Monday, December 13, 2010
Happiness Mantra
ridin bikes fast, drivin cars lk crazy, drinkin more alcohol dan any1 in d party, changing GFs more dan any guy in d gang, havin d most handsomest of d boyfrn...making more money, buyin mor fones,dressin up tooo well,findin d meaning of love after a heartbreak, showin u're d best at work though u r insecure u r not, gossiping on a friend/enemy, shopping on d ones ur heart has set, goin out more, working very less, wanting to have more fun etc., phew!! this isn't bein happy at all!! this is inviting more sorrow to ur world!! just keep it simple..stay happy wit whatever u have..share a hug,make someone happy, give d brightest hello, warmest smile. truest value..then u'll always be happy, healthy, wealthy and Wise!!!! Good night
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Man who made my Diwali
Story of my Transformation!! 2 years back, it was very tough for me living in Hyderabad. It was the eve of Diwali, and with mixed feelings of having been homesick, alone and a part of a hectic work schedule i was finally on my way to go to Bangalore to spend my time with Family and Close friends. I had indeed become very sick and was cursing myself to have left my family for a Job not all that great, but hectic and tiring! I missed Bangalore and my previous company! Worst of all was that I had to beg for my leaves for Diwali which had never happend to me before!
With a lot of thoughts and questions of Ifs - like If I had not taken this job, if I had not left bangalore etc., running in my head I reached the platform to board the train. I had plans of going home and never coming back. With the usual rush, I was waiting for my space in the stampede and get in I looked around, I saw the sweetest looking old man standing with a Cane and a plastic bag. He walked very slowly towards the door and was trying to ask the "rush hour People" with the faintest voice where S4 compartment is. I am usually not always very helpful, not in the Railways with all meany money people around, yet for my surprise I reached out to help him and tried to find out his ticket details to guide him. He looked so confused and very worried. I tried to find out more information by asing if he had a reservation or if he rememberered when he was supposed to travel, but he seemed to become more confused with each question. he just kept saying "she said I have to go to Bangalore".
After much time, i was able to atleast find out that this old man was dropped off at the Kacheguda station by his sister-in-law and was told to go to bangalore wherehe had a family. she had given him some cash and told him to just go inside and buy a ticket. He had no ticket, no reservation! and because getting ticket reservation is nearly impossible I asked him if he could come back tomorrow, he said that she was gone and that he had no place to stay. he then said he would wait at the Station till tomorrow. Naturally, I felt a little ashamed and guilty of not being able to help him.
Here I was feeling very sorry for myself about being alone, homesick etc., when this great old man was sent to me to remind me of what being alone really meant! It broke my heart to pieces!
Immediately, I told him that we will get a ticket for him somehow after talking with the TC onboard and make sure he gets home. For my luck we could get him a Senior Citizens' ticket a lower berth and also the cost of that ticket fare was less, he got enough money to travel. As I was feeling proud about this whole act, about this time he started to look very tired, and when I stepped down from my upper berth to ask him if he was all right, I saw that his leg was wrapped in a bandage. He had been standing on it the whole time holding a plastic bag full of clothes. Recommended him to get some rest and he laid down carefully placing his plastic bag with his shaking hands.
We all slept. I hit my upper berth and crashed to sleep with my ipod on. And in the morning I recalled what all had happend and I realised with all the mess I had forgotten to have my dinner and also realised that even the old man had not eaten anything. I came down and he was already awake but yet tired, more tired than what he was last night. I guessed he didn't catch enough sleep, hurriedly got him breakfast. I tried to check if the bandage was alright and I noticed a small amount of blood on his bandage. I asked how he hurt his leg, he said that he had just had a bypass surgery and an artery was taken from his leg. Can YOU IMAGINE??? This man had had a heart surgery and then shortly afterward he was dropped off at the Kacheguda Station to buy a ticket with no reservation to go to Bangalore, ALONE!!
I never really had seen of a situation like this, and I wasn't sure what I could do. Upon reaching bangalore, I learnt that he stays close to where I did and I got him to get down at theYeswanthpur station. I went through the address slip which he had in his hand and he said that where his daughter stayed. The writing had a phone number however it was all jumbled and wet in rain and we couldnt make out what it was. But I knew exactly where this place was. I got him an auto and told the auto driver to drop him off safe, explained him of the situation and the auto driver seemed helpful too. He seemed to recognize all the landmarks I said and picturize the actual place. Thank God the address mentioned in the note was in proper shape!
