Day 41-2011 : Time Out

It is an interesting fact, but it is true.  In the five and a half years that I lived in Chennai, I did not even once go to the Marina Beach, supposedly the world's second longest beach!  I must have gone to the famous shopping area of T-Nagar maybe a couple of times in that time.  I did not ever go to the Vandalur zoo.  Actually, I lived in Adyar for a couple of those years and in spite of wanting to, never visited the either the Theosophical Society or Kalakshetra!  And by the way, in the almost two years that I lived in Bengaluru, the city of gardens, I did not find the time to visit Lal Baug!  In fact, I could possibly come up with some places in my home town, Ahmedabad, as well, where I haven't been in my lifetime.

I am reminded of all of this because of a chance visit to the Chowpatty in Mumbai recently.  Yes, you probably guessed it right.  I did not go to Chowpatty specifically; I just happened to be in its vicinity.  However a strong urge to stop the car and to go and have a look overtook me.  And there I was, at 11 AM in the morning, savouring the bright Mumbai sunshine on Chowpatty beach.  I like the vast expansiveness of the sea; with the South Mumbai and Walkeshwar backdrops, the landscape was even better.  This experience however triggered a curious train of thought in my mind.  Why did I not do those things which I mention above in the first paragraph?  Why, even after more than a year of coming back to Mumbai, I haven't been to the Chowpatty, or the Gateway of India, or closer home, even the Juhu beach?



@Chowpatty after a long time!



I feel like I have lost out on the opportunity to intimately get to know these places by not being more adventurous.  Yes, driving in our cities these days is adventurous!  I can think of many reasons though, for not having explored these cities more.  And I am sure, I am probably not the only one who feels this way.

First and foremost, I think is the antipathy to crowded public places.  I hate crowds.  I guess T-Nagar is explained now.  Second, and it is related to the first one, is the lack of convenient public transport and the lack of available parking spaces.  I hate to be driving in circles trying to find a parking space.  If I do find one, the need to squeeze the vehicle into a buttonhole turns me off.  If I do indeed get there, the constant fear of a traffic policeman with a greasy palm makes me a nervous wreck!  Third, is time; or the lack of it!  I haven't had the time to think about visiting all these places in the last few years.  Even if I did think about it, I could never get down to actually doing it.  Modern urban life keeps one busy at work and even at home!  On the weekdays, you are trying to get things done at work.  In the weekends, you are trying to get things done at home!  Work, home, spouse, kids, friends (and yes, social networking sites too now) occupy all our available hours. 

Come to think of it, I haven't had a proper vacation since 2006, when myself and Priya went to Goa for our babymoon.  Even that trip came about because we had to attend a friend's wedding there!

However, now that I think I have missed out on these things all these years, I am determined to correct it.  I am going explore some of the interesting public places in the city in the next few months.  And I am definitely determined to plan a family vacation (or maybe even two!) this year!

Take care.

Day 30-2011 : A Nomadic Month

We are already at the fag end of the first month of this year!  Time is flying!

This month was full of hectic travel, largely on the personal front, but also for work.  The month started with me and the family flying back to Mumbai from Ahmedabad where we spent the last week of December and brought in the new year.  The very next day, we drove down to Pune.  Priya and the kids were going to spend the week at her mother's place and I was left to fend for myself in Mumbai for the week.  Life without wife; for a week!

I did get through the week by spending most of the time at work.  Food was on 'Delivery' mode, from a few restaurants nearby.  End of the week I travelled to Goa for an offsite meeting spanning the weekend.  An early morning flight (5 AM!) after a late night the previous day set the tone for the offsite.  The first day of the offsite was hectic and very productive.  The evening was spent having dinner on the beach along with some enthusiastic singing (mostly Amitabh Bachchan / Kishore K songs!) by the gang.  Some of the gang carried on the drinking on the beach after the dinner till very late in the night.



Sea food on offer @ Goa; none for me though!

The next day, after attending the reminder of the sessions at the offsite, myself and a few others were on our way back.  The others, of course were staying for the night as well, which I had to miss, as I had to pick up

the family from Pune on Sunday.  Hence I was back in Mumbai and on my way again to Pune the next day.  The highlight of this trip was opportunity to meet Rajee, Ashwath and Anjali, who are here for a vacation from Estonia after a long time.  We dropped them at Panvel on our way back from Pune.

@ Pune with the family. 

Lastly during the middle of the month, all of us went back to Ahmedabad for Rashmi's Seemantham.  A rush rush affair this time.  But it was great to see a lot of people in the family make it to Ahmedabad for the ceremony.

The Seemantham ceremony @ Ahmedabad.

It is said that whatever you do on the first day of any year, you are bound to keep repeating it throughout the year.  Though I am not a great believer of such superstitions, the evidence so far in January suggests that it might just be true.

Take care.

Day 89 - Incredible India!

Yes, Incredible India!  That is the thought that comes to my mind again and again, since the last couple of days.  The trigger being my visit to Goa this week for an offsite.

Though the visit itself was very hurried and hectic (spanning a day and a half), while travelling from the Goa airport to the hotel located in South Goa, near Palolem, and back, I was amazed at how rich and more importantly, how different the landscape was. 

The point is, India is such a big and diverse country, with so much to offer.  It is said that the dialect changes every 500 metres in India. Not sure if this is an exaggeration, but it goes to show how different a different part of India might look like to someone who has lived mostly confined to his surroundings.  While on my way to and from the hotel, I could see a Goanese influence on so many things.  The style of architecture, the colours that locals use to paint their houses: vibrant and typical of Goa, the bill-boards, the dressing styles, everything had a distinct Goanese influence on it.

After this experience, I have promised myself that I will try to explore more of the richness and diversity of India's culture, geography and demography, going forwards.  It is a shame that I haven't yet seen the Taj Mahal!  In the next few years, as the children start growing up, I am going to explore India along with the family.  It is an incredible country and there is so much to experience as a proud citizen of this country. Incredible India, here I come!

By the way, the trip itself was fruitful, but quite tiring.  Was at work till 11.30 in the night and then had to catch the 6.00 AM flight.  Friday evening was good.  Once the working sessions were over, the drinking and singing sessions started.  Everyone had a fun time, with me finally retiring at 3.30 AM in the morning.  No prizes for guessing that I gave the yatch ride and the jet ski a miss the next morning.  This was my second visit to Goa.  The first time being for Zulu and Ryan's wedding four years ago, when me and Pince were there with Suryanksh, who was not yet born!

Take care.