At this stage, it's the best combination on earth. Other than a bad movie and a good bottle of wine after.
Love Hindustan Times - especially the weekend reads of both HT and HT Cafe. Tuesdays are good too... I've just finished reading Chickwit, Blog Improvement and Expat Opinion. Blog Improvement today gave me mixed messages - she writes about how ensuring a good read (grab attention, know your audience kind of tips) improves or brings about its linkeability (more people visiting your blog and referring your stuff to others) while "doing your own thing" (which is...). It's kind of giving your perspective a professional edge. And a blog, to me, is something a lot more personal. If the writing does not appeal, that's fine too coz you're not really selling anything. For me, it's like making my diary or journal entry user friendly. I don't want to do that because it would cramp my style.
Plus, I feel close to those who visit and leave comments for me. Maria, Leah and Nancy - you guys really make me want to blog more, even if it's just me keeping in touch with you.
Chickwit was a relaxing read although it did look at serious issues - women and their self esteem when it comes to their appearance. Her style of writing is casual but strong - it engages your attention well right until the last full stop (period). She talks about being in your thirties and competing with twenty-somethings. Just to keep up with the times. And twenty-somethings obsessing about their food and looks. My seventeen-year old and twenty-one year old cousins do make me feel older than my twenty-nine years. Of course, I havent really taken care of myself the way I used to when I was twenty-seven. And I've got a whole lifetime ahead of me (unless the world's ending in 2012, which makes me wonder if losing weight and not binging is really worth it).
Expat Opinion is a very interesting column. You get to see your world from a stranger's eyes. A person who's a stranger to your country, not just your city. You get to experience the flaws and virtues of this city through their eyes. Of course, you do understand the reason they're here and you see the spark of it in their words, in their stories. The utter confusion, the lack of proper systems and yet, you find the city functioning the way it is... and a heart-warming moment when your neighbours reach out to you and help you adjust to your surroundings.
I really do not miss the Times of India. They could take a leaf out of HT's book or rather, newspaper.
Monday, November 30, 2009
2012 and a really good wine
Ok. So, 2012 wasnt as scary as I thought it would be. The film was obviously flawed and unreal but it had its impact. The only thing we could think as we sat glued to our seats was yeah, this could happen. Should we plan to go for that Europe tour right now? Should we sell all our possessions and move to Goa and open that restaurant we always dreamed of? Should we leave our jobs and live off the money until we crumble and die in another...2 years?
We needed some wine and lots of it. At least, my husband needed a pick me up and we went to Mocha just for that and a bite to eat.
Sula Dia turned out just right. Hubby thought it was a bit on the sweet side but I felt it had the right tang, sweetness and sparkle. It came in a slim, gold-green bottle. A ladies' wine, I think - dressed like one anyway. Tasting of fruits. I love the experience of trying a new wine and really loving it. It did a great job of comforting us after the movie. Not that my husband slept well after dinner. He dreamt of giving me the sea-spaceship ticket to me and boarding a bus to someplace. He doesnt know if he reached anywhere safe but was glad to wake up and know that he dreamt it all.
I hope the darn thing stays a dream. If 2012 happens like in the movie, we're all sitting ducks.
We needed some wine and lots of it. At least, my husband needed a pick me up and we went to Mocha just for that and a bite to eat.
Sula Dia turned out just right. Hubby thought it was a bit on the sweet side but I felt it had the right tang, sweetness and sparkle. It came in a slim, gold-green bottle. A ladies' wine, I think - dressed like one anyway. Tasting of fruits. I love the experience of trying a new wine and really loving it. It did a great job of comforting us after the movie. Not that my husband slept well after dinner. He dreamt of giving me the sea-spaceship ticket to me and boarding a bus to someplace. He doesnt know if he reached anywhere safe but was glad to wake up and know that he dreamt it all.
I hope the darn thing stays a dream. If 2012 happens like in the movie, we're all sitting ducks.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
So much happening everywhere but here...
I felt like we were living in the wrong city when I heard that Doolally's opened in a Pune. It's a micro-brewery. My husband would love this more than I would because it involves only beer, beer and more beer. My friend's husband raved about the place on his facebook - they even took along their dog and let him sample two beers. This totally brought back to my mind the Scotland Street books with Cyril the dog accompanying his owner, Angus, to the bar where he is allowed a saucer of beer.
