Everytime you switch on the TV.....
there is an ad trying to sell a total-workout machine for three easy payments of $19.99.
There are people who claim they’ve gone down 25 lbs, 10 inches and 5 dress sizes and are thrilled about it. They are either truly ecstatic or are convincing actors. Either way, you can’t help but wonder how you’d look if you could shed those extra pounds.
Oprah is talking about her transformation.....
and so are her guests. They insist they are more confident, more active and more successful now. Anything to be successful; what?
You can’t eat out as much as you can in India.....
more so if you are a vegetarian.
How long can you wash a BK Veggie and a King size French fries down with a tall glass of diet coke?
How many times can you relish the Veggie Delight at subway?
How many times before you realize that you are a far better cook than the non-Indians who cook at the Indian restaurants?
The gyms here are great for three reasons:
The equipments have displays that work!
Nobody gives you a second look ( or even a first for that matter ), no matter how fat or how gorgeous you are.
There are people who are much much fatter than you are, so there is hope for you.
(‘Fat’ did I say? Sorry, it's banned here. We're all just ‘overweight’.)
There is no wedding to attend every weekend.....
and no vanilla ice-cream with gulab jamun that you simply cannot resist.
There are no aunts’ houses to visit.....
and no samosas and sweets to force down your throat.
And lastly....
if you are sitting at home like me, there’s nothing better to do! :-)
-------
If that was 'why...', there’s also a 'why... not'
French fries never tasted better.
So this is what real brownies and doughnuts taste like! Can I have another piece of coconut pie please?
Lazy afternoon with a good book to read, can a bowl of Mocha Almond Ice-cream be far behind?
Dress sizes can be misleading. 'M' here corresponds to the 'L' back home. An easy fit into the M can give you a false feeling of fitness.
Finally, All sedentary work and no play can make jack(and jill) not just dull, but also dangerously overweight!
So....what are you waiting for? Don your gym wear and head staright for the treadmill! Or do you like weight training better?! ;)
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
Bitten by the Ammani bug!
At the cost of sounding like Anu Malik, I must admit that what follows has been "inspired" by Ammani's quick tales. :)
They moved out to live in a far away land, away from relatives and friends. Children would not be disturbed during exams and unexpected guests would not drop in at unearthly hours. It worked. They now make frequent trips to their native land to re-establish broken bonds. And they talk to their son every Sunday morning, begging him to return.
They moved out to live in a far away land, away from relatives and friends. Children would not be disturbed during exams and unexpected guests would not drop in at unearthly hours. It worked. They now make frequent trips to their native land to re-establish broken bonds. And they talk to their son every Sunday morning, begging him to return.
Monday, June 20, 2005
Hot Crossed Buns; anyone?
For a country and culture that believes that bread is for bedridden patients, we have a whole lot of bakeries. I bet there isn’t a single main road in Bangalore that doesn’t have one. From the small, lack-lustre Iyengar bakery to the the suave Nilgiris and Sweet Chariot, bakeries have come a long way.
Just like the darshinis of the 90’s that metamorphosed Chinese food to suit the Indian palate by introducing everything from the original gobi to the latest mixed-vegetable Manchurian, bakeries have been inventing their own recipes for a long time now.
Black forest and pineapple pastries are common today, with every birthday party in town being celebrated with one, but some years ago it was unheard of. The best cakes then were the honey cakes, which didn’t have a drop of honey in them and plum cakes, which had everything but plum.
Pizzas and burgers were stuff in the Archie comics; what we did have were potato buns and vegetable puffs. Potato bun, a bun stuffed with a spicy potato-onion curry, complete with mustard and chana dal, made for a healthy snack option. That no one was bothered about calories and cholesterol then, is another matter.
And then, there were these triangular pies called dil-khush and man-pasand, both stuffed with tooty-fuity and desiccated coconut. I can’t quite tell why they had two different names, but they did live up to the names. How can I forget the cheapest cake - the apple cake, named so for no apparent reason and made from leftovers of the other cakes; a cake I relished for several years before I discovered the secret recipe.
