Mormon Tabernacle Choir

I've spent the last week watching TV. I know it's not good for you and bad for health, etc. etc. but I'm totally hooked to Eureka. I can't stop watching it. It's worse than how it was when I was watching Prison Break or Lost. I've put off writing and doing dishes to watch episodes of Eureka. Well, this obsession will end soon because Eureka only has four seasons and I'm almost done watching the third. 

Anyway, since I realized I got super lazy and didn't write about my weekend trip to Salt Lake City, I decided to turn Eureka off for a change and write. Last Sunday, we went to SLC to watch the Mormon Tabernacle Choir perform at the LDS Conference Center. It was by far the largest auditorium I've ever been to and the show was wonderful.

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir happens to be one of the oldest and largest choirs in the world. I read somewhere that they've performed in front of five US presidents, won lots of awards and sold millions of records. There are 360 volunteer singers, ranging between the age of 25-60 and they are all members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. This choir is based in Salt Lake City. 

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square opened the Christmas season performing at the annual First Presidency Christmas Devotional last Sunday, on December 2, 2012, in the LDS Conference Center. This traditional Christmas devotional featured President Thomas S. Monson and his two counselors, Henry B. Eyring and Dieter F. Uchtdorf with music by the Choir and Orchestra. Music for the evening included traditional and classics which was centered on Christ and His birth.

This was a ticketed event (free of charge) but on a first-come-first-serve basis. Our friend stayed up till 2:00 AM to get the seats for this event and we are very grateful to him for doing this for us. It was truly an amazing experience and the choir was fantastic. The show was broadcast live in sixteen different languages. Various broadcast, cable, satellite, internet, television stations and radio stations throughout the world will also carry the devotional. Within a short time, the program will be posted for viewing on www.youtube.com/MormonTabChoir.

Ankit and I at the Devotional

It was a four day event and it was estimated that over 10,000 people visited. I'll definitely be doing this again next year. It was a lovely experience.

President Monson said “Christmas is what we make of it. Despite all the distractions, we can see to it that Christ is at the center of our celebration,” “The spirit of Christmas is the spirit of love and of generosity and of goodness. It illuminates the picture window of the soul, and we look out upon the world’s busy life and become more interested in people than in things.”

Beautiful words.

Merry Christmas.

x

Nokia Lumia 920

Ankit just bought a new phone, Nokia Lumia 920. His five year old iPhone was now almost dying so we figured we needed to get something new and fast. I already had the iPhone 5 so he didn't bother buying another one and decided to look at something different. We had been hearing about the Nokia phone for quite a while now and clearly it was winning in almost all aspects when compared to the iPhone 5 (I have to admit it, even though I love my iPhone). We went and got it on a Black Friday deal and the phone is lovely. I personally love the red one. It doesn't feel like a phone. It feels like a very savvy piece of technology when you use it.

That is the lock screen. It has a bigger screen than the iPhone 5 and higher pixel density. It also has a flash with dual LEDs and sensor shift stabilization. But honestly, I tested the iPhone 5 camera with this one and I think that the fight is very close. I still think iPhone 5 clicks better pictures but Ankit disagrees. iPhone 5 does happen to have an built-in HDR mode which Nokia Lumia 920 doesn't. It does, however, have 0.7 more megapixels than the iPhone 5 and also a better front camera. I think it was very close and maybe I'm biased, but I think my phone has a better camera (lol). 

The iPhone happens to have way more apps than Windows but Ankit looked though it and said that all the important apps that are needed are available for free. The phone also has an inbuilt Microsoft Office (which I think is brilliant). The amount of ringtones that this phone has to offer is so fantastic and really awesome tones (even Bollywood music). I wish iPhone also had more variety in terms of the tones. It would've been more fun. Movies are more fun to watch on this phone because the screen is so nice and big. It's definitely heavier and bigger than the iPhone. 

I'm realizing this post is slowly turning into a comparison between iPhone 5 and Nokia Lumia 920. Let's get back to talking about just Nokia for now. The Nokia Lumia 920 has a radio, Near-Field-Communication (NFC) (allows wireless transactions like payments), super fast uploads, wireless charging, USB mass storage support and a very good battery back up. 

Overall, we loved this phone. Ankit fiddles with it all day long (as far as I know). He keeps telling me he has a better phone and I always deny it but must admit that he's right. If people think that there isn't a better smart phone out there than the iPhone, then they are sorely mistaken. iPhone needs to come up with something out of the norms to beat this baby. 