Where I live, women drinking in public is not so common so we usually go to a few places around the city or out of it to really kick back a few. So far, we've been going to about three-four places where, thanks to the things we order, we've become quite well known among the staff (God knows what they say behind our backs but who cares as long as no one's spitting in my food). Waiters smile more and bring us our orders quicker and allow us to sit wherever we want.
Now, of course, we eat at home more often and we've stopped ordering food in on Sundays. That coupled with exercise is showing a lot of results and hence, I decided to stop going out for cocktails more than once or twice (in an emergency) a month. Most of my friends dont drink and hence, I only binge on cocktails when I'm with my husband. But I havent completely given it up, only got more selective. And, I need a change of scenery, more challenges than different alcoholic mixes in sweetened juices.
Like, a wine library. That's really rare and limited to most of the seven star hotels around here (because five stars are not enough). The prices are astronomical. HT Cafe (comes with our local newspaper) carries a wine index comparing the prices of wine all around the city. They also give a list of places that come under different price ranges. They're all not really a hop, skip and jump away which is why we stick to our few restaurants for a decent drink. But I love to explore; get bored by having the same things.
Bandra - considered the top-most suburb in Bombay city, on its merit of course - had a wine tasting fair in an open garden recently. Read about it and felt like I lived miles away in a sleepy little village. Not that I'd feel any different among the snootiest lot sniffing and swirling the contents of the wine glass. But it was a decently managed affair and for a price of 500 Rupees you could sample some really fine and diverse wines - both domestic and international. I really missed living just a half-hour away. It would take a 2 hour bus ride and a 1 hour rickshaw ride to get there from here.
Well, there's always next year. And one can't always have adventure in one's own backyard.
Where I live, women drinking in public is not so common so we usually go to a few places around the city or out of it to really kick back a few. So far, we've been going to about three-four places where, thanks to the things we order, we've become quite well known among the staff (God knows what they say behind our backs but who cares as long as no one's spitting in my food). Waiters smile more and bring us our orders quicker and allow us to sit wherever we want.
Now, of course, we eat at home more often and we've stopped ordering food in on Sundays. That coupled with exercise is showing a lot of results and hence, I decided to stop going out for cocktails more than once or twice (in an emergency) a month. Most of my friends dont drink and hence, I only binge on cocktails when I'm with my husband. But I havent completely given it up, only got more selective. And, I need a change of scenery, more challenges than different alcoholic mixes in sweetened juices.
Like, a wine library. That's really rare and limited to most of the seven star hotels around here (because five stars are not enough). The prices are astronomical. HT Cafe (comes with our local newspaper) carries a wine index comparing the prices of wine all around the city. They also give a list of places that come under different price ranges. They're all not really a hop, skip and jump away which is why we stick to our few restaurants for a decent drink. But I love to explore; get bored by having the same things.
Bandra - considered the top-most suburb in Bombay city, on its merit of course - had a wine tasting fair in an open garden recently. Read about it and felt like I lived miles away in a sleepy little village. Not that I'd feel any different among the snootiest lot sniffing and swirling the contents of the wine glass. But it was a decently managed affair and for a price of 500 Rupees you could sample some really fine and diverse wines - both domestic and international. I really missed living just a half-hour away. It would take a 2 hour bus ride and a 1 hour rickshaw ride to get there from here.
Well, there's always next year. And one can't always have adventure in one's own backyard.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Cold Evening, Hot Soup!
It clouded over this morning and there was a constant drizzle. We got the feel of a typical Indian monsoon in November. Everyone was pleasantly surprised and there were messages of relief all over my homepage when I checked into facebook.
I had to switch off the fan overhead: it was so cool. I could have bundled up and napped the gloomy afternoon away but I had work - now that the brief holiday from the world was over (no internet connection). There were leftover spring onions, capsicums (red and yellow), and mushrooms waiting in the fridge. I switched on the computer and thought about making soup.
In the evening, as my husband took a short conference call with his colleagues from around the world, I made my soup. Chopped garlic along with the vegetables. Took out the olive oil and oregano. Tossed the veggies and garlic in olive oil and then added the seasonings. Added a cube of chicken stock powder to water and added the veggies. Added noodles and stirred. The kitchen smelled of soup.
