Best Holiday Ever!

Five countries in ten days! Sounds crazy, right! Well that is what we did! AND IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE BEST HOLIDAY EVER!

It all started on an evening after a frustrating day at work. This was last month. Both SSM and I groaned and cribbed and kept saying that we need a break. So we started planning a holiday. To Gangtok, and then Himalayas, and then I don't know how but we started talking of Norway. And we decided that we had to go to Norway. A week later we were at the Visa office.

We had made up an itinerary after reading exactly three travelling blogs, to be submitted at the Visa office. We had no idea how we were planning this. Rather, we were not planning it at all. And then by the time the Visa came in we realised that we had two week before we traveled, we had no tickets, and we had no plan.

And so while we were not really for it, we started rummaging packaged tours and decided on one finally.

And it wasn't bad. Hectic? Yes. Satisfying? Hell, yes!

We visited Helsinki, Tallinn, Stockholm, Oslo, Bergen and Copenhagen. And we had a BLAST!

We got the best weather. We got snow and rain and sun and quilt shops! And we got to see what heaven looks like. And I won't write anymore. The pictures will say it all. <3 p="">

Sculpture at Oslo

Flowers everywhere

What dreams are made of! Norway

The houses and Fjords, Norway

Heaven in Norway

The houses in Bergen

I wish I lived in this. Bergen

Houses in Bergen

The Cherry Tree

Happiness

Paradise in Oslo

More flowers

The Cathedral in Helsinki

This seagull who loved the camera. Tallinn

An haunted castle at Tallinn. (Because almost everything here is haunted)

Paradise!

A normal conversation and a lesson about rules.

SSM: So, how was the flight?

Me: Oh, good. Finished reading an awesome book. I'll tell you about it.

SSM: Alright. And did you eat something good on the flight.

Me: Well, thanks to you, I had to have upma and masala tea.

SSM: Thanks to me? What do you mean, thanks to me?

Me: I asked you to web check me in on seat no 6A!

SSM: So? It wasn't available! What has that got to do anything with you eating upma.

Me: If I was on 6A I would have eaten the grilled chicken with rosemary and caramelised onion sandwich, and a manchow soup.

SSM: So that got over by the time the tray reached you?

Me: No, they still had it!

SSM: So??? Okay, I know where this is going. This is not gonna make any sense. I know it. But tell me anyway.

Me: As a rule I only have the grilled chicken with rosemary and caramelised onion sandwich, and the manchow soup when I am on 6A. Any other seat and I will eat upma and drink masala chai.

SSM: ????

Me: It is a rule. My rule. I live by that rule.

SSM: So even if you feel like not eating upma, you still will?

Me: Yes! That is what rules are for. You follow them.

SSM: Nonsense!

Me: No wonder you are so undisciplined.

SSM: I am sorry we even had this conversation. Lets stop talking for a while.

Me: Okay. But next time remember... 6A.

I have new guppies and they love Salman Khan.

I was at Shantiniketan last weekend.

No, that is not a big deal, because Santiniketan is the place where I lived in my past life and had a romantic encounter with a snake charmer who later strangled me with silk cord because his snakes refused to strangle me… 

Yeah, that was crap.

But I keep going to Shantiniketan because I love the place. So that really is not the big deal.

This time we also visited Lipi Di. (Now, that is a big deal.) Now, if you have visited Shantiniken and not visited Lipi Biswas, you have really missed something. So the next paragraph, I shall write a bit about her because she is a bundle of awesomeness.

Lipi Biswas's Pottery Studio (Picture taken from the internet)

Lipi Biswas is a potter who lives amongst nature. Her home is ecologically built by her and her husband, Bidyut Roy who is an artist. Lipi Di has her studio in Shantiniketan and she makes beautiful ceramic pottery. You can know more about her here and here. And next time that you are in Shantiniketan, do visit her.

So while we were at Lipi Di’s place enjoying some lovely coffee, She asked Ri if he wanted some guppies. (Guppies are tiny colourful fishes.) Before Ri could say a thing, I jumped and said, “of course he wants some guppies.” 

