Spring is here, spring is here...

Finally the cold weather front is moving away, though it still gets chilly at night… Spring is here…In everyone’s steps, in the air. Finally a daffodil blooms, and the sun shines strong.

Foggy today but 17 degrees C. Reminded me of Lonavala, where Bish and I had walked into the fog holding hands and dreams in our hearts.

We took a bus from Malad, Mumbai and although the bus operator said the bus went to Lonavala it was actually a bus to Pune. So when our stop came, the bus instead of entering Khandala via expressway exit dropped us on the expressway.

It was raining. With a suitcase in hand, we went walking down the exit (I know don’t gasp). And to our great delight saw a butta wala (roasted corn seller). The taste of garam butta on that rainy day is etched so deeply into my mind that I can taste it in my mouth right now. Aah the pleasures of simple life!

Mumbai-Pune sector is blessed. It is a very scenic drive. There are hundreds of small hamlets and each breathtaking. People are simple enough to open their doors if your vehicle breaks down in the middle of nowhere. Really had the opportunity to travel this road countless times.

During my internship, I used to travel to Bombay Dyeing manufacturing plant in Patalganga. Patalganga is mid-point between Mumbai and Lonavala. It used to be a 2 hour ride from Bandra but loved every moment of it. It was only while entering back into Mumbai via Chembur-Sion, that the ugliness of metro life would force itself onto my existence. TIll then I was in bliss.

Once I remember I had gone trekking with my brother and his friends to Malshej ghat. I walked through a mini-waterfall, and my friend climbed a straight rock without any climbing gear. At top of the mountain, rain and fog heavy on us.

We reached some small hamlet bus stand at 3 am and were advised by the bus conductor to not go roaming in the hills for the fear of Bhils. We spent the whole night at the bus stand. At 7 am, a food stall owner opened shop. And we were onto the tastiest Usal Pav I have ever had.

Saw a bit of interior Maharashtra while on Ashta Vinayak tour with a friend. Ate at small dhabas or stalls but the food was always fantastic. And never did I have any stomach problem. Saw how people actually lived in our villages. No electricity, no tap water. But mast! Bindaas! It was my desire to travel the konkan sector. I have read about its beauty but that place has so far been elusive.

Can I ever go there? Dont know! Would love to though..I do know some of my friends have been making the dream list of places we want to visit sans family. As girls! I pray this comes true!

That it doesn’t merely remain a desire in the heart. Luckily God has always given me the opportunity to be close to Nature and therefore Him. And I find myself more and more attracted towards The Simple Life. A bungalow in the middle of a self-sufficient farm. Hmmmmm!!!!

No snow..

It’s been bitterly cold here and winter hasn’t even officially started yet! (It starts tomorrow). The mercury was married to Zero-O degrees celsius for most of November this year. And yet my town has seen only a dusting of snow flurries. No major snow yet! Which is a mercy for all car owners and a bit of a let down for all romantics.

Guess which category I belong to?

Surprisingly, some of my friends from Mumbai have been talking about buying a sweater and Hyderabad has had a 9 degree C day. I have in my 22 years of stay in Mumbai never needed more than a thin cotton bedsheet through winter. I have never worn a sweater during my childhood. And now when I swaddle myself with jacket, sweaters, scarf, gloves and hat, I smile at the delicious irony of life.

Born in warm to very hot climates, I now live in icy cold temperatures. A complete turnaround. I used to look at pictures of Manali, Dehradun and fight the desire in my heart to go make snow angels. Now I go out at -2 degrees, and pray that there is no wind blowing.

Last year, we had suffered (yes after the first few snows it is suffering) several snow storms. So this time round, We are thanking our stars we haven’t yet needed to dig the car out of a white mound.

But and here’s how I justify myself as a romantic, I am hoping for a white Christmas. Somehow, Christmas is incomplete without the grounds covered with ethereal white fluff.

