London Cancelled, Hello Himachal

Thursday, 12th May 2011, the day London was cancelled.

This summer, the MIM, the boys and I were planning a trip to the Queen's country. Yes, the land of Shakespeare and Wordsworth and Roald Dahl; of the stiff upper lip, the cockney accent and the lilting drawl; the batter fried fish, tea & scones, shortbread and what, even curry; the London Bridge, the Big Ben, the Buckingham Palace, Globe Theatre and the Westend -- oh the Westend, where plans were being made for 'The Lion King', 'Love Never Dies' and 'End of the Rainbow'.

Visas had been applied for; interviews given; warm clothes taken out, sunned and packed; gifts bought for relatives and friends; and tickets booked for Saturday the 14th.

Our visas never came. Repeated internet checks and phone calls to the consulate resulted in the same answer being done to death -- Yours applications are under process.

!2th evening, with a birthday party for The Nephew raging in the background, the MIM and I took the painful decision of cancelling our tickets so that we could get back the maximum refund possible -- less than 24 hours meant 50% would have been deducted. We called the helpline in Delhi one more time and they very rudely told us not to expect anything before the middle of next week. That cememnted our decision.

Now we had more than two weeks of vacation time on our hands with nowhere to go. Instantly, I said "Himachal." The MIM had been clamouring to go to the hills for a long, long time and now was our chance.

We knew we wouldn't be getting the best deals; after all, not only was this trip last minute, it was also at peak season. Hours spent over the Net and we finally zeroed in on our route : Delhi -- Amrtisar -- Dalhousie -- Dharamshala -- Palampur -- Amritsar -- Delhi. This was after a lot of permuatations and combinations were checked out.

Next, the hotels in Himachal. In Dalhousie, we got a cottage in a beautiful, recently opened resort called "Amode". Not strictly in Dalhousie town, 7 kms further up. In Dharamshala, we got acco in The Grace Hotel while in Palampur, we got another cottage at a tea estate. Like idiots, we didn't factor in any extra time for Amritsar, otherwise we could have done the Golden Temple and Wagah Border as well. I guess we had to leave something for next time.

So, with the Big Ben, Globe Theatre and the Westend waving a sad goodbye to me in my mind's eye, I readied myself in the heat of Calcutta summers with sweaters and woolens.

And after all that? Midnight between 13th and 14th May, after we got back from a friend's birthday party, the MIM decided to check out the visa status 'just like that.' Guess what?

They'd been approved on the 13th.

So much for paying extra for SMS alerts. Anybody I can write to about this?!?!

Birthday, Andamanese Style! The Islands -- Part 4

January 27th

Happy Birthday to me!!
Should I tell you my age? Ooops! I think I already did in that poem of mine! Ah well, first and last time ever on this blog that I do that.
Here's the thing. I don't really celebrate the 27th of Jan as my birthday anymore. It is officially the anniversary of my 25th birthday. So, on January 27th, 2009 I celebrated the 8th anniversary of my 25th year.

Normally, I get all melancholy and contemplative on my birthday. But here, in these surroundings, amidst Nature at her best, brightest and finest, it was impossible to feel anything other than -- grateful.

Grateful for my boys. Grateful for the MIM's health and the health of my parents. Grateful for my friends. Grateful for all of God's blessings. Grateful for all of Nature's perfection. Grateful for poetry. And strange as it may sound, grateful for discovering the world of blogging -- it has given me so much!

So what did we do? Not much, we travelled back from Havelock to Port Blair. In the evening, we shopped a bit and even though I knew the MIM was getting slightly irritated, I pushed it a little bit by checking out everything before making my final choices. Hey, it was my birthday!! :)

Then, my three boys treated me to a fine dinner at the Fortune Resort Bay Island, the Taj property in Port Blair. It was an open-air restaurant; the breeze was scrumptious, the view breath-taking, the food delicious and the company scintillating! :)
The MIM got the boys to sing me "Happy Birthday" for the fifth time that day and as I beamed and basked in the glory of their love for me, I suddenly noticed my EO looking a bit perplexed. After the singing was done, he asked me, "But where's the cake?" We explained that there wasn't going to be any. Then he got really, REALLY worried and asked me, "But how will you know what old you are?"

I had such a hearty laugh...the perfect way to bring down the curtains on my birthday, ooops, 25th-year anniversary, don't you think?

Two Off My List...Part III of the Andaman Adventures

January 26th 2009, Republic Day
I was so excited about this day that I just couldn’t sleep due to the excitement of it all! Finally snorkelling!! Hurray! A hurried breakfast and a short drive to the jetty later, we were finally sitting on one of those colourful motor boats I had been eyeing from the moment we arrived on the island. Speeding over and being at a close proximity to the water I had been sighing over ever since my first viewing from the airplane, was thrilling, to say the least. I wanted to keep my hand in the water through the entire journey, but I had to be the responsible mom and not give any ideas to my over excited EO.

