Like typical tambrams, I and my husband cannot live without our daily dose of steaming hot filter coffee. Whenever we are out of station, good filter coffee is one item we crave for. Immediately after settling down in Mumbai , the first thing I wanted to know was where I could get good coffee powder for my filter coffee. I realized that practically all south Indians living on this side of Mumbai, ordered their coffee powder from typical south Indian areas like Matunga or Mulund. We coffee lovers can go to any length of the city to get our favourite coffee powder. It is universally applicable for all tambrams. Seeing international outlets like Starbucks or Barista or Bru cafes makes me wonder whether they would survive in a filter coffee loving towns like Thanjavur or Kumbakonam in South India. In fact, I and my husband have tried drinking different varieties of coffee at Barista, Starbucks or Columbian coffee outlets and have always comeback feeling that our own filter coffee is the best anywhere we go. The aroma of coffee filtering through our traditional coffee filters is one addicitve aroma without which we cannot imagine our mornings. I am still not able to accept cold coffee as a genuine cup of coffee. It is more like any other milkshake we have. So, as far as I am concerned, south indian filter coffee is way ahead of all those coffees served at flashy international outlets. Come and taste our coffee and you will only return for more.
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Starbucks coffee or filter coffee
Like typical tambrams, I and my husband cannot live without our daily dose of steaming hot filter coffee. Whenever we are out of station, good filter coffee is one item we crave for. Immediately after settling down in Mumbai , the first thing I wanted to know was where I could get good coffee powder for my filter coffee. I realized that practically all south Indians living on this side of Mumbai, ordered their coffee powder from typical south Indian areas like Matunga or Mulund. We coffee lovers can go to any length of the city to get our favourite coffee powder. It is universally applicable for all tambrams. Seeing international outlets like Starbucks or Barista or Bru cafes makes me wonder whether they would survive in a filter coffee loving towns like Thanjavur or Kumbakonam in South India. In fact, I and my husband have tried drinking different varieties of coffee at Barista, Starbucks or Columbian coffee outlets and have always comeback feeling that our own filter coffee is the best anywhere we go. The aroma of coffee filtering through our traditional coffee filters is one addicitve aroma without which we cannot imagine our mornings. I am still not able to accept cold coffee as a genuine cup of coffee. It is more like any other milkshake we have. So, as far as I am concerned, south indian filter coffee is way ahead of all those coffees served at flashy international outlets. Come and taste our coffee and you will only return for more.
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Being on par with Tata and Birla
Recently there was a show on tv about people who have fallen from the financially good times they had to poverty. I was reminded of the days of my financial struggles and a valuable advice from my father at that time.
Till the time I got married I was blissfully unaware of any financial problems my parents had and though I was not demanding, I always got what I wanted and was a very happy teenager. After completing my studies, I worked for few years and never thought I lacked anything. But when I got married I was just into my 20s, had resigned my job and was innocent enough to think that life would be the same. Within days I realized that life is not a bed of roses and suddenly , I had to manage all the chores, buy groceries, vegetables , milk and manage my travel expenses too with the amount my husband earned. The salary he brought home was just enough for the two of us and any extra expenditure like travelling or medical expenses were creating a hole in our budget. I then realised the value my mother's frugal savings had on our family when my father was jobless for few years and we were four school going children in the family and our parents were also supporting few other cousins who had come down from villages and stayed with us for their education.
I , on the other hand, found it difficult managing the household for just the two of us despite a steady income. The situation only became worse with the addition of children and steady visitors. My father, who rarely visited me, was at my place at a time when I was totally frustrated with the financial situation. I was tempted to ask him how he managed when he was jobless. His words were valuable. He said financial difficulty is the least of the problem one can face in life. Life is difficult if one has to face physical abuse or mental torture , but not a financially difficult phase. He said , even the richest in the world, or the greatest businessmen like Tata or Birla have their financial problems. It could be about generating finance for their next venture or facing a loss in the earlier venture. it is only the magnitude which varies, and no one is spared of the financially difficult phases. Its the attitude you have towards the material assets that will carry you forward and tide over the worst financial situation.