A dot of butter completed the magic and a hint of tomato ketchup provided the bite it needed. Hubby and I slurped it all up, right down to the tiniest bit of oregano. The rain hung around for more.
I had to switch off the fan overhead: it was so cool. I could have bundled up and napped the gloomy afternoon away but I had work - now that the brief holiday from the world was over (no internet connection). There were leftover spring onions, capsicums (red and yellow), and mushrooms waiting in the fridge. I switched on the computer and thought about making soup.
In the evening, as my husband took a short conference call with his colleagues from around the world, I made my soup. Chopped garlic along with the vegetables. Took out the olive oil and oregano. Tossed the veggies and garlic in olive oil and then added the seasonings. Added a cube of chicken stock powder to water and added the veggies. Added noodles and stirred. The kitchen smelled of soup.
A dot of butter completed the magic and a hint of tomato ketchup provided the bite it needed. Hubby and I slurped it all up, right down to the tiniest bit of oregano. The rain hung around for more.
Monday, November 9, 2009
What a relief!
8 days without Internet. Work on hold. Facebook on hold. A large portion of life on hold.
It was insane trying to get back online - a sea of government officials, excuses, frustrations, fights, pleading. Once we got re-connected, it seemed like we'd climbed Mt. Everest and back, such was our relief. And all I could do was email like crazy, check all my online networking games (cooked, baked, tended plants, harvested crops, re-activated properties within a few minutes), and then...put my feet up and read all the blogs I missed during my exile.
I love being back!
I finished reading French Women Don't Get Fat and learned a lot! Promised myself that I would not quit walking, will try the stairs once in a day, will develop my sense of taste and will never let myself go like I did in the past two years. It's a big awakening moment to know all of the things in the book and find it soo hard to follow through.
It was insane trying to get back online - a sea of government officials, excuses, frustrations, fights, pleading. Once we got re-connected, it seemed like we'd climbed Mt. Everest and back, such was our relief. And all I could do was email like crazy, check all my online networking games (cooked, baked, tended plants, harvested crops, re-activated properties within a few minutes), and then...put my feet up and read all the blogs I missed during my exile.
I love being back!
I finished reading French Women Don't Get Fat and learned a lot! Promised myself that I would not quit walking, will try the stairs once in a day, will develop my sense of taste and will never let myself go like I did in the past two years. It's a big awakening moment to know all of the things in the book and find it soo hard to follow through.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
What will you be this Halloween?
I find it exciting that people are planning Halloween parties, here and abroad. I'm not attending parties or doing anything other than looking up costume ideas for my sis - who is going to one - but its quite nice to watch from the sidelines. And it does tempt you to have a Halloween party of your own. It's quite something to watch all your family and friends dressed up as someone or something different. My sister's going to a theme party dressed as a Goddess - which one she hasnt decided yet.
I like goddesses with a little personality and plenty of colour in their lives. The ones who live a little dangerously. I took an online quiz (pretty predictable, most of them) and turned out to be Hecate. Now that's a goddess with possibilities. Three heads, a crone, a beautiful maiden...there was so much information on her. The interesting kind of information. She was a Titan - the only one that Zeus spared because of her unlimited potential. The one he blessed with the power to grant any wish and even take it away. She roamed through all the worlds - even the underworld. She helped children and young women. At the same time, she was more famous for her dark side that even the gods seemed to fear. She was more hated than loved. Avoided rather than popular. She was probably one of those who'd walk into a party and stop all conversation. In short, a very interesting life.
There's Nemesis - divine retribution of the winged variety to those who are too arrogant and wicked (pick your weapon from a choice of flaming torch, sword or hourglass - thy time hath arrived!!)
There's Oeno - turns anything into wine (good excuse for always carrying around a glass of merlot or sparkling wine)
There's Dementia - not much information about her but imagine going around a party wanting to turn people mad...now that's interesting!
Diana the hunter and goddess of the moon - there must be loads of interesting mythology there
There was Spermo - goddess of grain (you wouldnt be able to say your name without a smile or a wink)
Or the Queen Bee Hera who I think was really famous for throwing the most awful (understatement!!) tantrums that shook heaven and earth.
Now, gods and goddesses is a theme done to death, I'm sure. Nothing creative or new here unless you're making modernized versions of these gods or some punchy line to deliver while mingling with guests.
