New York

How does one come about to write about a city romanced by so many ? After having had the SATC and woody allen influence, its hard not to look at the city through borrowed glasses.

Neveretheless I tried.

I journeyed in Coach USA to get down at port authority of New York and walk down the dreamy landscapes of central park. How can one not love central park! At first sight its kaleidoscope of people, couples, friends, teenagers, oldies, dogs, trees, foreigners, onlookers (like me) hit you like a storm. When you do settle down, there is just scope for being oneself. When the feeling of not belonging runs high, the idea of getting lost in the central park-ness of new york is just fine! And over the course of next 3-4 hours I read a book, walked aimlessly and sat on stones to answer questions about happiness and contentedness to a couple of chinese student film makers. You know I tried to sound profound to those guys. But blurted out saying, I am reading a book I have wanted to for a long time and that to me right now is happiness. Also told them that I was going to meet some friends later, which equated to contentedness. If at all I become a celebrity one day, one can imagine how boring tabloids will sound.

So on so forth. I walked and walked. With the sun going down as my indicator. At one moment I thought I could do this all night and for the next day and the day after. But boredom set in. Was frantic to be reunited with friends. Familiar faces. Took a turn on 42nd Street towards 5th avenue. Times square beckoned. In the wait to meet friends bought souvenirs. 'I Love NY' and the assorted bunch. Some Irish-ness and forever 21 later, I was taken. The glitz, the power, the wealth. It is this which makes people migrate to this city. I found Mumbai-ness in it. Because my liking for Mumbai has evolved over the years, NY liking came by easily. There is just so much to look at and soak in, it was not at all possible for me to remain unaffected. Promise to self - NY on foot and trains and buses. Sometime soon. Oh and a visit to the Public library in the day time. Not just to click pictures outside a closed one.

Taken!

On a slightly tight schedule the next day, Brooklyn bridge visit happened. This was my 4th bridge in the cities I went to in US, I did not feel the excitement. But it got me closer to people I had not really grown apart from. Some interesting conversations later, I thought to myself, may be this is the point of bridges. Literal. Metaphorical. Call me slow.

My most humbling experience in this trip was visiting Ground Zero. I am not sure what I felt, but it felt like a symbol of resilience and not a place of tragedy. The towering freedom towers make your jaw drop and feel small. 

I am awed by cities*. I may be a city-girl even! The most therapeutic thing about them cities is they make you lose you to find your way back. And because one finds strength in this routine. However cliched this may sound.

~nightflier

*Chicago love, you are the most loved!

Texas reloaded!

2 years ago around the same time of the year I lived in Dallas for more than a month. So when we were planning a college friends reunion and things moved from the west coast to the southern state, I felt a bit reluctant to visit Texas. Again! I mean Austin, Dallas same difference right ? WRONG.

Specially with the 'keep austin weird' thing going on. So anyway, the texas part apart, I did what one can do best in Austin. Eat, binge drink and eat and chill out. To top it off it rained most of the weekend and that just helped the above mentioned activities even more.

my crumpled version of the esther's
show guide :D

Few touristy things like visiting the UT austin campus which is super beautiful and capitol which is the regular state building, also happened. And a sketch comedy show at Esther's was thoroughly enjoyed. My general tiredness and enthusiastic-lady-behind-me's jolly laughter aside. After some pub hopping on 6th street (we went to the east side because we were tired and well we were'nt really following dress code), saturday was called off. Accompanying me in these little adventures were snita, advait, shayok, nikhil and a lot of other fun people (who don't blog/tweet).

The best outing of this trip was getting together at Trudy's over their famous house martinis, served in giant-ass lassi style glasses. The food which accompanied was equally yummy! Saturday afternoon saw us at Able's on the lake, with some amazing grilled chicken salad (tired of wraps/burgers/breads already!) and the famous Texas tea. Perfect recipe for a lazy afternoon. Not so perfect if you have activities planned for the evening.

the pennybracker bridge! from snita's camera

Apart from this Masala wok, Bombay express (Please forgive me pani puri gods for trying a plate in texas, when I can get the real stuff back home so easily.) Taco deli, Amy's and such local eating out happened.

The icing of the trip was the smallish hike to the hill overlooking the 360 loop and the Pennybacker bridge. If I could, I would visit Austin for this part of the town. Just to sit and may be play some chess/scrabble.

~nightflier

CA1 and catching up!

