London does have one thing I absolutely detest. Pigeons.
They're everywhere!!! And guess what? They don't behave like normal pigeons. These ones are completely mentally deranged. They don't fly. Their cries are guttural and revolting. They walk everywhere... and, they have no fear of us humans. Countless times have I seen the bloody birds walk right up to some poor sod who is peacefully hanging out at the park enjoying a picnic lunch and harassing him to no end. They simply walk right up to where you are and stand there staring at you! At worst, they look like a bunch of disgusting dirty lecherous old men and make me want to grab them and wring their necks. At best (relatively) they remind of the quintessential fat bitch in class who was popular for no fathomable reason and went about dumping her considerable weight and attitude on everyone else (who might now be an auntie of the first order attending kitty parties and cooing over Ekta Kapoor's crap) and I feel like giving the stupid kabootars one tight slap. gah.
It doesn't help any that my feline tendencies have gone into overdrive since Rayshma's visit.
And with that bacground begins this awesome story. I have had my status message set to "Eh Kabootar! Khauu kya tereko?" feeling encouraged to bring out my weird side a lot more. Don't get me started on the responses I got for that ... suffice to say I don't have the patience to keep explaining things to everyone who asks. Well that made Catty laugh. It also attracted the attention of Catty's husband Vin.
And provided them much entertainment on a long drive back home from Houston apparently. Copy pasting Catty's email, enjoy:
Vin suggests... and i merely document it.Dewdrop should come out with an album. she can call it "eh kabootar"title song: eh kabootar... khau kya tereko
remaining tracks:
a. kabootar aa aa aa... main tujhko kha kha loon
b. gutur gutur... gutur gutur... chadh gaya oopar re... main kabootar ko khaakar hi lautu re...
c. pet kabootar khaana hai.. har ek ko pakadke khaana hai!
d. eh kabootar! zara chalke dikha... zara udna zara... zara mudke dikha hungry hungry si fiza hai... hole hole se pet mein dauda koi chooha haisomething something... yeh dua hai... roko roko yeh kabootar toh udne hi laga hai... u & me... we were meant to be.. tu mera khaana... yeh teri destiny... kabootar singing chuo na chuo na... par mere todo na... ho jaunga main khafa...
(this was added by urs truly.)
e. mere mann ko bhaaya... main kabootar kaat ke khaya (this could also be ur SM. i LOVE it, actually! :D)
you can enlist the assistance of our beloved Galadriel to put the 2 non-songs to a tune. or even sing with you, if required. :D you share copyrights and royalties with vin. :D i shall observe you guys and have fun.
It doesn't end there. Having spent the morning laughing my guts out imagining myself running after random kabootars and gobbling them up, I found Catty online and having thanked her and Vin for such a brainwave, I said we need to work on this thing a bit more. And here's what followed:
Catty: we gave u six songs. u come up with 2.. and we have an album :D
me: content sourcing tum karogi
Catty: lucky kabootar we can take
me: I'll take anything with kabootar in it :D :P
Catty: so u need one song now
me: I have the perfect idea for our album
ek sad song toh hona chahiye na
Reshma: okay...
me: kyon na un bechaare gateway waale shaheed kaboontron ke naam ek gaana likhen?
Remember you saw it here first and that Vin and I hold copyrights on this one. :D
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Spare some change, please.
I've diagnosed the problem the world has.
It's intolerance.
One faith cannot stand the beliefs of another, one sex cannot tolerate what they think are the shortcomings of the other, one generation cannot tolerate the difference in thinking another generation has, one class cannot tolerate the difference in living standards another has, one country has issues with another's policies, one leader has issues with another's ideologies, one region cannot bring itself to accept the uniqueness of another region ... and it all spirals downward from there.
And slowly, it creeps into the hearts of individuas and to a point where two of them can not stand each other for any combination of the above differences. And it goes further. One will have issues with the fact that he/she thinks/percieves the other is richer/smarter/happier/better placed/luckier/better looking/just any crap that may somehow be compared.
And so it starts. Two neighbours who cannot get along. A couple that splits up because of their apparently irreconcilable differences*. A family feud that begins because of some miscommunication and ends in the family's splitting ways and never speaking to each other again. The classic saas-bahu power-struggle. The classic battle between the sexes. A fight for a seat on the train/bus ... a yelling match at the airport to get a better seat. Outdoing the Joneses/Sharmas/Kulkarnis/Iyers/and every other surname from all 26 states and all 7 continents if you please. A cat-fight for the senior position at work that involves back-biting and underhand tactics. Taking bribes to become richer quicker. Jumping queues and giving bribes to somehow feel you have the upper hand over everyone else standing in line. Domestic violence.
