Being 26 amongst other things

It's 4:00am on a Sunday morning as I scribble this post on the last page of my cookbook. Yes, for the unaware I do maintain a cookbook with some of the recipes I have tried and tested in the past for almost 5 odd years now. My Saturday was chaotic. Work until 2, home, evening walk followed by a very very long nap which got me really late for dinner with friends. While I panted through the pressure to make it in time my dear Bombcity's traffic God's took over and I have had to return to an empty home with a hungry stomach.
In other news, I turned 26 last month. Yep 2 6! Slowly but surely inching towards the big 3 0! Although she didn't show it I'm pretty sure my grandmum suffered a mini cardiac arrest on the day. She was a mother at 26! My day was very special and few people made sure I felt every bit younger and ensured that my day was super fun. If you ask me, personally I have changed a lot over the last year. More thankful, less selfish, more understanding but still judgmental :) (working on it). The plan through this year will be to emote. Let the other know how I feel. No locking emotions into tiny boxes with the tightest locks and throwing them into the deep blue ocean.  So yeah, since change is the only constant in life, I welcome the 27th year of my existence in this topsy turvy world wholeheartedly! Bring it on!
Just to rewind a little bit, life took me Toronto again in 2 months.Only this time it was work. I attended the Toronto Film Festival and got an oppurtunity to see some fanatastic movies including Kiran Rao's Dhobhi Ghat and also attend an Q & A with Aamir and the team. Although it had been only 2months. I saw a whole new Toronto from the last time. I rode a segway for the first time, a chance you should never miss, learnt about Canadian Ice Wines and also visited the Niagara Falls amidst all the hard work I did whilst there.






Once I got back, work took me to Pune to celebrate expat week at the Maratha Chamber of Commerce to give a presentation in front of 200 people (my largest audience so far). I chose to take the train to Pune as I had not traveled in one since 1998 and it was fantastic. So quick,comfortable and a great journey both ways. Must do it again really soon. Presentation went off really well, or so I would like to believe. I am generally never afraid of presentations as I am almost sure in most cases that I know my subject better than my audience. However, in this crowd of 200, I was almost sure that 199 people knew my subject more than me. Luckily nobody asked me stuff I didn't know. Although I lost out on meeting a lot of potential hotties around as the stupid emcee called me "Mrs" while annoucing my name to come up and speak.
I have to end this post before it gets anymore boring, I leave you like every year with pictures of my cakes from this year.
Thank you all for your wishes and for reading my crap for so many years!

Omg before I forget on my birthday the little children who live in my building (aged 2-5 years) who I adore and hang out with regularly arranged a surprise for me at home and made me feel every bit younger! They can't read yet but if they could, I can't even begin to describe how special it made me feel. I was sobbing so much, they kinda got worried not realizing that those were happy tears :) (Emotional fool I know!).

Some pictures from various birthday celebrations! 

I will survive

Life's been tough post vacation. God has his way of balancing it out for you I suppose. So exactly one year after my ICU saga I fall sick again..and the timing couldn't have been better. Just the time I was submerged in work.
Things are better now, health wise but work pressure is building up. Stress, deadlines and goals to achieve in limited time.
This is the major problem I face. If a herculean responsibility is entrusted upon me, I am sure I can deliver even if it means working 24 hours in the day. The issue arises when your subordinates, colleagues or seniors will not or do not deliver with the same speed and efficiency which eventually will effect your own performance and that's something I cannot bear.
The competitive, winning streak in me which I had tried to suppress for a while now is back and with a vengeance. I am trying to achieve the impossible, venture into a zone I have stayed away from before. Well  if this doesn't work out the way it should, which in most likelihood it won't, I'm not sure how I will be able to deal with this failure. I've put in too much into this project, every braincell I possibly have has been utilized, every part of my social life sacrificed and its something I've constantly been thinking about..even while sleeping (probably why I haven't been sleeping too much of late). I am completely obsessed and I hate it.
This week will unfold all that I have put in, all my hard work, dedication and I really really hope the result comes through.
I strongly believe in the power of prayer. I don't know who, but someone out there is looking out for us constantly. Pray from me, will you?

