Weekday mornings in office is always a rush. Parallel jobs. Multi-tasking. Mails. Deadlines.
A lovely voice came on the PA system two days ago. It invited people to go to the common area where there was a blood donation camp being set up.
I took some time off and landed there. In the queue were scores of people ready to donate blood.
Aerosmith Concert. Dubai Exiles Rugby Stadium. This could be once in a lifetime chance. I took it. And reached there. After a quick haemoglobin and BP check, it was my turn. I took my place in one of the beach beds temporarily set up for the day. To my left was an Arab gentleman and to my right was someone from Srilanka.
We all had tubes running from our arms and the de-coagulator was working. It moved the blood collecting pouch in a slow see-saw motion to ensure that the blood did not coagulate.
The pouches were marked with the blood group and taken away. I wondered who the recipient would be. Irrespective of his nationality, creed, color, race, he would use my blood or anyone else's. It didn't matter. The blood was common.
Last night I landed at the Aerosmith Concert in Dubai Exiles Rugby Stadium. The place was packed. I haven't seen a more energetic action packed crowd.
Steve and gang pelted some amazing music last night. The best of Aerosmith hits. People from all races, all sizes and shapes. Different nationalities. And thanks to Aerosmith producing hits since the 70s, there were different age groups too. From 6 to 60.
I stood there in the crowd, tipsy and happy. The crowd sang along many famous numbers. I felt the power of music.
The same crowd that lives in different social circles, siloed sang together. To my right was an Arab. To my left was a bunch of Englishmen. We sang the same songs. Irrespective of his nationality, creed, color, race, Aerosmith cut through. Nothing mattered. The music was common.
Ibn Batata
- Suresh Balaji
- My 3 avatars 1. Ibn Batutta- the great moroccan traveller. I didnt know of him till I got to Dubai. A big mall in his name. Apparently he has a crater in the moon named after him too. A glorious adventurer who travelled thousands of miles across dozens of countries. He went where his life took him. I am now in dubai. Life has brought me here. The fatalist in me has followed. My voyages are voyages of the body, the mind and the spirit within. I am Ibn Battuta in my own world. I am Ibn Batata from the batata land of bombay! I seek an adventure, and I know it is one I will get. www.ibnbabata.blogspot.com 2. NG Take- Full form for 'Not Good Take'. Used by film production personnel when a take is rejected either on the spot or on the editing table. Multiple NG Takes get rejected before the director /editor choses the perfect shot. Have been wanting to start a blog on my 'Take' on movies. here it is at www.ngtake.blogspot.com 3. Mindblogging www.mindblogging.blogspot.com
2 comments:
Hey Su...
I landed up at the Aerosmith Concert last night. It ROCKED. Inspite of the huge traffic jam all the way upto palace grounds, the never ending queue to enter, a dust filled arena, the air that smelled so strongly of vodka and weed, and good two hour wait before the concert actually began.
Nothing mattered any more, at all.. once Steven Tyler and Joe Perry got on stage.
Got me all nostalgic thinking about those early MTV days, when we all grew up listening to bands like Aerosmith, def leppard and Van Halen.
Haha... And Steve actually said this 'I want to hear Bangalore scream so loud that the folks back in Dubai can hear you guys!'
Gawdd..what a performer he is.
- Pu
Thank you for sharing your amazing concert experience. As a longtime Aerosmith fan from America, it's nice to hear a different point of view, especially coming from a place where the band had never played previously.
I'm working on an article about the band and would like to include your comments, if you are interested. Please email me at lisamartineau@gmail.com. I look forward to hearing from you.
Kind regards,
Lisa Martineau
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