As we neared Elephanta I could see and hear proof of other tourists frolicking on the beach. The beach wasn’t wide and it didn’t stretch till forever, but it was surrounded by trees, which gave it an idyllic charm. No crude, thatched-roof huts, to tin-roofed snack shops…just tree stumps serving as stools and branches serving as clothes-lines. We set the boys up with their tools, swam around a lot with EO; YO was more interested in discovering the taste of Lays Sour Cream and Onion flavoured chips seasoned with sand. And then...the MIM and I took turns to go snorkelling.

Gentle reader, IT WAS MINDBLOWING!!! The coral reef, the huge blue starfish, the schools of rainbow coloured fish, everything, all of it, just took my breath away! I wanted at least twenty more pairs of eyes to drink in the beauty of it all. There was so much to see and marvel at. I felt so lucky to have this dream come true...so INCREDIBLY lucky. That is now one thing I can cross off my The List. You know! The "things to do before I turn 40" list!

We had a lovely picnic, packed for us by the Wild Orchid hotel from where we booked the snorkelling trip. After lunch, it was time to go back. A glass-bottomed boat hitched up with our motor boat, and so we were able to give the boys a glimpse of the underwater garden. The YO was too young to understand, but nevertheless, he got very excited when he saw all those fish and the EO just wanted to see the blue starfish that I was talking about. Unfortunately, we couldn't show him any, but he was fascinated by the whole experience.

We came back tanned and exhuasted, but thrilled to the core.

For the evening, we had hired a car to take us to the Radhanagar Beach, rated as one of the top ten beaches in India. It was a 45 minute drive and we went through the incredibly lush, green, tropical vegetation. That itself is quite a wonder, meant to be stared at, marvelled at, wondered about. You just can't help but thank God enough for these pockets of natural greenery left in the world.

Radhanagar Beach is stunning. White sands as fine as powder, the myriad shades of blue, in the water as well as the cloudless sky, the lushness of the greenery...words don't do the magnificence of the place justice, so I won't even try. All I'll say is that we were in awe! We stayed there till sunset, drank in the beauty of the sea welcoming the sun and left soon after.

After a good dinner at the resort, the boys watched half a movie on the MIM's laptop and just crashed. And then...

...another fantasy of mine came true! Hehehe! That's one more I can cross off The List. And no, I'm not going to tell you what it was. All I'll say is that it was deliciously raunchy and naughty, and I felt so alive, so vital and ten years younger. And on the eve of one's --th birthday, that's so not a bad feeling to feel!

Oh and yes, of course the boys were out of sight (but within our hearibg distance...you know, just in case they woke up crying!)

Happy Mother's Day to Us, One and All!

I had a gorgeous Mother's Day!

Took my mum out for lunch yesterday along with the YO. Spent the entire day shopping, after that. Tried calling her this morning to wish her, but she was out.
Wished my MIL with a gooey, soft, milky, chewey chocolate chip cookie. She said it was 'heavenly'! :)
Got a beautiful, handmade card from my boys (made with LOTS of help from their dad!) They gave it to me with lots of hugs and kisses and 'I love you's!! :D
Went out for lunch to 'Machaan', a jungle-themed restaurant. The animals there were amazing and at the switch of a button, some of them actually moved!
Bought some toys for the boys and my EO chose a lovely Mother's Day gift for me...a book titled "Mothers are Special." :D
The YO got his first big screen experience...a 3-D movie no less! About dinosaurs, called "T-Rex." He loved it!! The EO however whimpered a couple of times and clutched on to me during the entire movie. Yes, my karate champ is quite the little scardey-cat at the best of times...
And after all that excitement, we cooled off with a swim followed my some ice-cream and fresh lime sodas at the Saturday Club.

Yes, I had a GORGEOUS Mother's Day!!
How about you beautiful women?

At the Andamans...Part Deux

January 24th, 2009
In the morning we tried to be optimistic. We monitored our baby’s fever, stayed indoors and rested. After a conversation with our paediatrician, we decided to put all our faith in God, allopathic medicine and five years of parenting experience to work…and we made up our minds to go to Havelock. We rested the boys, ordered in and tried to catch up on sleep. In the evening, a school friend of mine, AM, who organises fishing trips on the island came over for a chat. He was leaving for Havelock the next day too. He gave us a lot of good advice and told us not to miss out on Havelock. We didn’t want to. The YO had shown no signs of fever either since late afternoon, so yippee!

