10 Things a Women Must Know

Read the article in “India Today- women" June 2011 edition in my office library. I liked it very much so thought will share with all the great women in my blog roll :). Here it goes:

1. That life is not a fairy tale and there will be no prince charming, you just have to buckle up and take control.

2. That the greatest source of misery is clinging to the past, if it hurts, you have to learn to let go.

3. That your mother will eventually end up being your best friend so stop the resistance and cross over because mother does know best.

4. That love is not worth giving your dreams for.

5. That if you don’t slow down, you will eventually crash.

6. That learning to say no cane be a liberating experience.

7. That if you wait for the right time to follow your dreams, you would outgrow them.

8. That as you grow older your most valuable confidantes are your childhood friends, the people who know you before life happened.

9. That it is all right to outgrow a friendship and still be civil to each other.

10. That you cannot pretend to be someone else, no matter how much you try.

Harishchandrachi Factory

I don’t know how many of you even know about this movie forget about watching it , because same was my condition sometime back . The only thing I know about this movie was that it was India’s official entry to the Academy Award for year 2009.It was sometime back that one of my friend (who is also a Marathi)asked me to watch it and I completely dismissed it. There were two reason behind that, First, that I don’t trust the national selectors(considering their history of selections for Oscars)and secondly it was a Marathi film , which I hardly understand. The last regional movie I watched was Arundhathi(with subtitle) which was supposedly a horror flick and I think I was more engrossed with the subtitle rather than the movie itself :P

Harishchandrachi factory was an entirely different experience. The story is about Dada Saheb Phalke whom we remember because of the awards given every year for excellence in cinemas in his name. Little did I know that he is the pioneer of Indian Cinema. The movie show his struggle of directing India’s first motion picture “ Raja Harishchandra” in a time when people used to consider that taking a picture will suck the life out of people . It starts in year 1911 when Dada sahib leaves his business of printing press and start performing magic show as “ jaadogar Kelpha” . One day he see a motion picture on the life of Jesus Christ with his elder son and get so impressed that he decide to make a film . He went to London for learning film making and when he returns ,collects money from his friends and family to start with the shooting. The film ends with Phalke making India’s first motion picture and making way for Bollywood to be the world’s largest film industry .

The movie’s best part is portraying the hardship face by Dada Sahib in a light humorous way.The movie is named "Harishcandrachi factory " because the crew who used to work for the movie were not getting brides as they couldn't explain their to be in laws about the kind of work they do.So they say that they work in Harishchandra's factory and hence the name! Scenes like his family taking him to mental hospital after seeing his obsession for cinemas, his effort of finding the heroine of movie in red light area and finally settling in for the guys for doing the ladies role and his persuasion to the guy (who was playing the role of the heroine) to shave his moustache off as in those days a man shave off his moustaches only when his father dies will tickle your funny bone while taking off the graveness of the scene.The film also tells the story of Saraswati Phalke's unconditional love and support for her husband.

The movie is a must watch for all the lovers of Bollywood or cinema as such. It would be a tribute to the achievements of pioneer of Indian cinema

TCS World 10 K Bangalore

The one good thing about the last weekend was my dear friend's trip to Bangalore. It was really a surprise when she told me that she is visiting me because i have asked her umpteen number of times to visit Bangalore in her past two years of stay in Mumbai and she never came. And then she came for after two years for just two days to participate in Bangalore 10 K marathon. My immediate reaction was "Marathonnnnnnn?? You are coming to Bangalore just for participating in a race? 17 hrs of journey for a race? ".

I never was sport person and Marathons were limited to watching Mumbai Marathon and that too for watching celebrities :P . But the above reaction was not just from a sport unenthusiastic but also from a dear friend who just wanted her friend to spend some more time with her .

So , early morning at 6.30 we left for Kantiveera stadium .While she participated in the open 10 KK , i spend the time capturing the race in my camera :). Here it goes :

The Route map :

Few Participants :

Social Causes :

I loved this NGO Toy bank , they collect toys for underprivileged children:

Everybody was amused seeing the attire of this anti corruption man:

The Race begins:

The magnificent Indoor stadium:

Runners for social causes:

Celebrity runners: You can see the chief minister , actor Ganesha and Siddharth Mallaya:

View of UB City from the stadium:

The TCS crowd:

The Wheel chair race participants :

The Women 10 K firsts:

Kingfisher Run in Costumes participants being interviewed :

And the race concludes.....

