Thekaddy

We were sad. Almost. To be leaving the serenity of the backwaters of Kerala. But, there was more waiting for us. And calibration was the word of the day !
As we drove towards our next destination - Thekaddy; we were amidst complete greenery ! Paddy fields and tea plantations. Pine cone types and coconut trees as well.
The uphill journey got some of us a little MS-fied. But it was a beautiful drive nonetheless.
His dudeness aptly put the experience as "it's difficult to capture some fun and crazy moments with a camera!" True that.

After an ice cream break and being all touristy at a pwetty waterfall, we reached Thekaddy and decided to fill ourselves with the amazing Beef Fry and Beer combo before going for an animal sighting boat trip.
Keralites are known for making the best and most exquisite Beef Fry. It has to have the right combination of coconut, curry leaves and their "secret masala". While our Mallus graciously decided to do our bookings - we gorged on plates of Pork chilly, Seer Fish fry and Beef Fry. The heaven - ness, again is difficult to put into words.

His dudeness had an amazing plan in mind for the Thekaddy leg of our Kerala holiday. It began with Us, in fatty orange lifejackets in a boat on the Periyar lake managing to see the sambar deers, kingfisher birdies, bisons, wild dogs, foxes and the beautiful sunset ! It will be rather difficult to erase the trauma MSKG went through shooing away a monkey who wanted a taste of our home - made chocolates. But we hope he'll survive !

We got to our "hotel" which was basically a large open field with many many "cute" bamboo cottages. Each cottage had a name and 2 single beds, attached bathrooms and no fan ! The weather again didn't play spoil sport to the plan, so far. A beautiful and almost "compact" tree house was located near our cottages. We were warned that unfortunately it wasn't big enough to accommodate all of us. We didn't even try !
We then took off for a 3 hour "night nature trail." I was sooper scared ! Darkness freaks me out. K promised to be my best friend for that duration of time and had my back. We were given leech socks, a raincoat and a torch.
It began.
The chills I got ! But it was one of the most thrilling experiences of my life. The leech that managed to get to me will probably be burning in hell now. As creepy as it was then, in retrospect they actually aren't such horrible creatures. Almost harmless because apparently they suck out the bad blood and just die eventually. Anyhow, we managed to see a herd of deer crossing a small water body, the footprints of a bear and elephant and many many big big trees ! And we walked and walked and trekked and trekked. Except for a light drizzle - thankfully the rain God "blessed" us with no heavy downpour.
Getting the leeches off from your body, socks and shoes is a long drawn process; but it is necessary and the forest officers are there to help.
We got back to a very yummy and hot meal of - sambar, garlic rasam, rice, papad, beef fry, fish curry, chicken curry and thoran.

Following this - it was time we sat on our Flinstones seating arrangement and do the puttings. While I tried to give some gyaan on the types of schizophrenia, Sleepy not only got lazy to pee but also learned the Malayalam version of "That's right !" After that - there was no stopping him.
MSKG decided to retire early to bed while His Dudeness wished he had a recorder to record a few funny lines by me ! After a very very short walk, a few gangsta poses, promises of getting up early enough and watching music videos - Day Two ended as the sun was about to rise. The usual anyway !

to be continued...

The Backwaters

While sitting in Delhi, a few of us decided that we must try and organize a trip to one of the southern tips of India - Kerala. Seemed like an obvious choice since a few of us are sort of settled there itself. So having decided that, we took off on deciding how and when to get there as well as what is it that we would like to do and see.

Prior to that, I gave K a shot of a typical out of townie Bengaluru experience. From happy hours to dosas to a hazey purple evening - We did it all with my ponjees who were thrilled to finally meet him.

The train journey couldn't have been more "exciting" ! Considering how I look and the fact that I was a lady - it wasn't surprising that the "tribal Gults" kept staring at me as though I was an exotic creature. As K put it - "now we're in an exhibition." Also, please note K wondered why was it that they weren't wearing animal skins and carrying their spears ! How I figured they were Gults is without any help from K who thought that by entending a finger they would grab his hands. Freaked me out till we finally reached our destination Ernakulum.

As we stepped out of the station - the air felt different and the weather - well ! It was beautiful. After a quick Mallu dosa and vada experience, we were received by Sleepy with his new white BB, His dudeness very excited to be our guide and NRI(i) whom K and I were meeting for the first time.
On our way to the airport to pick up the MSKG (who was going through a clothes crisis with them being stolen by the dhobi in the tamland ! Pah ! ) we showed K the variety of colourful houses and many many jewellery showrooms in and around Kochi city. Once we all crammed ourselves into the big Innova we were off to Kumarakom where our houseboat for the day awaited us !