The EO warms to people easily. And he also loves being adored. He took an immediate likeing to AM and set about trying to win his approval. Now AM is an absolute man's man; macho, outdoorsy, tanned, gruff voice, the works. The EO thought that the only thing to do to get AM's approval was to practice his karate moves...something he doesn't do at home even after lots of begging, pleading, pouting and ultimately threatening. It was late. We had an early morning. I needed my kids to go to sleep. The MIM and AM were drinking and chatting quietly in the sitting area as I got the boys ready for bed. Luckily, the YO zonked off, but the EO just went about kicking at imaginary flies in the air. Finally, I had to literally haul his ass into bed. I tucked him in, kissed him and sang him a lullaby. He looked at me very tearfully and announced that his "heart is sad". I died a zillion times over and frantically asked him, "Why my shona, my sweetheart, my heerer tukro?" To which he replied with as much sadness as he could put in, "Because you won't let me do my karate. How will I do well if you don't let me to do it Mamma? How?! How?!?"

The sneaky little devil! Mastering the art of emotional blackmail so young, are we?

Well, I gotta say, it worked. He was given ten more minutes to 'practise'/impress AM. After a round of applause and innumerable "Wow!"s and "Very good!"s, he FINALLY went to bed...and crashed! Phew!

January 25th, 2009
The ferry left at 6.30 am. Another night of little sleep (third night in a row!) and we set off for the jetty with another family from the hotel. A four hour trip later during which the EO and I played loads of silly games, gorged on tons of junk food while YO stayed chipku to his super-hero father, I marvelled time and again at the sheer splendour of the natural surroundings. An absolute photographer’s delight! My nature-loving soul would have felt complete had my YO not decided to have a meltdown of mammoth proportions in front of the other passengers where he wanted his baba and ONLY his baba. This even caused some of our more ‘concerned’ co-passengers to remark to my husband that he was “closer to you, right?” They ‘thoughtfully’ did this behind my back while the EO and I were up on deck. To say that I was embarrassed is of course an understatement. It was definitely not one of my sterling moments as a mother.

The view as we near Havelock Island is, to put it mildly, spectacular. There's only one word to describe Havelock -- paradise. A pristine, unspoilt, virgin, natural wonderland. And even this description does not do it justice. Havelock Island is an experience waiting to be lived.

From the jetty, we set off to our resort. Just one pucca road going through lush vegetation, and nestled amidst all the lush greenery were hotels and resorts sporting quaint names such as El-Dorado, Poseidon, Wild Orchid, and the like. Also, every now and then, you come across beach-hut-like shacks advertising fishing tackle, snorkeling gear for sale or hire and even motorbikes for hire. (A great way for a couple to see the island!)

We stayed at a lovely resort named Silver Sands. Gorgeous wooden cottages, an open-air bathroom (just the essential areas covered), low lighting…splendid for a honeymoon couple, of which there were loads. The wooden cottages had one HUMONGOUS bedroom, low lighting and a door which led to an....wait for it....yes, yes, it's coming...OPEN AIR BATHROOM!! IT WAS AWESOME! So beautiful, so amazing! Not completely open, just half a ceiling covering the essential areas like the wash basin, the toilet and the shower area. The remaining half had a lovely palm tree and a wonderful rock garden. The MIM and I freaked, the boys freaked and we all did a little dance that resembled a cross between Ring-A-Ring-A-Roses and the Birdie Dance. Two seconds later we realised that the EO's energetic jig was due to the call of nature when his voice broke through all that merry-making with a loud and shrill, "Potty!!"

After lunch and a nap, we ambled onto the beach, which was a stone’s throw away from the resort. I swear I thought I was in heaven! The blues of the water, the white of the sand, the serenity, the calm, the colourful fishing boats…it just had to be! The MIM and I just stood there drinking in the sheer beauty of the place.

The EO and I then went to wade in the water, while the MIM helped our YO to build sand castles. It is indeed one of life's greatest joys to be able to splash in knee-deep, crystalline water with your child and to share in his laughter which is as pure and clear as the water you wade in.

We need places like Havelock Island in this world – places untouched and unspoilt by mass marketing and crass commercialisation. While the beaches of Goa and Puri have a charm and character all their own, the beaches of Havelock are a reminder of how beautiful our Creator intended this world to be.

However, unfortunately, almost as soon as you enter the island, there is a garish monstrosity of tinted glass and neon orange (!) being erected. It is an eyesore that assaults every fibre of good sense one possesses. Where are the eco-groups and NGOs now, I wonder?

Summer vacation's round the corner...

and you know what that means, don't you? It means the possibility of another holiday. But before I write about that, I think it wise to write about the Andaman trip like I've been promising to do ever since I came back! So without much more further ado, here's...

