Am I an Addict?

Nobody likes being called an Addict. But we all are slowly and eventually going to become addicted to technology. As phones are becoming easier to use and more fun, the significance of the virtual world is increasing ten-folds. What used to be a utility has now become a need. My cousin sister came over last weekend and put on some lullaby-story telling app to put my nephew to sleep. She said,"He's so used to it now, that he doesn't sleep without watching it." I was astonished, what was one of my favorite memory, quality time with my parents at the end of the day. Snuggling and cuddling in my parents arms while enjoying a pleasant story was being replaced by some app!
As the age groups progress it gets worse. Sometimes even I'm constantly glancing over the phone to see if I have a message,a mail, or a notification. We're incessantly waiting for something to take place. Our minds need to relax. We need to realize the world isn't going to stop if you don't know whats happening in the other part of the world. We're simply withdrawing quality from the real if we're wasting so much of our time, energy and mental capacity over the virtual one. 

Yes, it's miraculous that we can connect to people in the remotest parts of the world, people have a voice that is stronger because of a robust platform like the social media, and yes there is no bad in sharing your ideas, views and talent over these channels of creativity. But yet again we shouldn't dive too deep into this virtual happiness that we forget how actual, existing, real happiness feels like.

I'm planning to set a time limit for when to use my phone. Life is getting crazy day by day. I hope to peek over this post ten years later and remind myself this: "Look around you, Talk to the people around you, Listen, Observe, Feel! There's way more going on in real than in that little rectangle screen of yours."

#Mumbai_Diaries

   "Abbe yeh rasta tere baap ka hai kya!" 

(Is this road owned by your father)

I twisted my head to get a better view of the commotion created in the middle of the busy street. I slapped my forehead in exasperation as this great argument between the hot headed gigantic truck driver and the cross driver of the squeakily fragile rickshaw was ultimately going to waste oodles of time. 

Brought up in this crazy city of mayhem, I have become accustomed to these daily shows put up by people. Everyone thinks highly of themselves here. Giving off free advice (sometimes way too many), Street-sellers defending their supply as probably the best thing you can find in the world and rickshaw-walas well they are from a different world all together. You literally have to beg them to take you to your destination while the meter runs at rocket speed! 

But even though we're slightly messed up on following rules there is a mutual understanding that prevails. Yes we do stop in the middle of the road to talk or ask directions and the pedestrians do enjoy full freedom to encroach the road despite of sidewalks. But these silly, unruly things make us, Us! 

All youngsters want to travel. Settle in a developed country. Enjoy the nightclubs and the beautiful parks. Stroll along the clean identically aligned trees that adorn the sidewalks. Sit in that pretty bench and watch the calm surroundings. I would be lying if I said I didn't wish for that too. But there's something here that amazes me. The unrestrained freedom to dance on the streets, the ability to pour your heart out to a stranger in your long train commute, the attitude to feel like you rule the place. Mumbai may seem intimidating at first but soon it becomes home. You get that warm feeling of family in this city.

And to my surprise the fight got over soon, the frail rickshaw won against the sturdy truck. I laughed as I saw the truck move aside. This place sure is a mess I thought, but definitely a beautiful mess :)

Foooooooooooodd...!

Party time is here and it's winter break too! So to spice things up a little I decided to enter the kitchen and try my hands at cooking. My mom was surely surprised by my sudden interest in cooking. But watching some youTube tutorials it seemed really easy. So I decided to grab a spatula, a knife and simply make something. youTube tutorials are great, but finding the right tutorial is so tough. Some foreign cooks use the ingredients that are just so hard to find here in India! While some use equipment which my mum is surely not going to let me buy for my sudden interest. My advice is to go with your local cooks and watch those channels. So here I list some of my try outs that weren't so bad! And my family surely enjoyed munching on them.

You can surely try these out for the party you might be hosting, for a subtle Sunday brunch or a dinner date! Surprise you friends and family they'll surely feel special. <3

1. Our very own,My personal favorite CHICKEN LOLLIPOP !

Well for this I didn't use a video tutorial but a simple recipe from the site- http://food.ndtv.com/recipe-chicken-lollipops-98817

They came out great and were best accompanied with schezwan sauce (which I bought).

2. Crispy Honey Chilly Potatoes :) 

Tutorial : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgVhR7wkeNw

This was a long process and didn't stay crunchy for as long as the chef in the video tutorial claims but when served hot were simply delectable. I served it with a sesame bun and some schezwan chutney and ketchup on the side. A great party starter, leaves you wanting for more!

3. Momos... ! 

Tutorial : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8xqp14nUwg 

Had "Momos" the Tibetan delicacy when I had gone to Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh. The steamy hot Momos served with spicy chutney in the cold weather was heavenly. This winter I couldn't resist the temptation and wanted to have steamy momos right here! This was pretty complicated (only the shaping part). You can see they turned out looking different but tasted amazing and fulfilled my desire for some hot steamed food. These are like dumplings. So you can simply make some soup (ready mix also cool) and put some in it. It'll taste amazing. So plan a multi-cuisine potluck party and dig in!

