Wonderful company

Wonderful company, a photo by srinathiyer on Flickr.

So we finished a meeting ... it was hot .. and we decided to go to this place right in themiddle of town..No this is NOT goa or some resort.. its just a small place down the road

Friends, Nostalgia, Family and Sweet Potato

Past week or so was alone at home. Got in touch with a few of my old friends who I have not  met for about 19 years. Just hi how are you on FB till now. When one of them coincidentally told me that I have not ranted my cynicism on the blog for some time now. And so here I am again... but here I am because something happened today. Had been feeling nostalgic for the past couple of days and wanted to go back in time. Today kind of did!

Wife and kid were away in Bangalore and it was parrtttttyyyy time :-)...well not really.. that's what I guess all married men would like to do and think when their wife goes away from home.

Actually the bubble really bursts when you your life life still goes on -- morning maid, a hurried breakfast which is usually coffee (filter of course :-)), a couple of hurriedly made toast which are usually somewhat brownish black in color and juice if one can find any. Then close the house ... ya it becomes a house more than a home :-)...then rush to office ..work work gossip gossip, lunch at the office cafeteria or sharing colleagues lunch boxes ...then one comes back to the house. and then starts the eternal question of what to have for dinner as through out the day one has not had much food ;-).

So this was the routine I had been following for sometime. Though am a good cook (I hold a degree in Hotel Management and used to stay alone for a better part of my life, which ensured that I start cooking and also in my growing up years used to see my dad and mom cook fantastic food), these were some days when I just did not want to cook and eat alone.

But kya karen...paapi pet ka sawal tha..and my stomach was growling and threatening to stop functioning. So.. in order to appease my stomach had to eat..lest I start spending more time in the loo :-). So the fisrt 2-3 days, cleared up all the food in the fridge. Leftovers basically..my wife is a good cook ;-).

From Pepsico Quaker Upma

Then started the days of reckoning..no food in the house...so started a hunt..and hallelujah!!! i found a few packs of these ready to eat stuff Quaker has come out with these ready to eat Upma and Poha. Ready in three minutes. Good stuff..finished all packs at home except the one you see here.

Was planning to make this today.

THEN this strange feeling of nostalgia enveloped me. And kinda had a flashback. Don't blame me for this...the weather in Delhi today is such...that it brought back memories..memories of me standing behind my dad in the kitchen. Mom sitting in the balcony. And I eagerly waiting with wide eyes for the pressure cooker to open, the green chilies to be cut and the sweet aroma of coconut oil when roasted enveloping the entire house...Yes! am a mixed breed..part Tamil Part Kannadiga Part Mallu and Part Delhi...ukhaad lo jo Ukhaadna hai :-)..so I like coconut oil ..lots of uses for that too.

Nostalgia and memories makes one do a lot of things.. in a trance.. I went out all the way to Vasant Vihar..got Sweet Potatoes ..and came back. Time was kind of standing still.

Somehow went back to the past..saw my dad washing the sweet potatoes, putting them into the pressure cooker, lighting the gas, cutting the green chilies, pouring the coconut oil into a small pan, heating it up, adding the cut chilies and salt, frying them up for a couple of minutes..the pressure cooker whistled thrice..and voila everything was plated up..

From the kitchens of my dad

It took me about 8 minutes to finish this off..all the while I was this 4 feet tall 8 year old, slurping away with a smile!

Yep, this is something which Hotel Management does not teach us. These are recipes that life and parents teach us.

Oh by the way just for general knowledge, sweet potatoes are a great street food here in North India. They roast them add some chat masala / a mixture of spices and squeeze a lemon and give it to you. A must try if you are ever in Delhi in the winters. How does it look? click here

So signing off for today! :-) need to rush to the airport..mu house to become a home today again :-) Wife and kid are back.. NOW it is party time!

The Rage Continues!! part 2

The driving tips by my good friend Rajiv Dubey to a very large extent were very meaningful. The one thing it did for me was to look at other people doing their "Delhi Driving" and make me smile and laugh most of the times.

Now sometimes when I want God to show me a way..I tend to go stand next to the driver who honks the loudest..I see "Gujjar Boys" written on rear windshield of a car..I think of getting myself a Rayban and get into a courageous mode of "Never Hide".

We sure need to really ponder about when we are following these rules..unknowingly or knowingly. After all we are the TRAFFIC !

Continuing his driving tips from my earlier post.