Once we reached the houseboat and got ourselves settled we just sat, almost speechless. It was beautiful and breathtaking. It was pretty and amazing. The calmness of the water with the lush greenery just got us all to Sigh. A lot and pretty often.

I am unable to describe what it looked like and how it actually felt. Really ! So this entry might not seem the right way to understand what the real Kerala experience might seem like !

Lunch was a typical Kerala affair with the rice, sambar, thoran, papad and of course The Karimeen (fried fish) that we devoured not only because of the sooper hunger pangs but also because it was awesomely yummy.
It rained "partially" and it was pretty (again). Thankfully these rains didn't play spoilsport and let us just be. Over coffee, r&c, fried banana we talked about shakiras, schools, work, music, Kerala among many other things ! NRI(i) couldn't believe how cheap in terms of dollars the houseboat expenses came up to !

After a delicious dinner of rice, chemeen curry (prawns), chicken curry and dal; while His dudeness did a handwriting analysis of what NRI(i) and K had written; I was doing my psychoanalysis bit as well. Sleepy very creatively decided to name it "psychography"
As MSKG kept bringing up toilet humor at very point in almost every conversation, Sleepy was enjoying himself using the DSLR. Because K was sooper thrilled and extremely relaxed, I was glad and well I heart Kerala and all that it has to offer.

Finally we all retired to our bedrooms and slept peacefully hoping to wake up early enough to see the sunrise. Well, we knew that wouldn't be possible ! But yes the following morning the backwaters seemed even more beautiful and calm and the hot kappi and idlis awaits us.

to be continued...

I Heart Bangalore

Home is ?
I have a friend who told me sometime back that he does not have a place to call Home. I figured that is natural for so many of us who have lived in different countries, cities or towns over the years. I have moved too. Stayed away from India for a long period of time. But summer vacations always included one month in Delhi and the other in Bangalore.
The latter being my obvious choice of place of residence while I studied to get a degree.

I Heart Bangalore.

I have always felt welcome and never an outsider. I know the roads well enough to not get lost. I take pride in letting everyone know that it is a wonderful city to visit and settle down in - but if you're going to crib about the autowallas and food then please stay away. I may not know Kannada but I'm still accepted and get my way with Hindi.
Bangalore to me is where I actually grew up. Learnt life's lessons and developed a street smart sense of survival. Whether it was staying away from parents on Byrasandra Road with the girls, or travelling within the city to satisfy one's craving of food - I've enjoyed it all.
When it rains, the smell of the earth makes me smile non stop. The weather in Bangalore gives my heart wings and it feels wonderful. Sigh - ness !
Whether it's rock pubs, happy hours, free entry for ladies, bollywood nights, ladies nights - Bangalore is heaven for the out of townies who would like to just get high. You can enter anywhere with slippers as well ! I can wear my rocksters or oshos and enter The Beach without feeling underdressed.
I can walk on Church Street with the girls at 9:00 pm singing songs. The autos - green & yellow or the black & yellow do not take you for a ride unless you act stupid. Yes the charge is higher after 10:00 pm. But it is these very same autos that have taken 6 girls together from Indranagar to Jayanagar and not charged extra !

Bangalore is about the benne masala dosa at CTR, MTR, Vidyarthi Bhavan, Adiga's and Maiyas. It is about the mad weekend rush to have an Andhra Meal at Nandhini, Godavari, Nagarjuna, Bheema's or RR. It is about catering to the Chinese craving young crowd at Popsies, Chung Wah.

Bangalore is about not losing one's identity through the rapid and sudden development by retaining and maintaining what it has always stood for - Peace, Love, Unity and Joy !
The India Coffee House, Corner House, Airlines Restaurant, Koshy's, Fanoos, The Only Place, Purple Haze, K.C Das have been examples of this.
In this city, noone is in a big hurry and everyone takes their own sweet time to do what they please. We are not constantly on our toes. We are laidback. Not lazy. Maybe a little slow to have understood the need of better public transportation but not lazy !

Jayanagar is one of the most well planned localities in Asia while Indranagar is one of the most posh. Where Whitefield is slowly becoming the next hub, Koramangla rose from the dust to become the most sought after area to reside in. No matter where you stay, you will never find yourself lonely. It's against the city's culture.

You can choose to study at Mount Carmel College with only girls, St. Josephs that lies at the heart of the city, Christ University that has one of the biggest campuses or R.V Engineering, National College, Jyoti Nivas, etc. The list is endless.
You may visit Mysore, Hampi, Mangalore, Kerala, Chennai by road from the city and enjoy yourselves.

A Punjabi can say "what da ?" and fit in immediately. People are referred to as Macha and every word ends with the "oo"sound. You can speak like Yoda and nobody will laugh at you. You don't have to walk around in designer shoes carrying designer bags because we all love the street shopping at Commercial street and Brigade Road.

