Namaste London!

So life can take quite some turns, huh!

After finally getting my life on track, settling in (and starting to like) Mumbai and my new job, another change awaited me. A new year, a new global city.

London!

Another move. Sometimes, I find it almost funny the way things have turned out for me. From not having left my hometown for almost 26 years of my existence, I have now lived in 4 global cities of the world in less than three years!

Phewww. That has been something.

Apart from the excitement, tons of new experiences and discovering new ways of living in each of these places, it has also meant painfully packing up kilos of luggage and even more painful unpacking, over and over again. How the word 'pack' irritates me now.

So, London. I arrived here unfortunately in the worst weather. London almost got a red flood alert that week. And I was not prepped up for that kind of cold. It was drippy, freezy, windy and so, so grey in the first month. I was still able to deal with the cold but the rain and high speed winds really got to me. Like how much can you wrap yourself up, right! And it is hardly encouraging when people tell you that it was hardly cold this year - because it didn't snow! Isn't that a relief to know that what when felt I could die wasn't exactly the worst.

But, it is just so lovely when the sun is out! I finally understand why people in Europe so await the arrival of summers and the sun - it hardly shows up here! So there was some sun and I made it a point to soak up a lot of it. I visited some fab places - Westminister, Buckingham Palace, Oxford Street (and I shopped! ), Madame Tussaud's, Sherlock Holmes museum etc etc. But what I have truly relished the most is visiting streets, tube stations and even restaurants featured in the books that I devoured growing up - the Enid Blyton's, Agatha Christie's and the latest, J K Rowling's. So whether it is Bond street, Baker street, Paddington station - it has all been much fun! But what I am waiting for most is to go on a Harry Potter walking tour which takes place within the city and in nearby areas where the movie was shot.

The weather has picked up beautifully since I first arrived here. Having always lived in a hot climate which essentially burns you, I need the sun! The grey sky gets to me sometimes, but its sunnier, brighter and so much less cold now. And having started work again, my spirits have so picked up.

Sooo looking forward to the approaching summer and exploring Europe like crazy!

Tada

  

What's up Doc!!!?

Oh no!

Another long gap since the last time I posted. I remember wanting to put down some stuff which I thought was interesting, but it got skipped because of how busy life had become these past couple of months. Yeah, I got back to professional life.

No way I am complaining. I am sane when my days are full with work !

I remember now. I got to see some great sci-fi movies, which managed to leave a lasting impression. It is pretty rare these days, huh. Sci fi movies are thrown at us so frequently that it is difficult to distinguish one from another. Still, I loved Oblivion and I was blown away by Gravity.

Oblivion simply stands out mostly for its terrific visuals. They were breathtaking. They stood out. I could have gone on watching the movie many times over. I haven't heard good things about the movie from people, but me -- I loved it!! The fact that it made me think after leaving the hall is something in itself. I thought the story was brilliant. Makes you think about that thin line between make-believe and truth and how perspectives can change once the facade crashes. And of course, Tom Cruise for one and half hours on screen doesn't hurt the eyes! Though I agree, the end was a wee bit convenient and hurried!

Gravity, what can I say. For me, it was a 9.9 on 10. Couldn't get enough of it. Guilty as charged - I would have loved to see more of those breathtaking visuals of the blue earth, the sun rising and the pitch-black space and feel that weightlessness and emptiness of space a wee bit longer. Not to mention the shots of the slow deterioration of the International Space Station - WooHoo! I had been waiting for this movie since the first time I saw its trailer and I knew there was no way I was gonna be disappointed by this one. Though I admit the movie wasn't that high on drama and adrenaline as one would expect from a sci-fi.

Going a bit deeper into why I Loved this one - It made me feel SO small. So tiny in front of the sheer magnitude of the outer space! For me, the last scene was the cherry on the cake and pushed this movie in my list of 'The greatest movies ever made'! That final shaky step as our protagonist lands on solid ground in full force of the Earth's gravity can be a blessing, makes one wonder (again) of how we take nature for granted, those subtle processes of nature which are so important for the survival of mankind, lost in the backdrop of our day to day worries and problems.

Gimme more, Hollywood.

Clouded thoughts

I am quite the cloud gazer and my mobile phone and I are partners in this. And why not?

I'm bookmarking this!

So like I mentioned before, I have been reading like never before. Recently, some friends were clearing out their house as they are moving abroad. Apart from the household stuff which we might take from them, I found my best junkyard sale yet: 3 new books given by them!

Yes!

This is better than anything I could have asked for! Looks like the job hunt will be on pause mode for a while. This holds true, especially for a reader like me.

A bit about my reading habits: 

I hate being interrupted in the middle of reading a book,

I hate keeping down a book to eat, drink or sleep,

I love to fall asleep while reading,

I love the smell of new books,

And I read to finish a book as soon as I can, preferably overnight

I usually order my books from Flipkart. And Flipkart sends these really cute and silly, yet extremely funny bookmarks with the books. These days I am in the habit of collecting them as and when I order a new book. 

This one is already my favorite titled Important reasons to use silly bookmarks 

What is the important reason ? 

(Click on the pic to read the text)

(even my long forgotten camera was put to use)

And on flipping, I get a pair of cool glasses to appear nerdy and keep the buggers away

Of course I don't mind one bit. 

Looks like for a change, these silly marks are going to keep me hooked on to the books ! 

Will keep posting more of these as and when I discover a new one.

Till then, its my book and me.

Teeny bopper -- Yo !!!