I bent down inside the auto and his wrinkled eyes looked deep inside mine as I gave the prepaid auto driver money. Then I patted the old man on the arm and told him everything would be just fine and asked him to call me when he will reach and wanted to say Goodbye,he said "Thank you" bent his head and started to cry! I cried too. It was a moment, I stood still! It was tough! Quietly tears just rolled down, auto left! tears went on!
With a lot of thoughts and questions of Ifs - like If I had not taken this job, if I had not left bangalore etc., running in my head I reached the platform to board the train. I had plans of going home and never coming back. With the usual rush, I was waiting for my space in the stampede and get in I looked around, I saw the sweetest looking old man standing with a Cane and a plastic bag. He walked very slowly towards the door and was trying to ask the "rush hour People" with the faintest voice where S4 compartment is. I am usually not always very helpful, not in the Railways with all meany money people around, yet for my surprise I reached out to help him and tried to find out his ticket details to guide him. He looked so confused and very worried. I tried to find out more information by asing if he had a reservation or if he rememberered when he was supposed to travel, but he seemed to become more confused with each question. he just kept saying "she said I have to go to Bangalore".
After much time, i was able to atleast find out that this old man was dropped off at the Kacheguda station by his sister-in-law and was told to go to bangalore wherehe had a family. she had given him some cash and told him to just go inside and buy a ticket. He had no ticket, no reservation! and because getting ticket reservation is nearly impossible I asked him if he could come back tomorrow, he said that she was gone and that he had no place to stay. he then said he would wait at the Station till tomorrow. Naturally, I felt a little ashamed and guilty of not being able to help him.
Here I was feeling very sorry for myself about being alone, homesick etc., when this great old man was sent to me to remind me of what being alone really meant! It broke my heart to pieces!
Immediately, I told him that we will get a ticket for him somehow after talking with the TC onboard and make sure he gets home. For my luck we could get him a Senior Citizens' ticket a lower berth and also the cost of that ticket fare was less, he got enough money to travel. As I was feeling proud about this whole act, about this time he started to look very tired, and when I stepped down from my upper berth to ask him if he was all right, I saw that his leg was wrapped in a bandage. He had been standing on it the whole time holding a plastic bag full of clothes. Recommended him to get some rest and he laid down carefully placing his plastic bag with his shaking hands.
We all slept. I hit my upper berth and crashed to sleep with my ipod on. And in the morning I recalled what all had happend and I realised with all the mess I had forgotten to have my dinner and also realised that even the old man had not eaten anything. I came down and he was already awake but yet tired, more tired than what he was last night. I guessed he didn't catch enough sleep, hurriedly got him breakfast. I tried to check if the bandage was alright and I noticed a small amount of blood on his bandage. I asked how he hurt his leg, he said that he had just had a bypass surgery and an artery was taken from his leg. Can YOU IMAGINE??? This man had had a heart surgery and then shortly afterward he was dropped off at the Kacheguda Station to buy a ticket with no reservation to go to Bangalore, ALONE!!
I never really had seen of a situation like this, and I wasn't sure what I could do. Upon reaching bangalore, I learnt that he stays close to where I did and I got him to get down at theYeswanthpur station. I went through the address slip which he had in his hand and he said that where his daughter stayed. The writing had a phone number however it was all jumbled and wet in rain and we couldnt make out what it was. But I knew exactly where this place was. I got him an auto and told the auto driver to drop him off safe, explained him of the situation and the auto driver seemed helpful too. He seemed to recognize all the landmarks I said and picturize the actual place. Thank God the address mentioned in the note was in proper shape!
I bent down inside the auto and his wrinkled eyes looked deep inside mine as I gave the prepaid auto driver money. Then I patted the old man on the arm and told him everything would be just fine and asked him to call me when he will reach and wanted to say Goodbye,he said "Thank you" bent his head and started to cry! I cried too. It was a moment, I stood still! It was tough! Quietly tears just rolled down, auto left! tears went on!