Rants & More Rants

It’s been a long gap again at this space and this time I had a lot of time to write too .It was just that I didn't feel like writing , actually I didn’t feel like doing anything . Last few weeks again tested me by making me face some things which I really wanted to avoid .People say that I am strong and yes I am. Some people do face hardships so early in their life that they have no options other than being strong. It’s like either you break or choose to survive and I did survive. I never got things easily but then I literally fought for it. I do used to get jealous with people by looking how easy it is for some to get things (and I don’t mean materials, I mean happiness) and how difficult this is for me. But then I have left this feeling a long time back. The hardships for some just cease to stop and with time you realize how stupid it is to compare your life with others and add more pain to it .A sense of calm had prevailed since then and I was in my lone journey. Time nowadays is a bit grueling both at work and home. It’s like I go to work unhappily and come back unhappily. Politics has come out of the parliament and you can see the Chanakya’s chant not just in office but in your family and all across. I know that everybody’s work s@#$ at some point of time or other but after 3 long years of working, I still feel lost. People @ work, whom you have trusted and respected, have suddenly (& surprisingly) shown you their darker side like they do in Ekta Kapoor’s serial. The sense of calm is lost again and no it’s not jealousness, it’s hatred. Things are almost the same at home front. I fail to understand why people take excessive interest in other people’s life. My life and my doings are just accountable to my parents and nobody else. An extended family should remain extended.

I came to work with all these thoughts and happening yesterday. Left early and did what I love the most shopping! This time it was not for clothes or accessories but for grocery. I exceeded my budget for that, bought loads of unwanted and avoidable items. Then went home and cooked (I don’t know much of cooking but I am not a bad cook either ;)) and treated myself with three course mealJ. Lemon bhel for starter , Paneer masala , raita and parantha for the main course and ice-cream plus mangoes for desserts ! I ate without feeling guilty of the weight I am putting, without thinking of again going to the office after 8 hours and the other mess of life and then when I reached office today I just blogged it down . By the time I am writing this last line, I can feel the sense of calm again. God knows for how long it will prevail but right at this moment I feel light and for a change HAPPY J .

Eat outs @ Bangalore-1

Globetrotter has been to Chennai this weekend and is all gaga about the city as usual. He had been working there for almost 2 years before coming here to Bangalore or rather I say Belandur (as he has been living in the same place from past 2 years).By now he has been to all the restaurants in Belandur and surprisingly loves all of them equally :P so, when after this weekend trip he told us about the awesome food @ Murugan Idly, we didn’t take him seriously! Bang come Mr. Globetrotter the next day with “Eating out in India 101 favorite restaurants” book and there it was Murugan Idly in one of the must eat places of Chennai!(as by Marryam Reshii)

I however, directly went to the must eat places of Bangalore and here is the snapshot of the same ;)

Disclaimer: The list is taken from“Eating out in India 101 favorite restaurants” by Marryam Reshii . It’s just a small part of the book. Refer the book for the complete list of eat outs throughout India.

1. Blue Ginger:

Cuisine: Vietnamese

Location: Taj West End, Racecourse Road, Bangalore

Recommended for: The whole experience of dining in the semi open with Vietnamese cuisine and the buzz of the place, especially at night

USP: Prawns with sweet tamarind sauce, tenderloin curry with baguette

Meal for two: Rs. 4000

2. Caperberry:

Cuisine: Contemporary Spanish

Location: The Estate, Dickson road, Bangalore

Recommended for: When you want to educate your palate

USP: Starters

Meal for two: Rs. 2500

3. Harima:

Cuisine: Japanese

Location: Devatha Plaza, Residency road, Bangalore

Recommended for: An authentic Japanese meal in smart, no uss surrounding

USP: Sushi. Their Sushiya is from Okaya

Meal for two: Rs. 4000

4. Kamat Lokaruchi :

Cuisine: South Indian

Location: Janapada Loka, Archakrahalli , Mysore Road, Bangalore

Recommended for: A vegetarian experience in rustic setting

USP: Raggi mudde and Dink laddos

Meal for two: Rs. 400

5. Kanua:

Cuisine: South Indian

Location: Near Wipro corporate office , Kaikondrahalli, Sarjapur Road, Bangalore

Recommended for: A really stylish, true to type coastal Karnataka restaurant .

USP: Chicken ghee roast , masala prawns

Meal for two: Rs. 1200

6. Koshy’s Parade Café:

Cuisine: Indian(Keralite) , Western, Snacks

Location: St. Marks road, Bangalore

Recommended for: Getting an eyeful of arts crowd in the city .