SSM gave me a glare almost instantly. It is amazing how instantly his reflexes work some times. It is even more amazing how I choose to ignore them. The only reaction that Ri had was – Do the guppies eat ants – which meant that he totally wanted the guppies as well.

But SSM started being difficult just then. Statements such as these started flowing out of his mouth: We have no place to keep guppies… They are in natural environment here – let them be… We already have birds… The guppies will die by the time we reach Kolkata…

Lipi di was sweet enough to say that the guppies do not need much space and they can stay easily in a jar. That was all I wanted.

I had decided by then that I may leave SSM behind but the guppies go with me. (SSM drives the car so I couldn’t possibly leave him behind as much as it was tempting at that moment)

When Lipi di left us for a moment, SSM glared back.

“Are you mad?” he asked. I wonder why he keeps asking me that all the time.

“We take the guppies or I take a billy goat from one of the villagers back home. You decide” I hissed. (I half hoped that he would agree on the billy goat)

“Are you mad?” he asked AGAIN. It is like his mantra.

“Listen, no one says no to free guppies… or free anything” I hissed again. (Wow, I have been hissing quite a bit. I am now starting to believe in the snake charmer crap I wrote in the beginning.)

“The fishes will die. How on earth do you think they will survive all the way to Kolkata?” SSM asked.

“They will be fine. I will take them to Kolkata alive.” I replied

“They need oxygen and vitamins and blue and you need to change their water regularly. It is a hassle. I know; I have had fishes.” SSM argued. (It was a one sided argument because nothing that he said in that statement made any sense to me.)

“Look, a billy goat!” I pointed out.

He replied with something that sounded like a groan confused with a grunt.

So, finally, Lipi di gave us thirteen guppies; in a tiny bottle; and they looked super happy.

Guppies in a desi daaru bottle

Ri was super happy too. We made a plan to build an ant farm in a jar to feed the fishes.

I was super happy because the guppies and Ri were happy.

SSM was the only one super upset. He should have just agreed to the billy goat offer.

SSM made a final feeble attempt. He said, “Imagine how disturbing it will be when we eat fishes as we watch the fishes”

“I agree”, I said “We should have a code word every time we mention that we want to eat fishes so that we do not cause trauma to the guppies”

SSM gave up.

The guppies enjoyed journey back to Kolkata. They seemed extra happy every time a Salman Khan song played on the car stereo. They swam like crazy then, and THAT moment created the special bond between me and the guppies.

Guppies in the car enjoying the ride and dancing to Salman Khan songs

They reached Kolkata, alive. Ha! To SSM.

I placed them in two glass jugs. I then added some money plant twig to the jar and shouted aloud loud – the plant is to give you oxygen and food, my little ones – loud enough for SSM to hear.

SSM shouted back – two more days and they will be dead. (They are still alive and kicking swimming.)

Look at them - playing 'let's strangle each other with the roots' (Okay, Now I totally believe that snake charmer strangling me, crap)

In the jar

The same evening at dinner,

Me: The dead swimmer

SSM: What?

Me: The dead swimmer – that is the code

SSM: Code for what?

Me: Code for whenever we want to eat fish, so that the guppies don’t know that we are eating fish.

SSM just walked off from the table then. I have a feeling he did not enjoy his dinner much.

***

PS: The guppies love ants.

*** Since SSM has jinxed the life of my guppies so much, I am going to use this post as one of those spam campaigns that run on social media these days. So all you need to do is leave a comment on this post to give life to the guppies. Each comment on this post will give an extended life of two months to each guppy.

Those yellow ambassadors!

Taxis are sexy…

… and taxi drivers, sexier

As a kid when I would hear that particular folk tale about the little boy who tried to reach the moon but could not and it saddened him terribly to realise that the moon was something beyond his reach, I would, in my mind, always replace the moon with taxis.

Truth 1: I would replace the moon with taxis not just when I was a kid but till the time I ever lived in Bombay.

Truth 2: The folk tale that I mentioned above does not exist. I just made it up. Do not waste time going around googling it.

Truth 3: Editing text when in italics is the most difficult thing ever.