Since I have decided to jot down whatever fun things (apart from ginormous amounts of work, which looks never ending) I will be doing during this trip, I feel bad that it took me such a long time to update activities from last weekend.

Saturday was spent in driving around the scenic beaches of SFO. From Santa cruz wharf to the beautiful CA1 drive till bixby bridge, it was a day well spent taking in nature and its sights. 

from google

The bixby bridge was built in 1932 and literally connected the two regions separated by a valley otherwise. The Pacific looks as majestic as one would imagine it to be from here.

Despite being from the same college I and Neha had never interacted much before and on Sunday I finally met her. Yay!

She was really nice and picked me up from where I am staying and took me to the shoreline lake and cafe. We talked about random stuff over coffee and delish chocolate cake (which Neha was reluctant to finish, so I finished very happily :D)

It was fun to touch upon topics of blogging, growing up in India, work life, cultures and college gossip.

I am really happy that I am getting to meet all the people I really want to meet and spend time with. (not sure if that's the case with them, but I dont mind burdening people with my company for a change :P). I am also happy that even though I am not that mobile (like being really lazy to rent a car or explore the local transport) I am meeting people who are generous enough to let me tag along! I know sucks being an independent woman of the 21st century and blah but hey! whatever :P

~nightflier

California diaries

Did a lot of touristy things in LA. (thanks to ketaki and her husband!)
Scrambled eggs in a laidback cafe, authentic Mandarin food for dinner and the most awesome kabobs at a homely Persian restaurant.
Hollywood walk of fame and kodak theatre happened today! My movies crazy soul found a little excitement and solace (I can now die peacefully and all that).
Universal and city walk with hordes of noisy people around happened too!
Also happened my first transaction using #square. Nerdy stuff totally excites me. Boo!

my #beatles tote :D

P.S. Upasna - the pics will be up as soon as I find where my camera data cable is!

cruising through the western ghats

The role reversals in the family are getting funner. Brother planned all the transport and logistics details, while I fussed over waking up on time, packing enough food/supplies for emergencies etc. While parents watched.
(ok, aai helped pack the picnic box and knead the puri dough, while I deep fried them!)

the temple of wai!

On a certain level calling a day's outing 'a picnic' sounds even more fun! Remember the anxiety with which one used to sleep before a school picnic day and wake up all full of 'picnic energy' ? No ? OK. then you were not the *hyper excited about picnics kid* that I was. Anywho, the point is we went on a picnic with the parents. Wheeeeeee!!!


Starting off with the village of Wai, we took our first halt at the table top of pachgani. <inserts bollywood movies boarding school reference>.  Moved onto eat to our stomach's content at Mapro gardens. <ate the most awesome pizza, better than any 'traditional' pizza outlets> 

<3
from google

Then baba started telling his tales of 'being a roadie' in the 1980s.  He along with like minded friends toured various parts of India on their scooters/bikes. Starting point of all journeys central part of India.
1988 - Jabalpur, Bedaghat on his LML Vespa. 
1989 - Aurangabad, Mahabaleshwar, Goa on his LML Vespa.
1990 - Kanyakumari via Mysore, and other southern cities on his LML Vespa.
Petrol prices were between Rs. 20 to 25 during that time FYI. Also how they would decide on where to halt and the difference between things back then and now, was most fun to hear! Also I think must have been romantic for aai to wait for father, to come home after his myriad adventures! <she would, of course, shy away from these speculations and tell how difficult it got not having the 'husband' around>

picturesque valleys around
mahabaleshwar

Dhananjay, the most exciting and quite experienced driver to have on these ghats, joined in with his tales. To the cult music from the 80/90s playing in the background. 

the entrance to the fort

Aai and baba were really excited to visit Pratapgad. The place where Shivaji killed Afzal Khan using ganimi kawa (guerilla tactics). We hired a guide, Jadhav, who along with some exaggerating insights told us the most fascinating story of the 'kill' and the battle that ensued. 

posing outside a more than
100 years old school
in the hills!

There are still some 84 families living inside the fort. Life full of adventure and mystic!


And if you visit these places and don't eat the typical Maharashtrian food of 'pithla-bhakri' 'kanda-bhaji' 'thalipith' with a light drizzle in the background, then you are missing one of the most *worth it* and *cliched* experience in the world. Every visit to such places and not eating any of those feels almost like a crime!


And the journey wound up, with visits to two more Ganpati temples in Pali and Mahad. With sore legs from climbing the fort and a rejuvenated mind after breathing in the fresh air of the hills, last night was the longest and most peaceful I have slept in days! 