And it goes on to become a power struggle to share resources, to corner the market, to be the first state/country to achieve something. It becomes a blind fury of regionalism, class struggles, political differences, religious differences, communal unrest, a rich Vs the poor struggle and before you know it, entire nations are warring with each other.
So I propound that we do something to stop it becoming a problem that huge. We start at the grass root level. That we start by being the change we want to see**. Let us all remember a certain 'manoos' as being the paragon of intolerance and strive to be different, by:
1] Accepting ourselves firstly, our own shortcomings and best qualities and making use of the latter while trying to overcome the former.
2] Accepting what is better in others and if not lauding them for it, acknowledging that they perhaps deserve something, anything, whatever thing, for being better than us. Which means no dirty tricks to get something that isn't rightfully yours. No jumping queues. No offering bribes. No accepting bribes. Following rules. No doing anything that would add to your shortcomings.
3] Keeping mum when you have nothing nice to say about something/someone. Even if you don't agree with their opinions. Everyone is allowed an opinion and everyone is allowed a healthy debate to exchange ideas. But to try and forcibly change someone's beliefs and opinions is not acceptable. Things like not passing personal comments, not saying snide things meant to hurt someone, not spreading vicious gossip that would be to someone's detriment. Not criticising.
Let's start by being a bit more tolerant of others around us. Changing ourselves is easy. When it's for ourselves and the beneficiaries are us. But just as we do random acts of charity and kindness, can we make things better for all of us, for the world, by sparing some of that change.
It is a very garbled post and my thoughts aren't really clear. I know what I said is perfect only in theory. I know there will still be people who will do their best to undo all the good a bunch of well-meaning good hearted people can accomplish. I will still advocate my views though. Because it's possible to make things different even if in the smallest degree. Pennies add up to big amounts over time. Spare some change, please.
*I am not implying that all couples who split up don't try hard enough. I know of several cases where parting simply was the way it had to be. But I am addressing what seems to be a tredn lately, among people to simply call it quits because they cannot be arsed to sit down, talk, sort their differences and come to a mutual agreement.
** That's probably the one thing I think Gandhi said that made sense. The rest ... I feign ignorance as my excuse for the time being.
It's intolerance.
One faith cannot stand the beliefs of another, one sex cannot tolerate what they think are the shortcomings of the other, one generation cannot tolerate the difference in thinking another generation has, one class cannot tolerate the difference in living standards another has, one country has issues with another's policies, one leader has issues with another's ideologies, one region cannot bring itself to accept the uniqueness of another region ... and it all spirals downward from there.
And slowly, it creeps into the hearts of individuas and to a point where two of them can not stand each other for any combination of the above differences. And it goes further. One will have issues with the fact that he/she thinks/percieves the other is richer/smarter/happier/better placed/luckier/better looking/just any crap that may somehow be compared.
And so it starts. Two neighbours who cannot get along. A couple that splits up because of their apparently irreconcilable differences*. A family feud that begins because of some miscommunication and ends in the family's splitting ways and never speaking to each other again. The classic saas-bahu power-struggle. The classic battle between the sexes. A fight for a seat on the train/bus ... a yelling match at the airport to get a better seat. Outdoing the Joneses/Sharmas/Kulkarnis/Iyers/and every other surname from all 26 states and all 7 continents if you please. A cat-fight for the senior position at work that involves back-biting and underhand tactics. Taking bribes to become richer quicker. Jumping queues and giving bribes to somehow feel you have the upper hand over everyone else standing in line. Domestic violence.
And it goes on to become a power struggle to share resources, to corner the market, to be the first state/country to achieve something. It becomes a blind fury of regionalism, class struggles, political differences, religious differences, communal unrest, a rich Vs the poor struggle and before you know it, entire nations are warring with each other.
So I propound that we do something to stop it becoming a problem that huge. We start at the grass root level. That we start by being the change we want to see**. Let us all remember a certain 'manoos' as being the paragon of intolerance and strive to be different, by:
1] Accepting ourselves firstly, our own shortcomings and best qualities and making use of the latter while trying to overcome the former.
2] Accepting what is better in others and if not lauding them for it, acknowledging that they perhaps deserve something, anything, whatever thing, for being better than us. Which means no dirty tricks to get something that isn't rightfully yours. No jumping queues. No offering bribes. No accepting bribes. Following rules. No doing anything that would add to your shortcomings.
