Have been outside this country just once....May 1999 to Singapore, with family, on a holiday!....
As much as i loved looking around that beautiful country, Jurong bird park and Sentosa Island, i did feel like a foreigner there!...
Of course has to do with the fact that it was my first ever visit outside India, the new people and place, i was quite young and my personality too ( Am most comfortable in familiar places with familiar people).
Even in a country like Singapore, where there are so many Indians and people from all parts, i felt quite lost and like someone who just didnt belong there. Completely cold, dont-care vibes from the people around. Plus the stench from the food courts! :(....
I like orderliness, and actually loved the way the traffic moved there in order and the way the trains functioned and all that.... but cannot tell you how much happy i was when we were landing in Chennai !! i beamed and was most excited when i saw the not-so-orderly traffic and heard Hindi and Tamil again! :)...
My brother didnt feel that way though, he wanted to stay back there !
Why am i talking about this after 8 years?
Going abroad has never fascinated me, what i mean by that is - a life in some other country. I have and still dream of / intend to travelling around the world to see history and just see what else is around. But settling anywhere else - not so sure of.
Just these movies on our people in the US, the Babel - that i saw recently , and books -Kiran Desai''s - Inheritance of Loss, Jhumpa Lahiri's - Namesake, all making me think quite sadly of leaving here and going elsewhere.
Elsewhere to where you do not belong, you are looked upon as from outside!
I may have to travel abroad as part fo my job, i look forward to working there with good people and all that. But settling down there? My life, my friends are here, leaving everything behind... gosh scares me! My children opening eyes in a foreign country is not something i want.
Maybe if i'd travelled when younger, when my mind was more open and i was still not too sure of how, what, when i 'd have taken to this more easily.
I dont know what will happen in months/ years to come... if i do go, i will come back and live my later years here for sure!
Birthday on Valentines!
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Truly....i dont know whether its cool or not! But yes, much by coincidence i have my birthday on Valentines! My parents didnt even realize that it was Valentines till a few years back! :))
I dont know about the mush or the couple thingy part of it too much, but my friends made me feel truly special and wonderful this birthday! It really felt like getting a double dose of attention and love!...
Cut 4 cakes, got wishes from just everyone!...and spent my day smiling and happy.
Birthdays can be a little gloomy sometimes, "oh its come, whats the big deal, me just all the more older now"... and all that!...but this was great, i was just so happy!
Much thanks to - all my friends, old and new :) and
Aditi Mami ( my favourite and bestest person in the world )!...
SM...for giving me all the love inspite of everything...
Beanie!... for being such a good friend...
RaGul... for the buddy he is...
Sivaram.. who wishes me every year, when i never wish him on his :(..
Vids .... for the darling she is! :)
I really couldnt ask for more! ... mmmmuuaaah!
I dont know about the mush or the couple thingy part of it too much, but my friends made me feel truly special and wonderful this birthday! It really felt like getting a double dose of attention and love!...
Cut 4 cakes, got wishes from just everyone!...and spent my day smiling and happy.
Birthdays can be a little gloomy sometimes, "oh its come, whats the big deal, me just all the more older now"... and all that!...but this was great, i was just so happy!
Much thanks to - all my friends, old and new :) and
Aditi Mami ( my favourite and bestest person in the world )!...
SM...for giving me all the love inspite of everything...
Beanie!... for being such a good friend...
RaGul... for the buddy he is...
Sivaram.. who wishes me every year, when i never wish him on his :(..
Vids .... for the darling she is! :)
I really couldnt ask for more! ... mmmmuuaaah!
Next should be your Kalyanam Chapaadu (Wedding feast)....
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Heard this line after every meal of my cousin's 3 day wedding ceremony, and from whom....from old Mamis and Patis...whom i have actually halt and think for two minutes as to how i am even related to them....and from whom we hear from only on such weddings or family occassions ......
Who are these ppl and what the hell else will my wedding be to them, but just another function to wear pattu podavai and come and eat and go,....and of course get an update on who got married who hasnt ...who's Mother-in-law illtreats, and whose daughter-in-law gives it back....who's promoted and who's lost his job....who is having an affair who isnt, who has had children who hasnt.....
and my poor mother's worried expression after every such comment...
as much as family functions are a delight, with cousins catching up and having truckloads of fun, the dressing up, the singing away, the food, the peoplewatching...seeing your fun cousin have fun a his own wedding ...:)....i guess when it comes to you being a topic of discussion it can get a little irritating....
Our's is a Palakkad iyer - Tam Brahm family will ppl living all over......lots of settlement in the west - Mumbai/Pune and East- Jamshedpur. So Mumbaiya Hindi and Bihari Hindi ..is almost like the second Mother tongue...was fun listening to the mixed up language from everyone :)
Thankfully...with also having lived all over....my cousins werent irritating like the un-known Mamis and Patis were...unlike even some so called friends that i have...who ask.....
Ärre kya hua?...when are you getting married?....so how old will you be next feb?....