What’s been making Christmas special the past 3 years, is the ability of the people here to give. There is a smile on everyone’s face, a genuine cheer, and hope. Times have been very tough for the average Americans, but the holiday season brings out their best. It does of course bring out all the burglars too. But hey every silver cloud has a dark lining.

I have been genuinely impressed at how much effort people put in to make the season special for the less privileged. Some time ago, several hundreds of volunteers built homes for Hurricane Katrina victims. Some of the top designers were there too, lending their skills. They weren’t building dwellings, they were building homes. Attention was paid to the decor, art work even the paint colour. That’s giving!! That’s powerful.

Apart from Oprah Winfrey’s usual fireworks (she usually makes history while giving away gifts during the holidays), several other shows give away fabulous gifts to a carefully chosen audience. Even if they are doing it just for publicity (as some cynics would say), at least they are giving to the right people. Not fat bonuses to fat bankers, or fat grub to fat bureaucrat.

Nor is it given with the knowledge of giving. During the several emergency situations in my life, I have found 3 types of helpers:

1. Pure helpers – People who help because you need it and they are there to give it. They never mention the act again nor do they go around talking about their benevolence. In fact some of them help and then disappear. It’s been my privilege to know this highest form of humanity several times.

2. Help to get – Epitomised by the greedy money-lender in Bollywood and these days by credit card companies in real life, these people help you in need because they see an opportunity to get something even bigger back from you.

3. Help to gloat – Some people help you as barely as they possibly can, sometimes even when you don’t want it. So that they can go out and tell the world they are great. It’s been my misfortune to meet quite a few of this type.

Getting back to the spirit of giving, here I saw the glow in the faces of volunteers. This glow is that of a genuine helper. It cannot be faked. That glow warms me up this winter. I love being human! I love the holidays! Happy holidays everyone.

Mumbai--- meri jaan!!!!

Actually Bombay meri jaan sounds so much better!!! But I rather conform to the T family's diktat. Or else...

You see anyone who doesn't, is forced to apologise after being beaten up publicly or forced to leave the state. Sad isn't it? Considering that Mumbai got to where it is because it always welcomed enterprising people from all over India and the world.

Ofcourse now you better have a birth certificate to prove you were born there before you think of setting up house or shop in Mumbai..I am not Marathi but I am a Mumbaiite...I haven't been to Mumbai in about 9 years except for a 10 days trip in 2007. I saw little change but what change I did see made me happy.

Small changes like concretised roads, cement tiles at crossroads most prone to potholes, better buses and fast service. Efficient if you dole out the money.

I have now stayed in 3 continents, 3 countries and 8 cities. I wish I can add to this statistics, but then that's another blog. I feel Mumbai beats any other city in India hands down in terms of efficiency, infrastructure and more importantly human resource. People are generally more helpful, more resourceful, more knowledgeable, and more receptive to new ideas than any other city I have been to.

Even the IT city Bangalore lags dismally in terms of roads, transport, water and even garbage disposal. Mumbai despite bursting at the seams is managing to provide its inhabitants a decent living (I talk ofcourse of the burgeoning middle-class).

But what do I read in the papers?? That the average Mumbaikar dies younger than any other Indian...Why? Because poor Mumbaiikar gets up in the morning, runs to catch the train, works, run to catch the train back home, eats and sleeps. The only holiday Sunday is then spent in socialising, family time, domestic chores, and other work. When does he get to just relax? Nope not even when he is retired. Because he is expected to look after the grand children. He is expected to be productive to the last dying breath else he is a big burden. Like an Amritsari had once told me, Mumbai me sab hamesha bhaagte hi rehte hai.

The poor Mumbaikar scrambles to save money to buy a match box flat, the flat TV, perhaps a semi auto washing machine and hopefully the nanoest of the cars. If not a bike will do very well. He motivates himself with his small dreams and small achievements.

He tries not to fall foul of the authorities (thats everyone in the government from the chaprasi to the chief minister), tries to avoid any road bumps and to drag his life over all potholes till a bomb explodes in the train or a car rams into him. Ofcourse he doesn't even dream of a fast & efficient medical aid. He knows he will die on the road or on the way to the hospital. And probably the ambulance driver will haggle with his harried family for bakshis to get his body back home.