3] Keeping mum when you have nothing nice to say about something/someone. Even if you don't agree with their opinions. Everyone is allowed an opinion and everyone is allowed a healthy debate to exchange ideas. But to try and forcibly change someone's beliefs and opinions is not acceptable. Things like not passing personal comments, not saying snide things meant to hurt someone, not spreading vicious gossip that would be to someone's detriment. Not criticising.
Let's start by being a bit more tolerant of others around us. Changing ourselves is easy. When it's for ourselves and the beneficiaries are us. But just as we do random acts of charity and kindness, can we make things better for all of us, for the world, by sparing some of that change.
It is a very garbled post and my thoughts aren't really clear. I know what I said is perfect only in theory. I know there will still be people who will do their best to undo all the good a bunch of well-meaning good hearted people can accomplish. I will still advocate my views though. Because it's possible to make things different even if in the smallest degree. Pennies add up to big amounts over time. Spare some change, please.
*I am not implying that all couples who split up don't try hard enough. I know of several cases where parting simply was the way it had to be. But I am addressing what seems to be a tredn lately, among people to simply call it quits because they cannot be arsed to sit down, talk, sort their differences and come to a mutual agreement.
** That's probably the one thing I think Gandhi said that made sense. The rest ... I feign ignorance as my excuse for the time being.
Please let the dogs out
There’s another reason why I really need a dog.
Then I could be like John Grogan in Marley and Me and get paid to write about my life.
Scratch that. What I really need is a life.
After all there’s only so much you can blame on the dog.
P.S: What is it with Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson? Lady you really need to try harder if you want to convince people you're a good actress. Drawling sentences isn't doing anything. And Wilson? Fella could you please try to put a little more life into your character? Sure you were trying to be the calm and supportive husband but I could not get beyond thinking you looked cute, acted stupid and were about as much help to the wife as a talking hitching post. Make that a hitching post that talks slooooooooooooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwlllllllllllllyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy.
Friday, January 23, 2009
A few words to Sanjay Dutt
(Oh yes ineed, I have taken my husband's permission before saying this. In fact, you'll be pleased to know that these are his very ideas that I am communicating to you. Here goes:)
HAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
P.S: There's a very major reason why you cannot be likened to Obama. He uses a Zune and I'm betting you have like 15 Ipods, rich spoilt brat that you are. Hah!
HAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
P.S: There's a very major reason why you cannot be likened to Obama. He uses a Zune and I'm betting you have like 15 Ipods, rich spoilt brat that you are. Hah!
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Imagine Me and You...
They both looked forward to train rides. They afforded them the opportunity to spend a little more time together every day without it being confined to home or putting the onus of deciding what to do or where to go on either of them. Besides, knowing there was an intimately friendly face on the journey somehow made days at work worthwhile. And there was always plenty to talk about... Laughing over silly scenes, methodically dissecting curious characters they came across, playing footsie... And if all that got boring, the window always offered more to amuse them... Even if they were the same sights they saw everyday. And then of course, all those familiar and strange faces they saw everyday...
And so it was that they saw her one morning... It was one of those mornings when they both wanted to keep to themselves... Looking around the compartment seemed more attractive than each other's company. When the young woman came and sat right in front of them they both suddenly found common ground to while away time. Each studied her... The long, curly dark brown hair, perfectly plucked arched eyebrows, alabaster complexion, high cheekbones, well-shaped glossed lips, striking eyes, nose and chin... A face that asked to be looked at long and absorbedly.
The young woman was aware of being watched so intently and her movements were touched with just that bit of consciousness and precision that comes from being aware and wanting to give the watchers something to appreciate and dwell on. She stole glances too of course. The little that these glances revealed was a couple, as young as herself... Just in that phase of having lived with each other enough to warrant the intersecting but still separate circles of being around them. They were quite handsome really. Enough to make her want to watch rather than be watched. She stole another glance...
The wife looked over once more thinking "Maybe if I were not married... Who knows how the three of us might have been placed?" Her husband was now looking away, and the look on his face said he'd moved beyond thinking of the young woman seated across him. "What if...?" the wife once again thought and then shook herself mentally.
Across from her, the young woman was having a think all her own. "Such a pity she's taken... "
Credit where credit is due: This was inspired by something Silvara wrote. I do realise that it is rather close to what she described but it's still a work of fiction that I refined upon. Silvara, I apologise in advance if this offends you in anyway.