Part 1 of our Island Adventures

January 23rd, 2009

(BTW, readers of M&B magazine may find certain parts familiar to a certain article on the same subject in the March issue. Please don't think that I stole someone else's thoughts, lines and words...that article was written by me!)

Ours was an early morning flight, 5.30 am to be precise! That meant putting the boys to sleep early on the 22nd. Of course, the MIM and I tried to follow the same rule as well, but we all know what they say about the best laid plans. The alarm screeched at us at 2 a.m., after what seemed like a 43 second snooze, and the MIM and I got the finishing touches together and woke the boys up. We arrived at the airport before it was even open! Ah well, having learnt well from the early bird, at least we got the most coveted seats on the flight, with time for coffee to boot!

We asked for two separate window seats even though that meant that we wouldn’t be able to sit together, but at least this way, both of us along with a kid each, would get a view of the islands from the clouds. And when two hours later, after a hearty Indian Airlines breakfast and a ten-minute snooze, we got The View. That was the first of many, MANY breathtaking moments on our trip. It was literally like looking at emerald droplets floating in a sea of sapphire. The MIM, our EO and I were awestruck (YO was fast asleep). Before the trip, I had shown the EO pictures of the islands in travel books and on the internet. I had briefed him about what we were going to see and (hopefully) all the adventures we were going to have. That’s why, when he saw what he had previously only seen before in books and the internet, right under his very nose, he was at a loss for words! (And believe me, that’s a really big thing because you have no idea what a chatterbox he is!)

There was a van from the hotel waiting to take us and the other soon-to-be-vacationers to The Sinclair’s…touted to be the best in Port Blair. As we drove from the airport to the hotel, the first thing that struck me was how CLEAN the city was. I mean not-a-single-scrap-of-paper-on-the-roads clean. This is also a part of India. The inhabitants of this city are Indians too. So why such a stark difference? It means we can take pride in our city and throw rubbish where it’s supposed to go. So why not in Kolkata, Mumbai and Patna?

The view of the ocean on our way to the hotel, lifted our spirits. We checked in, had our baths and inquired about the ‘Things to do in the Andamans’. There was a boat leaving for the Ross Islands and so we called for a packed lunch and set off for our first touristy thing to do. We first lathered ourselves with sunscreen and made sure we had lots and LOTS of water with us. The boats, or more appropriately launches, from Port Blair to Ross Island left from the Water Sports Complex. Before the tsunami, there were many adventure water sports here, like water scooters, para gliding, kayaking and the like. When we asked why they hadn’t started again, we were told with a wry smile, “Everything in India is always late.” Understood brother!

The boat ride was a mere and pleasant 20 minutes.

We came back exhausted, crashed for an hour and then headed off to Carmyn’s Cove, said to be the only beach in Port Blair. We got there after the sunset and the tide had already come in. Not much of a beach and the hubby and I were disappointed. The boys had their shovels at the ready, found a patch of dry sand and proceeded to enjoy themselves. We left soon after.

That night, thanks to the loooooong and tiring day, coupled with the excruciatingly long wait at the jetty in Ross Island, we found the YO burning with a high fever. Heat fever thanks to the exhaustion! Luckily we had all our medicines. It had been a long day and it turned out to be an even longer night, with the MIM and me taking turns to carry the YO around to soothe him and keep him comfortable and cuddled. We were due to leave for Havelock Island the day after. Instead, we contemplated taking the next flight back home... (to be contd.)

Super Sunday

That great Saturday was followed by an absolutely spectacular Sunday!
It started off on a sweet note. Remember those pastries and savouries we'd bought for all the kids on Saturdy evening? Well, EO and the Nephew decided to keep their pineapple pastries for the next morning. The YO had his as soon as we entered the house.
Come Sunday morning, the Nephew and EO are playing together and I've sent YO to play with the Niece. I gave the two big boys their pastries and they sat down to enjoy it...at a nice leisurely pace, savouring every bite and having a pleasant conversation. The YO bursts in on the scene, unannounced and starts throwing a tantrum, I quickly distract him with a chocolate and toys and settle down at my comp to try and get some writing done. I also tell the two elder boys to hurry up with their pastries since their little brother was crying, but he had already finished his the evening before. A few seconds later, I saw a blue T-shirt slowly passing by in front of me. There he was, my elder son, precariously balancing on a spoon, a chuck of cake for his younger brother and calling out to him as sweetly as possible, "YOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" A few seconds later and the Nephew follows suit bearing his bit for the YO.
Teary eyed so early in the morning! I could tell that the rest of the day was going to be good! :)
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We were invited to the inauguration of a new slide in the water park section of Nicco Park (West Bengal's very brave attempt at a entertainment park with rides and slides and carousels and food stalls and...). The MIM and I were actually considering giving it a miss.
BOY AM I GLAD WE WENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It was brilliant! And I hate the sun and heat, but I was SOOOOOOOOOOO happy!
I am an absolute water baby and love trying out adventurous rides and stuff. Not stuff that spins you around and round like a top...those just make me sick, but I am always game for scary rides, water rides, roller coasters, the Ferris wheel...anything, you name it!
Well, I really don't know how to describe those rides here, but just trust me when I say the experience was brilliantly thrilling!
And something that everyone should experience!
WOW!
Planning another trip with friends and their kids as well. Should be a blast!

