Guides, cool and ghar ka khana...

1. Natalie and Galit keep trying to help me find out places that I can visit on my own during the week.
2. The temperature that had soared in the past few days comes down a bit and in the late evening, the breeze is actually quite cold... pleasant days are back again :-)
3. I make khichdi in the little microwave in the hotel room. Somehow, it feels so good to eat Indian food after so many days! There's no doubt that the food here is very tasty, but I guess one craves for the food one has grown up on, and however simple it might be, there's a certain contentment in it...

Shalom!

Shalom Everyone! Its been long break from blogging for me, but not one that I've regretted. I have been very busy travelling - first I travelled to Karnataka for Shenoy's wedding and after a whirlwind of a week, I set foot in Israel. The whole experience has been quite a rich one.

Israel is one wonderful country and I think I fell in love with it on my way to the hotel from the airport! I'm staying in a very busy part of Tel Aviv called as Dizengoff and the Dizengoff circle is such a happy and cheerful place that one instantly feels relaxed and cheerful there!

The people, the food, Tel Aviv, the magnificent roads, the rich culture that you can feel in the air, all of it forms such a heady cocktail, that I was quite intoxicated for my first few days here. Then of course we went sight seeing to Jaffa, Masada and then to the Dead Sea over the weekend. All this activity has kept me so busy and so much has been happening in life that blogging had to take a slight back-seat... Only now has some normalcy been restored after the initial excitement of being in a new country has lessened somewhat and something of routine has been created for the weekday (the weekends will, without exception, rock!). I hope to get back to 3BTing from tomorrow, though really, right now, life ain't 'ain't that bad'... its great!

End of the week, fruit and the uber cool surprise

1. Kabballah Sabbath today turns out to be one joyous occassion. For some reason, everyone is in a boistrous mood, and there's plenty of laughter and leg pulling. And as I come back to my desk, I find that my step is jaunty and I'm laughing easily. The friday mood has caught on with me, or perhaps the realization, that the week's over, and that I'm going to be on leave on Monday and Tuesday!
2. Talking to mum n dad on gtalk - the fruit of a lengthy and tedious phonecall in which I explain in excruciating detail every step that must be followed to download gtalk, install it and get it running on their PC. The fruit is, of course, very sweet!
3. Because Aparna can't keep a secret, she lets on that I have a super duper uber cool birthday gift waiting to reach me. And while I'm still recovering from an amazement-induced speech disorder, she mentions that her hubby might travel to Israel and she might tag along. I do so pray that their trip may materialize and that our visits to Israel coincide.

Extra time, that's done and f(e)ast

1. Getting up just half an hour earlier makes such a difference to my day. I get the time to take a bath and get ready for office before the driving class. So I'm ready really early, and even though I take the time out to visit Kaka and drop a package at his place, I'm still earlier than I usually am in office...
2. Getting 90% ticks on my To Do list :-)
3. The cook has washed the sabudana (sago) for making khichdi tomorrow. I think nothing of it till mum mentions that its MahaShivratri tomorrow and asks me if I'm going to observe a fast (for the uninitiated, our fasts are not really fasts. Far from it! We're allowed certain foods, and we turn them into feasts!). That's when the sabudana khichdi suddenly clicks!

I was there too, panacea and the promise of youth

1. Finding some nice pics of me in Dipti's album.... I'd forgotten she'd taken pics at the Ganpatipule outing too... All my folks, especially grandma, who saw the pictures I had taken, complained that there were too few pics of me (since I was the one manning the camera, of course!). They'll be happy now.
2. I've felt low and restless and not altogether chipper all day. But when I get into the car and drive it to the showroom to get the registration papers and number and then back, I'm somehow cured. And this inspite of having to drive in the heavy peak-hour traffic. (And btw, the number's familiar too - 8428. But I dunno why!)
3. Sa Re Ga Ma Pa on Zee Marathi started with their latest season last week, so my Monday and Tuesday nights are spoken for, for the nest few months. This season, all the contestants are aged 40 and above. And while I had my doubts about how good they'd be (forgive me!) when this was announced, my doubts have not only been laid to rest, but my expectations have also been surpassed. Much unlinke the youngsters who had participated in the earlier seasons, these artists have a certain maturity to their voices and their much superior and detailed riyaaz shows through... And they all are so genuinely happy to have been given such a platform at a stage in their life when they have almost given up hope of ever singing for such a large audience...