And so it was that they saw her one morning... It was one of those mornings when they both wanted to keep to themselves... Looking around the compartment seemed more attractive than each other's company. When the young woman came and sat right in front of them they both suddenly found common ground to while away time. Each studied her... The long, curly dark brown hair, perfectly plucked arched eyebrows, alabaster complexion, high cheekbones, well-shaped glossed lips, striking eyes, nose and chin... A face that asked to be looked at long and absorbedly.
The young woman was aware of being watched so intently and her movements were touched with just that bit of consciousness and precision that comes from being aware and wanting to give the watchers something to appreciate and dwell on. She stole glances too of course. The little that these glances revealed was a couple, as young as herself... Just in that phase of having lived with each other enough to warrant the intersecting but still separate circles of being around them. They were quite handsome really. Enough to make her want to watch rather than be watched. She stole another glance...
The wife looked over once more thinking "Maybe if I were not married... Who knows how the three of us might have been placed?" Her husband was now looking away, and the look on his face said he'd moved beyond thinking of the young woman seated across him. "What if...?" the wife once again thought and then shook herself mentally.
Across from her, the young woman was having a think all her own. "Such a pity she's taken... "
Credit where credit is due: This was inspired by something Silvara wrote. I do realise that it is rather close to what she described but it's still a work of fiction that I refined upon. Silvara, I apologise in advance if this offends you in anyway.
Monday, January 19, 2009
It's Complimentary!
Yeah it comes with the rest of the stuff up here. This post I mean. Anyhoo...
I'm in the mood for recounting the things people have said which have made it all worth it, compliments that I shall remember and treasure forever:
1] "You know Dewdrop, I think when my daughter grows up she's going to be just like you!" (Former colleague who, although being more of the age of an elder brother, took to being a sort of father figure for me. He still emails me and has never forgotten to wish me on my birthday or on Daughters' Day.)
2] "You should write" (Two friends on two separate occasions.)
3] "She is the sort... she's capable on being in that situation of having to choose between two jobs." (Friends, here. Alas! you guys, spoke a bit soon I think ... that hasn't happened to me again.)
4] "You really know where you're going, you know your mind. I admire that!" (An uncle, upon explaining why television wasn't the medium for me. Also at least two other friends, on other occasions.)
5] "I don't expect someone of your level to be able to tune in like that and figure that out, but you do. I'm impressed!" (Violin tutor)
6] "She's a resourceful girl." (Former Math and Science teacher from high-school, when I endeavoured to hoist the huge globe we had used in class onto a tall cupboard without bothering with a chair but merely managing by standing on tip-toe.)
7] "She's self-motivated." (Class teacher for two years of high school telling my dad, all because I produced a hand-made pen stand for the class table at a PTA meeting.)
8] "She was so delicate! Just like a flower ... she'd wither if you touched her. And now look at her!" (Primary school teacher who made me who I am, speaking to a colleague when I went back to meet her and showed her a copy of the magazine I was working at then. This has definitely been the high point of my life.)
9] "I totally trust your taste in books!" (Dear friend, M.)
10] "You haven't changed a bit!" (Gem on every single occasion of meeting in the last seven years, squishing in that one sentence the joy of having a steady friendship that has seen changes in everything else.)
11] "I'm proud of u. for managing to be urself. consistently. and unpredictably." (Catty)
12] "I shall appreciate books more now! and will tell this to everyone who reads! ppl i know, of course! BIG hug... and i'm proud of u, dear! :P" (Catty again, when I explained to her the rigours of a book production job.)
13] "Those photos you took are really good!" (LB on a series of sunset photos I had shot as a first time photography attempt.)
14] "You know, sometimes that strong, independent woman side of you can scare people." (D. Regarded so because I hadn't thought of myself in those terms for a while.)
15] "Your mother and my wife should both learn how to make rajma from you." (Cousin, after I had invited him over for dinner when he was visiting London.)
So what's the nicest compliment that you have been given?
I'm in the mood for recounting the things people have said which have made it all worth it, compliments that I shall remember and treasure forever:
1] "You know Dewdrop, I think when my daughter grows up she's going to be just like you!" (Former colleague who, although being more of the age of an elder brother, took to being a sort of father figure for me. He still emails me and has never forgotten to wish me on my birthday or on Daughters' Day.)
2] "You should write" (Two friends on two separate occasions.)
3] "She is the sort... she's capable on being in that situation of having to choose between two jobs." (Friends, here. Alas! you guys, spoke a bit soon I think ... that hasn't happened to me again.)
