Disclaimer: The events may seem dated as I have taken considerable time to write this blog. Reason for this sluggishness will be clear upon reading it!!!!
My mind and body are currently in withdrawal. Really need loads of grit, barrels of coffee and oodles of TLC. Being the sati savitri, bharatiya nari that I am, this withdrawal has nothing to do with any fluid, smoke or intoxicant whatsoever. It’s just that I am back in Johannesburg after more than a month of vacationing in India. It is confusing to the mind if the sentence “I have just returned home after a wonderful trip back home” is not just muddled English! The woes of the body are easy to fathom. E.g. luxurious (and amazingly affordable) massages in the comfort of my own bed being replaced by manual labour like hauling huge bags of grocery. But the mind is even more confused. It’s like reading an utterly un-put-down able book in 2 days straight and not knowing what to do once it is over! I love my life here and it is so pretty and organised and all that, but there is something about home trips that keep you mushy for weeks. India really fits into the tagline ‘tedha hai, par mera hai’! So let me share the chaos, colours, sights and sounds of my amazing holiday......
Destination 1 MUMBAI:
Felt like James Bond after landing in Mumbai International airport. Seriously, check out the events and judge for yourselves. Dare devil bus ride though numerous moving Airbus A320s. Jostle with hundreds of passengers to pick up numerous huge, black coloured luggage pieces from conveyor belt serving 3 flights at a time. As an aside, my New Year resolution includes buying florescent green luggage. Charm the customs officer with my ‘tired innocent woman clutching her 6 year old’ to escape the serpentine queue for customs baggage screening. Emerge out shaken and stirred. But picture abhi baaki hai mere dost! Imagine Mr Bond saying “M, mujhe nahi ban na Bond Wond. Rakho apni gaadi.” What with Q’s exotic cars moving in 1st gear in Mumbai’s traffic! No wonder Bollywood proclaims “Mumbai ka raja kaun-Bhiku Mhatre” and rides autorickshaws for practical purposes! But who cares about such trivialities. At the end of this tunnel were my Mom, Dad and Bro, waiting for me with open arms. What more can a girl ask for.
Destination 2 GOA:
I don’t think there is any other place on planet earth that can be even close to what Goa is. Though my first impression of Goa was not too great. It looked shabby, under developed and poor. But what is lacking in infrastructure is more than made up by spirit. Each experience was unique. You want to rent a car- no problem. Enquire and the guy will just hand you the key to his rental car! No documents needed or any pre payments to be made. There are no road signs- no problem. Go straight till German Bakery; turn right, drive till Mum’s cafe, turn left.......you just use numerous colorful and boisterous restaurants and pubs as landmarks all along the city. Another Goan specialty is that all shops- grocery to hardware- sell 2 essential liquids- Kingfisher Beer and Petrol in 1litre pet bottles. So just pick up your car/bike, buy some beer, keep buying petrol and just zip along. What pristine beaches are to or Langkawi, beach shacks are to Goa. Three things make these shacks unique- unlimited supply of booze, finger licking sea food and ear drum splitting music! From Beer to LIT, Reggae to Hip Hop, baked crabs to fried pomfret, they have it all. Semi tipsy waiters add to the ambiance! The icing on the cake is the view of the sea in front. No coast guards, no time limits, just pure, unadulterated fun! For a moment, I just wanted to stay forever. Life would be one big party!
Deatination 3 KOLKATA:
This city is closest to my stomach! My signature line here is- “Bhaiya ek puchka aur ek churmur.” And then there is Jhaal Muri. Chaat done it is time for sweets. Gur ka sandesh and rasgullah, gur ka sandesh and rasgullah, wah wah, wah wah! Now this is called shayari! The other thing unique to Kolkata is didi. Arre, Mamta Banerjee, baba. The latest messiah of the poor. ”Didi shob theek kor dega” is what I was told by each and every cab driver. I have also heard that she will make Kolkata the London on India. Is she CM Mamta or magician P C Sorcar? Well there are no taxes on dreaming (yet) so dream along Kolkata. Till next time.......
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