Apart from these delicious and ingenious products that made bakeries irresistible for people and stray dogs alike, bakeries also made the standard breads. Not the whole grain, whole wheat and white bread that you get in the west; the ordinary, milk, fruit and sweet varieties. The ordinary for sandwich, the sweet for jam, fruit to have as is and milk on the doctor’s advice, for the sick kid, who’d rather starve than have it.
Posh bakeries have sprung up in several parts of the city today, but they are no competition to the neighbourhood bakery-behind-bus-stop.
These are places you rush to for a quick bite, in sickness and in health. On normal days and during curfews, when they sell milk and bread at exorbitant rates through half-closed shutters. Where the pale yellow banian clad guy assures you that everything you ordered is “Just made, fresh from oven madam”. Right. Fresh from the microwave oven stashed away inside. :)
Bakeries - we love them!
Just like the darshinis of the 90’s that metamorphosed Chinese food to suit the Indian palate by introducing everything from the original gobi to the latest mixed-vegetable Manchurian, bakeries have been inventing their own recipes for a long time now.
Black forest and pineapple pastries are common today, with every birthday party in town being celebrated with one, but some years ago it was unheard of. The best cakes then were the honey cakes, which didn’t have a drop of honey in them and plum cakes, which had everything but plum.
Pizzas and burgers were stuff in the Archie comics; what we did have were potato buns and vegetable puffs. Potato bun, a bun stuffed with a spicy potato-onion curry, complete with mustard and chana dal, made for a healthy snack option. That no one was bothered about calories and cholesterol then, is another matter.
And then, there were these triangular pies called dil-khush and man-pasand, both stuffed with tooty-fuity and desiccated coconut. I can’t quite tell why they had two different names, but they did live up to the names. How can I forget the cheapest cake - the apple cake, named so for no apparent reason and made from leftovers of the other cakes; a cake I relished for several years before I discovered the secret recipe.
Apart from these delicious and ingenious products that made bakeries irresistible for people and stray dogs alike, bakeries also made the standard breads. Not the whole grain, whole wheat and white bread that you get in the west; the ordinary, milk, fruit and sweet varieties. The ordinary for sandwich, the sweet for jam, fruit to have as is and milk on the doctor’s advice, for the sick kid, who’d rather starve than have it.
Posh bakeries have sprung up in several parts of the city today, but they are no competition to the neighbourhood bakery-behind-bus-stop.
These are places you rush to for a quick bite, in sickness and in health. On normal days and during curfews, when they sell milk and bread at exorbitant rates through half-closed shutters. Where the pale yellow banian clad guy assures you that everything you ordered is “Just made, fresh from oven madam”. Right. Fresh from the microwave oven stashed away inside. :)
Bakeries - we love them!
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
Some things you learn as a new (house)wife...
Coffee tastes better when someone makes it for you.
Pant pockets should be checked before tossing them into the washing machine.
Don't boil milk and watch your favourite program on TV at the same time.
The fabric you least expect to lose colour will, soiling all your whites, so don’t take any chances.
It is difficult to come up with innovative breakfast/snack ideas everyday.
Upma tastes a lot better when you’ve made it yourself.
Electricity costs this much?!! Why is that light on? Is someone in the room?
Work has a way of spreading itself, so don’t look surprised when housewives say they are busy all through the day.
Jars of sugar and spices don’t replenish themselves, someone fills them up.
You do the housework just the way your mom did it, even though you never did it her way when she was teaching you.
There’s great joy in making sacrifices, big and small.
And finally, being a housewife isn’t half as bad as you’d imagined.
Pant pockets should be checked before tossing them into the washing machine.
Don't boil milk and watch your favourite program on TV at the same time.
The fabric you least expect to lose colour will, soiling all your whites, so don’t take any chances.
It is difficult to come up with innovative breakfast/snack ideas everyday.
Upma tastes a lot better when you’ve made it yourself.