Shaadi karo jaldi...!.....arent your parents looking?...hey...settle down now!...
Kya bolen inko.....?...
i am not dying of some dreaded disease..so please dont look so worried for me....!
i am having a lot of fun... unlike you who is already regretting having got hitched...
i have a great job and earn a good deal to take care of myself... what are you worried abt..? i cant seem to understand....
Mujhe jaldi nahi hai...to tumhe kis baat ki hai?
Never thought i'll be writing one of these...read them in magazines, books and other blogs....but really ppl there are old Mamis, thathas and patis for all the questioning.....
Who are these ppl and what the hell else will my wedding be to them, but just another function to wear pattu podavai and come and eat and go,....and of course get an update on who got married who hasnt ...who's Mother-in-law illtreats, and whose daughter-in-law gives it back....who's promoted and who's lost his job....who is having an affair who isnt, who has had children who hasnt.....
and my poor mother's worried expression after every such comment...
as much as family functions are a delight, with cousins catching up and having truckloads of fun, the dressing up, the singing away, the food, the peoplewatching...seeing your fun cousin have fun a his own wedding ...:)....i guess when it comes to you being a topic of discussion it can get a little irritating....
Our's is a Palakkad iyer - Tam Brahm family will ppl living all over......lots of settlement in the west - Mumbai/Pune and East- Jamshedpur. So Mumbaiya Hindi and Bihari Hindi ..is almost like the second Mother tongue...was fun listening to the mixed up language from everyone :)
Thankfully...with also having lived all over....my cousins werent irritating like the un-known Mamis and Patis were...unlike even some so called friends that i have...who ask.....
Ärre kya hua?...when are you getting married?....so how old will you be next feb?....
Shaadi karo jaldi...!.....arent your parents looking?...hey...settle down now!...
Kya bolen inko.....?...
i am not dying of some dreaded disease..so please dont look so worried for me....!
i am having a lot of fun... unlike you who is already regretting having got hitched...
i have a great job and earn a good deal to take care of myself... what are you worried abt..? i cant seem to understand....
Mujhe jaldi nahi hai...to tumhe kis baat ki hai?
Never thought i'll be writing one of these...read them in magazines, books and other blogs....but really ppl there are old Mamis, thathas and patis for all the questioning.....
Bherry bherry Strawberry.....
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Much to the liking of my ever so increasing interest in good food this holiday was a blessing. :)
First shaadi ka khaana at Mumbai, ek meal khatam to snacks...snacks khatam to another yummy meal. Plus we were the ladke waalas, so were kept very very happy.
My readers already know of me being a fan of Mumbai and everything related to it :)...it only gets stronger with my every visit.
Maharashtran food specials took my dil away this time.
Vada Pav - from the road side (that Suresh Mama sneaked in for us while the kalyanam sapadu was going on..)
and the Misal Pav, Kachchi dabeli, Sabudana vada and Pav bhaji that we had on our way from Mumbai to Pune was like indescribably yummy! :D
Then the Mahabaleshwar trip that the 4 of us took, was like icing on the cake. Dad and Mum also let go...:)
Our resort had fabulous Gujarati khaana for lunch both days and great dinners too...
but the best that i will remember was the strawberries with cream (sinful sinful) and the makkai pattice that we had in that chilly Mahabaleshwar evening, by the strawberry farm, giggling away.
First shaadi ka khaana at Mumbai, ek meal khatam to snacks...snacks khatam to another yummy meal. Plus we were the ladke waalas, so were kept very very happy.
My readers already know of me being a fan of Mumbai and everything related to it :)...it only gets stronger with my every visit.
Maharashtran food specials took my dil away this time.
Vada Pav - from the road side (that Suresh Mama sneaked in for us while the kalyanam sapadu was going on..)
and the Misal Pav, Kachchi dabeli, Sabudana vada and Pav bhaji that we had on our way from Mumbai to Pune was like indescribably yummy! :D
Then the Mahabaleshwar trip that the 4 of us took, was like icing on the cake. Dad and Mum also let go...:)Our resort had fabulous Gujarati khaana for lunch both days and great dinners too...
but the best that i will remember was the strawberries with cream (sinful sinful) and the makkai pattice that we had in that chilly Mahabaleshwar evening, by the strawberry farm, giggling away.
Northie Vs. Southie or should i say Delhi vs Chennai....?
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There is some theory i heard from somewhere as to why the North Indians are so, and why the South Indians are how they are....( By the way, this is not a judgemental blog...not meaning to hurt anyone in any way)
Delhi maane - brash, rude, posh respecting, shoo-shaa, extra brand conscious, aggressive, fair and chikna, chicken paadoing...
Also meaning - hearty laughs, fun parties, fun shaadis, zest for life, lots of chit chatting, sooper shopping, paranthe, makhan, great salesmen ...