Saturday Sum-up

Saturday morning, took my EO and the Nephew for a haircut. Now, personality-wise, these two little buys are absolute opposites of each other. The Nephew is smart, brave, sombre and takes his time to get to know people and open up. My EO is smart, sensitive, friendly and the biggest chatterbox that ever lived. So while they we're getting their haircuts, the reactions from the two corners of the salon were diametric opposites. From one corner, there wasn't even so much as an 'Ow!', where as from the other corner, there was a non-stop ramble of estimated amount of time for haircut, ears hurting, nose itching, family member, toys...phew! I got exhausted just listening to them. After they were done, they were both given some toffees and I asked them to sit inside, not run amok, eat the toffees and wait while I got my eyebrows done. So there I was, eyes closed, fingers holding eyelid firmly in place, enduring one of the fortnightly tortures of womanhood, but I could, of course, hear the EO's loud tones drifting my way. The beauticians who were sitting around, decided to entertain themselves by chatting with the two shorn spring chickens. The Nephew was monosyllabic at best, but that didn't matter much since the EO jabbered enough for the whole khaandaan.

Now, the EO loves to tell the whole world and her sister that the Nephew is his 'boro dada' (big elder brother) and goes around introducing him as such too. Now, this must have come up in the conversation and one of the ladies must have asked him something about the 'younger brother at home' (this is my regular salon; they know me, my MIL and SIL here well). So my boy, my chirpy little chatterbox goes on to explain helpfully, "O aamaar maa-yer chchele noi." (He is not my mother's son).

I am lucky my eyebrows aren't messed up.
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Took the EO and the Nephew to South City for a while, where I dumped them in the play area for an hour, while I took Maa-Janoni a Mamu of mine for a quick shopping trip. Have you guys tried a warm, fat chewey choco-chip cookie from CookieMan? Oh please to do so! You have no idea what kind of heaven you are denying yourself! I promise that it will be a regular feature of all my trips to South City from now on!
After I picked the boys up from Timbuktu (no, seriously, that's what the place is called :) !!), I took them to Starmark where they both pounced upon a rubbery snake! Being in a particularly softy mood, I bought one each for the two of them. The snake impersonations started immediately!
We came back home and found that BIL-ly Boy and SIL had returned from the Big School with the boys' books! What a huge mountain of...!!! Our boys have to take this stuff to school! Won't their backs break! Then the SIL and I started going through their text books. I am afraid, so very, VERY afraid! Not so much for my son, but for ME!!! My peaceful evenings are going to change sooner than I want them too!
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The MIM and I took our boys and the Nephew out for an eventful, Saturday evening drive. We went to the maidan for a tonga ride. A tonga came upto us and stopped and while we were clambouring on, one of the horses chose that precise moment to relieve itself...much to the fascination and amusement of three very curious little boys. Sigh! I knew what lay in store for me! Susu comparisons and susu-laden conversations!
There was a pleasant breeze and I had the wonderful company of three of my most favourite boys in the world. (The MIM opted out of the tonga ride since he had to stay with the car). While the Nephew is silent around people in general, with his cousin, he's a different little boy altogether, matching my EO almost word for word. And the imaginary world of children is such a fantastic place. Whenever their imagination comes to the fore, I take a backseat and just enjoy the priveledge of being allowed a glimpse and at times, even an entry into their special worlds. They pointed to various clumps of trees and dubbed them 'forests', spoke about 'driving helicopters' and defeating the fire-breathing dragons that dwelled there and described other such heroic activities. What a memorable ride!
After that, the EO and the Nephew went for a horse ride. The MIM started by trotting off after them at first, but when the horses broke first into a canter and then a gallop, he wisely decided to come and stand next to the YO and me, and enjoy the view. The Maidan is really a gorgeous place. My favourite part is the dancing water fountain. Watching it never fails to lift my spirits. It's no wonder that this part of the city is referred to as "Kolkata's Lungs". So whenever I read about certain ministers in the state government wanting to take over it, it fills my heart with fear and dread! May it never, EVER happen.
My thoughts were suddenly broken by the loud, joyous laughter of my EO. The horses he and the Nephew were riding had broken into a fast gallop and they were revelling in it. After the ride, the horses cantered back to us and it was photo time. We put the YO in front of the EO and took snaps. The attendant said he could take both the boys together for a small round. The MIM got very nervous, but I didn't think it was a bad idea at all. So as the MIM started walking after them, yelling out instrucions (I married a hyper man, what to do?) I just stood there, enjoying the sight of my baby enjoying his first ever horse ride!
After ballooons had been bought, burst and lost, it was time for ice cream and a drive around Victoria Memorial. We stopped at Cakes and bought some yum pastries and savories for the family.