With that gem of an advice from my father, I now know that I am blessed in more than one way in having a loving family and not facing physical or mental torture and having less of materialistic aspirations.
Till the time I got married I was blissfully unaware of any financial problems my parents had and though I was not demanding, I always got what I wanted and was a very happy teenager. After completing my studies, I worked for few years and never thought I lacked anything. But when I got married I was just into my 20s, had resigned my job and was innocent enough to think that life would be the same. Within days I realized that life is not a bed of roses and suddenly , I had to manage all the chores, buy groceries, vegetables , milk and manage my travel expenses too with the amount my husband earned. The salary he brought home was just enough for the two of us and any extra expenditure like travelling or medical expenses were creating a hole in our budget. I then realised the value my mother's frugal savings had on our family when my father was jobless for few years and we were four school going children in the family and our parents were also supporting few other cousins who had come down from villages and stayed with us for their education.
I , on the other hand, found it difficult managing the household for just the two of us despite a steady income. The situation only became worse with the addition of children and steady visitors. My father, who rarely visited me, was at my place at a time when I was totally frustrated with the financial situation. I was tempted to ask him how he managed when he was jobless. His words were valuable. He said financial difficulty is the least of the problem one can face in life. Life is difficult if one has to face physical abuse or mental torture , but not a financially difficult phase. He said , even the richest in the world, or the greatest businessmen like Tata or Birla have their financial problems. It could be about generating finance for their next venture or facing a loss in the earlier venture. it is only the magnitude which varies, and no one is spared of the financially difficult phases. Its the attitude you have towards the material assets that will carry you forward and tide over the worst financial situation.
With that gem of an advice from my father, I now know that I am blessed in more than one way in having a loving family and not facing physical or mental torture and having less of materialistic aspirations.
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Kolkatta trip and woes on the highway
To say that I was excited to make my first trip to eastern India, that too the city of joy, Kolkatta would be an understatement. Though the trip was to leave my daughter at her institute for higher studies and the realization of leaving her was tearing my heart, I was also looking forward to visit the city after watching the thriving city in the movie ,Kahani". The dum dum airport was very impressive and was far better than the Mumbai airport. But there ended the impressive part about the city.
We had to travel to Mohanpur , a 50 km drive from the airport. We estimated that it would take approximately 2 hours to cover the distance. But what a miscalculation it turned out to be! We had to take NH 34 and calling that a national highway is a shame. It was full of potholes and adding to our woes was the heavy downpour filling the roads with slush and pools of water. It took us nearly four hours to cover the distance of 50kms and any hope of excitement to see anything more of West Bengal quickly vanished. even the beautiful but underdeveloped landscapes en-route did not enhance my mood. I was worried as to how my daughter would travel this route to come back home or even to visit the Kolkatta city. I pity the citizens who need to take this route as a routine. It was a backbreaking journey and even the traffic discipline I noticed on this stretch did not cheer me up or give me the courage to on a sightseeing trip. Hopefully, I would muster courage to do it before my next trip to the city of joy.
We had to travel to Mohanpur , a 50 km drive from the airport. We estimated that it would take approximately 2 hours to cover the distance. But what a miscalculation it turned out to be! We had to take NH 34 and calling that a national highway is a shame. It was full of potholes and adding to our woes was the heavy downpour filling the roads with slush and pools of water. It took us nearly four hours to cover the distance of 50kms and any hope of excitement to see anything more of West Bengal quickly vanished. even the beautiful but underdeveloped landscapes en-route did not enhance my mood. I was worried as to how my daughter would travel this route to come back home or even to visit the Kolkatta city. I pity the citizens who need to take this route as a routine. It was a backbreaking journey and even the traffic discipline I noticed on this stretch did not cheer me up or give me the courage to on a sightseeing trip. Hopefully, I would muster courage to do it before my next trip to the city of joy.