How was your weekend ? :-)


~nightflier

La Poderosa diaries

I am thankful generally that a lot of reading has been happening lately. Even though I was caught off guard by the new schedule and my en-office-route reading did take a back seat, I found my mojo. I think happens with stuff you really want to do in life.


So I have been wanting to write about a lot of books and what thoughts they triggered and generally having/wanting to finish every book which came my way. Digression. I recently read an NYT article which said its totally ok to read a book to a particular point and find oneself fulfilled by the writing/story and not come back to it after that. I know sounds strange. But happened with me during Pratispardhi (cuckold by Kiran Nagarkar). I was already in love. (actually thanks to Upasna's blog, I gifted aai this book with the selfish motive of getting to read it!) I reached a point in the book with all the histories of India merging, babur trying to invade delhi, Maharaja Kumar, trying to emulate his far flung enemy, in the course of warfare. It was awesome. But then I just stopped reading the book. At such a point in a book, when it was evident that I would finish it and go gaga about it, I did not come back to it. To me it seemed like a case of cold feet when nearing the end of a great book. Eventually I did finish it over one weekend. And I don't even know why I digressed so much. Anywho.

So Ernesto Che Guevera's motorcycle diaries was fascinating. Not because of the history of Che himself. But as a wanderer. If I were any younger and sans any education loan (I like to sound responsible and grown up once in a while), the book would have felt more like 'I totally want to do this' rather than 'wish I could do this now'. All the sighs and day dreams of getting to fly away from the real world apart, the book is in no way a travelogue. It's more of an awakening, which travelling normally does to one. I was wondering what was the life altering travel experience I have had till date. And I remember being stranded at a village bus stop near Nasik, on way back to Nasik from Shirdi. It felt adventurous then, being with a friend at a very badly lit bus stop post 7 pm, which was not even an official one (it was just a roadside stop, which village people used to hitch rides). Everyone was trying to help us and give their set of directions which was pretty cool and confusing at the same time. That incident somehow instilled in me the sense to be able to travel well, alone. So yes life altering.


   -> the soundtrack of the movie has been my ring tone for years now.


Anywho, I do believe that travelling changes one as a person. Just seeing so many alike people, landscapes, getting to know nature, oneself leaves you with a newer version of you. I am not much aware of Che's revolutionary fights. And I don't think I need to. Because the doctor boy who traveled across Latin America on a bike, boats, trucks, wanting to discover the world, himself, speaks volumes about him. And yes if you get the girly side of me, looking at his younger pics you would fall in love with Che. (question: aregntine guys are hot? ;-)) Also its full of really rich never before heard (at least for me) Inca history.


Rebel or no rebel, this is one book which satisfied the wanderlust in me. Specially with this migraine and squinting at laptop screen.


~nightflier


* La Poderosa - name of the bike on which Che and Alberto traveled.

a little pilgrimage

Since the 4 of us (family) are hardly together, the moment brother announced his around new year's eve trip, we planned a little excursion to Shegaon (the karmabhumi of Gajanan Maharaj)


My views/thoughts about god are still evolving. Or so I think. And I have strictly no opinions about any religion. It always fails me why people get so instigated. To each his own I say, but then life/world would be too simple and there won't be any fun. For some. Anywhoo I digress.


What caught my eye the moment I stepped in the temple premises was the simplicity, the tidiness and the discipline. The darshan was arranged in such a way that it causes least problems to the bhakt. Even the wait in the queues (which are extremely well organized) seems easygoing on special days (like thursdays, weekends and public holidays). 


Later baba (dad) and mama (mom's brother) told us that the Sansthan (organization) which takes care of all the temple related activities has remained free of politics for the past 100 years and more (since the time it came into being). So the management remains less cluttered. Everyone is given an equal opportunity as a visitor. There is no VIP treatment given to anyone. I think that is a win-win. When people know there is no option but to wait in the queues, patience and discipline don't remain obligatory. Moreover the sevaks (volunteers) who work there for free are people from nearby villages, who come there in groups and are trained. They are really polite, patient and helpful. Even the food that is served to the bhakt/visitors is made everyday on a fresh basis with no (its not an understatement) mess anywhere. The plates that we were served in and the vessels that we were served from were impeccably clean (From whatever my eyes could catch from the distance). The coupon, serving and sitting system are so efficient that there are hardly any questions to be raised. Even about the food quality. The entire transactions of the Sansthan run on a no profit-no loss basis, so costs for anything and everything are so less that the trip doesn't end up being a financial burden for the common man.