4.  "Cheese Corn Balls"

Tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKxpVE5YZNk

The crunchy exterior and the cheesy soft interior is simply out of the world! This recipe turned out amazingly great and was simple to make too. An amazing starter and a die for dish for cheese lovers (like me :P). 

5. White Sauce Pasta ^_^

Tutorial : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5LV6f822Wc

For this recipe I only saw white sauce recipe and added vegetables according to myself.

So once I made white sauce according to the above tutorial next I boiled some pasta and blanched broccoli, beans and kept aside. Then I simply fried some onion and capsicum and added the blanched veggies and then added the white sauce. When it started simmering  I added some mixed herbs and pepper and salt and finally the boiled pasta. This appetizer can be served with garlic bread. To my surprise my dad loved it.(who is a spicy food lover only!) 

So these were my try outs which turned out pretty well! 

Invent, innovate and add some twist to make your very own custom dish. Happy cooking and wish you all a very happy new year! 

I hope you dance!

Some events leave us in a state beyond repair. We often revisit our sad times than our happy ones. There is no reason to give up or feel low yet we fall into a pit of darkness and loose hope. There is this one song which I listen to all the time. It is a song that symbolizes life for me. I feel every individual must integrate the values and the principles taught through this beautiful melody in his/her life. We all have that one song that is there in the back of our mind. Which we play to soothe our pains when no one understands. Well this is mine. The closest song to my heart.

I Hope You Dance

I hope you never loose your sense of wonder,

You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger,

May you never take one single breath for granted,

God forbid love ever leave you empty handed,

I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,

Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,

Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance,

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance..

I hope you dance .. I hope you dance!

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance,

Never settle for the path of least resistance,

Living might mean taking chances but they're worth taking,

Loving might be a mistake but it's worth making.

Don't let some hell bent heart leave you bitter,

When you come close to selling out reconsider,

Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance,

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance...

Take out those dancing shoes and show the world what you've got! It doesn't matter whether you succeed or not, it doesn't matter what other people think.. All that matters is how happy you are. Reach out to those who need you. There's nothing that makes you feel more content and worth living than to help others. If you live ONLY once you ought to do it in a way that will last long after you do.

3 Books that have changed me!

1. Angela's Ashes - Frank McCourt

   Some books confuse you whether to laugh or cry. One such book was this one! I have laughed uncontrollably and cried at the same time too.It is an autobiography of Mr.McCourt written in the most delightful way possible.

I was looking for a book to read in the summer so I went to the store. There I came across "Teacher Man" (the third book in the autobiography series). Having no idea this book had three prequels I read it anyways and fell in love with the style of writing. So I went back to find the first part i.e. Angela's Ashes.

It is a story of an ordinary boy whose family decides to go back to Ireland as the expenses in America are a little too high for them to recover. There are several heart breaking incidents that leave your eyes misty. But what makes this book so special is that it is written from the view of a 10 year-old. The childish logic behind every event and the positive approach towards life baffles you. You laugh off your own problems because this child in the book teaches you hell of a way to live life. Sometimes you connect and feel nostalgic because we have had similar thoughts when we were children too. "What is death?", "Where do babies come from?" have amazing answers in this book. 

When I'm low or feeling frustrated, I just open up a random page and read. There's no better feeling than to have a book in hand that understands you, guides you, lifts your spirits and helps you come out into the world as a better person altogether!

A beautiful quote to sum it all :

"You might be poor, your shoes might be broken, but your mind is a palace"
- Frank McCourt, Angela's Ashes

2. Like the flowing river -  Paulo Coelho

   Doesn't the name itself bring about a positive vibe. Yes, all the Paulo Coelho books are mystical and make you feel magical but this one is my personal favorite and certainly relaxes my mind when I'm stressed.

This book comprises of short stories. Some are real life incidents of the author while some are tales imparting deep and divine morals in the end. This is a book you can grab anytime and everytime you read it, it makes you go "wow". The same story is interpreted in a different sense every single time I read it! It amazes me how the stories adapt to my situation. Life is truly like a flowing river. This book inspires you right from the first page till the very end.

" Be like the flowing river,
  Silent in the night.
  Be not afraid of the dark.
  If there are stars in the sky, reflect them back.
  If there are clouds in the sky,
  Remember, clouds, like the river are water,
  So, gladly reflect them too,
  In your own tranquil depths."