USP: Ham sandwiches , mushroom on toast , chicken cutlets

Meal for two: Rs. 800

7. MTR:

Cuisine: Indian(Karnataka tiffins and meals)

Location: 14 Lalbagh road, Bangalore

Recommended for: A heritage eatery whose menu hasn’t changed for decades

USP: Coffee, bisi bele bath , holige, pongal, karabath

Meal for two: Rs. 400

8. Olive Beach:

Cuisine: Mediterrenean

Location: 16 Wood Street , Ashok Nagar , Bangalore

Recommended for: An effortless chic great food, superior cocktails, live performance, art shows and the cool crowd

USP: Sea food, Sunday brunch

Meal for two: Rs. 2000

9. Sea Spice by 7 Star:

Cuisine: Indian (Karnataka), Coastal

Location: 9^th main , Kaverinagar, Banashankari 2^nd stage , Bangalore

Recommended for: Blow out Karnataka coastal seafood meal without making a huge hole in your pocket

USP: Chicken ghee roast , kane fish fry

Meal for two: Rs. 1500

10. Sunny’s:

Cuisine: European

Location: Embassy Diamante,34 Vitall Mallya road , Bangalore

Recommended for: It has been a city favorite right since its inception , in an older more funky avatar . The magic continues

USP: Glazed ham , Paris brest

Meal for two: Rs. 2500

I have named this post as Bangalore-1 because the foodie in me wants to post it's own list one day ... Till then Bon Appetit!!!

Tag Time!!

I think this i going to be my second tag ! Thanks Wishesgalore for tagging me ;)

Rules

: Fill in the rest of the sentence with the title of a book you have read this year.

I slightly tweaked the rules, as I haven’t read many books this year, yet. so,I have filled in the blanks using the names of books I have read last year and this year (Here)

In School I was: Shadow princess

People Might be surprised I’m:(from) A town called Dehra

I will never be: The Twentieth Wife :P

My Fantasy job is: Chasing the Monsoon

At the end of a long day I need: Chicken soup for Romantic soul

I Hate It When: In other Rooms, Other Wonders

Wish I Had: Bridget Jones diary

My Family Reunions Are: Connect the Dots

At A Party You’d Find Me With: Braking news ;)

I’ve Never Been To: India unbound

A Happy Day Includes: The feast of Roses

Motto I Live By: Breaking Dawn

On My Bucket List: Don't lose your mind lose your weight

In My Next Life, I Want To Be: A Princess remembers: Gayatri Devi

Happy House Hunting!

Oh God! I am back at it again L . It has been just 9 months since I have shifted to my current house and I have to start with the entire process of house hunting all over again. Looking through classifieds, online portal and making irritating phone calls to brokers have started and finally my house hunting marathon will start by this weekend. But this is just the starting of a tedious journey and by the time you will finalize the house you would be physically, mentally and financially exhausted. Finding the house in Bangalore is a nightmare and being two times experienced I would be happy to share some details with you:

The big Catch oops classified: In my earlier two instances of house hunting through classifieds / sulekha /99 acres, I have never found a single house for rent which was from the owner and not from the broker. If you really don’t want to pay brokerage, then the best way is to ask your friends in different IT companies to search for a house for rent in their respective bulletin board.

Good Samaritan aka Brokers: There are few things which you should know before going for a broker:

The very first question they will ask you is about your budget so never overprice it, as they will show you the worst of the house in highest of the money

The second question which will come promptly is about your marital status bachelors or family sir??

If you are living in Bangalore , of course you would be in IT and by default you have enough money to pay good rent and of course brokerage!

No house is too far for them and if you say how far inside they will go in the road be ready to hear “Just”

No house is bad for them even if it’s without windows or doors “it’s for your safety siirrrr”

He will ask you to become a vegetarian for the apartment, of course, not for real but just in front of the owner.

Inquisitive Owners: Yes, it’s true that it is “THEIR” house so you should be ready to deal with the possessiveness which comes along with it. “No extra electronic appliances, no nails on the wall, no loud music/party, not coming late” are some of the few. The most common one is “are you a vegetarian?” don’t expect “Do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend” to be too personal: P.

I remember an incident whereby I went to a house and as I was about to step inside, the landlord shrieked “madam, how can you step inside with your shoes on?”. I apologized and removed my shoes immediately, but he didn’t stop “You should not forget that you are an Indian, you should not follow this western tradition blindly especially when you are women.” I apologized again but he still he continued and by the time he finished, I was sure that I am not taking this house. There was another landlord who quoted exorbitant figure for the house reasoning that the house is very lucky since the last tenant got two promotions in one single year: P.

Many owners have inhibitions regarding your relatives and friends visiting the place so it’s always better to clear this before taking the house. Also, do remember to ask for the electricity and water bill whether it’s individual or combined. I have a big time in getting terms of water bill of 1800/month for two families: P

Love thy neighbors : It’s very important to have good relations with your neighbors. I know it’s difficult if they peep through their windows every time to check who is visiting your house or put the entire blame of high electricity bill on you even though they are using all the family appliances like washing machine , oven etc. if you can’t love them then maintain good distance , remember good fences make good neighbors!

So , wish me all the best again!!