The reason why taxis were beyond my reach is because in the suburban Bombay that I grew up, middle class families did not travel in taxis. No, not when there were buses, autos and trains available at every corner of the streets. (Not the trains, silly. Buses, well almost.) Rather walking was the most preferred mode of transport.

So imagine my joy when I got to Kolkata to realise that travelling in taxis was seriously no big deal. I actually had people convincing me that it was okay to travel in taxis. ‘EVERYONE does’, they said as I gaped at them, my eyes shining bright. And then there was no looking back. I started believing that taxis was the only reason why destiny had brought me to Kolkata.

And thus began my love with the lovely yellow Kolkata taxis and the taxi drivers.

Yes, taxi drivers.

As my taxi rides increased I realised that while I am not too much of a conversationalist, it does not hold true with taxi drivers. I love talking to them.

People who know me know that I do not indulge into talks about politics. But the other day I spent the entire half hour of the journey discussing politics. It began with the driver complaining about how life has become difficult for them due to TMC and ended with a discussion on the pros and cons of AAP and Modi.

It was only yesterday that the Taxi driver, as we crossed Jaan Bazaar Market started telling me about how he had picked up bhindi (okra) (I used to call it ladies’ fingers till I got to know that it is also called okra. I prefer calling it okra now because it sounds like Orko and that reminds me of He-Man and that kind of gives me energy to eat okra) Yeah, weird! 

So the driver got around telling me how he had got bhindi for Rs. 15 a kilo and how elated he was about it. He then told me that bhindi is his most favourite thing on earth. His wife tries to make bhindi for him whenever possible and he can eat an entire thala-ful of rice with just the bhindi ka sabji.

The passion with which he spoke about bhindi was just brilliant. I thought to myself that even if I had shown half the amount of passion for my writing, Indians today would have be fiercely debating on facebook  about me, my books and the movies made from those books. I would be going around giving sermons on women empowerment. Anyway.

The nice guy also shared his favourite bhindi recipe with me. I shall try it someday.

I have had drivers cribbing to me about the rush in front of alcohol shops before a dry day. I have had drivers asking me how the newspaper industry works and why they prefer a certain newspaper over another. Weather discussions have been extremely frequent. One driver also almost invited me over to his sons wedding.

I have also been scolded by taxi drivers.

 This was one winter morning. I left for work and got into a taxi. Five minutes later the taxi driver asked, “Aapne koi garam kapde kyon nahi pehene hai?”

“Itni bhi koi thand nahi hai,” I replied.

And then he started reprimanding me. He totally ticked me off for not realising that being a hero and trying to bare the cold will lead to weakened bones as I grow old. He went on about how I should have my head covered with a shawl and wear sweaters. I was quite worried that he might stop the taxi and buy me a pair of socks. I would have actually loved that. He didn't.

When I got off, he again turned around and said, “kal yaad se sweater pehen lijiyega.” I obediently nodded my head, paid the fare and walked off.

So there, conversations with taxi drivers have always been great fun. And if the drivers are not great conversationalists themselves then there are those numerable times when I have sung along with them to the songs aired on the radio. Chorus singing with taxi drivers is fun. You should really try that some day. They might even give you a discount on the fare for all you know. No, I have never got a discount. I do know that someday I will.

But amidst all the conversations and fun moments that I have shared with taxi drivers, there is one rendezvous with a taxi driver that had my heart taken away. 

I was just a few months old in the city then.

SSM and I were returning from the airport after a late night flight. We called for a pre-paid taxi. When the taxi arrived at the gate, the driver got off and helped us with our bags. We had taken the bypass route. It was pretty late and the exhaustion of our journey had made us pretty quiet. 

Mid-way we heard a song being played on a loudspeaker. The song was – “Ganga boicho keno”

SSM, out of habit, immediately asked me, “Bolo, whose song is this?”

Before I could reply, the driver answered with a lot of confidence, “Dr. Bhupen Hazarika. Song released in 1971”

SSM and I stared at each other, astounded.