4] "You really know where you're going, you know your mind. I admire that!" (An uncle, upon explaining why television wasn't the medium for me. Also at least two other friends, on other occasions.)
5] "I don't expect someone of your level to be able to tune in like that and figure that out, but you do. I'm impressed!" (Violin tutor)
6] "She's a resourceful girl." (Former Math and Science teacher from high-school, when I endeavoured to hoist the huge globe we had used in class onto a tall cupboard without bothering with a chair but merely managing by standing on tip-toe.)
7] "She's self-motivated." (Class teacher for two years of high school telling my dad, all because I produced a hand-made pen stand for the class table at a PTA meeting.)
8] "She was so delicate! Just like a flower ... she'd wither if you touched her. And now look at her!" (Primary school teacher who made me who I am, speaking to a colleague when I went back to meet her and showed her a copy of the magazine I was working at then. This has definitely been the high point of my life.)
9] "I totally trust your taste in books!" (Dear friend, M.)
10] "You haven't changed a bit!" (Gem on every single occasion of meeting in the last seven years, squishing in that one sentence the joy of having a steady friendship that has seen changes in everything else.)
11] "I'm proud of u. for managing to be urself. consistently. and unpredictably." (Catty)
12] "I shall appreciate books more now! and will tell this to everyone who reads! ppl i know, of course! BIG hug... and i'm proud of u, dear! :P" (Catty again, when I explained to her the rigours of a book production job.)
13] "Those photos you took are really good!" (LB on a series of sunset photos I had shot as a first time photography attempt.)
14] "You know, sometimes that strong, independent woman side of you can scare people." (D. Regarded so because I hadn't thought of myself in those terms for a while.)
15] "Your mother and my wife should both learn how to make rajma from you." (Cousin, after I had invited him over for dinner when he was visiting London.)
So what's the nicest compliment that you have been given?
Saturday, January 17, 2009
At Random
I've neglected doing Galariel's tag for the longest time, here it is now:
- The person I am at home, with family is very different from the person I am away from home with friends and random people. I still manage to remain rather consistent.
- It's rare for me to listen to music or read while I'm travelling... I spend that time letting my mind drift wherever it wants to.
- I adore wooden flooring... I think it's the height of luxury.
- Despite what some people may think, I'm rather active. It's true I sleep a lot but that's to make up for my activeness when I'm awake. I'm always upto something... and most of it is brainwork. And I still don't think I make full use of my potential. Oh and mostly my actvities are solitary ... I welcome company in very few instances.
- Unlike most women, I cannot shop during sales where stuff is simply hung on racks in no particular order. I find it really tiring to have to sift through all that. I'd rather buy something I realy liked at full prce, at my leisure when the store isn't stampeded by hysterical shoppers.
- I'm a little cat in quite a lot of my personality traits... but I thoroughly enjoy soaking up the rain and dancing about in it. And love the smell of rain-dampened earth.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Monday, January 12, 2009
What flavour is your visa, again?
Hanging out with friends yesterday, were discussing visa procedures, regulations, types... yada yada yada... as immigrants are bound to do.
"Isn't that Tier 2?"
"No it's Tier 1"
"Are we discussing wedding cakes?" asked one of the natives in the bunch.
"Isn't that Tier 2?"
"No it's Tier 1"
"Are we discussing wedding cakes?" asked one of the natives in the bunch.
Friday, January 09, 2009
Oooooooooooh lookie!! It's a shiny brand new... year!!!
Noticed the new template right? I know it isn't exactly Dewdrop dreams stuff... but that's the whole point. In a way. Or part of the point at least. New year and all that you know. And the header gives me this feeling of having a prupose, a plan, a sense of control... and I guess I need to feel that given I've been floundering the last few months.
I don't bother making resolutions usually... but since I did decide this year was going to be different and more happening, might as well start with doing this diffeently.
So, I will:
I don't bother making resolutions usually... but since I did decide this year was going to be different and more happening, might as well start with doing this diffeently.
So, I will:
- Write more. Not necessarily on the blog. But I'll write so I can remember more of the year when it's gone by.
- Travel more. All over the UK and as much of Europe as I possibly can civer (and afford :D)
- Work on my photography and hopefully justify buying a DSLR in 12 months' time
- Improve my violin-playing and consider giving the grade 1 exam at some point.
- Do a random fun course. Bar tending for example.
I think that's good for now.
Thursday, January 08, 2009
My heart goes lah lah lah lah lah!!!
Howdy folks?!
Happy New Year to you all!
