The happening year

Another 15 days to cherish what remains of 2011. I feel this year passed off just too soon. It has been a happening one for sure, for me and my family.

The year did not start in a happy note though. Early January I lost my nani, and along with her went away 5 yrs of my childhood which I had lived with her being pampered to the core. She was quite old and not doing well since a long time. But whatever be the reason, our attachment and sentiments for our grandparents never die and they are always missed when they are not amongst us. To accept that she is no more with us(physically i mean) took quite some time.

Nani had always wanted to see me getting married; she had so many plans for my wedding. Sadly, she was not there to witness this occasion, but I know her blessings are always with me. When my wedding took place in May this year, it was a big family and extended family get-together. Joyous and memorable as I can call it, we all enjoyed the whole episode to the core.

Post wedding I shifted to Bangalore, yet another happening thing for me. 7 years spent in Chennai had made the place my second home. Loving my new abode in Bangalore and enjoying everything that this metro has in store for its residents.

This year also marks the completion of my youngest brother's P.Hd. course. He got his dream job thus making my parent's (another) dream come true. Extremely elated as they are, I have just one thing to say - **Touchwood**

Our visit to home next week marks the last of the celebrations for this year. Just two more days and our vacation starts....hurrraay!

Adieu 2011 and a very warm welcome to 2012!!

Festive October

With two big Hindu festivals falling in the same month, October has been cherished in all Indian homes. It was a month accompanied with more sweets, more celebrations, more holidays and more shopping. And now that it has come to an end, all that lingers are the wonderful memories of the festive season.

For the first time we celebrated Dussehra in the most traditional form with the worship of Goddess Durga and recitation of "Durga Saptashati" for 9 days. We also went to Mysore to witness the most famous Mysore Dussehra on dashmi. The 3.5 hrs colorful and grandeur procession from the Mysore Palace is the best I have seen till date. They had presented models with specialities of each district of Karnataka. Though it was extremely crowded but it was worth the visit. During my childhood days we used to watch "Raam Leela" and many other Dussehra jhaaki in my grandparent's place. The Palace procession triggered a sense of nostaliga down the memory lane.

The first Diwali after wedding is always special. While new clothes and sweets are implicit, with my brother visiting us for this occasion, it was even more fun. The Diwali celebrations in Bangalore simply amazed me. The crackers continued to burst from morning till late night for almost 3 days. While everyone has their own way of celebrating but I still feel that people should refrain from bursting such loud sound atom bombs and be a little more considerate to the environment and the human beings. My husband had got all the lighting crackers like flower pots, chakri, etc and we were contented and happy with our little collection.

With the year coming to an end, looking forward to the New Year celebrations at home. For those in the US, they still have Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas to celebrate. Whatever be the festivals, they just unleash the child within us and we all get together to enjoy the celebrations. Cheers to the festive season!!

At peace!

The sky melts again
The clouds roar again
I dash out to witness
Rain Gods showering again.

Like a small bubbling child
With arms spread wide open
I try to collect in my palms
The pitter patter rain drops.

I feel free, I feel myself
I need no one, I need no more
Other than to soak myself
In those showers from the sky.

I drench myself completely
And wash off all the worries,
Engulf myself in eternal peace
And say life is beautiful!

Namma Bengaluru

It has been 4 months since I shifted to Bangalore, and days have been passing with a jet speed since then. While the first month went off in settling and furnishing the house, the following months have been spent visiting places, relatives, friends and partying. I have been wanting to write for a long time, but life has been too busy off late.

Well, many people have been asking if I like Bangalore. There are many things to love Namma Bengaluru for, but the thing I like the most about this place is the abundance of known faces here. With so many relatives to pamper and friends to freak out with, I am sure I can never be bored in this city.

Next comes the weather, which has been anything but hot and sultry. Rains almost daily for an hour or so and I just love the chilly breeze that I have missed in the past years.

Never enjoyed cooking more and eating more. That is what happens when the husband is a foodie. I hope I can put on some weight atleast now :)

Have visited few places in and around the city. Absolutely loved the Flower Show at Lalbagh during Independence Day. For the first time I saw such an amazing variety of fresh colorful flowers at one place.
Went to Shivanasamudra falls which was some 3 hrs drive from Bangalore. Due the rainy season, the falls was flooded with water and tourists.
Also went to Coorg for a long weekend. It was raining there throughout but nothing can beat the fun factor when 6 friends are out together at any place. Enjoyed to the core, it is more of a place to relax than sight seeing. The Golden Buddhist temple on way back from Coorg is beautiful. We can see gold-coated Buddhist statues inside the temple.

There are many places and friends still left to be visited, but that will eventually happen over a period of time.

I have been somewhat disappointed with the shopping malls in Bangalore. Chennai happens to be a much better shopping hub and there is nothing compared to T.Nagar of Chennai. Multiplexes are too costly here and watching movies in theater has become a rare time-pass now.

More experiences with this metro will come later! At present - Life, I love you!!

Singapore notes

Four years back, when I first went to New York, what struck me about the city was its incredible energy. It’s a city that never sleeps. I experienced a similar joie de vivre when I recently visited Singapore. Apart from the regular sight-seeing which most tourist places offer, Singapore has an amazing night-life. The city is all lighted up, bustling with people at night and looks splendid.

The main tourist attractions in Singapore are the Singapore Zoo (with night safari), Jurong Bird park, Sentosa island, the Chinese-Japanese gardens and Science centre. The Singapore Zoo and the Jurong bird park happen to be one of the best in the world. The Fish SPA at the Singapore Zoo was a unique experience and should not be missed.