Oh Canada!

There comes a point in your life when you just want to leave everything around you, the people, the place, your surroundings and just run away. Even if it means for a little bit. I was suffering from this run away syndrome. Not that anything was wrong with my life or the people in it but that happens to me once in a while. I just want to get away and for the first time in my life, I actually did. I can proudly say that it was one of the best decisions I've ever managed to take.
I always wanted to visit Canada sometime in my life for various reasons a)I had never seen that part of the world before b) One of my closest friend lives there c) I've always wanted to ride the "Maid of the Mist" ever since I was a little girl
So yeah, I applied for my leave, visa, booked my tickets and I was off to spend 20 odd days covering Toronto, Montreal, Quebec City and Niagara. The only foolish mistake I made was not visit New York, but I possibly couldn't take more time off.Anyway maybe some other time.
As a country (At least what I saw of it) Canada was a live visual example of what I've always wanted India to be (In terms of infrastructure,rules,regulations and the works). In terms of scenic beauty it stands nowhere close to Europe which I think looks just like a picture postcard.

Toronto from the CN Tower

Out of the 2 weeks I spent with my closest friends in Toronto, I traveled alone (mind you, a key word for all those who know "paa")to Montreal and Quebec City which was by far the best experience of my life. I took a bus from Toronto to Montreal (which I almost missed btw, cause we overslept)and when I reached the Montreal bus terminal, I had no clue where to go or where my hotel was. I lost my google map printout and everyone around me spoke only French so it was really hard for me to explain as to where I needed to go.
Suddenly out of nowhere a Moroccan girl who spoke fluent English came to my rescue, we got talking and I figured that she was just back after spending a whole year in India. She was so sweet (and hot too btw) that she actually walked me to my hotel. Montreal had a huge jazz festival that evening which I attended with her friends and her which again was such a fabulous experience.

Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac

En route to Quebec City along with a group of Australians, Chinese, Mexicans and some Polish tourists we stopped by at a Black Eyed Peas concert. I haven't been to too many live concerts but this indeed was a rocking evening. Quebec City reminded me a lot of Bruges-Belgium. Very pretty, small but can get slightly boring after a point for a city sucker like me. The high tea at the Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac was the highlight of the Quebec City visit.

Coming back to Toronto where I spent most of my days shopping,eating,drinking and making merry, Toronto almost seemed like I was in Bombay. Every second person you bump into is Indian which completely takes the feeling of being abroad away from you. Sigh! well at least I was in a cleaner and less polluted India.

Hippo!

I saw Toronto in an amphibious vehicle (one that works on land and floats in water), cheesy according to R, but I thought Henrietta Hippo (the name of the vehicle) was the best way I could see the important sights of the city. The best thing I liked about Toronto is how it is alive even in the night. The city skyline in the night, the CN tower,the various bars, restaurants, nightclubs, its almost like people are up all through the night, every night.

Blueberry muffin martini

We visited a martini bar where obviously for every reason I did have the blueberry muffin martini and
trust me when I say it was yum!

Tims

My trip to Canada will hold a special place in my life forever. It gave me a chance to experience things I have never done alone before. Randomly taking off to Niagara for the weekend (with our dearest Gps, our life), getting stalked by an Indian at Eaton Center (Yes, deserves a blogpost of its own),getting lost at random train stations, bus stops,shopping like there's no tomorrow,crazy days, crazier nights,paying 30 dollars to watch "I hate luv stories" before it releases in India and getting slapped by friends after,getting thrown out of a Dutch bar after being the only Spain supporter there, the hot chocolate at R's college,the July 1st and July 4th fireworks from across the border,Tim Hortin's (Ice cap and toasted wheat bagel with garlic cream cheese), R's birthday surprise celebrations and so many more memories I can never forget.

Niagara

R's ca

I hope there are many more trips to follow. Maybe the Canadian Rockies with Alaska.