Friday, February 22, 2013
Catching up with friends
Recently I got active with my college reunion efforts. we are completing 25 years of graduating out. It was a revelation of sorts about friends who we think would be the same after 25 years. Friends are a mixed bag. Those I thought were naive have turned out to be really smart and those I thought were average in academics have actually turned out be academicians or quite successful in life. I am also coming across friends who have lost their spouses and facing life with gusto, but sadly there are also friends who , as a student, I thought were quite dependable but have actually become aloof and are not showing that much interest in the reunion efforts. Those I thought were aloof during college days have turned out be friendlier now and want to keep in touch.
But the close group of my friends, touchwood, have remained the same. Maybe because we have been in touch all these years. Despite the absence of a social networking platform like facebook for a large number of years we have managed to keep in touch with each other and are able to bond with each other the same way. Though we don't meet in person, we are able to share our joys and worries with the same comfort level as it was 25 years back. I can vouch that friends are necessary to give us a different perspective of matters in life and it does help to have so many shoulders to share your burden.
But the close group of my friends, touchwood, have remained the same. Maybe because we have been in touch all these years. Despite the absence of a social networking platform like facebook for a large number of years we have managed to keep in touch with each other and are able to bond with each other the same way. Though we don't meet in person, we are able to share our joys and worries with the same comfort level as it was 25 years back. I can vouch that friends are necessary to give us a different perspective of matters in life and it does help to have so many shoulders to share your burden.
Friday, October 12, 2012
Middle age and spectacles
When I was in third standard, most of the English lessons were boring, but there was one particular lesson which I clearly remember is a story about a man named Kichu who wears spectacles and always misplaces it and is forever looking around the house for it. It was so hilarious that it became my favourite lesson and I read it several times over and over and could not stop laughing every time I read it . But now I realise that each house has middle aged kichus and pattus who are always on the look out for spectacles. The saddest part is I am one of them.
I am very sensitive with regard to my eye. Smallest of the problems in my eye can trigger a panic in me and I can't stand even a peck of dust entering my eye. Few months back, on the day when I could not sign a simple form at a shop and had to take my daughter's help to actually identify the spot where I had to put my signature pushed me to realise that I could no longer read comfortably. I was forced to go for an eye-check up by the family and I just hoped that it would get over soon. Luckily, I had to wear only reading glasses and I was glad that I could still manage many of my chores without spectacles. But the downside was, I had to constantly search for the specs whenever I wanted to read something. wearing specs at home was okay, but going out with spectacles? No way! I thought more than greying hair and wrinkles on the face and hands, spectacles would make me look older. I was not ready to wear it . I only carried it along and only and if and only when there was an emergency like filling up bank details or forms, did I take them out from my handbag.
I became the object of amusement for my daughters, and they were happy to show me their mark sheets or answer papers before I could go in search of my spectacles and grab them back . Now, on my husband's insistence I am wearing my spectacles with a string so that it would hang around my neck like a noose and makes me feel bad about laughing at Kichu of my English lesson.
I am very sensitive with regard to my eye. Smallest of the problems in my eye can trigger a panic in me and I can't stand even a peck of dust entering my eye. Few months back, on the day when I could not sign a simple form at a shop and had to take my daughter's help to actually identify the spot where I had to put my signature pushed me to realise that I could no longer read comfortably. I was forced to go for an eye-check up by the family and I just hoped that it would get over soon. Luckily, I had to wear only reading glasses and I was glad that I could still manage many of my chores without spectacles. But the downside was, I had to constantly search for the specs whenever I wanted to read something. wearing specs at home was okay, but going out with spectacles? No way! I thought more than greying hair and wrinkles on the face and hands, spectacles would make me look older. I was not ready to wear it . I only carried it along and only and if and only when there was an emergency like filling up bank details or forms, did I take them out from my handbag.
I became the object of amusement for my daughters, and they were happy to show me their mark sheets or answer papers before I could go in search of my spectacles and grab them back . Now, on my husband's insistence I am wearing my spectacles with a string so that it would hang around my neck like a noose and makes me feel bad about laughing at Kichu of my English lesson.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Bandra fair
I have been staying in Bandra for the past six years and each year , the first week of September becomes a nightmare for commuting even within Bandra. Reason being the ever increasing crowd coming to Bandra around this time for Mt. Mary fest. I have seen devotees walking to St.Mary's church at Shivaji Nagar, Bangalore too. But since the apartment I stayed at Bangalore was not on the main thoroughfare to the church , I never realised how inconvenient this time of the year could be for the residents of the area. Bandra , for instance , is dominated by Christian community residents and even they resent the crowd coming to the fair. It has been increasing each year, and I can't imagine how worse it could get in another decade.