Been a long time since I've done any sort of concrete posting and by the looks of, that status is going to continue for a bit more :D Buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuut!! I have so much else to talk about!! So here's another 'Here's what's been happening' type post.
I'm back in London btw... had a fantastic holiday... except I fell sick while I was at home and wasted an entire week... did not meet friends (but that's mostly how I wanted it, sue me)... and... and and and!! (in case the title hasn't already given you a clue)
I WENT TO SINGAPORE!!!!
WHOOPIEDOOPYDOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
It was fabulous!!! JUST what I needed!!! I was there with the folks for an entire week and in the words of the brother, we did only three things there: Travel in the MRTs, stand in queues and walk.
Yes yes, shopping and sightseeing happened of course... and experimenting with food! I'm still so ecstatic about the whole trip (and it seems unbelievable that I was there only last week... walking its streets and dressing up in summer wear, sweating in the afternoons... oh Singapore! You were the stuff dream vacations are made of!) I'm finding it hard to be coherent about the trip and excitement is bubbling over. I'll try though.
I'm not going to describe the sights... grab Lonely Planet if you want that. :P I'm not yet in a state to describe what I thought of what i saw either... so what I will do is sum up the best bits of S'pore as etched in my mind.
The very first impression that we got of the place was of how greeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeen it is!! And how orderly!! That the green-ness struck us is saying something given we live in the Garden City... but we drunk it all in anyway... was a welcome sight for parched eyes I think. And the orderliness!! Good lord!! Not a speck of dirt to be seen! Everyone's following road rules, the apartment buildings and forestland and parks and industrial area have been well-planned out and stand so neatly in their allotted places! And hardly any people to be seen at first!
The weather reminded me of Bombay, the transport system brought back memories of London... and yet... this was a whole new universe! Suddenly I found myself thinking how crowded and noisy and polluted London seemed. And our fascination and amazement at Singapore continued for as long as we were there.
Then of course, there were the people, the languages... the things that make a city itself. We saw a whole lot of oriental-looking people of course (and true to human nature, where anything unfamiliar gets clubbed into being one same-looking thing, we thought they all looked the same), and a whole many of the stereotyped south indian looking population. And their clothes!!! The South Indian looking population did not venture beyond shirts and trousers and the women seemed to stick to salwar kameezes... but the orientals and the mod population! As a family friend said "Yeh log sirf chaddi baniyan pehente hain! Ghar ke liye ek chaddi baniyan aur bahar jaane ke liye ek aur. Koi acche kapde pehenta hi nahi idhar!" And honestly.. to me it looked like no one wanted to dress up! No make-up, o fancy clothes... everyone wandered out in shorts and tees... the only time I saw people dolled up was on New Year's Eve... then too that might have been to do with the location we were in.
Language in S'pore is like Bambaiyya I guess. It's a mish-mash of everything. They have stations named in (I think) Chinese and also very English names such as Somerset and devon... and... even a Dhoby Ghaut! (Although they pronounce it like the firangs do :D). And we were taken aback to hear announcements in Tamil and signboards in Tamil... and later found out that it's an official language there. Thanks to the Chettiar who braved Singapore in the early days. And then there is Singlish! What little I saw of it kept me bemused (if not in splits)... it ignores grammar to such an extent that occasionally you wonder if the language evolved and you missed a memo or something. The use of 'lah', of course, is the staple. And as I remakred, it didn't seem any different from being in Banglore or Mysore where guys go 'Yaak la? en la?' ... or even up in (what is to us South Indians and geographically-challenged people like me) North... people using 'la' as a general form of address. Oh yeah I bought a tee that says 'How to use the Lah'...one of my favourite things from there :D
And if I had to pick the most perfect time we had there, it would be the day spent at Sentosa... the Dolphin show made me tear up a little, the view from the Merlion took my breath away, the 15 minute simulator ride was a ride full of screams and the half-hour that we spent walking to the beach, getting soaked in the sudden shower, witnessing a newly-married couple having their wedding photos done while it rained and the sight of the beach with its little tenements, palm trees, vast stretches of sand and sky everywhere was sublime!!!
And I met Mahi and Gem!!! Mahi was sweet enough to meet up on the evening of my birthday and had reserved a table for us at this wonderful Mexican in Clarke Quay. And it was truly unbelievable to be sitting across her, sipping Margheritas and chit-chatting as if meeting up was an everyday thing for us! I really enjoyed her company and am very grateful for having had the chance to finally meet her after three years of online friendship :) Thanks a ton Mahi!
