Have you ever seen this before?

Has anyone seen this thing before? I even loathe to call it an automobile or vehicle. This travesty of something with wheels and engine is known as the Actyon and the contraption is hammered together by a company named as Ssangyong.

I initially thought I had finally seen a Chinese automobile but later figured out that it is a Korean brand. The company was founded in 1954 ( can you believe it?? )

This is what the official company website says -
In 1986, when the SsangYong Group acquisitioned Keohwa Motors specialized in manufacturing jeeps with the brand of Korando, and launched a full-scaled investment in automobile manufacturing. In 1988, it developed a compact 4WD SUV, Korando Family, which was the first SUV manufactured in Korea, opening the era of SUV. Since then it has established its reputation for innovation, leadership, and quality in the SUV field in Korea.

WOW! Are not Hyundai and Kia the other Korean brands which we know of? I mean they are much better known and are really making a concentrated effort to improve their image in the world market with good products, decent quality and after sales service initiatives. Still they are not looked at in the same league as the other manufacturers from Europe or US.

And to top it all up Mercedes Benz has done a strategic investment in Ssongyang. Now coincidentally I saw a SLK and a Actyon standing next to each other. I only have one question to ask - what the hell was Mercedes thinking?


Beauty and the best???



Yeah I know you all would say that I am biased because of the looks of the vehicle but heck I am talking about viewing this thing in the land which makes the "best automobiles" in the world so who can blame me for loathing something which is so ugly to look at.

Very slow

Wondering whats happened to me these days. I have always enjoyed reading and have been a voracious reader for ages but over the past few months I have noticed that my speed is going down.

Its been months and I still am trying to finish Shantaram. Agreed it is a big book but I finished Lord of the Rings in 3 weeks so not completing a book for months is something which I cannot explain. Maybe the changes in life have something to do with this.

By the way, I came across something very interesting yesterday - "Peace causes the biggest cut." So true isn't it? We all know war does not achieve anything but do we also know that peace could cause "cuts" too? Found it to be thought provoking.

Over the weekend bought couple of new books though. Will let you all know when I get to them.

The most efficient concert yet?

Last weekend I had the privilege to drive over to Saarbrucken and see one of the legends of our time perform. Considering that I drove for around 130 kms after running for 15 kms with uphill stretches it can be safely assumed that I was really looking forward to the concert.

The show started dot at 8:00 pm and ended dot at 10:00 pm. the artist arrived ontime, played efficiently, focused entirely on his performance, didnt feel the need to unnecessarily try to connect to the audience by talking to them or talking about the beautiful spring weather etc., left exactly ontime and despite the full house clapping for an encroe didnt return. Guess the artist's name....

Guesss....


Guesss.....


Guesss....


Guesss....


you are right, Bob Dylan!

So yeah the concert was ok...I have seen better but the opportunity to see him perform was something which I couldn't let go.

The setlist -

1. Gotta Serve Somebody (Bob on keyboard)
2. Lay, Lady, Lay (Bob on guitar)
3. The Levee's Gonna Break (Bob on keyboard)
4. Every Grain Of Sand (Bob on keyboard)
5. Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum (Bob on keyboard)
6. Beyond The Horizon (Bob on keyboard)
7. Honest With Me (Bob on keyboard)
8. Sugar Baby (Bob on keyboard)
9. Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again
(Bob on keyboard)
10. Po' Boy (Bob on keyboard)
11. Summer Days (Bob on keyboard)
12. I Believe In You (Bob on keyboard)
13. Highway 61 Revisited (Bob on keyboard)
14. Like A Rolling Stone (Bob on keyboard)
15. All Along The Watchtower (Bob on keyboard)
16. Spirit On The Water (Bob on keyboard)
17. Blowin' In The Wind (Bob on keyboard)

In the end I do think it is probably the most efficient concert I have seen to date.
The T-shirt was nice though!