Quite a delicious Saturday, I must say!

If We Are Who We Watch...

The EO is Ben10. Ben10 in a Bengali boy body. Really and truly. He lagaos the lingo and dons the designs. All that's missing is the REAL omnitrix. But for now, he's got two expensive, flashy, replicas made in China until he acquires the real thing.

The YO has become obsessed with Noddy. So much so that he has started looking like him...huge, big eyes, an impish grin and a wobbly head.

The MIM, if you look hard enough, bears a slight resemblance to Arnab Goswami. My man's just got a more squashed up samosa for a nose, is a couple of shades more wheatish in complexion and smiles a lot more. Glasses and passionate, argumentative logic firmly in place, though!

So why the hell don't I look like Kate Walsh or Marcia Cross!! No?!? Ok, Suchitra Sen or Sonam Kapoor? Awww come on! At least Kajol!!
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And speaking of Ben10...
There's something that's just so awfully thrilling and touching and enchanting about the fact that sometimes, just the very rarest of sometimes, your five-and-a-half year old chooses Mickey Mouse over his favourite, boy/10 alien avtaar superhero.
Believe me, it's quite a "YES!!!!!" moment.

Of Bandhs and Bon Voyages

Sitting at home twiddling my fingers on a bandh day. I should have gotten used to the whole 'bandh' scenario in Kolkata by now, but today, I am especially angry.

They just had to call it today? Not any other day? I mean come on, you guys can really go all out in trying to claim another day-off for yourselves. What, four days not enough f0r you? I mean, you've already got a long weekend in the State. Tomorrow, Friday is Netaji's birth anniversary (a holiday in good ol' WB), then there's the weekend, followed by Republic Day on Monday. Four days people! And it's not enough for you? You have to dishonestly grab another one to make a five day trip to heavens knows where and cripple the infrastructure and cause losses worth millions just so that some of you can spend an extra day in Digha, Puri, Darjeeling or wherever!

Arrey! If you have to do it, do it honestly. Put in a leave application, inform your children's schools and then jazz off. Don't keep doing this to everyone!
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Sorry about this rant, but when you go the straight and narrow and watch people walk the crooked path, it is a disheartening and disgusting feeling.

But let me just draw in a couple of deep breaths, because speaking of 'jazzing off', the four of us are off to the Andamans tomorrow! I am so buzzed because this is the first holiday just the four of us! No relatives, no help -- just me and my boys (yes, that includes the MIM!) I have to confess that the MIM is very apprehensive about the 'no help and no ayah' policy that I was adamant about, but he's agreed. I hope and pray that everything's alright and super-smashing and that we have the bestest holiday ever! I hope I don't have to hear the end of not taking someone along. I hope 'm the one who gets to say, "See, I told you so!!"

So pray for me people. And someone please tell me to just stop worrying and relax already! Shouldn't I be thinking about sand, surf and sarong now?

See you guys when I get back!

The Zoo of Misery and Wretchedness

We went to the zoo yesterday. The MIM and I with our two brats, BILly Boy with his wife and two brats.

I wish, I really, really wish that I could say we had a blast, but personally, I didn't. The kids were excited to see the animals, of course. Plus, it had been a very long time since we had all gone out together like this in a group, so that was fun too.

But the animals. Oh, those poor, poor animals. Now I have nothing against zoos and circuses -- PROVIDED THE ANIMALS ARE WELL CARED FOR. My eyes and sensibilities were assaulted by one miserable sight after the other.

I've always loved the zoo. Some of my happiest memories are of visiting the Bronx Zoo when we lived in New York and of going to the Mysore Zoo when we lived in Bangalore. I used to think it was quite thrilling that we could get to see wild animals so up close and personal. As I grew, I also believed that the zoo was a safe haven for many of these animals. A zoo was one of the few places where all animals could be looked after, nourished and cared for like beloved pets. I safely assumed that endangered species would multiply and thrive in such a protective and loving atmosphere and that soon enough, we could knock their names off the endangered species list.