Once we reached, the driver got off along with us, took all out luggage out and carried it to the lift. Only after he did that, did he take the fare from us.

And when I thanked him, he gave a slight bow and replied in perfect English, “I was just doing my duty, ma’am. It was my pleasure.”

I stared at him with amazement as he walked back to the taxi.

And that was the moment I fell in love with the city.

***

There have been many lovely taxi rides and each taxi ride has made me love the city even more. Almost never have I felt threatened by a taxi driver. And the yellow ambassadors will be the most prominent picture in the collage of Kolkata that I have in my mind.

Someday I might just elope with a taxi driver. JLT.

About weeping willows, Pujo and quilting.

After a pre vacation post, I thought I would write a post about the vacation… Nah! Or a post about Pujo… Nah! Here I go and start writing about the quilt I completed. But, this post will have glimpses about my travel and Pujos may also just about get a mention.

Remember how I had started making a quilt for Ri centuries ago, I finally finished it. I had written about it here. And it had a mention here. (The second link is irrelevant, but hey, mera blog meri marzi, so well... :D)

Making the quilt was a fun experience. In the last update I had completed the quilt top and then it had been lying forlorn for quite a while in my ‘to do’ heap of fabrics. Yes, it’s quite a heap. Every time I promise myself that I will complete one before I begun something new, the fabrics and new project ideas stare at me with ‘puppy eyes’ and I can’t stop myself.

During my vacation to UK, I went quite bonkers at the sewing shops in Bedford. It was like getting lost in some magical land. Had it been my way, I would have liked to spend the entire holiday at the sewing and fabric shops. Okay, that's an exaggeration. Actually, it's not an exaggeration. I would have loved to spend my entire holiday in Bedford at the river side, reading and cycling, and at the sewing shop.
Yes, I am a weird kind of a traveller.

The sewing shop is filled with fabrics of various colours, shades, prints, textures and material. Threads- cotton and silk, and every colour ever imagined adorn the walls. It's one of the most vibrant places one could come across. It is what I imagine paradise to look like.

Two things that I carried back from the holiday were the memories of the sewing shops and the weeping willows by the embankment in Bedford.

Weeping willows - I recognised them the moment I set my eyes on them. And how couldn’t I. I mean, anyone, who has grown up on Enid Blyton would recognise the weeping willows. And I not just recognised them, but I grew ecstatic the moment I saw them. Weeping willows by the river side and BAM! I knew I loved the place.

So, well, when I got back to Kolkata, to Pujo in the air, to the almost ready pandals, to the vinyl hoardings for Pujo all over the city, people asked me, how was UK? – I replied, I loved Bedford. When they asked me, what did I get from there? – I replied, loads of fabric and sewing stuff. When they asked me, tell us about the trip. - I replied, Oh, Bedford is an awesome place. I simple loved it, lovely houses, river side and weeping willows. Oh, and it also has some awesome sewing shops. Finally they stopped asking me.

When I got back, the jet-lag actually helped. I spent the night peacefully, arranging my sewing cupboard with all the stuff I got.

And once that was done, the bug got me. I couldn’t wait to lay my hands on the sewing machine. It lured me with all the sensuality that it possessed but I needed peace and time to give both of us that satisfying experience. Four days, four long days is what we will have to wait for before the Pujo holidays began –  I explained, it understood.
 

Pujo holiday – sewing on my mind – I had decided to complete Ri’s quilt. The top was done. The backing I had not decided on. The batting is what I had got from the wonderful shop in Bedford.

So on day one of Pujo holidays – Saptami – I got all the fabrics out, racking my brains for the backing. I came across this one really old project I had started. The plan was to make a dotty appliqué quilt. I never really got my self to complete it. I didn’t like the way it had turned out and I had been meaning to use the seam-ripper on it for a while. So it was there lying shoved in a corner.

And then I had the brainwave (I am super smart at times) to use that as a backing. I tried it, it didn’t look too bad. I had to extend it from the sides and I used the fabric remaining from SSM’s quilt – the one you saw in the redundant link in the beginning. (It wasn’t really redundant, huh? – there I told you I am super smart.)I pieced the quilt together with the batting and left them for the day to get acquainted with each other.