The Blog is 2

You turn 2 today. Well technically, you are much older considering I've written and deleted you innumerable times earlier. However, just as last year, I want to thank you for being a constant in my life. I love this relationship we share. I can rant to you about almost anything and I know you will listen. We share a lot of private notes in this very public space and sometimes its just us who know what we are talking about. You've seen it all in these 2 years. Rants,promotions,friends,foes,break-ups and make-ups and let me warn you, this is only the beginning.
Anyway thank you once again for helping me go through this roller-coaster of a journey called life with knowing that I have a companion to share my deepest desires,secrets,rants, sorrows and happiness!
Here's to us! I can say I love you, and truly mean it!

Going going gone!

So I'm off tonight, for a well deserved (or so I would like to believe), vacation. Will be off for 20 odd days to spend some time in a land far far away from my beloved Bomcity. Looking forward, to meeting some friends, family, seeing a few cities I've always wanted to, and basically looking forward to doing a lot of things I have not done before.
Things I'm dreading- The long long longgg flight to get there. Passing through Brussels and not stopping by (I love the city for obvious reasons). The rain, turbulence, slimy immigration officers in India, the excess luggage issues on landing (friends need food..haha) and of course some digusting aunty or uncle who will be seated next to me on the flight
I'm running away for a little bit, away from people, away from work, away from everything known to experience a whole new life (Will miss the folks though). This will not be the typical run-in-the mill sort of a touristy holiday, it will be an adventure. A positive one I hope.
Anyway more about my experience...once I'm back. Wish me luck and a safe journey!
I will have a lotttt of time on my hand because there will be lot of times where I will be alone. I'm looking forward to using up this time to clear a lot of confusion in my mind, some thoughts, some strong pending decisions which I hope to take once I'm back.
Ok then, have a flight to catch soon. Canada awaits!
PS: I also look forward to the shopping

SRK- Naam toh suna hoga?

Only once in your life (that too if you're lucky enough) will you meet someone like SRK. Before I begin this post, let me clarify that SRK does not (which you will definitely realize as you read further) refer to Shahrukh (who I think is awesome) but is a nickname for somebody, meeting who was an encounter I will never forget in my life. I hope you enjoy this post as much as I have enjoyed my time spent with SRK.
 It was roughly 60 days ago when I spoke to him on the phone for the first time. I had called, wanting to speak to someone else, but landed up in a long conversation with him that day. His persistence was evident even through that conversation. While talking to him that day, I realized that I was soon going to be a part of a long project far away from home with a few strangers and SRK in tow.
My next encounter with SRK was at the train station where I met him physically for the first time. This was after a series of long conversations of constant questions fired by him almost continuously. Haha well to be honest, he was nothing like he had claimed to be. No washboards abs, no Tom Cruise resemblance nothing, but trust me when I say I wasn't surprised when this 5 feet 7 inch "boy" came up to me, said hi and ran off to meet a few "celebrities" he claimed he knew who were at a nearby coffee shop.
Not quite sure if the celebrity  knew who he was but SRK claimed to have had jamming sessions with older brother. Anyway, you know those days when things just don't go your way? the celebrity was seated next to SRK all through the train journey, right until we reached our destination :)
After spending a few days with SRK I realized that he was a piece. A sample. Someone so unique that you won't  find one of the same kind even if you kept looking for years. At this point I would like to introduce 2 strangers on this same trip who later became close friends. Lets call them A and A1. The first memory I have of SRK was a dinner we went to at a local bar where he claimed that the Singaporean waitress was hitting on him who in reality was so confused because he spoke to her in French, something which she did not even understand. A1 and me tried hard to explain to SRK that the waitress may not be as interested as he thought she was, but we were shunned by comments like he could feel positive vibes and something about her mentally checking him out :) Obviously A1 and me did not miss further opportunities to egg him to ask her out which eventually did not happen. However there was a mental French connection! Apparently!
One afternoon when A1 and me just decided to chill hanging around at a book store, SRK and A went sightseeing and shopping, and I have never ever felt so bad for A in my life. A was following SRK's directions unfortunately and landed up reaching the mall in 60 minutes when they could've just gotten there in 20 thanks to all the French SRK spoke in a land where no-one understood what he was saying :) SRK bought bitter chocolates for his grand-mom who had diabetes thinking that bitter chocolates contain no sugar!! Hahahaha! In A's exact words "His grand-mother would have tapakofied had I not stopped him from buying the chocolates in the nick of time".
SRK was an all rounder- A musician, a poet, a linguist, a romantic who was in love with places you've never even heard of. He could eat 1/2 kilo of bitter chocolate at one go, randomly jam or at least pretend to with street musicians,and speak in languages as unheard of as the countries I mentioned earlier.
He has prayed with resteraunters, jammed with celebrities, recited in front of international audiences and the works. He is someone who lives by his instinct. At one point, he wanted to perform a cleansing ritual (Indian style) at an internationally acclaimed hotel, as the rooms there gave him neagtive vibes, so you can imagine the craziness I am talking about.
No words will ever be able to describe our days with SRK. I don't think anyone has ever tested my patience as much as he did and although I pretty much did what I could to keep shut, we ended up in a quarrel on one of the days, during this journey. SRK was a specimen- he would get lost and not know to get back, tie his jacket backwards because it reminded him of one of his 105 girlfriends, eat- 2 appetizers, 3-entrees and at least 2 deserts and tell me how much weight he has lost cause I haven't given him enough food to eat :), carry 2 t-shirts on a 7 day trip and the works.
Being the responsible fool I am, I did look out for him at times, which is why ultimately I reminded him of his grandmom who apparently looked out for him similarly :) Obviously I stopped once I heard this statement.
Meeting SRK in my life was an oppurtunity which not too many people have. A and A1 would agree. Words cannot really describe a few incidents and other times we shared, but trust me when I say, these days I will never forget!

