FIVE : PAN SHORES

THERE'S NO OTHER COUNTRY MORE INDIAN THAN PAKISTAN.
My adulation of Pakistan stems from the my ancestral roots in Sialkot Punjab,(Pakistan)
All speak Punjabi.
Eat the same food.
Have similar rituals.
N i love wearing those long kurtas and those lovely pyjamas..
My maiden trip to Pakistan is certainly on priority.

Afghanistan is one of biggest inspiration for me. I've been fortunate to be a part of UNHRC/CIP sponsored periodic surveys and reports on Afghanistan. It's a country where nothing comes easy, not even a night's sleep. Of the few educated Afghans i met in Dubai and other Persian Gulf regions, i remember the vignettes of a certain teary eyed individual and what he said. THE ONE WHO CAN FIGHT, CAN MAKE IT THROUGH ANOTHER NIGHT.

There's a lot more to Israel than just hostilities.(though i love it for that part...convoys, arms, cops, all out on streets). I've loved my obsessive time in Israel. On sides of its borders with enraging enimosity in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria to Tel Aviv, Haifa, Nazareth, Jerusalem, Dead Sea and others.  It's been brilliant. HEART FOR ISRAEL.

If there's a country i'd like to see myself professionally ascensioned, it has to be Singapore. I simply love the island. Everything about it. I love those long walks, long empty drives, the night safaris, the sentosa casinos, the people, and ofcourse, Sembawang!

Hate it or love it. United States is by some distance, the greatest nation on earth. The landscape, the people, life, there is hardly anyone.anything better than it. Wish Indians can learn being more cheerful and smiling and large hearted from the Americans, apart from the other non sense that certain Indians keep aping. East coast is rocking, west coast is madness, and hawaii is elevating...

FIVE : IMITATION OF LIFE

Michael Stipe, face of innocence and voice of an appositely genteel American.
Rockstar??? really???.....Hell Ya!
R.E.M, must go down as the perpetrators of Alternate Rock genre, so to speak.. It's a shame, they, like a lot other predominantly American bands, called it a day last year...Stipe, your intricate vocals shall thou be missed!

                               Tell me i'm the anchor of my own ascension...
                               Tell me i'm the tourist in the 4th dimension...
                                                     ........work it out.......

                               I can't believe that i believed i wished
                               that you could see...
                              There's a new planet in the solar system...
                              There is nothing up my sleeve...

                                              party to party
                                              you've been looking
                                              but your search will never end
                                              you've been hanging
                                              with the wrong crowd
                                              you've got all the right friends

                                               This lightening storm..
                                               This tidal wave
                                               This avalanche..I'm not afraid..
                                               C'mon...c'mon no one can see you try...

                                        Your eyes are burning holes through me..
                                        I'm gasoline...
                                        I'm burning clean..
                                        you are the star tonight..
                                        you shine electric outta sight..
                                        your light eclipsed the moon tonight...
                                        electrolite

FIVE : WAY ON DOWNSOUTH LONDON TOWN

Mark Knopfler's must be one of the more gentlemanish/polished voices around.(journalistic credentials...no surprise) Though, guess he looked like those fiery english toe crushers of the 80's. (back in the days mate!)
And my liking of him has got nothing to do with his British band (contrary to perception). Infact, i love to hear the Irish speak..I love the Irish accent!
Wish Dire Straits had continued beyond 18...Mark's ambition of going solo ruined it perhaps, (seems to have lost his long locks in the process too) but that doesn't abate its greatness over the last three decades.

                                       Did he leave the building...
                                       or can he come to the phone..
                                       long distance baby-so far from home
                                       calling elvis-i'm here all alone...

                                 And he's up there. What's that? Hawain noises?    
                                 Bangin on the bongos like a chimpanzee..
                                 that ain't working...that's the way you do it..

                                                 JULIET!
                             when we made love you used to cry...
                             you said i love you like..the stars above, i love you till i die..
                             There's a place for us..you knooow the movie song...
                when you gonna realise that it was just that the time was wrong...Juliet

                                             'coz if you wanna run cool...
                                             if you wanna run cool..
                                             yes if you wanna run cool..
                                             you got to run..
                                             on heavy heavy fuel...

                                Somewhere your fingerprints remain concrete..
                                and its your face i'm looking for..on every street..

FIVE : WHAT MORE IN THE NAME OF LOVE

Every time i hear Paul Hewson, I'am, in all vicariousness, ascensioned to the countryside towns of Western Europe, reminiscent/horribly nostalgic of the wind chill, empty roads, facade towers, aesthetic cattle farms.
Reminds me of time, trading between Europe, leisure walks at dawn, promenading back to the yard, riveted in scores of U2 jewels on the perpetually desolated streets of Ghent, Milford haven, Rotterdam, Tilbury, Le Havre, Fawley, Skagen. I've perhaps lost the count of the others.
Wish i could get back to countryside Europe soon...wish i could live U2 again...

                                 You led me on with those innocent eyes...
                                 You know i love the element of surprise!

                                                Dug from the night...
                                                your eyes as black as coal....

                                    One day you'll look back
                                    And you'll see...
                                    Where you were held by this love...
                                    While you could stand there..
                                    you could move on this moment, follow this feeling...

                                        Sugar common! show your soul!
                                        Why you keeping your love under control..
                                        Every where you go you shout it..
                                        you don't have to be shy about it...

                                 If I could throw this lifeless lifeline to the wind..
                                 Leave this heart of clay, see you walk, walk away..
                                 into the half-light, and through the flame...  

FIVE : FINAL BOARDING CALL...8215...DESTINATION LOS ANGELES

Chad Kroeger has a voice to die for...chilling! God, Him and Me...that must be the order of the greatest voices ever! No!...seriously! No preening!
Its an interesting story on how they got their name..Mike Kroeger, during his job at Starbucks, while giving cash in change to customers would frequently say, "Here's your nickel back"
Remember those myriad long drives with their songs on repeat...lip sync them until perfection..congenial to my imagination!
These aren't my five favorite Nickelback songs 'cause that would simply be too intricate to sift through and neither are they some random selection. Think these are those amazing songs, perhaps a little underrated compared to their other usual suspected hits.

                                         And if you can't tell...
                                         I'am scaaared as hell..
                                         'cause i can't get you on the telephone
                                         so just close your eyes....
                                         oh honey here comes your lullaby..

                                   Every memory of looking out the back door
                           I had the photo album spread out on my bedroom floor

                               Keep breathing, 'cause i'am not leaving you anymore..
                               Believe it, hold onto me and never let me go..

                             I wish you'd unclench your fists, and unpack your suitcase
                             Lately there's been too much of this..
                             but don't think it's too late..

                           If today was your last day...
                           Would you make a mark by mending a broken heart..
                           You know it's never to late to shoot for the stars..
                            regardless of who you are...