The new Nokia Lumia 920

Mera Jahan

I usually put on a hindi movie with good songs while I do my daily chores at home. I don't think I can live alone at home if it's too quiet. Movies usually make me feel at ease when I'm alone. I put on Taare Zameen Par today and this song caught my attention. These are words of a child; very meaningful.

Here are the lyrics and I've tried to translate to the best of my ability. 

Singers: Adnan Sami, Auriel Cordo, Ananya Wadkar

Lyrics:

A Little Sweet, A Little Sour

A Little Close, Not Too Far

All I Need, All I Need

All I Need Is To Be Free

Chhoo Loon Main (I can touch it)
Itna Kareeb (So close)

Chal Padun (Start walking)
Toh Kitna Door (It seems far)

Sapnon Ka Buna Sweater Sa Warm (Warm as a sweater knitted of dreams)

Safed Baadalon Ke Paar (Past the white clouds lies)

Mera Jahan (My world)

Let Me In Without A Shout

Let Me In I Have A Doubt

There Are More, Many More

Many Many Many More Like Me

Akela Nahin Main (I'm not alone)

Khuli Aankhon Se Neend Mein Chalta (Sleep walking with my eyes open)

Girta Zyada, Kam Sambhalta (Tripping more, protecting myself less)

Phir Bhi Na Koi Shaq, Na Shuba (Still without doubts or suspicion)

Nikalega Phir Se Sooraj Jo Dooba (The sun that set will rise again)

Hairat Ho Sabko Aisa (Amazing everyone, like that)

Ajooba Hai Mera Jahan (My world is miraculous)

Open Eyed How I Run

How I Run To The Other Side

Then I Glide Like A Bird

I Just Want To Be

Udne Ko Sau Pankh Diye Hai (100 feathers have been given to fly)

Chadhne Ko Khula Aasmaan (An open sky to climb)

Mudne Ko Hai Karwat Karwat (Sides to turn)

Aur Badhne Ko Mera Jahan (And my world to grow)

Bachpan Ke Din Chaar (Childhood won't remain long)

Na Aayenge Baar Baar (It will not come again)

Jee Le Jee Le Mere Yaar (Live it, live it, my friend)

Jeib Khaali To Udhaar (If pocket is empty, then borrow)

Jee Zindagi (Live life)

Here's a link to the song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oYqanTWruE
Enjoy 
x

Ogden's Christmas Village

Ogden's Historic 25th Street holds the largest Christmas Village in Utah. It opens on the Saturday after Thanksgiving every year. I was super excited to go because there was going to be a Holiday Electric Lights Parade and lighting up of the Christmas Village. I love lights; I'm fascinated by them. 

The parade was full of elaborate floats, beautiful themes, music and performers. Here are some pictures from the Parade:

The parade ended with Santa's arrival at the Christmas Village

After Santa's arrival, everyone headed towards the Amphitheater where the opening ceremony of the Christmas Village was held and the illumination of all the lights, followed by fireworks and live entertainment.

The Opening Ceremony

Fireworks

Live Entertainment

Christmas Village all lit up 

It is so beautiful! The entire place is covered with lights featuring more than one million lights and various static displays, aerial ornaments and fireworks. Small cottages have been installed at Ogden's Muncipal Garden, creating a miniature village modeled after Santa's village in the North Pole. Here, elves, snowmen and Santa are depicted in a perpetual state of getting ready for Christmas. Each cottage has its own theme.

There is one human-sized cottage near the garden's entrance on 25th street where children will get a chance to meet Santa, share their Christmas wish lists and click pictures. 

Hot chocolate was being sold everywhere and added to the sweet aroma of the dazzling winter wonderland. I can't wait to go back again.

Here are some examples of the cottages of Santa's helpers:

Photo by: Ogdencity.com

The entire place has a very festive and a happy vibe to it. If you haven't been there, yet, you must. It is estimated that 150,000 people visit the Christmas Village every year. Beginning Nov 26, Santa will greet children in his castle from Monday-Friday, 6-9:00 PM, and Saturdays, 5-9:00 PM through December 23. Live entertainment will be held in the Amphitheater every Tuesday-Friday from 6:30-7:30 PM.

Location: Municpal Gardens
Address: 2500 Grant Ave, Ogden, Utah
Times: 5:00 pm - 12:00 am

Enjoy!

x