WEeeee houR ATTENTION HOES!

We love attention! We’ve told you that again and again and again. That’s why pimping the Cedia across Mumbai wasn’t too much of a task for us. And boy, did we get attention!!! From little street children, to policemen, to taxi drivers, to hawkers, to some pretty chica’s at a 5 star (made Roohshad’s day)…….. everyone seemed to have read our blog post before we left, coz when told them to “smile and look pretty”, that’s exactly what they did. LOL.


The pictures speak for themselves. People going about their normal routine on a regular day, still manage the time to “smile and wave” when a Cedia passes by…..or…..it’s probably us. No, no……. the Cedia did the trick. Hehe it was actually my driving! *nudge nudge Roohshad and Aadil* But who cares?! We got the attention we went out to get, didn’t we??


The world had seen the Cedia and the two Hedgehogs in it…….. and acknowledged it! Mission One accomplished. Amen.

Modern Marvel meets Modern Marvel

I had heard about the Bandra-Worli sea link a while ago, and when I found out we were oh-so-close to it, I begged and pleaded with Zinaida for us to hit the 4 lane wonder and pop the Sports edition Cedia’s speed cherry, since the AutoTrack system wasnt activated yet and they wouldnt know how fast we were going (NOT THAT IM SAYING WE WENT FAST OR ANYTHING, OH NO NO DEAR JUDGES!).


The bridge is one big mama, she stands magnificently peering into the clouds, with her flowing cables gloriously reaching out. Thanks to her, you can now get from Bandra to town in 7 minutes as compared to the earlier 45 minutes!! Here you can see all that you usually skip….


The bridge gets a whopping 25000 vehicles a day when it isnt even fully ready yet. I cant imagine those numbers when all 4 lanes are ready and open. Its an absolute thrill driving down this road, I could tell from the smile pasted on Zinaida’s face all through the way, which vanished like clock work as we exited.


When you do get to check it out, let us know what you think. Alas we cant share with you at this time the video we made, the 5D Mark2 makes video in HD format and I just found out that this high a resolution cant be handled by the windows movie maker *sigh*

#$%%^&$#@*^!!!

And why am I irritable???

It's probably because I woke up this morning.... with only one thing on my mind. SLEEEEEEEPP!! Why do i feel like I've not been sleeping enough of late?? What a stupid question! Like DUH! Because I haven't been sleeping enough. Period.

And my super genius mind has figured out why I haven't been sleeping enough. I go off to bed in the wee hours of morning. A couple of hours later...my youngest brother is banging Coldplay on the Piano. I open my eyes and its obviously bright. All I want to do then (as much as I want to stay in bed), is run and switch on my computer....... check the numbers on our facebook group......... check whats new with the blog...... check everyone's posts on the main TGDC page. Hhahhahhahha. Dammit!! This thing is addictive!

Between breaks, I'm sorting my music........ downloading new tunes......... making sets for next gigs....... burning CDs. Having totally neglected my music for the past 10 days (with the whole excitement of catching up in the GDC race), there is just soooooooooo much work to be done!!

I know Roohshad has been super busy with the Fashion Week too, but that doesn't stop me from interrupting him at least 8 times a day with the most annoying question of all times (for him)...... "Whats new?" Hehehehe.

And since our new blog wasn't totally up yet, we took this as an opportunity to finish up all our pending jobs......only to come back and realize that the blog is up and running and everybody's been on a blogging spree!! Pictures.. team names... backgrounds... blogs.... followers........ its all there!!

So tomorrow (today actually...coz its already 3.50am and the next morning; again!!), we're gonna have to catch up with the race.

And we will :) See you in the morning!!

G'nite yo!!

Whataday!!

Woke up this morning (well last morning since its 4.36am and a new day)...realizing that this wasn't a dream! We had really made it to the next round of the Mitusbishi Cedia Great Driving Challenge. All excited about our new blog....I decided to check it out, but the damn electricity refused to behave with me. It slept on me......for like a whole day! And the inverter wouldn't co-operate as well.

So all I did today... was relive those exciting moments of yesterday.

I was at the Bangalore airport at 11.40pm yesterday, just checked in to take my flight to Goa. I couldn't stop looking at my watch, waiting for 12pm....waiting for somebody.......anybody......to call and tell me, we had made it to the TOP 12.

At 12.02pm, I couldn't take it any longer. I called Roohshad and insisted on staying on line till the page loaded....and till he clicked on every box.

It was the sweetest words I had ever heard anybody ever say...."We're in!!"

All I heard next were excited screams. In my own voice. And Roohshad's ______ (I'm still trying to figure what he was saying/chanting (?)/ singing. That's Rooh for you. Can never find a justifiable word to describe his "lost-for-a-word-again" ) Oh...........and I was totally oblivious of the 100 and something people at the airport lounge. I was flying....somewhere over the rainbow! This was our moment. I couldn't be bothered about anything else. WE MADE IT!!