Sunday, June 6, 2010
The Foodies' City - Bangalore
For Vegetarians like me Bangalore is a Paradise! No where else can one find such abstract and diversified types of food except in our traditional Bangalore City. With City raining in every 3 weeks throughout the year the the food seems so customized for the kind of climate our city has. Its so magical!! No bangalorean can stay without eating the Butter Idly Vada or stay away from going to the Adigas, Yatrinivas or the Kamats!! Its so hard to resist the Chat corners, the Darshinis, the pani puris, and joints like cool join, chathouse, dosa bar, icynicey etc., are on the top of the list for pick n eat sections for their soups n sandwiches!! then comes the Ganesh Juice Centre, Milkshakes and Kulfi addas!! oh bangalore is full of these and thats another thing that makes the city so so special!
In cities like Hyderbad, the place lacks so much when it comes to breakfast and good food. If you are carnivorous then its a haven, be ready to hog a spicy oily biryani in the early hours of the day and keep burping n sweatin all day then you're a perfect hyderabadi and one may be proud about it you never know! I pity these non vegetarians!
Most of hyderabad's breakfast items are borrowed from the neigbouring states and it so appears that they've not done a good job. Be it the shabby onion uttapam/dosa (in which 500gm worth of onion is stuffed) or the dry skinny masala dosa!! The Idly are as hard as a brick, the chutneys lack taste and odour, and customer service is at worst ever in the world! they've to be taken to bangalore, beaten up and made to eat the right dosa!
Bangalore has restaurants like Janata hotel, Brahmins Coffee Bar, Veena Stores, Central Tiffin Room, Vidyarthi Bhavan, Roti Ghar, the Adigas Joint, Kamat joint, tens of thousands of darshinis the North Karnataka Special restaurants like Pi retaurant, Nalapaka, Yatrinivas, and concept restaurants like Hallimane, Goudarmane, or be it the outskirts food joints like the ones near maddur n mysore n tumkur!! and I am not talkin about chinese or barbeque or 3star 5 star restaurants or baristas or coffee days etc.,
I miss bangalore for a trillion reasons! No wonder Bangalore is rated to be the best livable city in the entire India and tops at #4 in the best cities to live in the entire Asia!! Cities like Hyderabad is at #29. Kolkata is at #27, Mumbai the worst is at #31 and delhi at #11.
Oh this is Benne Dosa (Butter Dosa) try this if ever you go to bangalore and you would realise what real dosa is :) No offense to you but its the fact! You may feel hurt about me criticizing your city, but you've to see some more cities, eat some more dosas
This is the Yummy Rava Dosa!! Sluurrrrp! It'll melt in your mouth, its juicy, aromatic and refreshing!
Now this is in Chamraj Pet and its one of the oldest of the restaurants! Order a Idli Vada with Butter and I bet you will have your eyes closed in Awe and wonder with what a normal idli vada can do to your taste buds! Now thats what is called Heavely Taste! Even Idli Vadas were coupled in heaven!!
Here comes the king of all dosas the Masala Dosa. Masala Dosas should be crisp, and full of butter or ghee, with the potato curry in the middle while the endoderm of the dosa (inside part) smeared with red chili n garlic chutney!! served with red chilli chutney, coconut chutney and yummy toor dal sambar! Its a delight you would appreciate if you were a real foodie!! If you are a non vegetarian and look down upon the veg food then you arent even a foodie! a foodie should love food. Be it anything. Its a sad part if you are a non- vegetarian, thats secondary.
There are over 1500 type of dosas served in Bangalore if you scout the restaurants!! Target Areas are the clean green old part of the city - Rajajinagar, Mallehswaram, Basveshwarnagar, Vijaynagar, Chamrajpet, Banshankari, Jayanagar, Basavangudi etc., In these areas the air is so clean that you can feel your lungs when you breathe!! Dont believe it? visit once ;) Its still maintained green and ultra clean! Also try Akki Rotti (rice rotti), Raagi Rotti, ucchal chutney, Karabath, chowchow bath in MTR near lalbaugh, Bisibelebath in Adigas, Mosaru Vada (curd vada) in any darshinis of ur choice, dont forget our own traditional Puliogare in the Iyengars hotel, Vangibath (brinjal Rice), Kesari Bath, and not to forget those hundred type of paranthas available!! Visit the Famous UD - Upahara Darshini!! Delight is assured!