! Life's like that

Been away from the blog long enough. Not really. Just don't have much to say these days.Trying to survive in this muggy business called life.
Life has been pretty much the regular. Routine go to work come back, hang out with friends on the weekend, the usual. Travel has been at its minimum. Haven't been aroung too much after my last trip in April, umm well technically thats not too long ago, but you know what I mean right?
Planning to go on a longish vacation this month. Be away from everyone and everything around me (you can exclude the folks from this one). One really bad habit I have. I disconnect myself from things and people really close to me sometimes and although they (At least the people) tend to think I'm cold and snobbish, that is not the case. I care, I really really do. I'm just not very good with emoting and hardly ever really show what I feel. This attitude (pretend to care-a-damn but actually really care) had got me and still gets me into loads of trouble with people . I should really try and let people know how I feel. But by the time I try, they are already far far away.
Why people, I mean even my poor Blackberry must think what a lousy owner I have. Doesnt even care to glance a look at me on the weekends. Little does he know that he is like my soulmate and I'd die without him in my life! Sigh! I wish people understood me better, well how can they? It's not like I ever give people a chance to get that close anyway!
Diverging slightly from the topic, my close friend from school got married 2 weekends ago. M and I have been really thick since we were in Standard 5. Although we parted ways after school and continued our studies in different fields we always managed to keep in touch. M introduced me to A while we were in Std 11th which is when she met him and I thought he was a complete sweet heart. M and A finally tied the knot after a courtship of 7 odd years and I couldn't have been happier for them. I met S after a gap of 5-6 years at the wedding (S,M and me were best buds in school) and the gap just didn't seem to exist. Things seemed just the same as they were, only thing different being that we were attending M's wedding and not birthday party :)
S and I were remembering our days in school. Apparently I had a passion for traveling ever since I was 12, S recalls. Although at 12 I told her I wanted to be a travel journalist which I am not quite today, the passion still continues. S however thinks that my approach towards my profession has drastically changed from the last time she met me (Which was around 5-7 years ago). She finds me thinking less creatively and more logically and practically than before. Well to put it exactly in her words, I am not that jhola journalist wannabe anymore, but I am more of a cold blooded, profit oriented, corporate slave :). Well S you couldn't be more correct in your judgment.
So weddings apart last week I visited the new Indigo Deli at Phoenix and I absolutely loved it. Went to meet a friend (N) and happened to also catch up with her friend (M) and trust me I really wish I could go back in time and punch her.
M was this typical Delhi-ite! Now please don't get me wrong. I love Delhi as a city, and although I am a pure bred Bombay-ite, I am totally over those Delhi-Bombay debates. I think both cities have their own charm and basically suit yourself. If you like Delhi, live there if you don't move out! M went on and on and on about how dirty the city is, the pollution, the lack of bling (loser alert!) and I don't know what else because in order to save myself from socking her in the face I had to switch off from the conversation and dig deep into the pizza (Which btw is totally recommended). What surprised me the most however was that this same M who had been bitching the hell out of Bombay for at least an hour and a half was visiting Mumbai (Staying at the 4 seasons mind you) for the 5th time on a vacation. I mean for that much money she could have just gone to Bangkok instead!!! If you hate Bombay so much, don't come here! We are anyway short of space in this city and you will only be doing us a favour!