Delhi Driving Rule # 14:
Evolution of Delhi Drivers:
All drivers in the city have graduated from small vehicles to big vehicles, for example:
Cycle->Moror Cycle->Car
Moror Cycle->Car->SuV
Rickshaw->Auto Rickshaw->Bus
No Wonder all why Car Drivers drive their cars like Motor Bikes. Bus Drivers drive like Auto Rickshaws. Auto Rickshaws drive like Rickshaws.

Delhi Driving Rule # 15: 
Which lane to drive in?
Right most lane is where you should drive, irrespective of your speed and capacity of vehicle. The other two lanes are just for decoration purposes and for illegal parking/encroachment. Driving in right most lane protects your car from being overtaken from the right side ;) — at Delhi!!!

Delhi Driving Rule # 16: 
Final Rule !
Everyone in Delhi has some connection in Police Department, Home Ministry, Parliament, Prime Minister's Office, President's office etc. Go Crib!
Delhi Driving Rule # 17: What do people say to a Cop, if caught:

a. Tu Janata Nahin Main Kaun Hoon? (Dont you know who I am?)
b. Lo Baat Karo!! (Dials a phone number and get the Cop to speak to someone).
c. Sorry Sir, I am in a hurry...my wife is in Hospital..about to deliver.
d. Sorry Sir, Loose Motion! Running Stomach etc.
e. Sorry Sir, Galti Se Mistake! I thought that RED light was a sign to "Jump" the light.
f. Sorry I did not know (about license which expired 2 years ago).
g. Sorry Sir, Will never do this again! (After the Challan Ticket has been issued).
h. Negotiate the final deal!

Delhi Driving Rule # 18: 
Parking
We don't park our cars, we just stop them where ever we want. Try Parking in CP or Nehru Place- you cant get out by opening any of the doors. Now, the Car companies are working on an option that you could remove the engine and get out by opening the front Hood!! — in New Delhi.


Delhi Driving Rule # 19: 
Driving in Space!!
We drive in 'Space"!! Hell No! that does not make us astronauts!!
We drive where ever we find SPACE on the road and off the road, shoulder of the road, side walk, foot path, opposite side of the road, on Escalators (check this out on foot over bride @ ITO), Subways etc. etc. We are Space-Riders!! Yay that makes us awesome!

Delhi Driving Rule # 20: 
Horn Ok Please!
The Horn has to be used for following purposes:
1. To Scare away the pedestrians
2. To alert the car ahead of you, for your arrival
3. To Turn Left
4. To Turn Right
5. To go Straight
6. To take a "U" turn
7. In case your brakes are not working
8. In case your head lights are off and you cant see anything (at least people will hear your arrival)
9. To Over take someone
10. To let someone overtake you (very rare)
11. Generally...to make sure that its working alright and battery has not failed....

(keep adding to the list)


Delhi Driving Rule # 21: 
Road Signs: Lights
Green: Go
Yellow: Go faster
Red: Jump
Blinking: confused light

Road Rage! Naah..Road Humor.. an incomplete guide to driving in Delhi

This is something people who drive any kind of automobile will emotionally bond with. 

Why? That's because a person driving in Delhi undergoes various emotions .. love, hatred, WTF attitude,  ..etc. 

These are some of the emotions I guess everyone goes through when driving on the Delhi roads. Tell me more if you think these are not the only ones :-)

Discovery of road blocks and nakabandi leading to Confusion

Surprise - when someone gives way to you and no surprise when people jump signals and honk

Wonder and Surprise is commonplace (traffic jam)

Happiness when  and Unhappiness all at the same time

Amusement and  Weariness - best experienced at any of the tolls or on narrow alleys. Amusement..when you are an innocent bystander, weariness when you are stuck in the jam.

Courage - Timidity - Cowardice..This happens in any particular order depending on how big you are

Pity and Cruelty..The same people who find dogs cho cuute..run them over

Complex emotions..less said the better.usually a gun or a knife or a rod or a baseball bat emotes these complexities of the mind and should

Pride yes.. Modesty & Shame..wtf is this????

Closeness - Detachment - Distance..something you will see in abundance..bumper to bumper

No Caution only Boldness and Rashness

Patience..is a virtue - mere Tolerance is for the lesser mortals and Anger is everywhere

Relaxation only when you have parked.. Composure when you have parked in a parking zone - Stress ..after you park you need to worry about the car

Envy..Bhala meri gaadi uski gaadi se choti kaise??!!

Fear for own's life and  Nervousness when driving and WHAT Security are we talking about..Security is only for the VVIPS

Togetherness - Privacy.. Best seen at night on lonely roads or near colleges

No Respect  only Disrespect for people and the law

COURAGE is what everyone has everyday who drive and don't drive to get onto the Delhi roads.

