Missing Mumbai, Missing Home!

Exactly three years ago, right after finishing my undergrad studies, I set off to India for about two months to spend the rest of my summer there. Hands down, it was the best summer I've had to date. No two months have ever been so relaxing and fun. I can't believe it's been three years, because it feels like yesterday.

Summer 2007 -

I was eating my Aaji's homemade Amti-Bhaat, Daalimbyanchi Usal, Kadhi Khichadi, Solkadi, Anarse, Satorya, Shrikhand, and other countless awesome Maharashtrian delicacies. Not that Aai doesn't make them here, but authentic Indian food in India is something else all together. I can't help but think about how 'chilled out' I was, after accomplishing what I wanted to accomplish during my undergrad years.

I was in Mumbai, jumping off and on Churchgate Fast locals. Street shopping. Eating Chhabildas' Batata Wadas. Drinking Piyush at Panshikars. Hanging out at Bandstand. Sleeping with my head in my Aaji's lap. It was all a great time. Ever since I was two till when we came to the US, I've spent every summer in Mumbai, but this one had it's own charm; one which I can't express in words.

I visited to Goa for a holiday within a holiday! I went to Pune and Aurangabad to visit my relatives. Tulshibaag in Pune, Panchakki in Aurangabad, and beaches in Goa. It was bliss personified!

I'm longing to go back home right now. It's weird, my friends call me crazy because I live with my family, yet call Mumbai my home. I guess it is a little off-beat. I'm yet to decide where home is. NJ or Mumbai?

Arabs Crossing The Desert by Jean-Leon Gerome

This past weekend, I had a great time at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. I love anything that has to do with Art, so this was a treat for me. I visited the MET after almost 10 years, so I noticed quite a bit of change, of course.

My favorite from this trip had to be Arabs Crossing the Desert by Jean-Leon Gerome. This is an oil painting, and the clarity is phenomenal. The perspective, fabulous and the effect, dramatic.

You can almost feel the scorching heat, the blinding sunlight, and the dust in your eyes.

I'm attaching a snap of the painting. It's a treat for the eyes.

Not Quite What I Was Planning

I came across an interesting book called Not Quite What I Was Planning. It contains six-word memoirs written by a whole bunch of people. Basically, you've got to sum up your life in six words, and six words only. Not more, not less.

My first thought was - alright, seriously, I'm barely 25. Quarter-life crisis, alright, but am I not a little too young to be summing up my life and writing my six-word autobiography?

And then my second thought was - what better have I got to do this second anyway?

So here goes, a few failed attempts, followed by a pretty good one, I should think.

Almost 25. Thirty in 5 more!!
Always happy and always will be!
I have had an awesome life.

And then... bingo!
Adaptation. The Story of My Life.

I'm actually quite proud of my six words, because if I look back, I've always had to adapt to new circumstances, new places, and new people. My dad's job was such that we had to move a lot -within India, across the globe to the United States, and then, within the United States as well. I had no choice, but to be receptive to change.

It was not easy. I realize how crazy it was after talking to some people who have had the same set of friends since they were two years old! My friends pretty much changed every two years, and due to lack of Facebook back then, it was hard to keep in touch. So places changed, friends changed, situations changed... and I had no choice but to accept it.

Looking back though, all the moving around was what shaped me into the person I am today. I'm not afraid of exploring unchartered territories because it's become second nature. I love meeting new people and I make friends easily. I thank my baba now, because if it weren't for him, I would probably not have seen places like Fargo, North Dakota and Boise, Idaho. If it weren't for him, I would have been afraid of failures. If it weren't for him, I would not have learned to embrace change with a strong gut.

So there it is. Adaptation. The Story of My Life.

Wisdom Departs

My wisdom teeth have been the cause of much pain and agony the past couple of months, so I decided to bite the bullet (or right now, the gauze) and get the surgery done. I went under the knife at 10:30am this morning and out came my 4 wisdom teeth. I chose to go under general anesthesia to minimize the sufferring. But I've pretty much been in hell ever since the drug has relinquished its mighty abilities.

The next three-four days will be a LOT of pain-killers, ice-packs, sleep, ice-creams and milkshakes. Kind of looking forward to staying in bed reading, though... :-) (ouch, I can't smile).

Alright. Time for Mango Sorbet!

Hiatus

Precisely the word for my absence from blogworld. It's funny actually, many-a-times, I had a pang to write, however, couldn't bring myself upto it. Some random thoughts about what I've been up to -

• Biggest change is a shift in jobs. Looking forward to an exciting change.
• Have lots of relatives visiting from India, which is absolutely fantastic. The house is going to be empty once they're gone :-(
• Watched Inception - and it was fantastic, to say the least. Does Cobb's totem keep spinning at the end?!
• Visited the MET and Central Park yesterday with A and A and it was a great day out! Perfect weather and perfect company!

Nothing too crazy or out-of-this-world as you can tell, but they say life's about enjoying the little things, don't they?