The 'Modern' experience

What was meant to be a relaxing second half that I took off to rest my disturbed respitary system thanks to the cold I have, turned out to be quite the opposite. Time off from work activates (at times over-activates) my cookery glands. And therefore, I got this urge to cook something I had at a party last week. But it needed the not usually stocked at home - sun dried tomatoes (which I absolutely love btw). And of course I assumed that weekly offs is something grocery stores (at least the fancy ones, which earn more than the kiraana ones) are doing away with to enhance the level of service and beat the competition. But Hardly. I drove for almost 2 hours before I got to Modern Bazaar in VV. No, its not 2 hours from where I live, but I was looking at closer to home stores, which were complying with their Tuesday weekly offs. Now, I did know that almost all of south Delhi (I think the side falling left of the ring road) is shut on Tuesdays. But the decision to cook had been taken.
And did I make sure that I made the most of my effort? Not only did I pick up 2 cans of what I was looking for, I also bought tons of fancier stuff. And the credit goes completely to the store. I always come out happier (even though with a lighter wallet) of that store. Be it the breads - including bagels and french baguettes btw, the 4-5 brands of olives, jalapenos, sun dried tomatoes, capers, piri piri, hazaar pasta and pizza sauces, all sorts of sauces for mexican cooking, ten varieties of olive oil, ALL types of cheeses and the works that one would get at the nicer grocery stores abroad. The only place where I will get the tetra pack of Splenda instead of sachets and tablets. In fact, we've been looking for some mini table tobasco bottles for a project, and guess where I found it!!! All the perishables brands I got oriented to in the project are also available there (ref : Ocean spray cranberry juice). And guess what - its open seven days a week. I remember being sad when I had heard a couple of years back, that the store got burnt down - Am glad they are back and kicking. And mind you, its not a lavishly spacious place that they operate on - but I have never come out diappointed from there. They even gave me a baguette free for complimenting them on their stock. (I know!!!! Just feeling happy about the smaller pleasures of life :))
On a sidenote, saute some onion in olive oil - add salt, roasemary and basil leaves. To this add sun dried tomatoes and pitted olives (green or black), and boiled potatoes cut in rounds - and you get what I was cooking. And btw, it was worth the effort ;)

Thank You

I am increasingly realising that I don't do justice in expressing my gratitude to the gracious compliments I have been getting on the scribblings here. Over conversations, comments, mails etc. a lot of my friends (as well as people who I could possibly be friends with), have in varied ways appreciated this hello to serendipity. And I think I make a complete mess of acknowledging their appreciation. For the ones who don't see me, am actually blushing at the time, and thats maybe why I mutter irrelevantly. For the ones who do see me, more than a smile is hard for me - but trust me - the Leo in me enjoys every bit of the appreciation (and the attention ;))

So thank you so much, all of you. Your taking the time to read means something to me.

And I miss you

"And I miss you, like the deserts miss the rain..."

But if the rain and desert are not meant to be together, then why does the desert miss the rain? The desert will lose its beautiful self if it were to be with rain.. And rain is not attracted to the desert, thats why is not with it.

More random thoughts..later!!

Memories

Ok, am bored writing this project inception report that I need to mail tonight. I need a break. So am going to pen down (wonder whether that phrase is applicable to Blogs actually!!) something I've been meaning to write for a while.
I often travel with Europeans, and this though has often crossed my mind. What's the big deal if I don't know how to swim, don't go skiing or horse riding, don't enjoy the museums or cathedrals as much, can't play a musical instrument, don't know too many languages. Do these things really impact one's personality. Well, looking at the ones I work with, it does not look like :)
So what could be those little things that really attributed to me. Well, I don't think I remember too much - but have these vivid memories, all of which I felt were special, and more so because I don't see today's kids indulging in similar things. Somewhere, amongst all the other things I am grateful to Momma and Papa for, this list also forms a part:

• Recording my voice as a child, every year from when I was 2 till I was 6. I recall it being one of things that dad and mom used to do on a leisurely sunday - No, I don't remember it but the tape sounds like it. Its one of my favouritest tapes, and will soon get that converted into a CD.
• Setting up libraries with a bunch of friends in the garage. I don't think we did for more than 6 months, but it was a fun experience to go down every evening after school - set the folding bed with Archies comics, Panchtantra, Chacha Chowdhary, Famous Fives, Secret Sevens, Hardy Boys, Malory Towers, Noddy and wonder how many more Enid Blytons!! The concept was to collect all our books, rent them to other kids in the colony for some insane amount 25p or something, make a note in the dairy of the name and flat number - Our first experiences at being entrepreneurial.
• Decorating the garage (yes, that space was put to many uses) on Janamashtami. That used to be another exciting day of the year. Right from the morning, begin with cleaning the garage, mopping the floor to make it sparkle - collect all doll houses to make the jail where Lord Krishan was born - the dolls to represent his parents, the river, the leaves, the swing where he would sit, the prasad to offer to the visitors who came to view the scene in the evening. Am ashamed at not remembering the details. Quite ashamed.
• News reading in the morning assembly at school. This was especially scary for not the natural public speakers like me. But I remember it being fun. A particular day of the week, every house would read out the news of the week. You could be given to play the compere, the world news, Indian news, Delhi news, school news or the riddles!!! Am gld am putting these things down - they are on the verge of fading away :)
• The other thing related to school and memories was singing in the school assembly. Our school did not have any prayers or anything - but just 'assembly songs'. These were hindi songs, which if I now read seem meaningful - but at that time, were not too much more than melody. This and singing in the school choir on the annual day was something I probably started in class 3 or 4 and continued untill class 12. Related to singing also were these annual inter house song competitions - the most awaited event for singers like me. And the year we won it when I was vice captain of my house - oh was it fun??? We actually won singing a Telegu song - I till date remember the opening lines - Ghallu Ghallu Ghalu Ghallu Gajala Singarama Tandanani Tana. Oh, how we heard it in the library with my house teacher and wrote down the lyrics. Actually, we won that competition twice in a row - the previous year was a Rajasthani song - something my mom pushes me to sing to her even to this day. In case, it isn't obvious, the competition was meant to be regional songs. I never took part in western music competitions unlike my friends who i met later in life that regularly featured in singing solos in DPS. No wonder we always had a problem with competitions like Bang Club
• The time I was asked to spell 'Opportunity' in my english period. I thought that was an excellently effective way of correcting spellings. I was in a relatively senior class - 7th or 8th maybe. My english teacher happened to notice in my compositions and essays and tests that I used to spell the word incorrectly. So one day, in the middle of the class, she calls me to the Board and asks me to write the word. I spell it like I usually did - 'Oppurtunity'. And I have not made a mistake after she corrected me that day.
• Tree plantation on independence day. After the song and dance on stage, the flag hoisting and the parade (not necessarily in that order), there used to be a tree plantation ceremony, where I recall taking part atleast for one of the years. It did feel nice, you know.
• Attending Prime Minister's rally on Jan 27 as NCC cadets - going for rehearsals as early as 6 AM at the parade ground. Attending the NCC Camp in school in class 8 (where we slept on the floor of our own class room) and celebrated new years eve
• Painting the canteen bench walls. This is something we did in class 2 - there were these barren spaces below the blue benches outside the school canteen, which we as a class were assigned to paint. Still remember the fighter planes that my childhood crush drew on the wall.

Am sure there are tons of more memories, which I want to capture - if for no one else - myself. I do feel that these smallest of small things are equally important in shaping ones mind and life as are the text books. Have a lot to learn from mom and dad - including how to raise kids.

Higher Ground

Heard this song today at work, while searching for appropriate song for the training video next week, and it just flashed back so many memories of the time MTV came into India, and I used to record English videos on my BPL VCR, and even view them in my free time. Gosh!! But I found the lyrics amazingly refreshing today.

Moon and stars sit way up high, Earth and trees beneath them lie
The wind blows fragrant lullaby to cool the night for you and I
On the wing the birds fly free, Leviathan tames angry sea
The flower waits for honeybee, The sunrise wakes new life in me.
And every hour of every day Im learning more
The more I learn, the less I know about before
The less I know, the more I want to look around
Digging deep for clues on higher ground...
The fishes swim while rivers run through fields to feast my eyes upon
Intoxicated drinking from the loving cup of burning sun
In dreams Ill crave familiar taste of whispered rain on weary face
Of kisses sweet and warm embrace, Another time another place

Friday, the 13th

You know its not all that uncommon - this Friday, the 13th - Remember having passed quite a few of these now. Go on whiz kids, give me logic - my brains too lazy right now to figure out after how many years does it repeat itself.
It may have come after how much ever a while, but I did spend today with things I was surely doing after a while:

1. Sat in an auto rickshaw after maybe 3 years, and the meters still dont work
2. Saw a movie on TV after some time - Had a nice time watching pack less Shahrukh Khan in Kabhi Haan Kabh Naa and trying to match him with the stud in Om shanti Om. Actually the Om Makkhi-Ja in the first half is quite like the Shahrukh in KHKN. But more importantly, it was a simple re-iteration of facts of life.
3. Spent time with a junior training and developing her knowledge base on useful stuff to survive the rat race rather than just giving global managerial bull shit
4. Enjoyed the summer in Delhi
5. Ate Aloo Chaat from the road side - did it remind me of Patel chest ?!?
6. Appreciated a helping hand from the monteraily lesser privelidged guy who takes care of my car in the treacherous parking of CP
7. Shopped during work hours
8. Got up in time for office

Now, would I have reason to believe the bad luck associated with this day and date combination. Maybe I'll confirm it the next time ;)

Carry On Travelling

While the title is inspired by the 'Carry On' series of UK, the post is more about my bucket list of places I want to visit. At the risk of scaring PG, I would want to strike this off by the time I am 40, so am gonna keep it realistic, and in random order.

1. Kashmir
2. Golden temple, Amritsar/ Pakistan
3. Leh
4. Jaisalmer
5. Italy
6. Greece
7. New Zealand
8. California
9. Switzerland
10. Bali/Mauritius
11. North East India
12. Sri Lanka/Andaman & Nicobar Islands

Now twelve places in 12 years should be do-able. Amen!