My youngest brother is just back from Bangkok! An official one week trip it was discussing social issues. He runs a NGO with focus on the health care of women & children. Writing to him asking how the trip was garnered a single sentence, "Yes, it was great." Now, I cannot for the life of me fathom what this means. Did he have a good time? Did he get to see all the touristic places and do all the touristic things or did he just meet all the local social organizations and discussed issues plaguing the society and the ways & means of eradicating the same.....thus the trip being successful, nay "great"? Though I am sure local sightseeing & entertainment would have been thrown into the itinerary?
I hope to one day travel to Thailand too......see the numerous Palaces and the Temples.....see the huge reclining Buddha covered in Gold leaf....take pictures....walk down the numerous quaint streets and taste the local cuisine. The closest I have been to savoring the atmosphere....my numerous trips to "Pattaya Beach", a Thai restaurant in downtown Kuwait! It's run by a Thai Couple - the wife calling all the shots! I love to start with "Tom Yam Kung"which is a spicy shrimp soup. I also like to have "Pad Thai" which is tangy rice noodles pan fried with chopped peanuts and with shrimps! (The Shrimps could be substituted with chicken or meat). Though most of the time I would order for a "Thai Green Curry" with shrimps. Green Curry (I guess it derives from the color of the curry!) is made with fresh green chillies and flavored with Thai basil and chicken or fish meatballs or shrimps. This dish is one of the spiciest of Thai curries. I also like at times the "Thai Red Curry" made with copious amounts of dried red chillies with bamboo shoots! Oooh! I love Thai food!
Friday, March 28, 2008
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Day Trip to Failaka Island
Failaka is one of the 9 islands off the coast of Kuwait and supposedly the most beautiful & famous of all. It is also the country's main archaeological site. Failaka's history dates back to the Bronze Age and apparently there were Greeks living here for nearly 2 centuries. In the 1990's the Iraqi Forces destroyed the island and forced the inhabitants to flee.
Today was a perfect day for a trip to the island. It was a cool sunny day....wasn't hot because of the cool breeze. I really enjoyed the 45mins boat ride. There were quite a few of us from the office with their family.
The island touts mainly as a resort. One could rent a chalet and enjoy the few facilities available here. For a day tourist, there's nothing much to see in the island but one could indulge in the various rides available - camel, horse, bikes, boats, etc. or just relax by the man made lake or by the beach.
I indulged in a paddle boat ride with one of my office colleague. It was hilarious as we simply did not get the hang of steering the wheel. The free lunch which was inclusive of the trip wasn't bad. In all, it was a good day!
Failaka Island - view from the boat
Today was a perfect day for a trip to the island. It was a cool sunny day....wasn't hot because of the cool breeze. I really enjoyed the 45mins boat ride. There were quite a few of us from the office with their family.
The island touts mainly as a resort. One could rent a chalet and enjoy the few facilities available here. For a day tourist, there's nothing much to see in the island but one could indulge in the various rides available - camel, horse, bikes, boats, etc. or just relax by the man made lake or by the beach.
I indulged in a paddle boat ride with one of my office colleague. It was hilarious as we simply did not get the hang of steering the wheel. The free lunch which was inclusive of the trip wasn't bad. In all, it was a good day!
Failaka Island - view from the boat
1990s - reduced to a rubble
A Boat Restaurant
The Lake
The Boats in the Dockyard
The Lake
The Boats in the DockyardFriday, March 21, 2008
Happy Holi!
Today is the start of the Holi festival....the festival of colors. I love it for the sheer fun of playing with colors!
When I was little, I loved it even more as I could make some extra pocket money! In the state where my Parents hail from, the festival of Holi lasts for 5-6 days!. The festival starts with the burning of Holika....
Legend has it that King Hiranyakashyap wanted everyone to worship him but Prahlad his son was a devotee of Lord Narayanan. So the King told his sister Holika to enter a blazing fire with Prahlad on her lap as she had a boon whereby fire could not harm her. However the boon worked if she was alone and she was not aware of this and so burnt to death when she entered with Prahlad while Prahlad was saved by the grace of God for his devotion. Thus the festival celebrates the triumph of good over evil.
Each locality makes elaborate straw huts and these are festooned with colorful paper flags. In the evening there would be a "puja" conducted by the Brahmin after which the Straw Hut would be torched and burned down....symbolic of Holika being burnt.....only after which the festival of Holi would be declared as started. Little children would go house to house asking for alms....and yes, money is given to those who come knocking! I too went from house to house in the neighborhood with my cousins, I remember. Dad had asked for a Home Posting and here he was as the Commanding Officer in his home state for a couple of years. In the next few days there would be groups of teenage girls or ladies coming and asking for donations as they would be hosting some street theater or dance or for any such things!
Later, I remember in the various Air Force Camps, we (all kids in the neighborhood) would gather twigs & newspapers and make a bonfire. The excitement of making a big fire was huge and we just loved it! The next day we would start by playing with dry colors but slowly would progress to the water colors....the pichkaris or water pistols would be used to drench each other and when all was finished simply pour water! Later we were joined by our Parents. We would go from house to house and then head for the final destination which was the Officer's Mess. There would be singing, dancing, tambola and finally lunch. Oh, what fun it used to be!
Today, as I recall.....those were the days....I really had a good memorable childhood!
When I was little, I loved it even more as I could make some extra pocket money! In the state where my Parents hail from, the festival of Holi lasts for 5-6 days!. The festival starts with the burning of Holika....
Legend has it that King Hiranyakashyap wanted everyone to worship him but Prahlad his son was a devotee of Lord Narayanan. So the King told his sister Holika to enter a blazing fire with Prahlad on her lap as she had a boon whereby fire could not harm her. However the boon worked if she was alone and she was not aware of this and so burnt to death when she entered with Prahlad while Prahlad was saved by the grace of God for his devotion. Thus the festival celebrates the triumph of good over evil.