Coming back to "the job", yeah you read an awful lot of my job stories on the blog don't you? I have like 2 people I can proudly call friends at work. I have a lot of accquaintances and friends as well, but there are very few people I let into my real space. I am very private by nature and share my true feelings, opinions and the works with very few people. So over the 2 years I've spent in my current job I managed to make 2 such friends. S1 and S2. We spent most of our 2 years together as in India one does spend more time at the workplace rather than outside of it. We had our quarrels, arguments but shared some amazing moments together. The lunches, the working overtime, boss bitching, office gossip, random rubbish, meetings, travels, parties, nightouts, dinners and what not. Sadly for me S1 and S2 both resigned last night. I didn't really see this coming and was really upset and happy for them at the same time especially for S1 as she is really moving to a better oppurtunity. S2 hasn't quite figured out what he wants yet, but I guess he needs this break to sort it out within himself. Once I am back from this long vacation that I am planning to take (God knows when and where though) I will also have to take certain decisions on the work front. Rather important, maybe life changing decisions. I just hope they work out in my favour. I'm not very good with this whole decision making process.
Meanwhile I am so glad I met H and N in Brussels in April. I have really found such close friends in them and it surprises me how we got along so well in such a short period of time. H claims he has the best sense of humour and I think he does. Meanwhile N and I have so much in common that there is never a dull moment with her around. I'm also really glad I found a friend in H1, Again, even though we don't meet too often whenever we do, our random conversations range from Obama to Bollywood gossip and lots and lots of white wine :)
Yeah so this is basically an update (A long pending update) of what has been going on in my life currently.The FIFA World Cup 2010 begins this Friday and I am obviously supporting Torres and Spain! But going by my past records of always supporting the team that loses I'm kinda scared for them! Let's hope they prove me wrong.
I have also come to believe of late that theres no point holding a grudge or anything against a person, because as time passes everything fades away and you never know who you will need when. I've really calmed down or so I would like to believe (not reaching nirvana still going to hell) comparitively and have really stopped paying attention to petty issues. Where you start is ultimately where you end, I've had a fabulous start and I hope my life completes a fantastic Full Circle when it ends. After all as Creed puts it "Rearrange and distance makes the pain fade away. So important then, doesnt matter now, both feet on the ground, we've come Full Circle!

I will never forget...

• The day Mom dressed me up as a "bunch of grapes" for a fancy dress competition. (I was 4 and won the first prize btw)
• Mom and me fighting every morning on "Why milk is good for you". Little did she imagine that I'd be a fan someday
• Proposing to go vegetarian every 1st January and failing miserably.
• Accidentally bumping into SRK while watching Darr. The photograph is too embarassing to upload but the memory, priceless
• Being devastated at losing my first elocution competition
• Treating cricket as a religion and India's loss to Pakistan as the end of the world
• Having the drawing teacher, hold up my painting, show it to the class and state how even a street food vendor would not sell food in this sheet of paper
• Playing trump cards under the desk during class
• Going home for lunch from school and never going back
• Composing and recording a song for my maid (Indu bai)
• Being disappointed at the officers not stamping my passport during my first trip abroad (It was Nepal:))
• My Mickey Mouse birthday cake which was so huge that it couldn't fit into our car and we didn't know what to do with it
• My first official date. (First New Year Eve without parents, we were about 16)
• My first online crush
• First time I traveled  alone. Got upgraded on the London flight too! (Delhi- domestic, London- International)
• Playing, singing, staring and dancing in the rain
• Ajay Jadeja (*drools*)
• 6 of us ending up in colleage wearing the same clothes (blue jeans and black tshirts unintentionally). We looked like jackasses
• My first time in a local train. Chaos!!
• My ICQ number
• My first barbie doll (I still have it)
• The first time I saw my name in print. My first international presentation
• Taking a rickshaw through all the flooded streets to get a "feel" of the monsoon season and getting abused by the drivers later
• Hitting a six while playing cricket- Gulmarg- Kashmir
• Falling flat on my face in a casino in Nepal
• Winning 3 pounds in London slots. Spent them on fish and chips
• Eating gajar ka halwa on Mount Titlis in Switzerland
• Getting R's photo on my Malaysian visa
• My ICU experience
• The day I lost nana
• My first sangeet performance

