I initially thought of buying a $14 fish tank, but upon browsing through further, I ended up buying a $80 one, which is not unusual considering the way I usually shop. We were looking at the fish on display & I asked one of the Sales Reps if I could have an Angel fish in a tank that has Red Top Orandas. I explained me the difference between Tropical Fish & Gold Fish and the details on the temparature that should be maintained for each of the fish species. When I expressed my wish to buy a Red Fantail the guy, seeing the new tank in my hands, explained the need of filling the tank with water & leave it for a couple of days before I start putting fish in them. I cannot forget the look in his face when I sheepishly asked him if I can keep the fish in the cover that they give when I buy fish, for 2 days until my tank is ready. I can equate it to the expression that Senthil would give at Koundamani, in one of the tamil comedies, when Kounder askes Senthil to play Nalamthaana in his Thavil…(Ayyo indha gnyana sooniyathukitta mattitu…!!! Apologies if you donot know tamil.)

The sales guy gave me a short lesson on my first aquarium. He gave me a Basic Aquarium Guide & Gold Fish Care guide for me to read at my home. I also bought some gravel, aquarium plants, pebbles & shells before I left the shop. As I started browsing through the book, only then did I realize how stupid my questions were & behaviour at the shop was and the list of details that go into setting up a sucessful aquarium.

For the next 2 days, I browsed through the net, the books  I had, for all the required details. The details that I learnt of in those 2 days took me by awe. I realized that having an aquarium is not a job of buying a fish & putting them into water, but far far more than that. After 2 days, I went back to the same shop a wiser man & bought a pair Redtop Orandas & Red Fintails. I had a better, wiser & healthier conversation with the sales guy this time around. The last 7 days was an eye opener to me in the fact that if setting up a fish tank would require so much knowledge, then how much knowledge would you need to know about everything in this world. Truly, Known is a drop, unknown ocean !!!

I initially thought that setting up an aquarium would be a cheap one & I will able to set one in less than $30. But in less than 2 days I started setting up my own aquarium, I spent more than 100 bugs. And I am not sure, how much more I am going to spend on this??? . But at least, I am happy that I am accomplishing one of my long pending wishes and I also learned a lesson in my life… do not underestimate anything unless you are quite sure about it!!!

10-May-2009…5:20 PM…My first weekend in Toronto. I went to CN towers, once the tallest building on earth. After a hour and a half of strolling, I reached the tower top, three-fourth of a kilometer nearer to the moon than I usually am, enjoying the view of Toronto Skyline. I suddenly saw a group of more than 1000 people on the road. I was surprised to so many at the same time, despite the fact that I am fromIndia. My first thought was that they were a group of people coming out of a party.

When I saw them walking on the road moving towards the Gardiner Expressway, I sensed that things were not normal, though I was far too high to find out what actually was happening. They started blocking the expressway. Traffic stopped, hundred of Police cars rushed to the scene, cops started parading. I spent the next 45 minutes on the top deck of CN tower watching what was happening, though I did not understand what was going on.

On my way down, I got to know from the girl who was operating the lift there that Tamils in Toronto were protesting for the lankan cause.

While I have not taken any stance on the lankan issue this far in my life and while I am not sure if I have to take one either, was it just a coincidene that I got to witness a scene that you donot normally see in this part of the world, a continuation of what I had been seeing in my part of the earth till a week back more than 10000 miles away from where I am now?

One of the courts

When I walked back to the centre court to take a glimpse of what was happening with the match between Federer & Kiefer ,I realized that fans do get due importance in Wimbledon. A request from a friend of mine to get a picture of the world famous centre court, the ticket holders to which are selected based on lots months ahead of the game every year, was gently heeded. When I got to get close with a lot of player, take their snaps, and collect autographs, I found that their security personnel were quite fan-friendly too, yet quite stern & focussed on their prime task of protecting the players. Arrangements were made to provide centre court & court one tickets, returned by the fan who were done watching the matches to other fans at cheaper prices, simply meant that Wimbledon wants more fans to experience the royalty of the centre court. I was also able to easily sense that the day tickets were offered to more than 5000 fans, almost to everyone who came to Wimbledon; perhaps the organizers did not want anyone to go back disappointed not getting tickets. The organizers had left no stone unturned in ensuring that the visiting fans had a pleasant comfortable stay in the Wimbledon. They played a perfect host. After a long day, when I reached the Southfields station after spending few more hours in the Wimbledon Park, I realized that I had the experience of lifetime. I made it a point to visit Wimbledon the year after as well, the last year of my stay in London.
People remember Wimbledon for its epic matches, more recently the one between Roger Federer & Rafael Nadal, the five-set history. But my Wimbledon experience will stay in my memory for its fan-friendliness, starting from the usher who encouraged me to get back on the queue to the security personnel in front of the centre court who saw the eagerness in our eyes and kindly acceded to allow us for a taking a snapshot of the centre court, more than the matches I watched.

It is not for no reason; Wimbledon is called the King of Slams!!!