Then there was Gem. Gem is my best friend from high school. The very first guy I began talking to when I had come out of my pre-teenage "boys! hmpfh!" funk and gotten into the "oh my god! boys!"stage :D Gem (no he's not really named that... I am calling him that coz I have said he's a gem of a person right since the day I met him) was sweet enough to hang out with the brother and I taking us shopping and patiently standing by while I acted like all girls do. It's funny... but Gem and I haven't ever had a chance to spend this much time together. Usually it amounted to the odd afternoon that we'd hang out for when I visited home during holidays... and then with other people around us. And yet, here we are years later, still thick and at ease with each other inspite of never actually having kept up regular correspondence or bothering to really know the other person. New Year's Eve was a ton of fun since he, the bhai and I were together... we went clubbing at Clarke Quay (that was out hang out mostly)... and when gem and I tired of the smoky stuffy club we wandered out and spent an enjoyable hour or so hanging out with some friends of his we happened to bump into, sitting on the steps by the canal and ribbing each other mercilessly. A very good night that was :)
My only regret is that I couldn't meet M.
And finally, presenting the funniest moment of my Singapore stay. Gem, bro and I were on Orachard Rd, shopping on New Year's Eve. As it neared evening, being still undecided about what we'd do to bring in the New Year we finally decided on stocking up as a contingency plan, to sit by the canal and watch what fireworks we could. So the brother went off to find Peach Schnapps while Gem and I stood vella. It prompted me to narrate this to him:
There's a lady walking down a tree-lined road and she comes across a duck completely covered in shit. She's repulsed and puzzled, but proceeds to clean it up and lets it go. She walks on and finds another duck that's covered in shit. She's a wee bit irritated now but still cleans it up and sets it free. And walks on. Only to find another shit-covered duck in her path a few minutes later. Thoroughly pissed-off by now, she cleans this one and walks on. She has walked only a few steps when she hears a voice from behind a tree.
"Lady, do you have any tissues on you?" it asks
"Oh I'm sorry but I finished all the ones I had" she says
And the voice says "Damn! I'm going to have to find another duck!"
While gem was laughing, the bro comes back and says 'They have got NO SHIT over there!'.
Gem and I collapse with laughter and only just manage to say in strangled voices "Yeah they've used it all on the ducks!"
Happy New Year to you all!
Been a long time since I've done any sort of concrete posting and by the looks of, that status is going to continue for a bit more :D Buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuut!! I have so much else to talk about!! So here's another 'Here's what's been happening' type post.
I'm back in London btw... had a fantastic holiday... except I fell sick while I was at home and wasted an entire week... did not meet friends (but that's mostly how I wanted it, sue me)... and... and and and!! (in case the title hasn't already given you a clue)
I WENT TO SINGAPORE!!!!
WHOOPIEDOOPYDOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
It was fabulous!!! JUST what I needed!!! I was there with the folks for an entire week and in the words of the brother, we did only three things there: Travel in the MRTs, stand in queues and walk.
Yes yes, shopping and sightseeing happened of course... and experimenting with food! I'm still so ecstatic about the whole trip (and it seems unbelievable that I was there only last week... walking its streets and dressing up in summer wear, sweating in the afternoons... oh Singapore! You were the stuff dream vacations are made of!) I'm finding it hard to be coherent about the trip and excitement is bubbling over. I'll try though.
I'm not going to describe the sights... grab Lonely Planet if you want that. :P I'm not yet in a state to describe what I thought of what i saw either... so what I will do is sum up the best bits of S'pore as etched in my mind.
The very first impression that we got of the place was of how greeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeen it is!! And how orderly!! That the green-ness struck us is saying something given we live in the Garden City... but we drunk it all in anyway... was a welcome sight for parched eyes I think. And the orderliness!! Good lord!! Not a speck of dirt to be seen! Everyone's following road rules, the apartment buildings and forestland and parks and industrial area have been well-planned out and stand so neatly in their allotted places! And hardly any people to be seen at first!
The weather reminded me of Bombay, the transport system brought back memories of London... and yet... this was a whole new universe! Suddenly I found myself thinking how crowded and noisy and polluted London seemed. And our fascination and amazement at Singapore continued for as long as we were there.