Electricity costs this much?!! Why is that light on? Is someone in the room?
Work has a way of spreading itself, so don’t look surprised when housewives say they are busy all through the day.
Jars of sugar and spices don’t replenish themselves, someone fills them up.
You do the housework just the way your mom did it, even though you never did it her way when she was teaching you.
There’s great joy in making sacrifices, big and small.
And finally, being a housewife isn’t half as bad as you’d imagined.
Monday, June 06, 2005
Coorg Diary - Part two
After the OC breakfast, we headed to the marketplace close by to buy film for R’s camera. Loaded (with film I mean), we looked for an auto rickshaw to take us to the first spot on the agenda – Abbey Falls. After some haggling, one guy agreed to take the four of us in his three wheeler for a reasonable sum. I sat on the side bar, while R, B and S were cramped in the seat which was clearly meant for two. The man drove like a maniac and the tortuous route and bumpy roads didn’t help matters at all.
After an uncomfortable and dangerous drive, we finally reached the destination. We got off the auto, but there was no sign of a waterfall anywhere. We got to know through a soft-drink vendor that we had to walk down 4-5 miles to get to Abbey. It was a pleasant walk, firstly because the path was shaded by trees, and secondly because I had thoughtfully worn shoes. A rather frail looking bridge had to be crossed to reach the waterfall and as usual I was scared. After B’s “Is there anything you are not scared of?” I relented.
The waterfall was breathtaking. We noticed a young girl on top of the falls, walking precariously to the other side and for a few moments were convinced she wanted to commit suicide. But as we watched terrified, she disappeared, only to get into a hut at the far end. These people live dangerously, everyday I mean.
Now it’s not possible that I go to someplace and don’t fall. So I had my customary fall at Abbey falls and B or S even captured the embarrassing moment on film. R refused to lend a helping hand, for the fear of getting drowned along with me. I was miffed, but they later convinced me it was for my own good. Yeah right!
Several photos and splashing-water-at-each-other later, we headed back. We had seen a foreigner cycling his way to Abbey on the way and now he was there. He had our back to us and since B was curious to know what he looked like, she requested him to take a picture of ours. She handed over the camera to him while a dozen desis looked on. If he was flattered or surprised, he didn’t show it.
We trekked back to the road, where our auto waited for us and we braced ourselves for the treacherous drive back to the city. We stopped at a restaurant for lunch and eager to taste Coorg-special cuisine asked the waiter if there was anything he could suggest. Suggest he did, but what? To quote him, “Handi Maamsa” [Translated verbatim: Pig’s meat]
“Naalakku South Indian Vegetarian mini meals please”
After an uncomfortable and dangerous drive, we finally reached the destination. We got off the auto, but there was no sign of a waterfall anywhere. We got to know through a soft-drink vendor that we had to walk down 4-5 miles to get to Abbey. It was a pleasant walk, firstly because the path was shaded by trees, and secondly because I had thoughtfully worn shoes. A rather frail looking bridge had to be crossed to reach the waterfall and as usual I was scared. After B’s “Is there anything you are not scared of?” I relented.
The waterfall was breathtaking. We noticed a young girl on top of the falls, walking precariously to the other side and for a few moments were convinced she wanted to commit suicide. But as we watched terrified, she disappeared, only to get into a hut at the far end. These people live dangerously, everyday I mean.
Now it’s not possible that I go to someplace and don’t fall. So I had my customary fall at Abbey falls and B or S even captured the embarrassing moment on film. R refused to lend a helping hand, for the fear of getting drowned along with me. I was miffed, but they later convinced me it was for my own good. Yeah right!
Several photos and splashing-water-at-each-other later, we headed back. We had seen a foreigner cycling his way to Abbey on the way and now he was there. He had our back to us and since B was curious to know what he looked like, she requested him to take a picture of ours. She handed over the camera to him while a dozen desis looked on. If he was flattered or surprised, he didn’t show it.