So, what are you going as this Halloween? It could even involve a costume while you're waiting for kids to "Trick or Treat!" at your home...all you need is the Halloween spirit, not just a party invitation although that does get more action than just sporting a pair of devil horns and holding a cigarette.
Do share what you'd love to be this Halloween - even if you're not dressing the part.
I like goddesses with a little personality and plenty of colour in their lives. The ones who live a little dangerously. I took an online quiz (pretty predictable, most of them) and turned out to be Hecate. Now that's a goddess with possibilities. Three heads, a crone, a beautiful maiden...there was so much information on her. The interesting kind of information. She was a Titan - the only one that Zeus spared because of her unlimited potential. The one he blessed with the power to grant any wish and even take it away. She roamed through all the worlds - even the underworld. She helped children and young women. At the same time, she was more famous for her dark side that even the gods seemed to fear. She was more hated than loved. Avoided rather than popular. She was probably one of those who'd walk into a party and stop all conversation. In short, a very interesting life.
There's Nemesis - divine retribution of the winged variety to those who are too arrogant and wicked (pick your weapon from a choice of flaming torch, sword or hourglass - thy time hath arrived!!)
There's Oeno - turns anything into wine (good excuse for always carrying around a glass of merlot or sparkling wine)
There's Dementia - not much information about her but imagine going around a party wanting to turn people mad...now that's interesting!
Diana the hunter and goddess of the moon - there must be loads of interesting mythology there
There was Spermo - goddess of grain (you wouldnt be able to say your name without a smile or a wink)
Or the Queen Bee Hera who I think was really famous for throwing the most awful (understatement!!) tantrums that shook heaven and earth.
Now, gods and goddesses is a theme done to death, I'm sure. Nothing creative or new here unless you're making modernized versions of these gods or some punchy line to deliver while mingling with guests.
So, what are you going as this Halloween? It could even involve a costume while you're waiting for kids to "Trick or Treat!" at your home...all you need is the Halloween spirit, not just a party invitation although that does get more action than just sporting a pair of devil horns and holding a cigarette.
Do share what you'd love to be this Halloween - even if you're not dressing the part.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
This time of the year...
...is celebrated as the festival of lights. Diwali started off with a bang (literally) in the wee hours of Saturday (probably 4 am) and is still going on. We got out at 7 am and had a bath, applying liberal amounts of fragrant coconut oil and sandalwood paste to our bodies and rubbing them in to maximise their effect. With glowing, sweet-smelling skins, we donned new clothes, jewellery and sat patiently as my mother-in-law explained and performed the necessary rituals and then brought out the sweets and snacks that Diwali is best remembered for.
Evenings are spent out of doors with some bursting crackers, others hanging out lanterns and creating rangoli designs outside their homes. We took my little neice and her mother out to a mall that they'd never seen before. It glowed like a white elephant with pristine floors and walls all light up with tiny yellow Christmas lights suspended from light-as-air net curtains. We did some quick shopping, took her for some games and fun and concluded our evening with a sumptuous feast.
The three days of Diwali were spent meeting relatives, going to my parents' house, having them come over. Lots of fish, chicken biryani, chocolate cakes (my birthday) and sweets! I'm slowly getting sick of stuffing myself with the calorific sweetness... yet, they're irresistible. As is a sparkler or two and the brilliant lanterns hung outside every home.
It's always sad to bid this festival goodbye and come to grips with reality...aka work!!!
Evenings are spent out of doors with some bursting crackers, others hanging out lanterns and creating rangoli designs outside their homes. We took my little neice and her mother out to a mall that they'd never seen before. It glowed like a white elephant with pristine floors and walls all light up with tiny yellow Christmas lights suspended from light-as-air net curtains. We did some quick shopping, took her for some games and fun and concluded our evening with a sumptuous feast.
The three days of Diwali were spent meeting relatives, going to my parents' house, having them come over. Lots of fish, chicken biryani, chocolate cakes (my birthday) and sweets! I'm slowly getting sick of stuffing myself with the calorific sweetness... yet, they're irresistible. As is a sparkler or two and the brilliant lanterns hung outside every home.
It's always sad to bid this festival goodbye and come to grips with reality...aka work!!!
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