Next day – Ashtami – I got the machine out first thing in the morning. Believe me; I could feel it tremble out of excitement as I touched it or maybe it was me... I set it up on the table before I went about the morning chores. I then got about completing the backing patchwork. Realisation - there is a certain thrill in making love to the sewing machine to the dhaak beats in the background.

I took a break only to not miss the awesome ashtami bhog. And then I began binding the quilt after having fixed it with tons of quilting pins. Let me tell you, batting is definitely not the best behaved thing in the universe. It did give me some trouble shuffling itself around. Slapping some stitches around did keep it quiet, though. And it was quite late when I finally finished sandwiching it between the top and the backing.
 

Navami – what was left now was to finish the edges off. I again rummaged around my stack and got leftover of the fabric I had used to make a dress for my younger niece. It was a lovely orange floral print over a grey background. Here I shall also be a show off and attach a picture of her wearing the dress (in Bedford).  Bwahahahaha! So, I had scraps of the fabric remaining and I decided to go ahead with it.

I made the bias strips with the fabric before I went downstairs to play Antakshri (which I won, in spite of the host (SSM) deliberately making it difficult for me) and divulging into a scrumptious lunch of pulav and mutton.

Back to the quilt, I had extra bit of the backing left toward the top and bottom end of the quilt, which I folded to cover up the quilt. I used the bias tape for the sides, and voila! we were done.
 

I was super happy with the way it turned out. Ri was very happy with it. The zigzags became a path for his cars and dotty that he is, he loved the dots. I was super duper happy that Ri was happy about it. And we ended having a happy, cuddly time inside it.

 

 

 

Idea for the dotty backing - here
Idea for the zig-zag quilt - here

Pre vacation post.

Source: http://www.oldukphotos.com/bedfordshirebedford.htm
 

 

I know, I haven’t blogged for a while and that is a criminal thing to do. But really, things here have been very busy. And the busiest thing of all has been planning our vacation.

Yay! We are off for a vacation tonight! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yipeee! *Okay, stop it now.*

So right, I have been busy making mental vacation checklists and ticking them off, and adding on to them, and getting really confused, and finally writing them down. This is a long awaited, much required vacation and in spite of the pre-travel jitters, I am really excited.

 

It is big for us. This is going to be our first international vacation together as a family. We, SSM and I, have been at it for long, like almost two years, planning out the food we will eat and the food we will eat when we go to UK. So much, that I have been having orgasmic dreams about Yorkshire puddings, Shepherd's pies and English breakfasts.

So it’s imprudent that we actually ended up getting out passports done only last month. Yes, we are lazy, crazy, unwise and all of that, we do end up doing things last minute. But hey, we did it. We got our visas last week and here WE ARE GOING.

 

We will be staying at Bedford with family. And I really look forward to some ‘sit by the river-side and read and write’ awesomeness, some stunning travel and yes, some scrumptious food.

I plan to be disconnected with the world for the next two weeks but I will come back with some wonderful stories. Yes, I will.

 

 

 

 

 

Travelling to Sikkim - A guest post.

 

Surrounded on three sides by Nepal,China and Bhutan, Sikkim is a highly-recommended destination for travellers who enjoy natural beauty and seek spiritual bliss. Known for its historic monasteries and spectacular view of Mt.Kanchendzonga, the third highest mountain in the world, the newest state in India is the epitome of unspoilt beauty, which is maintained thanks to the diligence of its locals.

Travelling to Sikkim involves reaching New Jalpaiguri Station in Siliguri via road or rail, or by taking a flight to Bagdogra airport and then renting or sharing a vehicle which will travel uphill towards Gangtok. The distance between both New Jalpaiguri-Gangtok and Bagdogra-Gangtok is between 117 to 121 kilometres and it will take approximately 2-3 hours to reach by road. Sharing a vehicle is a common practice by travellers as it saves money.
 