                                                                -Manuel Bandeira

3. Wise and Otherwise - Sudha Murthy

   This book holds small stories of ordinary Indians and is an absolute treasure to own. It tells us that every individual no matter how rich or poor, whether he rides a mercedes or a bullock cart has a unique story to tell. The author Sudha Murthy reaches into the deepest roots of India and connects with all sorts of people. She inspires me and teaches me to treat every person with equal interest and passion. Every person has undergone certain struggle in his/her life. She talks to children, men and women from various states and backgrounds and listens to what they have to tell. The outcome is : the reader connects as if interacting with the individual in person. You imagine yourself sitting in a hut and eating a meal with their family or sitting on the beach watching a young boy helping his mom collect crabs. Beauty of the soul is captured, feelings are expressed raw and clear. This book shapes your thinking and gives you the desire to do something for the society. It makes your own problems seem minutely small and you start to appreciate life for what it is!

Look around you!

I just came back from a mini family vacation to a remote place called Bhandardara in the hidden valleys of Maharashtra.We reached there at about 5 pm. An extract from a day there:

It's pretty breezy and cool here. I can see a splendid view of a silent lake resting between distant hills, from my balcony. We're unpacking the bags and soon the electricity goes. We literally stop and look at each other, the idea of no electricity itself brings panic to us. A moment later everyone is screaming: "the cellphones have to be charged !" (we all are together, god knows who we have to inform so urgently), "the camera batteries!","the fan or AC isn't working, how will I breathe!". Dad calls and complains and he reassures us that the electricity will be back in few hours. Few hours! Omg. What kind of a vacation is this?! we storm off in a grumpy mood. Now to kill a few hours we head to the dock at the shore of the lake.

There I come across a couple clicking away in every angle possible then they ask me to take a picture of them and once that was done they left. They didn't stay back one minute to inhale the nature's beauty.I mean the serenity, the silence, the feeling of wind in your hair cannot be captured in pictures! People now-a-days create memories to share with the world, to show everyone and feed the social media with what is currently happening in their life. 

Yes, social media is great to communicate and stay in touch with your pals but don't miss out the real picture.Live in the moment, talk with the ones around you.Memories are created spontaneously.You don't have to show how beautiful or how happy you are by taking 50 selfies and then posting one. You will capture other's attention by your real personality, your smile and laughter. The present moment can be worth a million of pictures.Hang out with friends, spend a lazy evening with your loved one, donate blood, eat at an exquisite dining and do everything that thrills and excites you, embrace the moment in hand instead of just looking for opportunities to pose and pout.

The sun had set and I had to head back while there was still some light left in the sky. And as I headed back to my room. I had seen the most amazing sunset and even though the electricity wasn't back yet I didn't feel miserable about no whatsapp, facebook or instagram.

Small things make your heart smile :)

A beautiful incident instantly cleanses our body giving us a moment of peace and serene calmness.One such incident happened when we went for a modest morning walk in our nearby Sanjay Gandhi National Park,Mumbai.

Yes, it was an extra ordinary day with raindrops being strained through the thick lush green trees then hitting us gently. Dad,my sister and I were in the cheeriest of our moods(always the case when we visit SGNP, our homely abode since childhood).

We walked ourselves through the winding roads amidst the fog and the trees with fresh fluorescent leaves emerging.We past the lion tiger safari gate and after a while were an audience to the prettiest view: Little Adivasi (tribal) children playing with crabs! Their homes rested among the huge trees and there was a huge pit at a distance of ten meters which resembled a small dam. The monsoon season having just started, the tiny dam like thing was empty with just a puddle of water in between.

What a spectacular sight it was to see those free-spirited children run up and down the pit gathering their playful valuables: sticks,stones and pebbles! One girl of about seven years of age was carrying her baby brother on her hip. At such a tender age she was enforced with this responsibility. But even she couldn't contain her joy and immense pleasure and started running towards the girl who had crabs in a bucket. Limping due to the burden of a baby on her hip,she was a bit late for the "thing" of the day, but yeah she reached eventually and made her way through.

We simply stood there, not talking to each other or thinking about what all agenda awaited us when we would be back. All we did was,smile.And I guess no person in this world no matter how tensed, stressed or depressed he was could help but smile! The contentment, the joy , the purity and the spirit that those children had was immensely worth wondering. Then it started to rain, their squeals and excitement merged with the sound of the raindrops. Some with their t-shirts pulled over their heads, some with their broken umbrellas and some with absolutely no cover in the drizzling pitter patter. But the rain was of no concern as today they had something unique to play with. They emptied the bucket on the ground which contained the crabs, poking them with sticks, screaming and laughing hysterically.It was truly a unique view.

As the intensity of the rains increased they all rushed into a tiny shed made of dried banana and coconut leaves hanging between two trees.

It was early morning, right from their beds they had started their day with such enthrilled joy and happiness.If only we could see life through their eyes.They may not have the best of resources and amenities but still they have the most important asset. And that is , LIFE !

Didn't get a chance to click a picture when it rained. So went back to meet the special ones! Found them engrossed in a game of hopscotch this time.

A beautiful waterfall in SGNP