The gentleman sitting 3 chairs away from me...frowned at me, I had ruined his little nap. I couldn't help but grin at him. Yes, he probably thought I had lost it!!

The flight back home seemed to last forever! After switching on my phone when I landed, my phone beeped continuously. Apparently the whole world (my whole world at least) had been online checking to see if we made it.... and couldn't wait to congratulate us.

I haven't known such joy in a long while. Roohshad and me had made a lot of people proud!!

The warm welcome I received at the Goa airport from family and friends was surprising and touching! Wow!! They actually took the trouble to come all the way to the airport to congratulate me??!!!

This Challenge has turned out to be much bigger than I expected. It not only meant a lot to me and Roohshad, but to all our friends and family too...... who eagerly wanted to know how they could help in the next stage.

For now...all I can do is thank TGDC and their judges for giving us the chance to go forward in this journey..... and letting us experience this wonderful feeling of making our peeps proud!!

This is definitely a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity...and we will go all out to make it till the end.

Watch out for us ;-)

TOP 12!

WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT!WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT!



We are speechless right now! Let it just sink in.

WE MADE IT!!

My wishlist!

Two things I have to....JUST HAVE TO DO and I' will do.... before I get old. Jeez! Im 27 already and those greys are gonna come peeping out soon!!!



1. Buy my own Mini Cooper :)



Look at it!!!!!! (OK so somebody photoshopped it) But that doesn't make it any less vibrant! It's exuberant personality just wins you over. Especially when you watch it coming towards you, smiling happily! You just can't resist owning that pooch! Too bad India hasn't decided to bring 'em over!! :(

For now, I'm excited about the Cedia! The Cedia will do. No.....it will sooooooooooooooo do!!!!! :)


2. Go extreme-mountain driving!!


Can you even imagine the adrenaline rush doing something like that??? Of course, doesn't have to be exactly like this. My blood's running cold just looking at this shot. But....something similar (less dangerous) I'll be cautious obviously....... not put my life at risk, and only do something that I'm sure of doing............but Hello!!!! who doesn't wanna try something close to this!!

I'm game for it baby......Just let me know when and where!! ;-)

Monsoon Driving

Driving in the rains is not for the weak-hearted and not for new drivers.....especially not in the monsoons, and definitely not on the highways! There is soooooooooo much you have to deal with! Rains can be unforgiving and harsh. Lightening can be disorientating. And the most common situation faced by commuters are skidding and aquaplaning.

But don't let the monsoons intimidate you. Monsoon driving can also be relaxing, refreshing and breath-taking. All you have to do.....is stick to the guidelines.

I've put together 10 commandments that 9 years of driving has taught me, may it be a short drive to the next city or a long drive across the country. All you GDC participants...this should help! (irrespective of whether you make it to the drive or not)

1. Monsoon-ize your car. Change tyres....check all liquid levels....check brakes.....make sure wipers can fullfill their main function, clean your windshield and check your lights. Oh...and please make sure your car papers are in order. You don't want to have unnecessary trouble with the cops. Licence?? Don't leave home without it!

2. Keep a first aid kit handy. Maybe two if its a long drive. Also make sure you throw in a warm blanket, a flashlight, some easy-listening CDs and a map.

3. Strap that seat-belt on. Do I really need to explain this further??!!

4. Is your gas tank full? Start looking for a fuel station, once the level drops below the half-tank mark.

5. Always keep safe distance. It takes far longer for your brakes to take effect in the rains. Also if you're following buses/trucks., the spray from the wheels can reduce visibility.

6. Drive at a comfortable, constant speed, so you don't have to use those brakes too often. Take your foot off the accelerator if you need to slow down gradually. Turn on your hazard lights, in case of emmergency braking.

7. Night driving requires skill. The glare of on-coming vehicles gets amplified by rain and can blind you for seconds. So does lightening. You'll also come across vehicles with one or both faulty lights. Be alert constantly. Also, turn on your lights during heavy fog or rains. You do know there's something called 'fog lights' yea??

8. Never drive through accumulated/moving water. If you cannot see the road or ground through the water, do not take a guess at its depth. If the water is deeper than the bottom of your doors, tuen around. The force of the water maybe more than the weight of your car. Make sure you're revving your engine. Vroooooooooom!

9. Turn up the heat in your car, and direct the airflow to 'defrost', if you're windows get fogged due to high humidity. If you don't have an AC, roll down the windows a bit, so there's some circulation of air.

10. Keep an eye on your car tyres. Tyres with thick tread provide traction. So replace you're tyres immediately if you realize they're balding.


P.S: I don't have to tell you not to drink and drive, or talk on your cellphone / SMS friends while driving. Remember...... rash and negligent driving might not always take your life, but could handicap you or someone else for life.

Drive safe!!!

HAPPY DRIVING!!! :)