I AM TRAFFIC Something to ponder about

some sights of delhi ..check this out

So what made me get into this trip of emotions?. Suddenly out of the the blue a friend of mine Rajiv suddenly started updating his FB status with Tips on Driving. Something which everyone should learn ;-)..took sometime to get into his FB page and copy pasted them here. Have a look..It's a nice read.

PUBLIC NOTICE: DO NOT READ THIS WHEN DRIVING :-)

Delhi Driving Rule # 1

The one who overtakes you at twice the speed meets you at the next Red Light...waiting for you....Tch Tch!

Delhi Driving Rule # 2

Indicator Light:

The indicator light is NEVER to be used to indicate which direction the Car has to turn. It’s a TOP secret. If you reveal which way you have to turn, you will be giving away National Secret to enemies and thereby jeopardizing National Security. Best use of indicator lights is to use them as "hazard sign" while driving to confuse people.

Delhi Driving Rule # 3: 

Lane Driving:

Always drive between the two lanes i.e. not in the lane- but between the lanes. You have a big car, you need space equivalent to two lanes. Plus, your father owns the city so might as well put the space to good use! — at Delhi!!!

Delhi Driving Rule # 4: 

Driving in a Direction, opposite to traffic!

As long as you have your head lights on, you can go in any direction. Headlights make you invisible to the incoming traffic. Best way to drive against the incoming traffic is to look busy and talk on the mobile phone and keep your headlights on. This will not only make you a better citizen, but also a good driver (if one can go home alive).

Delhi Driving Rule # 5: 

Texting while driving

Cell Phone to be used only for texting while driving. Do it in the fast lane. That may slow the traffic down, but no problem, people behind you are not in a hurry. In fact compose ppts, make sales pitch etc. It's important!

Delhi Driving Rule # 6:

Garbage

Best way for to handle waste-management is while driving. 

You are Rich. You can afford food. So, show it off! Eat or drink whatever you like just chuck it out of the window. The car behind you usually is a Garbage Truck and loves it when you throw garbage at it! Next time-try aiming well, specially if you have a beer pint to chuck! — at Delhi!!!

Delhi Driving Rule # 7: 

Traffic Jam Rule

If you are stuck in a traffic jam, start honking furiously and flash your head lights repeatedly. This will enable God open a new highway for you from the place you are standing till your destination. Better still, start flying your car in the sky to reach faster(applicable only if you have a flying License)

Delhi Driving Rule # 8:

“Gujjar Boy” Rule:

Run. Hide. Save your life.

Delhi Driving Rule # 9: 

The 99-1 Rule:

99% of our drivers were born with above average driving skills and rest 1% are divided in 3 categories:

A. Maniacs- are the drivers who drive faster than you...will definitely have a crash!

B. "Bloody, trying to Race me" -The guy at same speed as you.

C. Anyone Slower: is learning to drive. Walking in the garden. Is old man, has no reason to be on the road etc. — at Noida

Delhi Driving Rule # 10: 

Railway Crossing Rule

If you travel upcountry and find a Railway Crossing, go and park on the other side of the road. Once the Barricade is lifted, the traffic from opposite direction will automatically get re-routed Via Agra so that you are able to sail through the crossing easily.

Delhi Driving Rule # 11: 

Stopping on the “Stop” line on the Red Light

Continuously honk at people who have dared to stop on the line, before the Zebra Cross. You are superior citizen have right to stop on the Zebra Cross itself. It will help pedestrians to discover new routes on the road and better their survival skills on road. Also, keep "inching forward" while the light is Red, just to challenge the flowing traffic on the other side. — at Delhi!!!

Delhi Driving Rule # 12:

How to take right turn fast:

Keep the car on the left most lane or middle lane. Block the traffic going straight. Once you get green signal (or not), turn right, block the right lane as well, you will get first chance to turn and others will turn GREEN.

Delhi Driving Rule # 13: 

Spit-Power!

Eating Paan and Gutkha is a Royal Habit and world is your spittoon. If you chew Paan-Gutkha not only you look great with mouthful of gooey substance, you smell great too. Most importantly, you must also color the roads Red (black is boring). 

Spitting is most effective when you are driving. To demonstrate, open the door while driving to relieve yourself. You must shoot a video and post it on youtube on “how to spit, while driving” so that world is educated on this awesome talent of yours. — at Delhi!!!

to be continued....