Sweet temptation, highway glory and Filmfare

1. Giving in to the temptation of an afternoon nap... sweet...
2. Driving my baby on the highway... its a smooth drive, and such a pleasure. I gain more confidence in today's drive that I've done in any of the previous drives. Its good to have no one instructing me on what to do, and I can take my own decisions. Admittedly, I make a few mistakes, but I know what they are, and I'll know to avoid them in the future...
3. Watching the Filmfare Awards on TV. Saif and Shahrukh are a riot... and all my yearnings for bollywood masala are fulfilled - for the time being.

Two minds, proud, babe and giddy

1. Being in an overdrive all day, in anticipation for the evening. My mind works on two levels - on one, I'm working fast, getting things done and on the other, I'm going giddy waiting for the evening. And finally, as evening draws near, the second mind takes over, and I can barely be still...
2. Mom calls to say that though they couldn't be here with me today to share my very special moment, but I was to remember that they're with me, and are so so proud! I could've jumped with joy then... and I think I did...
3. The first glimpse of my car, sparkling in all its splendour... and running my hand along it for the first time. And then getting behind the wheel and bringing the baby home...
4. Feeling giddy once I sit down to think and the feeling of finally having my car - my first car, starts to sink in...

Two ticks, splash and the God of words...

1. I finally finish all the documentation for the car! whew! and for the travel... another whew!
2. A mad pool side party which ends as every proper pool side party should - with some people jumping into the pool fully clothed, and the others cheering them on...
3. Listening to Gulzar's songs... he's God! At the end of a mad day where I've run from pillar to post from morning till evening and then attended a boistrous and loud party, listening to his songs calms me down and puts me into a different mood altogether - quiet and somewhat whimsical. The imagery he creates with his lyrics touches something inside me...

Dance with me, net-savvy and Has It!

1. The mindblowing dance sequences in Dance With Me. The plot is nothing to write home about, but the dances...! My eyes have trouble following the dancers as they fluidly and furiously move. It seems impossible that two people can move with such grace, synch, and speed, but they do! And the result is spectacular....
2. Mum is becoming net-savvy! Her emails pop up in the middle of the day, these days. Today she writes to tell me that my pictures from Ganpatipule have come out beautifuland that my grandmother loved them too..
3. I love my new jeans! The fabric has lycra so that it stretches and is soooo very comfortable!

Sitting insured by the rains

There are some says - where nothing really happens and you are so happy about that. Today was one such day.


1. Sit down and try to look active

That's all I did today :)


2. I am insured

After days of follow up I get my long due insurance card. Thank God I can now fall sick and be relieved about it.

3. The Rain Song

The music, the progression, the lyrics...gets me thinking... really good song. Led Zeppelin is synonymous with greatness. Plant thought it was his best vocal performance. I don't know about that... I am not qualified to put him on any scale. I don't think anybody is, except he himself maybe. It is a love ballad and George Harrison supposedly had asked them why they don't write any ballads. It is believed to be the inspiration behind this song. You don't have to be a rock music lover to love this song. Just listen to it. It is pure genius !

Live YouTube
Studio Version

It is the springtime of my loving - the second season I am to know
You are the sunlight in my growing - so little warmth I've felt before.
It isn't hard to feel me glowing - I watched the fire that grew so low.

It is the summer of my smiles - flee from me Keepers of the Gloom.
Speak to me only with your eyes. It is to you I give this tune.
Ain't so hard to recognize - These things are clear to all from
time to time.

Talk Talk - I've felt the coldness of my winter
I never thought it would ever go. I cursed the gloom that set upon us...
But I know that I love you so

These are the seasons of emotion and like the winds they rise and fall
This is the wonder of devotion - I seek the torch we all must hold.
This is the mystery of the quotient - Upon us all a little rain must fall...It's just a little rain...

Healthy, that 70's show and wisp

1. No junk food all day!
2. I finally wear my broad 70's style hairband with the new brown top (its been awaiting it's turn for a couple of months now). It's spiffy! And it also generates a lot of comment of varied nature, but the gist is that I'm looking 'nice'.
3. A day so busy that I haven't many moments to breathe, but at the end of the day, I'm not tired. Imagine walking on a hot day, without stopping. You go on without a thought, intent only walking and then suddenly a wisp of cool breeze gently and unexpectedly touches you. Something like that happened today. The wisp disappeared, but it's memory lingered, and so did the smile it brought, and I walked on with an added spring to my step...

Strange rays of jazz stoping and spilling the musical coffee

Back again!

1. Dr Strangelove

WOW wow wow wow wow ... anybody sucker for dark comedies ? Pick this one up...it reminded me of Catch 22 and that being my favorite book- you know how much I loved this movie!

Peter Sellers is totally hilarious! and so is George C Scott. Undoubtedly Kubrick's best.


2. Juno again

I loved this movie so much - I decide I should give company to an office friend and ended up watching it again. It wins a well deserved - best original screenplay award :) I am so happy to heard that!!!