Each locality makes elaborate straw huts and these are festooned with colorful paper flags. In the evening there would be a "puja" conducted by the Brahmin after which the Straw Hut would be torched and burned down....symbolic of Holika being burnt.....only after which the festival of Holi would be declared as started. Little children would go house to house asking for alms....and yes, money is given to those who come knocking! I too went from house to house in the neighborhood with my cousins, I remember. Dad had asked for a Home Posting and here he was as the Commanding Officer in his home state for a couple of years. In the next few days there would be groups of teenage girls or ladies coming and asking for donations as they would be hosting some street theater or dance or for any such things!
Later, I remember in the various Air Force Camps, we (all kids in the neighborhood) would gather twigs & newspapers and make a bonfire. The excitement of making a big fire was huge and we just loved it! The next day we would start by playing with dry colors but slowly would progress to the water colors....the pichkaris or water pistols would be used to drench each other and when all was finished simply pour water! Later we were joined by our Parents. We would go from house to house and then head for the final destination which was the Officer's Mess. There would be singing, dancing, tambola and finally lunch. Oh, what fun it used to be!
Today, as I recall.....those were the days....I really had a good memorable childhood!
Friday, March 14, 2008
From Chanel!
My latest addition to my eye wear......from Chanel!
Just yesterday, the brochure landed on my desk sometime in the afternoon distributed by the Office Boy. This was courtesy one of the Brands from the "Health & Beauty" Division of my own Company. The Ralph Lauren model caught my eye. On my way to paying my phone bill this afternoon, I dropped at the store to have a look at the sunglasses........just to have a look......and guess what happened? I looked, I spied, I tried and I fell in love with this pair from Chanel!
I know a terrible extravagance on my part.....but what the heck.....I am worth it!
Just yesterday, the brochure landed on my desk sometime in the afternoon distributed by the Office Boy. This was courtesy one of the Brands from the "Health & Beauty" Division of my own Company. The Ralph Lauren model caught my eye. On my way to paying my phone bill this afternoon, I dropped at the store to have a look at the sunglasses........just to have a look......and guess what happened? I looked, I spied, I tried and I fell in love with this pair from Chanel!
I know a terrible extravagance on my part.....but what the heck.....I am worth it!
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Mini Garden!
Last evening I walked into an apartment full of plants! Yes! My flatmate had picked quite a few of the pots from a local nursery. It looks real gorgeous! I just love it! Check them out!
Monday, March 10, 2008
A message
I got a message.
I got a message this morning.
A message that I have been waiting for.
Now what? I ask.
"Hold tight. Will advise."
So far, so good.
Once again, I wait.
This time, the wait shouldn't be long.
Inshallah!
I got a message this morning.
A message that I have been waiting for.
Now what? I ask.
"Hold tight. Will advise."
So far, so good.
Once again, I wait.
This time, the wait shouldn't be long.
Inshallah!
Saturday, March 8, 2008
International Women's Day
Today apparently is the International Women's Day....a day to celebrate & honor women. In an age of equality why is it that a "Special" day has been designated to celebrate women? How does celebrating women's achievement on one day of the year help? Does it make any sense?
How about having an International Men's Day?
How about having an International Men's Day?
Friday, March 7, 2008
Indian English going global?!
After giving "Curry" and "Chicken Tikka" to the rest of the world, the latest addition it seems is going to be "Indian English"! Yes! the Indian English is all set to conquer the rest of the world.
Professor David Crystal, one of world's foremost English language Expert says, if the growing ranks of English speakers around the world are to understand each other a new Standard English would be necessary to be understood globally. In language numbers count and there are more people speaking English in India than in the rest of the native English speaking world! Therefore it is but obvious, it would have Indian characteristics and this would end the primacy of the American English! Moreover as the Indian economy grows, the influence of Indian English is bound to grow!
Though this didn't occur to me but yes, having pointed out it's quite true when Crystal says that Indians tend to use the present continuous where a British would use the present simple. Indian English would be, "I am thinking it's going to rain" rather than the British "I think it's going to rain." So, I believe "I am thinking, I am feeling, I am seeing" rather than "I think, I feel, I see" that could easily become sexy and part of global Standard English!
Professor David Crystal, one of world's foremost English language Expert says, if the growing ranks of English speakers around the world are to understand each other a new Standard English would be necessary to be understood globally. In language numbers count and there are more people speaking English in India than in the rest of the native English speaking world! Therefore it is but obvious, it would have Indian characteristics and this would end the primacy of the American English! Moreover as the Indian economy grows, the influence of Indian English is bound to grow!
Though this didn't occur to me but yes, having pointed out it's quite true when Crystal says that Indians tend to use the present continuous where a British would use the present simple. Indian English would be, "I am thinking it's going to rain" rather than the British "I think it's going to rain." So, I believe "I am thinking, I am feeling, I am seeing" rather than "I think, I feel, I see" that could easily become sexy and part of global Standard English!
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
I moved
Yes, I moved....to a new address....this Saturday. It happened so quickly...though I had been meaning to move.....for a long, long, long time. I hunted for a place, packed & moved...all under 24 hrs!
Is this a sign???!!!! Change can happen in an instant...it can hit when you least expect it??!!!
Moving cleared the junk that had been lying, collecting dust..... moving brought a change, new place, new people.
I am glad I moved!
Is this a sign???!!!! Change can happen in an instant...it can hit when you least expect it??!!!
Moving cleared the junk that had been lying, collecting dust..... moving brought a change, new place, new people.
I am glad I moved!
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