We trekked back to the road, where our auto waited for us and we braced ourselves for the treacherous drive back to the city. We stopped at a restaurant for lunch and eager to taste Coorg-special cuisine asked the waiter if there was anything he could suggest. Suggest he did, but what? To quote him, “Handi Maamsa” [Translated verbatim: Pig’s meat]
“Naalakku South Indian Vegetarian mini meals please”
Saturday, June 04, 2005
Cinderella Man
For a simple and inspiring tale. For one man's love, sincerity and courage. For hope and faith. To root for the underdog. To cheer the winner. For Russell Crowe and the Joy of Winning...Watch the movie.
Thursday, June 02, 2005
Communication Gap
A: Hiiiii! How are you?
B: Oh Hi! I'm fine. So you finally remembered me huh?
A: Umm Yeah...I'm sorry I couldn't call you all these days.
B: Oh well, you've become very busy now. Where will you find the time for people like me?
A: (I wish I hadn't called! This is the last time I'm calling this person!)
Just how many times have you had a conversation like this? And which part do you play? A or B?
I'm A all the time and I'm tired of taking the blame. I call up, people say this; I log into msngr, I have msgs that ask me why I haven't mailed. They even end it with a "It's okay if you are too busy". Busy, me? Everyone knows that it's you who are busy sitting in your cubicle and kutting away, not me. So, what's with the insult? I'm sometimes tempted to ask these people why they didn't call. With phone and internet, I'm just a call or mail or msg away too, why didn't you take the initiative? One of these days, someone is going to get to hear this!
Sadly, I think this is how a lot of relationships end. Unfair expectations and the burden of being answerable all the time. Eventually, there are lies and the relationship begins to crumble. Do we need this? NO!
So the next time someone calls you after a long time, be nice. Ask no questions and you will hear no lies. Whatsmore, they will call you back sooner than later.
B: Oh Hi! I'm fine. So you finally remembered me huh?
A: Umm Yeah...I'm sorry I couldn't call you all these days.
B: Oh well, you've become very busy now. Where will you find the time for people like me?
A: (I wish I hadn't called! This is the last time I'm calling this person!)
Just how many times have you had a conversation like this? And which part do you play? A or B?
I'm A all the time and I'm tired of taking the blame. I call up, people say this; I log into msngr, I have msgs that ask me why I haven't mailed. They even end it with a "It's okay if you are too busy". Busy, me? Everyone knows that it's you who are busy sitting in your cubicle and kutting away, not me. So, what's with the insult? I'm sometimes tempted to ask these people why they didn't call. With phone and internet, I'm just a call or mail or msg away too, why didn't you take the initiative? One of these days, someone is going to get to hear this!
Sadly, I think this is how a lot of relationships end. Unfair expectations and the burden of being answerable all the time. Eventually, there are lies and the relationship begins to crumble. Do we need this? NO!
So the next time someone calls you after a long time, be nice. Ask no questions and you will hear no lies. Whatsmore, they will call you back sooner than later.
Wednesday, June 01, 2005
Las Vegas comes alive at night!
That's a photo taken from one of the several bridges that connect the two sides of the strip. There are trams and mono rails that run along the strip to take you to from one casino to another.
Newyork Newyork
Since the casinos look alike with slot machines everywhere, each hotel has a central theme to make it stand apart, this one's is New York and hence the statue of liberty.
Inside Venetian..
with the false roof you can't tell it 11 in the night!
This place is my favourite - Venice recreated complete with the Gondola ride! It takes you to a different era.
The name says it all!
Lion's the theme here and they also have a mini forest with real lions! Very classy, this one!
At the entrance of Luxor
The hotel's in the shape of a pyramid, much like the new building at Infy :) Well, it was new when I left Infy :)
The Famous LV strip as seen from Stratosphere
Stratosphere is the last of the magnificent casinos on the strip. It is 1,149 feet high and has some amazing rides at the top. I went on one called Big Shot that shoots you up at a high speed and brings you down in a free fall, and, it does this thrice! That was one time I wished I wasn't on TOP OF THE WORLD!
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