I was mighty impressed with all these facts streaming in. So its not that difficult to run an efficient organization on the basis of good values and with the help of people. This can definitely form a really great case study for management students. From where many of our administrators can also learn. May be. :)


~nightflier

'GOA'ed

As one of the comments on my earlier posts said, Goa is a great way to end a phase and start a new one. Most of the times it would work.


I don't know if it has worked or is going to, but it feels great. I had actively stopped seeking answers to a lot of stuff and now things kind of seem fine to me. The anxiety, the restlessness, the lost feeling is somehow not nagging now. You know being with the flow and just doing routine things, sometimes one doesn't wonder but it does the magic. Like everyday's peaceful sleep ? Like being comfortable with oneself ? Like not exactly caring where the world is going and what it has come to, but being one with oneself ? Yes I am talking about the same feeling of warmth and cozyness you get, when you are eating king prawns recommended by a mallu uncle in a typical Goan shack! :)

at aguada fort

And the joy of re-discovering new friendships in old ones ? Isn't that magical ? Maybe its the festive season or the place itself if so full of joy and happiness, that one does let go of one's inhibitions and conversations just flow. Or maybe the comforting feeling that one has a bunch of goofy friends to grow old with. :)


And clicking random snaps and video shooting whatever is possible, creating memories and capturing them as we move on. That's therapeutic too. The over the topness with all the posing and the smiles. :)


Oh and the binge drinking. Kamikaze shots as and how much one can take should be an 'at-least-once-an-year' ritual. :)


Even though one was just hopping towns and sight seeing like a whirlwind, Goa is extremely relaxing. It has an calming aftereffect. No wonder its so hyped! :)


And the realization that even though one loves the journey but doesn't really like the travelling. Maybe its time to slow down. Be Me.


~nightflier


P.S. I remember talking to a friend a month back. He bantered 'so when do you actually plan to start working?' And I had said very naively 'you know the best friend's wedding and then the goa trip..don't you think I should wait for the new year' :D to which I got the most human 'rolling eyes' I have ever seen!! :) 
So moral of the story, may be its in the head..to end something and to start something new.. :)

homely post

Lots of free time, normally should translate to lots of activity on blogosphere and lots of posts (refers to non-sense here).

alas..

I use that time to unravel the deeper mysteries eluding humankind, trying to decipher the meaning behind the metamorphosis this world is undergoing, in short making sense of it all ....

BULL-CRAP !!! (these days in India they give english subtitles on english movie channels. Imagine I said S***)

Instead I am sleeping, eating, televisioning, reading, studying, cooking. Listed in the order of priority. During my brief excursions on the internet these days, I realized, my blog was getting opened out of lack of options to open any interesting websites and not out of pure urge to write and check out what other people have written. Then I also realized I dont take myself so seriously!! Except while choosing an ice-cream flavor. May be.

So while indulging in these extremely mind-numbing activities, I have realized I just need to participate whole-heartedly.

The bed is always made up. I just have to go and sleep in it.
Food is always getting served by others (and always the stuff I prefer). I just have to sit and hog.
That sacred place on the couch is always kept free for me. And in case its not, a slight desire to watch the tv and voila !!
And sorts...
(Now you do get an idea, why people want to be a kid again.)

But you know what, folks at home always treat you like one. No need to specifically try to transform. A stay at home and you will realize, however grown up and mature you have become for the outer world, things never change at home.
There are other places also, where the kid in me is always alive. Amusement park, cooking alone in my apartment, (others can't be mentioned here) :P.
While being outside, we are constantly surrounded by people or situations, where we need to be the decision makers, the mature lot, the civilized ones. So this kinda treatment is rocking!

Also , I am back from a trip to Pune. Newsflash from the land where the swine flue paranoia is at its peak!

I saw love-aaj-kal. Read this for my overall views. The only high point was a deserted E-square on a friday night! All E square lovers will appreciate this fact. So no long queues for tickets, no hassles while eating your popcorns peacefully in the not so crowded waiting lounges, no waiting in the washing rooms and the best no random pushing or pulling to get entry into the screening hall.

