on me lolz.

After leaving from there, we clicked some shots. Till time only six of ur were left. Varun also left. We spotted a small family. Poor one. But the faces were too photogenic. We clicked some good pics and then moved to Verka Booth for ice cream! Yum! Ice cream in winters!

After a while Sandeep also went back to home and while moving to wards gate guess what! We left over five, MET GABRU!!!!! Gabru was a small, cute, camera shy PUG!! The Vodafone Dog! Playing with himw as fun and those who left early were really envy after having a look on the photographs in flickr stream!

Anyway, I will add some photographs soon. A bit in hurry at the moment but till then.. Enjoy and make sure those who missed the last meet come for the next!

Photowalk 28th Dec 2008 — Cactus Garden Panchkula

Now this is called REAL HANGOUT WITH PHOTOGRAPHER FRIENDS ON PHOTOWALK!! WHAT A DAY I HAD!!! Let me tell you people who are living in Chandigarh, a part of CPC and missed today… YOU PEOPLE REALLY MISSED SOMETHING AS YOU MIGHT HAVE ENJOYED HELL LOT!

First let me tell how this all started. Last week on Saturday I got a message from Noor Sandhu about the photowalk on ISBT 43 Chandigarh. I went there and spent some good time with Ashwini and Sandeep. I was like this should be continued and with confirmation with Noor, we decided next meet to be at Cactus Garden Panchkula. As per my knowledge, Noor, Ashwini, Sandeep, Nishkam and me were going for the walk.

Lets start from the very first minute when I reached Cactus Garden. I reached at around 11:10 AM there. After reaching I saw a girl in pink and black who was buying the ticket for the garden. (We need to spend a tiny amount of Rs.5 to see the awesome beauty of Cactus Garden). In front of garden this is tiniest possible amount I can imagine! Well, get back to girl in pink! I went there and when she turned I said “Noor?” and she said “Anurag?” (Really recognizing me is not too hard !! hehe people who know me have complete knowledge of some extra pounds on me lolz).

As by taking names of each other our conversation started. As there were only two of us till Sandeep arrived, I had sometime to chat with her and know her better. (Don’t get me wrong ok!). One thing more, as I knew she has beautiful eyes (which can be seen here), I was thinking of complementing for her eyes but hey! she was much more beautiful than I thought! So this line came out of my mouth “Noor, please take it as compliment… You are more beautiful than you look in photographs.” She said “Thanks, but due to fever in last few days I am not in my MOST BEAUTIFUL LOOKS.” I was like “Oh my God!” hehe this talking session moved forward with getting info about her job and when she said,”I am a journalist.” my lips were sealed and I gave the expressions of “I need to shut my mouth now.” (I am big time chatterbox. I can keep on throwing words till someone gets really tired of just hearing to me.)

After a while Sandeep called he reached and he is coming in in few seconds. I thought that’s good we are three again. He also confirmed about Ashwini’s expected arrival in few minutes. Meanwhile he was coming to us, Noor told me that Ashwini might have learnt a lesson that he should come on IST (Indian Stretch Time) as on last two meets he is the only person who arrived right on time and had to wait for others! (This is funny I know)

Now after arrival of both Sandeep and Ashwini we were delighted that four people made it! After few moments, Nipun also came followed by Nishkam (Regular reader must have read about him. My dear old late latif!! But I was delighted that he came.) We all had some hi-hello and then started clicking the cactus around us. Although theme was “shooting the shooter” but we got so fascinated by the beauty of cactus that we all forgot about it!

After sometime, one by one, we all realized the fact that we need to click each other also so you will find some shots of “Shooting the shooter”. Clicking all around was total fun. As soon as Sandeep spotted White Chest Kingfisher there, all six cameras moved toward him and that model “kingfisher” gave some excellent poses! After a while Anurag Yadav Ji also came for sometime. As he is a busy bee around, he was there only for 10-15 minutes. In those minutes we had some chat over cameras, on what you do etc. The most funny thing happened when Anurag Sir asked Noor about her job. As soon as she said “journalist” Anurag sir gave same expressions which I gave! hehe.

After he departs, we again started clicking some cactus and shooters. Noor spotted Nishkam doing multitasking (I know she must be having funny shot as he was talking on the phone and clicking some macro shot on the same time!) After a while Mr.Sushil who is working as care taker of the garden came to give us some brochures about the cactus garden. One of us casually ask something about cactus and he said “Lets go to green house.”

Entering green house was like entering a huge place where you can see all the colours of cactus plants. There were grafted, newly grown, with flowers and I don’t know how many kinds of cactus! At that time we all were admiring Sushil ji for taking care will so much interest and also Dr JS Sarkaria who is behind the existence of cactus garden. Sushil ji also pointed the fact that Dr JS Sarkaria has gifted almost 90% of the plants there otherwise the administration would have had to spend bunch of Crores at that time! Dr JS Sarkaria should be blessed for his deeds for sure.

After a while we all left the green house delighted! Then the time to seperate and go to our desired destinations was there. So we all say bye bye and decided to have next meet next year (Oh come on only three days left for the arrival of 2009.) The expected venue list is in CPC thread anyone can see and join.

From there me, Sandeep and Nishkam went to lake where we met Mr.Sodhi who is a well known bird photographer from Patiala. We went to the place behind the lake where migratory birds can be found. Sodhi ji gave some good tips clicking birds! A few moments later Nachiketa also joined us. Nachiketa was the only person who was known to Sodhi ji among us. After clicking some shots there, I found a small caterpillar and it was hard for me to avoid myself from clicking some shots of that beauty.

Later on me and Nishkam along with one of our old friend Ashwini went to the front side of lake.  (this is not tht Ashwini from photowalk. He went back home from cactu garden only. This is a common friend from the time when we were studying n Arena Multimedia Chandigarh.) I was like “What the hell!” actually going there in mornings is easy and its so calm in morning. But in evenings and moreover on Sunday evening it was like putting your feet in a place where every square cm is filled with people. (Saddest part is the way they were throwing litter here and there  despite the face every 20-25 meters there is a dustbin on the lake.)

There I had my firs chance to feed the duck with my hand. Man thats feel like the best time. Those cuties eat directly om your hand without hurting themselves or you! Anyway, good time it was. We left after having some carrots and I came back home feeling just like I am dead. It was a tiring but superb day! I must say missing photowalks, seminars and workshops in last one year must have thrown me far behind from others who attended them. But as said “Nevertheless”. I think this is the best time to make the contacts and go in field to enjoy with other photographers.

So all who are living in Chd, Pkl, Mohali, Zirakpur or Pinjore. If you have minute interest in photography you are heartly join CPC and 172 MM flickr groups and join us in photowalks. Its never too late and never too early for something like this!

Now its too much of writing and moral lessons. Signing off. Enjoy the pics

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