3. Jazz

We roam around East Village and on instinct enter a church playing live Jazz. It turns out to be awesome. The quality of vocals wasn't the greatest, but the music was really soothing.

4. Stomp

After a long time I get to see something really creative and inventive. They use ordinary objects (sink, trash can, broom, pipes, cans, newspaper, plastic forms etc) to create amazing music. And it turns out that tickets are cheap for that particular show. Extra bonus :) This one too we didn't plan- just landed up on instinct.

They are funny, witty and charming. They are categorized as 'percussive physical theater dance troupe'. What ever that means!

5. House

I just can't get over it. I watch 2-3 episodes at a strech, whenever i DO. Sort of innovative medical investigative serial about a maveric doctor and his unconventional methods of solving really complicated cases.

6. Starbucks!

I confess ... I am a hardcore Starbucks fan now. land up at the cafe 4-5 times a week minimum.

7. Charulata, Ray and more

I suddenly find myself leaning back into some bengali movies and songs. I find some eager minds who want to know more. 'Aami chini go chini' is like an anthem to all bengalis, I have no problem in giving them the a flavor of the meaning and situation. I gladly also extend my discussionsto other bengali movies of Ray (Apu's trilogy etc) and one kick ass movie called 'Teen bhubaner paare' (I just can't stop showering praises for this movie). Subhrangshu got me this one. Boy, am I grateful to him for that or what! :)
Infact he has to an extent introduced to great bengali cinema. Thanks dude!

8. Ami chini go chini

I am not qualified even to the minutest extent to talk about Rabindra Sangit. I will skip that completely. This is the beautiful song from the movie Charulata (my favorite Ray movie):-

YouTube video



Original:-

Ami chini go chini tomare o go videshini
Tumi thaako shindhu paare o go videshini

Dekhechi sharodo-praate tomar
Dekhechi madhobi-raate tomar
Dekhechi hride majhare
O go videshini

Ami aakashe patiya kaan
Sunechi sunechi tomare gaan
Ami tomare sopechi praan
O go videshini

Bhubhon bhramiya sheshe
Ami ayeshechi nooton deshe
Ami otithi tomare daare
O go videshini

Ami chini go chini tomare
O go videshini.
(this last O go videshini, is sung in the movie as "O bo thakurani")

Meaning (quite a crude one, but never the less a literal conversion of words):-

I know you, know you o lady from foreign land You live across the ocean o lady from foreign land

I have seen you on autumn mornings
I have seen you on Madhavi nights
I have seen you in the middle of (my) heart
O lady from foreign land

I have turned my ears to the sky
And have heard your singing
I have offered my soul to you
O lady from foreign land

After traveling around the world
I have come to a new country
I am a guest at your door
O lady from foreign land

I know you, know you o lady from foreign land (sister-in-law)

Visitor, happiness on sale and on call

1. Rashmi (the other one) lands up at my place in the afternoon. There's so much to talk! She's excited about the stuff life's made of... And of course, we decide to head for some shopping!
2. The Happiness Sale!! I've never seen a sale so appropriately named! I finally find a pair of jeans (on sale!) that I can wear without baring half my bum... I also find the elusive brown top I've spent the entire winter hunting for - and on that I can pick up another one free (yay! for buy 1 get 1 free)... the shopping is rounded off with a pair of pretty silver sandals. Perfect.
3. A happy happy chat with Tanmoy. He's making plans for spending his Sunday in NY and we're hunting for old Gurudutt songs together. Hurrah for Skype!

Protection, luscious and summer's here

1. I finally remember to use the rubber gloves I'd bought, while washing the cups. They keep my hands clean and dry, and I don't have to apply moisturizer again after having played around in soap-water.
2. Luscious looking strawberrys that taste as marvellous as they look!
3. We herald the begining of summer with the first first ice cream of the season at Naturals. I remember last summer, when we used to head to Naturals almost thrice a week after dinner for ice-cream...

Breakfast adventures, rainbow at my feet and war!

1. Kris tells me there's one last idli left, if I fancy it, for breakfast. I do, so I rush to the pantry, to find it gone. To top it, both the vending machines are out of coffee. Disheartened, I settle for an apple, while Dharana goes exploring. Moments later, she returns with one idli on a paper plate with chutney on the side...
2. In front of Tower 2, on the podium, loads of petunia shrubs are in flower, bordering the lawns... the riot of colours looks like a rainbow at my feet.
3. 'Drama Queen' and 'High priestess of emotional blackmail' are two epithets bestowed upon me by Shenoy. You do realize this is nothing short of a declaration of war, don't you Shenoy? No mercy will be shown hence forth.