Insane memories, I felt like penning down. Will keep adding more and more as I remember them. Feel free to add your own in the comments section if you like 

Butter Chicken in Chennai, Dosa in Delhi- It's a contradictory life!

January 2010
1/12 of the year is already over! Like any other year beginning January 2010 has flown past!
That could also be cause I traveled to all the 4 major metros in 8 odd days around mid-Jan. It was hectic but a really productive trip work and otherwise. Met some great people along the way, caught up with a long lost friend who was (luckily for me) stuck with work in Chennai after 10 odd years. It was so much fun, driving around and getting completely lost in Chennai only to find the perfect Italian restaurant. (Italian in Chennai- haha don't say it, I know). And of course A's highly recommended Amethyst cafe which by the way totally lived up to its described standards.
Delhi was freezing (Yes, I am a Bombay girl) and foggy and a completely different experience. The boss recommended a really nice Indian restaurant for the firangs with me called "Vedaa" to eat at. Good food but boy it was expensive! Rohit Bal's I think.
Never thought I'd meet P and gang who did manage to sneak out of work even though for a little bit. And then there was A, who I finally managed to meet after God only knows how many months. He took me to "Big Chill" where we ate the most delicious cheesecake (Irish something). They really need to open up in Bombay soon. Really missed catching up with the cousins though.
You know that's what I like about everyone I know in Delhi (well most of them). The special effort they take just to make sure they meet me even if it's for a bit every single time I visit. Really love all of them for this. Yep! the long lasting forever type!
Anyway moving on, Kolkata was a whole new experience all together. A couple of us went wandering around the city, me with a genuine belief that I will find Ganguly somewhere. Alas! no Sauron anywhere :( Weather wise Kolkata was the best..not as hot as Chennai and not as cold as Delhi! Also kudos to the staff at Taj Bengal. It was such a pleasure to be around such courteous and helpful people.
Life was even more hectic once we got back to Bombay. Headed straight to a meeting from the airport and then did 4 trips (in one night) from Marriott to home. Phew! The after party at Enigma was fun but I think everyone was way too tired by then.
It was rather pleasing to see the foreigners completely mesmerized by the diversity of India all throughout. They almost felt like they were visiting a whole new country each time we landed in a new city (be it in terms of culture, language, food or even physical features of the locals). Got me thinking how much tourism in Indian could prosper even if corruption in India could be reduced by 30%. I mean seriously, I'd love to work with Incredible India someday!
Anyway moving on, life is currently in a dull phase. With all that activity around me almost whole of January I suddenly feel a vacuum and don't really know what to do in my spare time. I am thoroughly enjoying my new founded interest for Power Yoga though. It helps me release stress (which I don't think I have been able to do ever since I can remember). I am a worrying person by nature. It has almost become a habit, but power yoga is really helping me break it.
I've changed my opinion about a few people. They did not turn out to be as I thought they would be, but that's a part of life. (not being judgmental, as I am often falsely accused of being. I mean calling a spade, a spade is not always a bad thing is it? )
Have things planned out for the year, like every other year. Have the "secret project 2010" planned out for June. Lets see if it works out. Only 2 weddings to attend this year, maybe more later, who can tell.
Lunch time, Subway calls! More updates later. Leve you with 3 pictures I managed to click during the whole India trip :) Really need to improve the interest in photography . Maybe buying a SLR would help?