Tag 4!

Thank you Mathew, for the tag. It reminds me of the high school autograph/slam book.

Take 4 tag 4:

4 Places I have lived:

Bangalore: My 2nd home. That’s where I lived most of my life: school, graduation and work. Very dear to my heart cause, that’s were kettiyon and me met, where friends are and where we plan to live in a few years. I hate the traffic, the pollution, I have refused to touch the wheel in the last 2 years, I have given up cycling because of the fear of being run over, yet ‘Namma Bengaluru’ is still home. I love the cosmopolitan culture the city owns, the gentle and loving Kannadigas’, all the shopping, the food and the hang out joints.

Mumbai: My 3rd home. Came here for my PG and stayed on for years. The first time I stayed away from home, the beginning of many realizations and the beginning of a wonderful vocation/ career. Am a Mumbaiaite at heart, I love the hustle bustle. The ‘locals trains’, which taught me to value ‘a minute even a second’, the work culture, the security of travelling alone as a woman, all the innumerable plays I saw, the galleries I visited, shopping (for clothes, shoes, jewellery, bags) on Bandra/ Colaba Causeway, the innumerable restaurants, theatres, all my friends, the women/ children I worked with(the ones I call my own: My women, My children).... its never ending. I miss you Mumbai.

Goa: My favourite vacation spot and I was lucky to have lived and worked there. Though it was for a few months. By the beach at Vasco, was where I worked with the most vulnerable children. I wished I could have taken them home with me, not sure who was sadder leaving.. them or me.

Indiana: A town in the heart of the corn fields, ‘Warsaw’. Before you ask, no, this one is not the capital of Poland. It is a small little town in Indiana, USA. This town was equiv. distance from Chicago, Detroit and Indianapolis. This is where we set up our first home. Lived there for half a year, and it became our extended honeymoon. Warsaw is the ‘city of lakes, calm and serene. It will always be our 1st home.

4 TV shows I love(d) to watch:

Mind your language: It made me laugh and it still does. Mr. Brown, the English Teacher, a British, Mr. Ali, Mrs, Jamila.... each one of the characters were so well scripted. Any question on why its tops my list?

Chitrahar: The time when Doordarshan ruled. Wednesday 8pm was Chitrahar time. Guess we hardly missed any shows. I can’ think of another show that I wait for now, with that fervour.

Wonder Years: Still makes me say ‘aawww’. The cute Kevin and Winnie and their true love. It was the ultimate teenage love story. I still look at it and say, ‘true love’.

World This Week: The charming Pranoy Roy, with his impeccable English and the coverage of issues over the world. I still remember his interview with Amir Khan when ‘Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak’ had released, then there was Clinton’s elections...and ofcourse so many other issues.

4 places I have been on a vacation: Surprisingly most of my favorite places are in India.

Kozikode/Chertala: One in the hills of Malabar and the other in the backwaters in Kerala. Both these places hold a million memories, very close to my heart. We were there, every single summer vacation since pre-school. Those early morning walks to the church, picking flowers on the way, playing, playing and more playing, attempts at afternoon naps: when all we did was look at the clock for it to ring 4pm, so that we could get up and run back to play. Hiding behind Grandpa as he looked into the honeycomb, playing with the new born ‘calf’, hunting for eggs, waiting for the cashew fruits to fall down, the trek up the rocks, jumping into the pond.... Oh god, I can go on and on. By far the best time of my life.

Goa: The land of the beaches... I simply love it. Have been there innumerable times and I can still go back. The water, the people, the rides, the dancefloors, the food... GO GOA any day!

North East India: The unexplored land. The land ridden with strife and pain, but, of breath taking beauty. I have travelled through Assam and Meghalay, but it was more than enough for me to say, ‘I have to come back’. The only other place I’am in love with other than my homeland ‘Kerala’.

Munar: The honeymooner paradise. The drive up there was beautiful and so is the place. Was it the early morning fog or was it the thick array of trees or was it having breakfast in the middle of the clouds, or was it going to the long forgotten church, or seeing the river flow by or eating ‘parota and chicken’ at the roadside tattukada? Again, in one word ‘ Beautiful’!

4 of my favourite food: By far the most difficult. 4 is not enough!

Neimeen Patichadu: The way ammachi makes. When I go home.. its mimi(fish) time!

Chilly Chiken (Indo Chinese style and Hyderabadi style): Love both these dishes, spicy, hot and sizzling. One, red in colour the other, green. Yummy yummy!

Unakameen (sravu) achar and Kanni manga Achar: Hope it counts for food. I could finish half a bottle in a day, I could finish the rest if I don’t get caught..

Gui Chocholate Cake: Again does this count for food. Oh sure it does! Must be ordered only from ‘Cafe Churchill’, on Colaba Causeway, Mumbai, also available at ‘Cafe Mogambo’, Fort, Mumbai. Yummy, finger licking / plate licking so much so that, the plates don’t need a wash.

4 places I would rather be: Other than where I’m right now....

Back home with Ammachi: I miss my mom! Any day with her is like reliving childhood. I can just lie around doing nothing, food comes and plates get taken back. And I become the queen of the mansion.

Back in Kozhikode/Chertala with all my cousins and grandparents: You know why..

Kottayam: That’s our long term plan... to settle down, with a some ‘Krishi’. And I could have any number of dogs, cows, goats, duckies, chickens and a pond with fishes. And oh, I have a list of names for each one of them. The chickens/duckies maybe out of the list cause kettiyon has promised to christen them chicken 65, chiken tandoori, heard a few and I decided to reconsider owning them.