No matter how much I say I would like to run away, I know that deep down I always want to back. This is where - my parents got married, my grandparents retired, my family lives, I graduated (twice), my daddy was creamted. This is where I hope my friends and I will get married (if ever). This is where I want to be.

Bangalore makes me a happy child. For me this a city of joy, tears, heartbreaks, mendings, life, love, family, familiarity, identity, traditions and culture.

Home is Bangalore !

Two and a Half Months of...

I thought to myself - why not go away. Like literally just go ! It's possible, it happens all the time. Why ? Because I wanted to be. Really be.

Asked many people to help. They wondered. I had my reasons. Finally I'm told that it's Gurgaon. I'm elated - Family and Friend(s). Also, new city, new town, different culture, lot's to learn and finally going to be a part of the crazy work world.

Went. Felt good. Felt different.

B and I have grown up together. We have been friends from the time we learnt Arabic to swimming to going out alone without an adult to talking to boys ! We hadn't seen each other in 9 years until October 2009. I'm glad I made that trip. It showed and proved that distance makes the heart grow fonder ;-) and that some things never change. We hadn't changed. We probably are wiser but really not grown up ! We giggled and laughed. We caught up on all that we had missed. Hence, my obvious choice for a home would have been with her and her wonderful family. The bangu is crazy but sooper adorable. The lil sister worries me because she has grown up and is getting all responsible. The mother; well is like any other mother - loving, caring and a great cook. The papa is uber cool and sooper funny plus we had our IPL moments.

Would go to work in a cycle rickshaw through the dusty and not so nice roads with the mean honkers carrying dabba of lunch. Wondered what would it be like to be "corporatized". Sitting at a desk and having one's own computer. Office gossip. Tea and lunch breaks. Long meetings. Conference calls. Projects and deadlines. Bosses - ugh ! Well, it was a wonderful experience. Made some amazing friends. Learnt a lot. Not everything in this world is fair. Had to face the wrath of a very moody and conceited lady heading the team. Food sharing sessions I will miss. Wearing smart formal attire and having one's own landline with my name blinking on the screen - I will miss.

It was supposed to be the "being" time as I said earlier. But as luck may have it - B school friends dropped by; not just for a holiday but to work as well. This meant trips to the city. To drink and make merry. To dhabas and drives. House parties had awesome food, great rounds and our fav youtube videos. Never slept until next day morning but not before a thela gaadi chai outing.

We took gastronomical journeys mostly at Khan Market - the shawarmas, Mississippi mud pie, kakori kebabs and De Paul's. Nizam's at CP and for the benefit of a nice tall Punjabi even Saravana Bhawan. The Andhra Bhawan meal made me feel at home - being surrounded by many fellow South Indians and eating with hands :)

Made new friends and strengthened some old relationships. Befriended a half n half South Indian, fellow Konkani Brahmin, a pretty smart Kashmiri environmentalist and a very responsible Bengali (who complained about us spoiling him).

Shopped at Janpath and Dilli haat - slippers and bangles. New wallet too. Galleria visits - hazelnut chocolate shakes and Momos; Sakley's and Crazy Noodle house. TGIF and of course Rockman's. The MDI succulent chicken rolls - cravings will happen soon !

We always managed to end up at places where the service charges were so high, but we were too gone to realize then and felt the pinch only the next morning - took bills and made accounts. Watched the finals and discovered a very potent drink. Traveled in a car with leather seats and it roared, in a car with no headlights but cracks on the windshield, in the ever awesome Santro.

A car broke down mid way but yet we managed to have fun with Mc Donald's picnic and Cleo. There was an argument but all was forgotten as Gandalf refused to notice the seriousness of the situation. There was finally a trip to the Qutub Minar and movies - Alice in Wonderland and Shrek III.

There were conversations, discussions, laughter, bitchy sessions, flowers, heart melting happiness, music and sigh - ness. Always.

Stayed with family. Never imagined I would have so much fun with Ying and Yang. Loved the room and the big big bed with many pillows. Loved the pampering of SK. Loved the cooking sessions and the amazing evenings at the Balcony. Made so much fun of people we knew and didn't know. Discovered that I make awesome LIITs and good Kamakazee shots. Got introduced to a different music culture and understood to a very large extent what LIFE is all about. Took a trip to the hills and wished I never had to return.

This was supposed to be an uneventful time away from home. But so much happened and will continue to happen that it's hard to imagine what I could have wanted otherwise.

More memories will be made to keep us warm. More trips will be made to make new friends and strengthen old ties. Happy hours will continue to happen.

For as long as we live - fun shall never end.

I'm glad to be home. To be in my comfort zone. I now say that - You will be missed. Terribly. Thank you Delhi and Gurgaon. I will be back !