But yesterday, I felt these miserable creatures were better off in the wild. I could see the rib cages of the lions. Kings of the jungle, these mighty beasts are supposed to be. Instead, they were nothing more that mere skeletons of their glorious memory. It pains me to say it, but the word that best describes them is 'fleabags', lying there in the sun like limp, stinky dishrags. The giraffes, those tall majestic creatures were trying desperately to lick the 'chunaa' off the walls -- a clear sign of calcium deficiency.
The pool water in the hippo enclosure reminded me of a sewer. The same was the case with the water bodies meant for the storks, cranes, ducks and other water birds. The Calcutta Zoo used to attract migratory birds from as far as Siberia and the MIM was telling me how in the winters, there would hardly be any space on the lakes. because the birds covered every available inch of space there was...and let me assure you, the space is considerable. And now? Just a few flocks here and there and dirty water as far as the eye can see and the nose can smell. Not surprisingly, word about the bad acco and services must have travelled by squawk and chirp of beak to all the four corners of the globe by now.

Not just that, the place is filthy!! The zoo is a major winter attraction here in Kolkata. Families pack picnic lunches and lovers 'chat' behind the bushes. Is it so bloody difficult to throw a used thermacol plate or an orange peel into the dustbin that's right in front of your f*****' face! The whole place was worse that a pigsty, because even a pig worth his pink wouldn't give the place the time of day, unless he was put behind bars like his more unfortunate brethren of the animal kingdom.

And no sign-boards. Anywhere! No maps, no arrows to point us in the direction of the reptile house, the zebras, the lions, the monkey cages...nothing! 'Hello! Anybody there? Could we have some attendants and zoo officials out and about please? No? Say what? They're all at home sleeping on a Sunday morning. Well! What a novel idea, I say. And what about the rest of the week, what do they do then? Oh sleep!! Well good for them!'

Will I go back? Yes, of course I will. If only to see my YO clap his hands and exclaim excitedly, "Maakee, maakee" (that would be 'monkey' folks) and hear my EO try to roar like a lion. To hope that my paltry ten-rupee entrance fee will at least buy a packet of peanuts for the baby elephat.

And if possible, to 'accidentally' push someone responsible for the plight of these creatures, into the tiger's den.

Friends and Tagore...

I have always maintained that friends are my lifelines. They fill my life with light and laughter. The past week being what it was, I thought we needed a chance to escape for a few minutes from the all madness and destruction and lose ourselves in stories of our children, work and the latest movies.

So, on Saturday, 29th November I called some of my friends over to the Saturday Club (yes, teeheehee and all that) with their kids, for tea, snacks and loads of adda. Three of the five fabulous women were able to make it, their broods in tow, and a great time was had by all -- the kids and the moms. The children ran on the lawns, the wind whipping their faces, their laughter ringing in the air and the sight and sound of them enjoying themselves, literally filled our hearts with gladness.

Yes, I'll say it again...friends are my lifelines. Thank God for them!
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On Monday, the MIM and our boys, bundled ourselves into the car and drove down to Shantiniketan. Every year, on the 1st and 2nd of December, there's an art mela there called the Nandan Mela, which attracts art lovers from all over the state and even serious aficionados from other parts of the country as well as the world.

This is the second time I have ever been to Shantiniketan, a place that holds a special space in my heart. Aside from the fact that I love, worship and tend to deify all things Tagore; my Maa-Janoni and her younger sister, my favourite aunt, both studied there. Through their memories and reminisces I have walked the raangaa-maatir poth and danced in the Basonto Utsab countless number of times. I have 'seen' Maa-Janoni stun the spectators into awe with her histrionics on stage and 'heard' my Choto Mashi serenade the trees, birds and audience into raptures with her tremendous vocal talent.

The MIM and I have bought a small piece of land there, where we one day, God willing, plan to build our dream country cottage. A place where we can run away from the city to breathe pure, fresh air. Where we can let the boys run, cavort and tumble in wide open spaces. Where we can take friends and chat the nights away, sing out loud to the night sky and for a few, blissful days, let the wind cary our worries and stress far, far away.

This year, my very close friend was also there, with her hubby, her two sons, parents, in-laws, elder sister and her daughter. There were other friends there two. When the EO met his friends, the reunion was straight out of the movie 'Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge'. They younger boy, A2, who is closer to the EO in age, and the EO ran towards each other with open arms, screaming each other's names. The only things missing were a 'sarson ka kheth' and a banjo. To say that the sight was both hilarious as well as heart-warming is obviously a understatement.