I met all the friends I could manage to meet. Hostel gang and college class mates topped the list. It was good to see the married lot settled into their domestic lives. It was a bit weird to be a part of it (even if for a day). Though did not manage to do random crazy stuff, as earlier. Guess things change :) But meeting old friends is like sipping nariyal pani on a hot Indian summer day. It can't get any better :)

The most amazing thing about the trip was, it dint feel like a visit after an year. I still knew all my routes and short-cuts. I could still notice the small changes roads/places/shopping malls, in short favorite places, have undergone. I took in all that I could of one of my favorite cities. I think this is the best form of love I know :)

I was a bit anxious about getting back safely, though. I was traveling by the chariot for the poor (gareeb rath) and it was scary to see people roaming all around me in masks. To all my friends who are not in India and would like some first hand news, things are pretty ok back here. People are taking extra precautions and even places like railways stations have become cleaner. Schools are closed for the next week to avoid an epidemic. The media is again being accused of raising panic levels amongst citizens. So if you read some outrageous stuff, kindly trust the authorities.

baki to sab changa hai! A huge list of shopping awaits me. Guess I should become a bonafide member of shopoholics Inc. ;)

will be back with interesting stuff soon.

~nightflier!

ORD to Charles de Gaulle

A travelogue of my flight from Chicago to Paris.
(the real post sits tight in my lappy's crashed hard-drive, never to get retrieved :()

From last minute travel plans to the last minute rush to reach the railway/train station or airport in time, I can be awarded a PhD. (Since this blog is all about myself, I know you guys don't mind this self obsession). Anyways, as me and a friend (he was kind enough to accompany me to the airport mainly to help me carry those humongous bags foren returned people carry) made way through the check in counter, I knew I had done it again. I was checking in at 4, for a flight supposed to take off at 5.15. phew...

The best part in all this was, I had a window seat. I have a fascination for windows which can be explored at a later point. So after some customary calls, I was all set for my longest journey in an year.

And oh yeah line from the book/movie the Namesake,
'The greatest journeys are the ones that bring you home' also did ring in my ear :P

On board waiting for moi was a surprise!! An 8th grader, Kayi who was flying for the first time to visit family in Paris, was going to be my neighbor. She was also the only non-french-speaking member of her family. So quite obvious, with crores spent on hospitality management to kill the competition, we were the hot favorites of the entire crew. I wonder even the flight captain knew about Kayi!! So quite promptly, the responsibility of Kayi's well being was thrusted on me. I was to be the primary source of solutions for her every woe from motion sickness to emergency exit. (And don't be surprised) but I was damn thrilled. Only to realize later that, being an American kid, Kayi preferred 'He's just not that into you' over talking to a stranger (I did take care that I don't sound creepy by asking questions like 'So how many boyfriends you have?', etc etc) :|

So I was left with my window and staring into thin air act. It was pretty good. I saw an entire world made up of clouds from up there. Cities, castles, palaces, roads, cars, animals!! My idea of another world also has pretty much the same stuff! Sheesh ...

I watched the remaining part of Babel, Bride wars (gave it a shot for the new found respect for Ann Hathaway). Simply hogged on the food. Plus dad had given my preferences for food as Indian, so I was getting my food before everyone, with different contents and it tasted delicious too!

Since I did not have much time to plan this trip, I made a list of things I was looking forward and not looking forward to during my stay.

So stuff which would make the stay pleasant:

1. loads and loads and loads of home-made food.
2. catching up with mom-dad.
3. meeting friends
4. spending my brother's earnings on some fruitful shopping!!
5. sleep, sleep and sleep and not go out much, just relax, eat, watch TV, and not follow a routine.
6. visiting my granny

This is all I could think of.

And the non-pleasant stuff includes:

1. ending up in a quarantine.
2. falling sick and proven a weakling!!
3. being treated as a foren returned. I simply hate special treatment!!
4. laptop crashes (this has already happened and I am over it now :()
5. Indian summer (OK call me a typical amreeka returned, but I was finding 30 degree Celsius quite unbearable in the US :-/)

So we reached Paris in 8.5 hours, without any delays. I was damn excited about locating the Eiffel from up there and to my amusement I could locate 6 Eiffels :D
Seriously, I wanted to see the Eiffel from the flight. Some of my fantasies fail me :-/

As I stepped on the land known for the louvre, cycling, and a phonetically strange language, the entire crew of Air France once again thanked me! Kayi (if you have already forgotten, shame on you!!) was into safer custody to be united with her family and I was left to explore CDG :)

From CDG to Chatrapati Shivaji terminal, coming up next!

~nightflier