Then of course, there were the people, the languages... the things that make a city itself. We saw a whole lot of oriental-looking people of course (and true to human nature, where anything unfamiliar gets clubbed into being one same-looking thing, we thought they all looked the same), and a whole many of the stereotyped south indian looking population. And their clothes!!! The South Indian looking population did not venture beyond shirts and trousers and the women seemed to stick to salwar kameezes... but the orientals and the mod population! As a family friend said "Yeh log sirf chaddi baniyan pehente hain! Ghar ke liye ek chaddi baniyan aur bahar jaane ke liye ek aur. Koi acche kapde pehenta hi nahi idhar!" And honestly.. to me it looked like no one wanted to dress up! No make-up, o fancy clothes... everyone wandered out in shorts and tees... the only time I saw people dolled up was on New Year's Eve... then too that might have been to do with the location we were in.
Language in S'pore is like Bambaiyya I guess. It's a mish-mash of everything. They have stations named in (I think) Chinese and also very English names such as Somerset and devon... and... even a Dhoby Ghaut! (Although they pronounce it like the firangs do :D). And we were taken aback to hear announcements in Tamil and signboards in Tamil... and later found out that it's an official language there. Thanks to the Chettiar who braved Singapore in the early days. And then there is Singlish! What little I saw of it kept me bemused (if not in splits)... it ignores grammar to such an extent that occasionally you wonder if the language evolved and you missed a memo or something. The use of 'lah', of course, is the staple. And as I remakred, it didn't seem any different from being in Banglore or Mysore where guys go 'Yaak la? en la?' ... or even up in (what is to us South Indians and geographically-challenged people like me) North... people using 'la' as a general form of address. Oh yeah I bought a tee that says 'How to use the Lah'...one of my favourite things from there :D
And if I had to pick the most perfect time we had there, it would be the day spent at Sentosa... the Dolphin show made me tear up a little, the view from the Merlion took my breath away, the 15 minute simulator ride was a ride full of screams and the half-hour that we spent walking to the beach, getting soaked in the sudden shower, witnessing a newly-married couple having their wedding photos done while it rained and the sight of the beach with its little tenements, palm trees, vast stretches of sand and sky everywhere was sublime!!!
And I met Mahi and Gem!!! Mahi was sweet enough to meet up on the evening of my birthday and had reserved a table for us at this wonderful Mexican in Clarke Quay. And it was truly unbelievable to be sitting across her, sipping Margheritas and chit-chatting as if meeting up was an everyday thing for us! I really enjoyed her company and am very grateful for having had the chance to finally meet her after three years of online friendship :) Thanks a ton Mahi!
Then there was Gem. Gem is my best friend from high school. The very first guy I began talking to when I had come out of my pre-teenage "boys! hmpfh!" funk and gotten into the "oh my god! boys!"stage :D Gem (no he's not really named that... I am calling him that coz I have said he's a gem of a person right since the day I met him) was sweet enough to hang out with the brother and I taking us shopping and patiently standing by while I acted like all girls do. It's funny... but Gem and I haven't ever had a chance to spend this much time together. Usually it amounted to the odd afternoon that we'd hang out for when I visited home during holidays... and then with other people around us. And yet, here we are years later, still thick and at ease with each other inspite of never actually having kept up regular correspondence or bothering to really know the other person. New Year's Eve was a ton of fun since he, the bhai and I were together... we went clubbing at Clarke Quay (that was out hang out mostly)... and when gem and I tired of the smoky stuffy club we wandered out and spent an enjoyable hour or so hanging out with some friends of his we happened to bump into, sitting on the steps by the canal and ribbing each other mercilessly. A very good night that was :)
My only regret is that I couldn't meet M.
And finally, presenting the funniest moment of my Singapore stay. Gem, bro and I were on Orachard Rd, shopping on New Year's Eve. As it neared evening, being still undecided about what we'd do to bring in the New Year we finally decided on stocking up as a contingency plan, to sit by the canal and watch what fireworks we could. So the brother went off to find Peach Schnapps while Gem and I stood vella. It prompted me to narrate this to him:
There's a lady walking down a tree-lined road and she comes across a duck completely covered in shit. She's repulsed and puzzled, but proceeds to clean it up and lets it go. She walks on and finds another duck that's covered in shit. She's a wee bit irritated now but still cleans it up and sets it free. And walks on. Only to find another shit-covered duck in her path a few minutes later. Thoroughly pissed-off by now, she cleans this one and walks on. She has walked only a few steps when she hears a voice from behind a tree.
"Lady, do you have any tissues on you?" it asks
"Oh I'm sorry but I finished all the ones I had" she says
And the voice says "Damn! I'm going to have to find another duck!"
While gem was laughing, the bro comes back and says 'They have got NO SHIT over there!'.
Gem and I collapse with laughter and only just manage to say in strangled voices "Yeah they've used it all on the ducks!"
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