A lot of good things and humongous amount of ugly things happened in 2008. The global financial meltdown, terror attacks in Bombay and the rest of the country, millions of job losses, more than 20 banks going bust in the US. Big investment companies like Lehman, Merrill Lynch, Bear Stearns etc down the drain. All the bad things were very promptly covered by the world media. So, let me look at some of the best things that happened to me this year.
Best thing to happen to me in 2008
I got married. Is there anything better than this? 🙂
Travel in 2008
I made 4 trips to India this year and contributed my part to global warming. So, other than the regular trips home, 2008 has been a pretty dry year when it came to travel. 2009 seems more promising as i already have lots of travel plans lined up now that i have my wife as my travel partner.
Movies in 2008
Have lost count of the number of movies i watched this year. It should be more than 150. That means around one in 2 days. Fortunately, i dont restrict myself to any particular genre or language, so i have had the honour of watching some truly remarkable movies across languages
Let me emphasize that all the movies mentioned below are not necessarily released this year. These are just some of the movies that i saw this year which impressed me.
Aamir
A Wednesday
Mithya
Oye Lucky Lucky Oye
Jodhaa Akbar
Tahaan
Subramaniapuram (Tamil)
Dasavatharam (Tamil)
Gamyam (Telugu)
Slumdog Millionaire
Dark Knight
Children of Men
Death at a Funeral
Before Sunset
Taken
21
3:10 to Yuma
Transsiberian
Rebel without a cause
The Towering Inferno
In Bruges
Traffic
Gran Torino
28 weeks later
Rang-E-Khoda (Colour of Paradise) – Iranian
Bacheha-Ye aseman (Children of Heaven) – Iranian
Books in 2008
Kaoboys of R&AW – B Raman
Eleven Minutes – Paulo Coelho
Reluctant Fundamentalist – Mohsin Hamid
Freakonomics – Steven Levitt
Barefoot Investor – Scott Pape
Undercover Economist – Tim Harford
It happened in India – Kishore Biyani
We are like that only – Rama Bijapurkar
The World is Flat – Thomas Friedman
Intelligent Investor – Benjamin Graham
Investments in 2008
At the begining of the year even though there were predictions that the world economy was in for a rough ride, no one would have believed if the markets would be at a situation where it is now. From 20,000 to 9000, the Sensex has been on a mother of all crashes. My portfolio is totally in the red. But then as some great soul said…
Buy when everyone sells and sell when everyone buys
Iam buying and have built up quite a bit of my portfolio by now. I averaged out quite a lot of my losses and surely dont need the market to climb back to 20k to see a positive portfolio. I still cant believe why people keep advising me that i should start buying only when the market is stable.
How does one judge when a market turns stable? The worst thing you can do is to time the market. Its practically impossible for anyone to guess the top and the bottom of the market. The only thing a long term investor can do is to religiously invest a bit of his savings in the market and cash out when he hits paydirt.
Career in 2008
Nothing interesting happened in my career during 2008. In fact, hanging on to the job one has is the mantra in this gloomy economy. In fact this is a good time to start studying and get certified in some courses that can make a difference when the economy rebounds.
My resolution for 2009
…. is to have no resolutions 😉
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Alternate Investments 
Pretty eventful year for you . And kudos for getting married . Is The Undercover Economist on the same lines as Freakonomics ? Cause I have read Frekonomincs and really enjoyed it . And if you remember the Indian guy who almost joined a black gang , as a part of his research , there is book on that by him .
My investment portfolio is also red. But I dont mind it yet. I invested only what I could afford to lose. 🙂 But I have a feeling, in long run, I wont be losing and yes, I bought when markets were done.
I, too, have no resolutions this year. My career, too, didn’t see much change. Hanging on to a job.
Me too, travelled no further than Mussurie this year. Next year, I will travel.
I read about 53 books this year. and as for movies, most of the movies on your list, I haven’t watched but would love to watch. I would love to watch Slumdog Millionaire.
And yes, the best thing to have happened would have been marriage, congratulations again! 😛
May you have a great year ahead ..or lets a very happy, loving year ahead! 🙂
Happy new year. liju bhai.
Happy New Year !!
I love this recap 🙂
My portfolio is in red too, a little disheartening but I also had not invested more than planned, so I can wait … I agree this is a good time to buy and we can never tell when the market has become stable or reached the bottom!
Oh Yes getting married has to be the best thing to have happened this year – let me take this opportunity to wish you both a very Happy New Year 🙂
I wanted to read Reluctant Fundamentalist … and then forgot. One book I read this year which confirmed something I have always believed in is Secret …
LOL @ no resolutions 🙂 I have resolved to be more disciplined … once I have worked out a plan.
shaaaks, bugger. bugger, shaaaks.
Congrats on getting married last year, wish u both a happy and wonderful year ahead together.
I dont make any resolutions, becoz i dont stand on what i have planned.
The only book i have read in this year is WINGS OF FIRE by Dr.APJ Abdul Kalam
Congratulations for having a fantastic 2008! And Happy New Year!
And even my portfolio is RED! I don’t have much hopes in 2009 also! 😦
@Kislay, yes Freakonomics and Undercover Economist are similar, but i found Undercover Economist to be even better. Read and let me know how you found it.
@Poonam, all the best for the new year. May our portfolios become profitable soon 😉
@Akhil, Dinu – thanks
@IHM, do share your resolutions. Maybe i can also take some inspiration from that.
@Sarita, i read Wings of Fire sometime back. Thanks for the wishes.
@Amit, thanks. Keeping my fingers crossed too for a great year ahead.
Loved the way you gave the wrap up.
Thanks,
and hope your portfolio looks up in this year.