Tagged by Ushasuryamani and Kalyanee 

Eight things I am passionate about

Travel
Hiking, trekking and climbing
Family
Chocolates, ice creams, rasmalai etc etc
Animals
Ancient temples
Rivers, oceans, lakes as well as deserts (I love desserts and deserts!)
Snowcapped mountains

Eight things I want to do before I die

Learn to dress fashionably 

Slim down so that I can get into my favourite swim wear that was presented to
me twenty years back by a special person

Write a really good book

Travel to China, Australia, S America, Egypt and Scandinavia.
 
Visit the dark continent again. (yeah, I am greedy-- for travel)

Become physically fit so that I can hike, trek and climb without huffing and puffing

Become rich so that I can build shelters for strays in several places

Help street kids
 
Get my Veena repaired and practise music again (I can take revenge on my neighbours)

Eight things I often say

Ramachandra (the Lord)

achcha
appadiya

okay
sari

enna
did you say something

Kilambalama

Eight songs I can never tire of (There are so many that I love)

Meera Bhajans by MS
TN Seshagopalan's Carnatic songs (eg Soundara Rajam Bhajey)

Kishore's songs (eg Ek ladki bheegi bhagi si)
Rafi's songs (eg Man tadpat Hari darshan ko aaj)
Lata's old songs (eg Baiyyan naa dharo)
Jesudas (eg Gori tera gaon bada pyaara)
Dil hum hum kare
Chinna kannan azhaikkiraan

Ragasudharasa by my daughter (she sings beautifully, especially this song )

Eight books I read recently

The Namesake (1 year back)
The Da Vinci code   (2 years back)
Who moved my cheese (3 years back
The God of small things  (4 years back)
Ice Candy Man (5 years back)

Books by
AJ Cronin,Somerset Maughm,PG Wodehouse, Erma Bombeck, James Herriot (More than 10 years back)

Books by Kalki, Devan and Rajam Krishnan ( Long back)

Eight things I admire in people (I changed this slightly)

Frankness
Honesty
Sense of humour
Composure when required
Openness
Objectivity
Compassion
Confidence

Eight bloggers I think I should tag
Bharatborn
Chiksunny
Anjala
Nargis
Priya Sivan
Julia Dutta
And anybody else who would like to play the game