Why should he not die sooner than the others? What incentive does he really have to live till 90 and live well at that? What support will he have? Everyone else will be keen to see him dead anyways.

Answers anyone????

Goldie & Vijender are growing...SRK is not...

An update on my second one....He is growing fast, so fast that we may have to change his house.

Hey I am talking about my goldfish. The bowl isn't big enough for him anymore. We are thinking of buying a tank so that we can get some friends for him. Strange..whether it is my daughter or the fish, I am worrying about getting playmates for them both. But the best update is that Bish (my husband) has also started talking to him. :) I found Bish apologising to Goldie for delaying his meal by a half hour.
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Happy to know a celebrity put India's name on the map in a positive manner. Vijender Singh has become World no 2 in International Boxing 75kgs category. Congratulations to you Vijender. Way to go!!! Finally, we have a sportsman among us.

Meanwhile SRK created a ruckus about spending an hour aside at immigrations in US. I had been sent into a room the first time I traveled to UK. Because some idiot had not updated my health records. I had to prove I was healthy enough to enter UK. Fortunately, I had my X -Rays and med reports with me. Another Indian lady traveling alone had the misfortune to find out at the immigration counter, she had TB and was therefore to be stopped from entering UK. Wonder why no one told her before she left her country.

The UK guy looked badly overworked and ready to fuse. While traveling to US, we had a smooth transition. Should SRK have created such a ruckus? Considering the way celebrities (especially Americans) behave, I guess so. But I was really cheesed to see the Indian governtment and public crying foul, when hardly anyone said a word about Ex President APJ Kalam being frisked by an international airline. That is way beyond insulting.

I would love to hand over dear Mr Bush to the paan chewing paandus at Mumbai airport. Then maybe these Americans will learn to respect other people. They have their pride, these Americans, but it borders to insolence in most.

And we Indians can't ever get rid of white-skin worshipping, can we???

My first topic for my very own blog? Cat got my..pen.!?

Now that my better half (I dispute the "better" part of the half, but thats another blog) has created a blog for me, I am at a loss..What or who should i spew my venom on? What should I write on?

The inhuman, despicable massacre in Mumbai's landmark or the greater tragedy of the city's admisnistrative eunuchs. Or the strange case of weird killings of get this - only Andhra guys & gals - mainly students, in the US. So far 8....Why only Andhra people? Why no other community from the Indian diaspora in US of A?

My meandering mind suggests the possibility of internal Andhra border political killings spilling over the States shores. Can it possible that some political wannabe is destrying the next generation opponent in foreign shores and getting away with it.

However, My dont-be-an-alarmist side says possibly and more probably US is full of Andhra students rather than the "moneybhais and bens" I had assumed. I mean the enterprising Gujjus ofcourse.

I havent met a single Gujju yet, except behind a counter. Though I havent yet gone a-visiting New Jersey, an Indian stronghold. People say the streets are exactly like India's, full of food stalls, shops and bad drivers. Americans snigger at even the Deptt of Motor Vehicle in NJ. Wonder who mans the counter at DMV? Us "garibs" or them "goras".

To be fair, I havent spent time enough in USA. Only a ayear and that spent mainly indoors or instores. Not being a student is a major disadvantage. Not being employed is even worse. I dont get a chance to interact with them Amrikis, nor they get a chance to meet a modern, progressive not money nor career minded Indian. Other delicious adjectives come to mind, but dont want to start a war of words with people who know me :) But yeah, I am nosey as hell....

My experience so far tells me US is better than UK in a zillion ways. There is a huge debate on whether it is better than India. All NRIs with a stay span of 2-5 yrs find US better. NRIs with 10 yrs plus prefer India. NRIs beyond couldnt care less where they stay as long as they can get their Americanised kids to talk to them.

I guess I will discuss (with who???? I wonder) the merits and demerits from a worldly wise point of view next blog..Ciao!!