After lunch with my friend's family, the MIM went off for some work and we hung out together the entire afternoon and evening. The MIM met up with us at the mela in the evening and the ambiance was electrifying. Unfortunately, for the past couple of years, the big, established names in the art world haven't been participating much, but that in no way takes away from the spirit of the fair.

After the mela, a cosy night back at the place where we were staying, an early night to bed and in the morning we woke up fresh and rejuvenated. We had planned to drive back after lunch, but my friend called us up, urging us to leave as soon as possible since a drivers' strike had been called in Bolpur.

We had a sumptuous breakfast in the garden, under the winter sun (I recommend that everyone should do it!) We piled our stuff into the car and left, earlier than we had planned.

So much remained undone, but we can always go back. Barring a few hiccups and thanks to some lucky breaks, we reached home in time for lunch.

And all to soon, my idyllic retreat ended and we were back to reality.

And reality bites! On the bum, no less!

This Sunday's Report on Fears, Tears, Smears and Smiles

Some time back, when I started writing regularly for my blog, I wondered if I'd ever run out of things to talk/write about. The Powers That Are, are definitelylaughing hard at this one, considering that my blog is facing a backlog. I think there's got to be some irony at the rhyme and same letters of these two words, but it eludes me at the moment...

Well, I've decided to dedicate this post to this Sunday that the MIM and I spent with our two boys. Just a couple of incidents that I wish to record for posterity. Because, as I said elsewhere, I am so afraid of forgetting...

1) We wanted to take the boys out to a new restaurant called Machaan. It's supposed to have a jungle theme and everything, so I thought the boys would get a hoot. Not exactly near our place, but a longish drive on a Sunday afternoon is pretty nice. As we were nearing the place, the latest mall to open in Kolkata, called Mani Square, we saw these huge hoarding of a new entertainment section that's opened up in the Mall, called 'Scary House'. I got all excited about it and in the process, got the EO all jumpy and squealy and non-hungry, the same boy who was begging me for a snack exactly as we were walking out the door and to whom I said, "Wait for a little while baba, we'll be eating soon." Anyway, we get there and head straight for the 'Scary House' and something that I really should have anticipated greets my eyes...a list of people cautioned not to enter -- including children below eight! Wooooops! Teary tantrum alert! The man's face from behind the counter looked down at him, smiled kindly and said, "I'm sorry, you can't go in. You'll be too scared!" A very indignant EO placed his hands on his hips, faced the face and siad in a big-boy-voice, "I'm not scared! I'm five years old!" And to drive home his point, he raised his hand, with five fingers splayed apart, to emphasise his new age!

2) Well, once the floodgates opened, they were pretty hard to shut. So we headed to Machaan, the origanl purpose for making the entire trip in the first place. It was a Sunday afternoon, of course there was waiting! For 45 minutes! Since the EO was busy crying up an appetite and it was already quite some time past the YO's lunch time, we decided mot to wait and eat at the Food Court instead. But the place did look swell! There were 7 feet tall statues of tribals standing guard outside the restaurant and in the window display there was a huge elephant and a tree with a puma perched on top. I called my boys to come and take a look, but the EO, for some strange reason is terrified of mannequins. I am talking cringe-and-cower-and holler-for-mommy afraid. He can't explain his fear, and I am trying desperately hard to help him overcome it. I thought he'd get a kick out of seeing the animals. Big mistake! The tribals scared the beejeezus out of him and I was rewarded with a fresh and even louder outburst this time round! Considering that this incident sat upon the heels of the Episode of the Brave Five-Year-Old Big Boy in Front of the Scary House, I have to admit that the MIM and were thoroughly amused! Yes! We're a bad, bad Mamma and Baba! (Snigger, snigger! Smirk! Chortle, chuckle!)

3) While I was busy and happily buying junk food for our little family to gorge on (please don't look at me like that! Weekend treat! It's allowed!), the MIM was busy hanging onto the YO (seriously, the kid needs a leash!) and trying to reason with the EO at the same time. When the EO's sobs started to ebb away, he finally made a grand pronouncement and stopped his stream of tears, "They didn't let me go in the Scary House and that's why I'm sad!" Awwww! My poor baby! Soon enough, my child, soon enough!

4) I let the YO start off with some french fries and sauce. He was thrilled that we were allowing him to dip the fries into the sauce himself and chomp down on the golden-yellow potato sticks...in public! Without a bib! But naturally the sauce ended up smeared on his face...covering the entire tip of his nose, spots on his cheeks and his chin! Together with his wide, happy smile, he was the perfect picture of a cute and cuddly clown! So, of course I had to get in on some of the ketchup action and give him a kissie...how could I not?