Chennai maane - 'Tambi log', misers :), gobi eating, shy, quiet, sneaky, Salwar Kurtas with pinned up dupattas, geeky, spectacled, dark skinned
Also meaning - Idli Sambhar vada, religious, simple, intellectual (ahem), well read, knowledgable
Its a Delhi waala who told me..(dont remember) we are like this, because most of the crowd has ancestors who were pushed away from their own land, and took shelter in Delhi and nearby places. We have to fight for what is ours (also, what is not ours)...hence the brashness, rudeness!
Got what we got only when we fought for it, and made our own space...hence the putting down others, mazak udaana blah blah...
Whereas with the South, the Dravidian ancestors, clearly werent as aggressive ....got driven down south! :)). Focussed therefore on art , music and Mathematics. The more dedicated, the more adept and learned. Hence the book-keepers, the spectacles, the shyness...
Blame it on the ancestors !:)
(With due to respect to all my north indian friends, me is a 'Tambi' who's lived up North most of my life)
Delhi maane - brash, rude, posh respecting, shoo-shaa, extra brand conscious, aggressive, fair and chikna, chicken paadoing...
Also meaning - hearty laughs, fun parties, fun shaadis, zest for life, lots of chit chatting, sooper shopping, paranthe, makhan, great salesmen ...
Chennai maane - 'Tambi log', misers :), gobi eating, shy, quiet, sneaky, Salwar Kurtas with pinned up dupattas, geeky, spectacled, dark skinned
Also meaning - Idli Sambhar vada, religious, simple, intellectual (ahem), well read, knowledgable
Its a Delhi waala who told me..(dont remember) we are like this, because most of the crowd has ancestors who were pushed away from their own land, and took shelter in Delhi and nearby places. We have to fight for what is ours (also, what is not ours)...hence the brashness, rudeness!
Got what we got only when we fought for it, and made our own space...hence the putting down others, mazak udaana blah blah...
Whereas with the South, the Dravidian ancestors, clearly werent as aggressive ....got driven down south! :)). Focussed therefore on art , music and Mathematics. The more dedicated, the more adept and learned. Hence the book-keepers, the spectacles, the shyness...
Blame it on the ancestors !:)
(With due to respect to all my north indian friends, me is a 'Tambi' who's lived up North most of my life)
Kolkata Bhalo Bashi....
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Finally getting to write on the trip that i finally made to Kolkata...:)
Was the weekend we went for Minku and Vish's wedding, it was just super!....
Was great to catch up with everyone and to get to see the old city.
From the Howrah Bridge, to Victoria Memorial...from puchkas on the street to dessert at Flurys.
Some parts of the city are really really old, buildings felt like they would crumble down now, reminded me a lot of the old Delhi...
Yellow taxi cabs, Babu moshais, the trams (though now, vehicles happily go over the tram tracks..not bothering), the human rickshaws and yeah the yummy rosogullas!
The Bengali script is beautiful...doesnt look like the jalebis of Tamil or Kannada :) (not derogatory)..has nice twists and curves, like fern leaves i thought !...
and the sing song way of talking, "Kemon acche, ami jaachi!, machi khaabe, ....."
Also had fun we had dancing till late into the night, saw the Bengali ladies all bindaaz and free-spirited dancing away too...
Not to miss how great it was to see Minx and Vish all married and happy!..:)
Mumbai again!
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Took a trip to Mumbai again this weekend...
Could've been disasterous ...with having to work all of Saturday ....Sunday compensated every bit of it!!
Didnt feel like Mumbai so much this time, as was under the protective arm of Mami's parents. Driven by car to every place and back. Just like my parents....absolute sweethearts i must say!
Par Local train main dhakka nahi khaya...taxi/Auto waale ke saath Mumbaiya mein baat nahi kiya... to Mumbai mein kya kiya..? :)
This time Mumbai for me was Shopping galore!!! Shopping in Mumbai has always been fun...
par is baar...i was delighted and blew up quite a bit of money....Jewellery, clothes, footwear and everything!!....it was so liberating and so much fun!!
Mumbai mast in every way!
Could've been disasterous ...with having to work all of Saturday ....Sunday compensated every bit of it!!
Didnt feel like Mumbai so much this time, as was under the protective arm of Mami's parents. Driven by car to every place and back. Just like my parents....absolute sweethearts i must say!
Par Local train main dhakka nahi khaya...taxi/Auto waale ke saath Mumbaiya mein baat nahi kiya... to Mumbai mein kya kiya..? :)
This time Mumbai for me was Shopping galore!!! Shopping in Mumbai has always been fun...
par is baar...i was delighted and blew up quite a bit of money....Jewellery, clothes, footwear and everything!!....it was so liberating and so much fun!!
Mumbai mast in every way!
Shahrukh Rocks Don!
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This may not be the best of his movies....and he's certainly not better than Big B....But Shahrukh does rock, the new Khaike paan banaras waala and looks yummily gorgeous in DON...
At the risk of sounding like a crazy little 16 year old, movie buff who fantasises movie stars...:)...he does look great, great shirts, great smile, great Adam's aple...yummy yummy!
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