Once there, it will be easy to check into the innumerable hotels, resorts, villas and bed and breakfast inns which are run mostly by locals. It is usually recommended to get regular rooms without bothering much about the much-hyped “room with a view of the majestic mountains” as they incur heavy damage on the pocket and also because one would naturally be viewing the same mountains upon going outdoors! Choosing lodging near the M.G.Road is a good idea as it is centrally-located, is very near the mall and local eateries. Prices per night for a single room can be as low as $20 (INR 1000 approx) for a bed and breakfast.

 

Foodies will be delighted to learn of the many local delicacies and international cuisine which is offered by the people of Sikkim. It is mandatory to sample the many varieties of “Momo”, which is meat or vegetables stuffed in flour dough, moulded into dumpling shapes and either steamed or fried and served with a special red chilli sauce [each outlet is said to have its own unique blend]. Thukpa is a common meal choice for the Sikkimese; it is a noodle soup with meat or vegetables. For those who enjoy pork dishes, the Phagshapa is a must-try; it is basically pork fat which has been stewed with dry chillies and chopped radish. Those who enjoy a good pint of beer will enjoy a bamboo container full of Thomba or Change, which is local beer which has been made by fermenting millet with yeast. It is mandatory to sip the beer straight out of the bamboo container with a bamboo pipe, thereby making this a rather unique beer-drinking experience!

 

Among the many places to visit, the Nathula Passis an attraction which must not be missed. It is only available for Indian passport holders, and permission for visits must be applied for and acquired 24 hours before the trip. NathulaPass is the Indo-China border which is guarded by both Indian and Chinese soldiers who stand facing each other at an Altitude of 14790 feet.

 

For those who prefer quaint village sceneries to bustling commercial areas, Pemayangtse or Pelling village in West Sikkim, offers much natural beauty, peace and quiet as can be expected from a comparatively unspoilt tourist hotspot. The village proudly houses the ancient Pemayangtse Monastery which was built in 18th century A.D. and follows the Nyingmapa sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Pelling also offers a spectacular view of Mount Kanchendzonga, which is known as the guardian deity of Sikkim.

 

Rabongla in South Sikkim will appeal to those who are looking to explore local markets and hot springs. The historical Kawzing Market is a delight to visit and offers fresh local produce and local culinary delights. One can visit the Bonn and Ralong Monasteries and also the Borong Hot Springs. It is also interesting to view and visit the MaenamPeak which stands at an altitude of 10,300 feet.
 

The historic Rumtek Monastery is located 24 kilometres away from Gangtok, and is one of the most popular attractions for tourists and spiritual peace seekers. It was originally built in 1730 by the 9thKarmapa, but was destroyed in a fire and rebuilt. The monastery offers peace and sanctity, and houses the world’s most unique religious scriptures and manuscripts.

 

Another common and therefore crowded tourist attraction is the Tsomogo or ChangoLake, which is located near the Indo-China border at an altitude of 12.400 feet, 34 kilometres away from the state capital. It remains frozen between January to April and is considered to be holy, and the head of all the lakes in Sikkim.

 

Shopping in Sikkimis fun on M.G.Road where one can easily buy clothing and footwear at throwaway prices. Locally manufactured alcohol such as Dansberg are cheaper than other brands, and local cherry liqueur and crème de menthe are also worth a taste. Naturally these products are only available within the state, so sampling them and taking a few bottles home as gifts is a good idea. Free Wi-Fi is available in some cafes, and the friendly locals are always on hand to help in times of need. Most commuting is done via small mini vans or larger SUVs [for long trips], and given the potential of some drivers to overcharge, it is always advisable to do research on fares and rates before boarding.

 

Sikkim is one of the cleanest states in the country and follows strict protocols regarding the maintenance of its flora and fauna. There are fines for littering, even in the mall area where not even cars are allowed, and creating a nuisance, especially in and around places of worship, is a strict no-no. Overall, this is the place to visit if you are looking for peace, serenity, nature and good, wholesome food.

 

 

 

This is a guest article by www.glad2bawoman.com. To read articles on Health, Lifestyle, Relationships, Empowerment and Leisure, visit this woman-centric online magazine which has a fast growing community of over 75,000 members.