Sentosa island has three beaches which are a good spot for dining and relaxing. The island offers many fun rides, games and 3D/4D shows which are a major attraction for children. The underwater world at Sentosa did not appeal much, though many school kids are brought here on trips to experience the aquatic life.

The Science centre was also not much impressive, but nevertheless my husband was too keen to visit it. We didn’t get enough time to visit the Chinese and Japanese gardens.

In the evening we went for city walk. The center of Singapore which has the Merlion statue with the enormous Marina Bay Sands resort overlooking it, offers an excellent spot for photoshoot. Singapore is also called the “Lion City” and statue of the Merlion symbolizes the same.

The night-life can be enjoyed at the casinos in Sentosa Island and Marina Bay Sands. They provide free entry, snacks and drinks for tourists. The casino at Marina Bay Sands is the world's second most expensive casino after Las Vegas!!

Singapore happens to be a shopper’s paradise. While the Orchard street offers a wide range of luxury malls with luxury brands, the 24-hrs shopping centre at Mustafa is what attracts tourists the most. The LCDs/LEDs and electronic gadgets are just too cheap here and this makes the outlet bustling with tourists in the morning as well as throughout the night. Tourists get an additional 7% GST refund on all the items purchased from here. This is also the best place for foreign currency exchange as it offers the best exchange rates in Singapore. There are many restaurants outside Mustafa, so dining is not a major problem here.

The locality adjacent to Mustafa is “Little India”, which as the name suggests is indeed little India. The lanes crowded with Indians, the shops, the indian music and bhajans, the eat-outs and the hoard of indian sweets and vegetable market made us forget that we are in a foreign country.

Though there are many tour packages available to guide the city tour and sight-seeing, but the city is so well connected with Metro trains and city buses that we can very well manage without a tour guide. Overall, Singapore is a small tourist place and if planned well, the entire city tour can be completed in 4-5 days. The sweet memories and suitcase full of gifts that returned with us are forever to cherish!

Hazaron khwahishen aisi

We, as humans, are born to live with bountiful dreams, wildest fantasies, wishes, and aspirations. Some are easily attainable, some are almost impossible. Some continue to chase their dreams while others surrender amidst life’s setbacks and disappointments. But as Raymonds had said in one of the episodes “When one of your dreams come true, you begin to take the other ones a little more seriously”, I so much agree with this.

For me it all started when early this year a diamond ring was lovingly slid into my ring finger. Since then, I have been living one dream after another. The best part of wedding is all the shopping that accompanies it with no one to put a stop. Over the past 4 months I have been shopping everything that I had ever wanted - the most beautiful and grand dresses, the elegant jewels, footwear, bags, cosmetics and the list goes on. It was a phase of extreme happiness to see the excitement of family and friends for the occasion. Such was the level of enthusiasm that even my super-heavy bridal attire was so easily manageable.

Post wedding, we are trying to settle down in our new home in Bangalore. We have been furnishing our paradise, just the way I had always dreamt of. I thank God for giving immense patience to my husband for fulfilling my never-ending wishes.

Life holds no promises as to what will come our way, but at present, its amazing to see that what I have always wished for has finally come to be.

The end of Chennai era

It has been 7 yrs in this city and its definitely not a small period!! My second longest stay in a place other than my hometown. As Jhumpa Lahiri had mentioned in one of her books – “the place to which you feel the strongest attachment isn’t necessarily the one you’re tied to by blood or birth, it’s also the place that allows you to become yourself”. I have similar sentiments for Chennai.

I started my professional career here, built an identity of my own and became independent. Excluding one year of my stay at onsite, I have been here till date. Now that I am moving out tomorrow, it’s a mixed feeling of happiness and sadness.

Despite all the cribs I had about this place for its weather and language problems, I am going to miss it for sure for its wonderful beaches, my favorite shopping joints, its posh and affordable multiplexes, its infrastructure, its flyovers and it being the safest metro. I made some really wonderful friends here whose friendship I will cherish life-long. The hospitality I received at some of my friends’ home in and around Chennai has been overwhelming. I was like a second daughter to their parents, and no, its not an exaggeration.

While most of my friends are out of Chennai now, I am leaving behind 2 very special friends whom I’ll be missing a lot. But then there should be someone here to welcome me if I ever visit this place again :)

Starting the new chapter of my life in Bengaluru from next month. With a heavy heart, adieu Chennai!

We, The Living

During a recent visit to my home, I met one of my school friends, after a gap of almost 10 years. After the initial surprises, hugs and happiness, we started with a recap of the past years when we were not in touch. She happens to be married, has a baby of 2 years and is working in Pune. Though she is happy in her own world, one factor that disappoints her is her baby being left in day-care during the weekdays.

This was not the first time I was hearing the story of working moms. Its been a plight for many mothers, and is often accompanied by a feeling of remorse for not being able to spend quality time with their child. I see two main reasons for this -

The "aaj ki naari" is more career-oriented and has an identity of her own. Having been accustomed to the luxury of a professional world, she does not want to sacrifice it and get into a monotonous life of full-time mom at home.

For some women, working is a necessity for financial stability. The rising prices clubbed with our unsatiable hunger for a better life makes survival quite difficult even with double income. This leaves her no option other than to continue her job.

I often wonder how our parents managed it so well in their times. How my very educated mother never once thought of building her career so that she could spend all her time providing care and support to her children. Never did my parents feel that single income was so insufficient to help us achieve our career goals. We lived comfortably well within our means. We were contented. That contentment factor is no more there. Now, our definition of a happier and peaceful life no longer matches with that of our parents. We have little time to spend with our families. We are just working very hard to achieve more and more. We are running on treadmill that would never stop. Is this how we should be enjoying life? I hope not!