Nepal: Haven’t been there yet but I would love to go. Nepal for me is the pristine mountains, the monasteries, and ‘Yodha’ (Malayalam movie with Mohanlal, actually this in one other movie I have seen a few times. Love it)

4 things I hope to do before I die:

Adopt a child/children: Hope we have the courage and the faith do that.

Finish my ‘to learn list’: That is quite a big list..it has pottery, sewing, piano, Carnatic music, fly a plane, learn to sail and many more.

Trek to the Valley of Flowers and river rafting on the Ganges at Rishikesh: Any description would not do justice to these places.

Start an organization: This dream has a long way to go, but then I sincerely hope that I do reach there. Working with people is my passion. So it would be: A place for the old (poor and otherwise), children (orphans and street kids), women (abused and alone) and for others who want to work with people a little less fortunate. The ideas are just forming, waiting for HIS time.

4 novels I wish I was reading for the first time: 4 is a small number :(

Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry: I find it difficult to put down my thought on this book. Anyways, for those who don’t know enough about the ‘Emergency in India’ this is a must read. The terror, the pain, the shock, the wonder at the reality... Rohinton Mistry is a very fine writer, his wit and unemotional narration, and the way he builds his characters is brilliant. It hits you hard. Brilliantly crafted and must read.

God of Small things by Arundathi Roy: Surprisingly I haven’t read other works by her except for a few articles. Met her once and still saw the enigma of the book in her. Some parts of it went way over me, read it again but then it still remained mysterious. I know this books has mixed review but I loved it.

The Tragical Story of Doctor Faustus by Christopher Marlowe &Macbeth by Shakespeare: I just couldn’t separate these two books; I read them around the same time. Scared me, moved me and changed me..... Absolutely intense narration, the dark side so well captured and the protagonists so dark and so very deep. It says so much about the authors.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen: For anyone who loves the classics and being a women, how can I miss this book. I loved Elizabeth, for she reminded me of me in some ways and I fell in love with Mr. William Darcy immediately. Jane Austen rocks.

4 movies I can see over and over again: Listing movies I have seen an average of 17 times.

Kanamrayathu: Loved Shobhana, Mamooty and Rehaman in the movie. Some say its Shobhana’s 1st movie, am not so sure. Scripted by Pradmarajan and directed by Sasi. Who can forget the songs ‘Kasthuri Maan kurune’ and ‘Oru Madurakinavin’. One other reason I love this movie, is because it’s adapted from one of favourite books ‘Daddy Long Legs’. There is also a black/white English movie released in the early 50’s.

Chitram: Awwwa Mohanlal, Nedumudi Venu , Srinivasan and Ranjini. The comedy timing is brilliant. And I still laugh my heart out when I see the movie. The twist at the end which is so typical of Priyan is sad though.

Masoom: I fell in love with Jugal Hansraj. Come to think of it, he was my first crush. One of Shekar Kapoor’s finest movies, based on another of my favourite books ‘ Man, Woman and Child’ by Eric Segal. A very well written/well directed movie, and kids were all so wonderful Baby Jugal, Baby Urmila... The songs Tujhse naraaz nahin zindagi.., Huzoor is kadar bhi na ithla ke chaliye.. , Lakdi ki kaathi, Kaathi pe Ghoda... They are timeless.

Sound of Music: Another timeless piece. And I know, it is an all time favourite, especially the songs. Julie Andrews and the Von Trapp family, nothing can beat this movie.

Comments

  1. Lol@ chicken 65 :D Smart move!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I remember watching "World this week" as a kid...used to stay wake just for watching it..used to be a huge fan of the show..:-)

    "The chickens/duckies maybe out of the list cause kettiyon has promised to christen them chicken 65, chiken tandoori"LOL!! he is a sensible man..;-D

    Sound of music is a fav of mine too..The song Edelweiss in my opinion is one of the most soothing songs ever!!

    thanks for doing the tag..:)

    ReplyDelete
  3. @ Dhanya: I know.. Lol! Sho enna cheyana... !

    @Mathew: Non veg priyan aa alle??
    Edelweiss...I agree is soothing. It's actually a little difficult to choose one over the other. As a child I couldnt stop singing 'Rain drops and roses' Ahhaa!!

    Thank you for the tag, I enjoyed doing it.

    ReplyDelete
  4. That was quite interesting and informative too

    Simply loved your template, feel like I am looking at nature through my monitor :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Trek to the Valley of Flowers is the first one on my list of 'To do' things before I turn 40.
    "A Fine Balance" is so unputdownable and I have lent my copy to umpteen number of my friends, it resembles a 'pappadakkettu' now :-)

    Thanks for visiting my blog and do keep in touch.

    ReplyDelete
  6. @ Survivor: Thank you so much. Green in one of my favourite colour and nature makes me happy... ;) Glad you liked it.

    @Wanderlust: Oh wow! All the best, I do hope we can make it. And you my friend are so sweet and generous. Doesn't that book just make you want to cry and then again doesn't it give you a much stronger resolve?

    ReplyDelete
  7. I remember rushing to sit in front of the TV before chitrahaar, a program that was seldom missed. The same with World this week.

    I liked the part of having ‘parota and chicken’ at the roadside tattukada? These are such lovely memories that will be cherished forever. Reminded me of my similar adventures.

    I share all of your 4 favourite food. I agree 4 is not enough. :-). The 'to learn' list is quite exhaustive :-), wish you all the best (sarcasm not intended).

    The list of movies are my favourites too. A good read Ashwadhy.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Bell Bajao! Ring The Bell!

Oru telephone call!

Kutty boy and his ‘amma’!