Other than thinking that its a nuisance for the residents, I never gave much thought to the faith or the importance of the occassion itself and till this year, I didn't even think of visiting the church just to see what attracts so much crowd. My interest in churches has thus far been only as a tourist and nothing more.
But, thanks to my friend, who pulled me out of my nest this year and forced me to walk to the church and see and experience the fest. Initially I was scared as to how long it could take to enter the church. It was a Saturday evening, and the weekend crowd was close to few lakhs. But I was pleasantly surprised that it was very much organized and the police and church security were doing a great job. Another pleasant factor was that we had to queue up along the road parallel to the sea front and we experienced a nice , cool breeze and there was hardly any discomfiture despite standing in the queue for close to an hour. In fact , I started enjoying the sea breeze after a while and vowed to come back regularly for evening walks around that area. Then , I saw people buying wax idols from the shops along the road to give as offering. I got curious, and enquired what they were for. The shopkeeper told me that if a family member suffers from some ailment, we can buy a wax idol representing the ailment, for example, a heart shaped idol for heart patients, kidney shaped idol for kidney ailments, and various kinds of body parts can be given as offering. All of a sudden, I remembered my mother in law asking me to buy a eye shaped offering sold in amman temples in south and give it as an offering for my husband's eye problem.
I realised that I had not done that, and I immediately bought a pair of eye shaped wax idol and offered it at the church. Maybe this was the purpose that drew me to the church. Whether it is "Mary amma" or "Mariamma", it is the faith with which we make the offering that matters is the lesson I learnt this week.
Other than thinking that its a nuisance for the residents, I never gave much thought to the faith or the importance of the occassion itself and till this year, I didn't even think of visiting the church just to see what attracts so much crowd. My interest in churches has thus far been only as a tourist and nothing more.
I realised that I had not done that, and I immediately bought a pair of eye shaped wax idol and offered it at the church. Maybe this was the purpose that drew me to the church. Whether it is "Mary amma" or "Mariamma", it is the faith with which we make the offering that matters is the lesson I learnt this week.
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Diamonds are forever! Really?
I am a big fan of the television serial big bang theory, especially of the science geek Sheldon! In one of the episodes he goes to buy diamonds for his girlfriend and he is aghast that they are expensive. His argument is "how can the carbon which I buy locally everyday is so cheap and just slightly rearranged and polished carbon , that is diamonds, are so expensive?".
There lies a lesson for all of us..... in particular the tambrahm community which still thinks that a wedding is incomplete without diamond studs being gifted to the bride(of course not by the groom's family , but by the bride's parents!).
First item of discussion between mamas and mamis in a family on hearing the news of a wedding being fixed is whether or not diamond studs have been demanded and which place is the best one to buy, how one has to check the doshams for the stones etc, etc. They seem to know more about the diamonds and also ways to find fault with the choice others have made.
There are scores of middle class girls in tambrahm community whose wedding is delayed just for the reason that the parents cannot afford to buy a pair of diamond studs. What a shame! even the so called educated grooms don't realise that diamonds are just a form of carbon and can become ash in no time. The utlimate goal of a middle class tambrahm family is that of buying diamond for their daughter and this ranks next only to owning a house. I just hope and pray that future in laws of my daughters realize that diamonds are not forever and have the magnanimity to accept them for what they are!
There lies a lesson for all of us..... in particular the tambrahm community which still thinks that a wedding is incomplete without diamond studs being gifted to the bride(of course not by the groom's family , but by the bride's parents!).
First item of discussion between mamas and mamis in a family on hearing the news of a wedding being fixed is whether or not diamond studs have been demanded and which place is the best one to buy, how one has to check the doshams for the stones etc, etc. They seem to know more about the diamonds and also ways to find fault with the choice others have made.