It's 5:30 in the morning. Am on my way to meet my lil one. And a little annoyed at choosing such an early flight. On top of that, I see that I have been assigned the emergency exit seat. Ughh. An air hostess approaches me

"Ma'am I see you are seated next to the emergency exit. Would you like to assist us for our emergency proceedings?  "

"Yeah, sure"

"May I know your age please"

"28"

"(Smiling) Actually you look quite young so I asked, like 15 or something"

I didn't hear the rest.

Didn't need to, since I had heard all that I needed to. Gone are the days when i used to get pissed off at people taking me for a school/college kid. What with the year closing to an end and another candle being added to my birthday cake, its good to know that I can still pass off as a teen on the outside.

.... Heyyy, on the inside as well !!

For the love of Mexican food - El Patio

It has been in my mind for sometime to experiment with Mexican food cooking. Other important stuff or just lack of ingredients has not let that happen. Though I have tried the most basic of Mexican sides, salsa. 

I love Mexican and have been craving for it for quite some time now. I am a sucker for this cuisine and well, what makes my liking delve into the realms of love are margaritas! Traditional unadulterated margaritas. This love, and the follow up craving, was also made possible by a restaurant which is ranked in the Top 5 of my all time favorite eating out places. Today I couldn't help but think about it.

El Patio.

Unemployment ke side effects

Yawwn !!

Been sleeping too long, haven't I :D

Well, I am awake now and hopefully would be so from now on, here on this page at least.

I kinda try to do new things, big or small. Some things are done on purpose. Like temporary unemployment. Somethings happen on their own.

Like extended unemployment.

I Have to say the initial months weren't great.

They were awesome!!

The freedom from corporate world was exhilarating! Like freed from a 9am-6pm cage.

There was so much on my plate. A new life, a new city, a completely new way of living. The months off helped me get in the thick of things, set up house etc etc. But now the no work routine is something I am looking to get off, things are just taking their own sweet time to shape up, hence the extension of the unemployment.

I was up to a lot of other things as well during this time. Things which I call side effects of unemployment. A look :

• Reading, reading and more reading. The voraciousness is back !! I am devouring books at a blitzkrieg pace, reading everything from Hindu mythology fiction, India's freedom struggle to marketing in Internet age and what not; including Harry Potter - Book 7, probably the sixth time. JKR, am still a fan \m/  And, I already have a list of ten titles in line.
• Sleeping like never before. Why a side effect? Coz I find sleeping a waste of time. Thankfully, this didn't last long.
• Made more than the usual number of trips to my beloved Delhi, than would have been possible. And spent some Quality family time.
• Writing this after a hiatus.
• Movies - of course. With my new LED, lazy afternoons turn me into a couch potato at times and I end up catching up on movies- the crappiest and the nicest ones . Crappiest -- hindi version of Serendipity; Not even going into it. Baaah
• Came around to knowing names (Mind you, ONLY names) of Hindi soaps.
• Saw Titanic ten more times and fell in love with it all over again - every single time.
• Oscillating dangerously between frustration of sitting unemployed and giving up the comforts of sitting unemployed :D
• Logged on to Linked In more number of times than I ever did these past years combined!
• Took to cooking and realized that I actually enjoy it a lot.

I guess that has been pretty much it. The hunt is on to get back to corporate world , but till then it is about doing all these things I never had the time for.

Till the next post, Adios

Mrt diaries

1. There is a universal jubilant look on the faces of those who manage to scrape through just before the doors close. Always. This is followed by nervous or victorious laughs n giggles accompanied with an occasional hi five.
2. Its almost laughable to watch people suddenly sprint to catch a departing train and then brake as suddenly coz the doors close just in front of them. Also notable is the dejected look on their faces. Errmm, though its not funny when you are on that side of the doors.
3. Most of the kids here have thick glasses, almost 95% of them. Most of the statistics are just made up, but I am pretty sure about this one.
4. A lot of times seats go empty as people prefer to stand! What a contrast to India where even bucket seats are expected to be shared.
5. There is always that old crony who elbows you, breaks the queue or shuffles past you to take that last seat. Yes, even in this extremely rule bound country.

More to follow as and when observed.

That's just my parents in one of the plentiful mrt rides. Just for that bit of glam to this post ;) 

And we parted

Finally, I belong to the Have-Lost-a-Mobile-Phone club.

I lost my phone two days back, but the realization is hitting now. 

I have finally lost a phone ! 

Oh my Blueberry. 

My striking blue colored vintage Nokia.

You were a good phone. You gave people so many chances to crack a joke and make fun (of you as well as of me). You invited stares when you were whisked out in public. You gave me some challenging times to type with you as I alternated between my smartphone's Qwerty and your ABC keypad ( Its important you know - The Lesson of adjustment ). 

Most importantly, you survived for days while my smartphone died multiple deaths in a single day.  

There it is, a glimpse of it

Bye bye, good friend.

Rain rain, stay!

Its booming outside, like cannons.

Yes, its the oncoming cloud parade. Huge grey clouds, with a promise of cats n dogs waala rain.

Am home cooking lunch with my flatmate. Intermittently, we peek outside the door and giggle mindlessly at the falling sheets of water. You know that childlike smile. Its on our faces. A perfect mirror image.

What IS it with rain that lights up the heart like nothing else can!

I feel I wanna fly, I feel I wanna dance !!!!! But for now, I'll just sing.

And I just have one song on my mind

Pani da rang ...... Tra la la la

:) :)

Image source:google