To sum up, what makes Bangalore so Beautiful is not just the food or the weather or the opportunities, its the people who've lived there add to all of this! There are people living in Bangalore from all over the world and country, they are living in bangalore still because they are given space in the broad hearts of the Bangaloreans! They better understand and be aware of the Value of it.
In cities like Hyderbad, the place lacks so much when it comes to breakfast and good food. If you are carnivorous then its a haven, be ready to hog a spicy oily biryani in the early hours of the day and keep burping n sweatin all day then you're a perfect hyderabadi and one may be proud about it you never know! I pity these non vegetarians!
Most of hyderabad's breakfast items are borrowed from the neigbouring states and it so appears that they've not done a good job. Be it the shabby onion uttapam/dosa (in which 500gm worth of onion is stuffed) or the dry skinny masala dosa!! The Idly are as hard as a brick, the chutneys lack taste and odour, and customer service is at worst ever in the world! they've to be taken to bangalore, beaten up and made to eat the right dosa!
Bangalore has restaurants like Janata hotel, Brahmins Coffee Bar, Veena Stores, Central Tiffin Room, Vidyarthi Bhavan, Roti Ghar, the Adigas Joint, Kamat joint, tens of thousands of darshinis the North Karnataka Special restaurants like Pi retaurant, Nalapaka, Yatrinivas, and concept restaurants like Hallimane, Goudarmane, or be it the outskirts food joints like the ones near maddur n mysore n tumkur!! and I am not talkin about chinese or barbeque or 3star 5 star restaurants or baristas or coffee days etc.,
I miss bangalore for a trillion reasons! No wonder Bangalore is rated to be the best livable city in the entire India and tops at #4 in the best cities to live in the entire Asia!! Cities like Hyderabad is at #29. Kolkata is at #27, Mumbai the worst is at #31 and delhi at #11.
Oh this is Benne Dosa (Butter Dosa) try this if ever you go to bangalore and you would realise what real dosa is :) No offense to you but its the fact! You may feel hurt about me criticizing your city, but you've to see some more cities, eat some more dosas
This is the Yummy Rava Dosa!! Sluurrrrp! It'll melt in your mouth, its juicy, aromatic and refreshing!
Now this is in Chamraj Pet and its one of the oldest of the restaurants! Order a Idli Vada with Butter and I bet you will have your eyes closed in Awe and wonder with what a normal idli vada can do to your taste buds! Now thats what is called Heavely Taste! Even Idli Vadas were coupled in heaven!!
Here comes the king of all dosas the Masala Dosa. Masala Dosas should be crisp, and full of butter or ghee, with the potato curry in the middle while the endoderm of the dosa (inside part) smeared with red chili n garlic chutney!! served with red chilli chutney, coconut chutney and yummy toor dal sambar! Its a delight you would appreciate if you were a real foodie!! If you are a non vegetarian and look down upon the veg food then you arent even a foodie! a foodie should love food. Be it anything. Its a sad part if you are a non- vegetarian, thats secondary.
There are over 1500 type of dosas served in Bangalore if you scout the restaurants!! Target Areas are the clean green old part of the city - Rajajinagar, Mallehswaram, Basveshwarnagar, Vijaynagar, Chamrajpet, Banshankari, Jayanagar, Basavangudi etc., In these areas the air is so clean that you can feel your lungs when you breathe!! Dont believe it? visit once ;) Its still maintained green and ultra clean! Also try Akki Rotti (rice rotti), Raagi Rotti, ucchal chutney, Karabath, chowchow bath in MTR near lalbaugh, Bisibelebath in Adigas, Mosaru Vada (curd vada) in any darshinis of ur choice, dont forget our own traditional Puliogare in the Iyengars hotel, Vangibath (brinjal Rice), Kesari Bath, and not to forget those hundred type of paranthas available!! Visit the Famous UD - Upahara Darshini!! Delight is assured!
To sum up, what makes Bangalore so Beautiful is not just the food or the weather or the opportunities, its the people who've lived there add to all of this! There are people living in Bangalore from all over the world and country, they are living in bangalore still because they are given space in the broad hearts of the Bangaloreans! They better understand and be aware of the Value of it.
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