Mumbai Meri Jaan

Having born and brought up in the Bollywood city of India, it is impossible NOT to love it. So invariably, my favorite city is Mumbai … simple because this city is my life. That's why the song "Yeh hain Mumbai meri jaan"

For someone from outside, it is definitely a difficult place to fall in love with. The traffic, the humidity, the heavy rains, the rushed life, the over-over-crowded local trains and so on

Not for me. Mumbai is an enigma for me. I respect the spirit of the average Mumbai citizen who strives to keep his life normal and routine struggling to survive in spite of all the curve balls the city throws at him/her in daily life.

People in Mumbai are simply #madeofgreat stuff and collectively the city itself is #madeofgreat

Drive

Every time a 'calamity' has hit Mumbai, the city and its people have risen to the challenge and proved their mettle. Time and again the average Mumbai has been forced on his knees and every time he has pushed back and got up to face the challenge … not for any great achievement or a revolution; just to bring back life to normal again. It is this quest for normalcy that drives the people here. People have struggled with the over-burdened infrastructure for decades and have almost given up on the government to do something concrete about it (except let's say lay out and dig up concrete roads). All that now drives them is the need to have a normal routine (and quite often boring) life. Ironically, it is this normalcy that drives them and not some great ideal. And that is what makes it great.

Design

By design, every Mumbaikar is a survivor. They face problems day in and out which hardens them and prepares them for the worst. The life in Mumbai is designed to make you a tough person. Of course, there are people who have fun and they hardly have to worry about the hardships (except maybe traffic problems). But the vast majority is work hardened and made tough. The complex problems are God's design to toughen the average Mumbaikar.

Connect

People connect. You interact with scores of people on a daily basis and you seem to connect with all. The milkman to the newspaper boy to the security guard to the familiar face in your regular transport (bus or train) or even the familiar face in the traffic jam or the road-side vendor outside your college/office etc. You meet people and connect with them. Over a period of time, you feel for them.

Unfortunately, the connect seems to have been slowly reducing and eroding due to our busy as well as selfish lifestyles. Also, a lot of interactions are reducing. You don't visit the stores very often now – you just shop online and the goods get delivered. You miss out on all the interactions you could have had in the store.

Nevertheless, the city is still pretty good and people here have a heart of gold

Mumbai is #madeofgreat and the average mumbaikar is also #madeofgreat

http://madeofgreat.tatamotors.com/ 

Sugar Free Cake for Hubby Dear

 

Hubby dear had his birthday last month (20^th Nov) and I had to make it special

I decided to bake a simple home-made cake for him and his office colleagues. Wanted to make something that his colleagues wouldn't have had before

So I decided to try out the cake made out of biscuit (also because it was easy to make)

Father-in-law had diabetes and looking at my husband's penchant for sweets; I wouldn't be surprised if he would get it too very soon so I had it in my mind to go sugar free for the cake. I wasn't too sure of the taste with sugar-free but decided to take the risk nevertheless.

Let me tell you first that the cake was a roaring success and not just hubby dear but even his colleagues liked it very much. I made a large one which he took to office and then later made a separate one for him and gave him a surprise in the evening when he came home with the cake and some decoration around it.

So here is the recipe of the simple biscuit cake and also the pics of the cake I made.

                Ingredients

2 packet of hide 'n' seek biscuits.

2 packet of Parle g biscuits.

1 packet of regular eno or 1 and 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder.

2 cup of milk

A little butter for greasing

 

Making and Baking the Cake

1. Grind biscuits into a fine powder in a large bowl. You can practically do it with a spoon but can also use the mixer-grinder for speedy results

2. Add milk to it and mix well

3. And the Eno or baking powder to the batter and mix

4. Add a little Sugar Free Natura to enhance the taste. I luckily got it perfectly right. You will need to use your judgement on this or experiment. The biscuits are somewhat sweet so you use less than usual sugar equivalent.

5. Grease the cake mould

6. Pour the batter in the mould

 7. Place the mould with batter in the pre-heated oven (temperature 350 C)

 

It should take about 20 minute for the cake to be ready. You might want to use the usual cake bake test.

Test: Take out the cake and put a toothpick or knife in it and if it comes out clean, your cake is ready

 

Allow the cake to cool and you can decorate the cake as you deem fit with gems, chocolate sauce or simply serve with vanilla ice cream (its awesome)

 

Note: I added some crushed walnut to the mix before putting it in the oven so in effect, what I got was 'chocolate walnut brownie' J Hubby loved it.

Link to the Sugar Free Natura website - http://sugarfree-india.com/

Some pics of the cake I baked and decoration around the cake (not on it)

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Being Online Being Connected - Faster

I have been online only for the past 5 years. I guess I was late to jump on the internet bus. I was not internet savvy in my college days nor did I get interested in it after.

It was only when I got married and moved to Dubai with my husband in 2010 that I realized its potential. My husband introduced me to email and FB along with internet voip calling (our primary means of communicating with family back home)

AND I discovered a new world all together since FB introduced me to so many new things including Youtube. I was hooked on to the laptop for the entire day while my hubby was away in office. I got addicted to FB conversations, contests and YouTube videos.

Life did change when I came back to India in 2011. Living with in-laws I could not spend much time with the laptop but the smartphone came to my rescue J

It offered me the joy of online entertainment albeit on a smaller screen size. It was a trade-off but it was OK. It did not trouble me much.

The thing that troubled me most was the internet speed. I was used to better speeds in Dubai and the speed in India was not that great. On the mobile, it was even worse. Waiting for a video to buffer and start streaming is a dampener. Those are dull moments in an otherwise interesting day.

But I have lived. Transitioning from 2G to 3G was a welcome change and the wait got shorter. Photos downloaded instantly and the buffering for videos became rare.

Then came the HD videos and the wait increased again as they were bandwidth heavy. I used to crib about the speed to my hubby who would calmly explain that India is somehow catching up on the speed bandwagon and we kind of remain 10 years (or more) behind US in terms of internet connectivity and speed.

So … when I saw the latest ads and promotions by Airtel about their launch of 4G services in India … I am truly happy. I am just waiting to get onto the 4G bullet train.

Not only is Airtel the first telecom to launch 4G in India but they are doing it in 297 cities/towns at the same time. They are also delivering the new 4G capable sim to your doorsteps for free … you just need to tweet with their hashtag (#GetAirtel4G). Get more details about Airtel 4G at http://www.airtel.in/4g/

I am looking forward to getting the new 4G sim .. and simultaneously working on getting my hubby to buy a new 4G capable mobile too. Since Airtel is offering 4G at 3G prices, getting 4G should not be a problem … and with my birthday coming up next month (Sept), getting a new 4G phone should not be a problem either .. heeheehee

My Breakfast Menu for Hubby

My husband is very particular about breakfast and never misses it. He pretty much has a standard breakfast - tea with 2 khakhras; except for those times when we would make upma, poha or other hot breakfast - which is usually once in the weekdays and in the weekends.

We have lived with his parents and brother all the while now and we are soon going to move to another home - just me, him and our one-year old.

I have been thinking about the various aspects of living "alone" (without my in-laws) and how things will change for me. I have to take care of the entire house and my child and my hubby too. There, my mother-in-law will not be there to share the load. I will be all by myself.

When thinking about breakfast, i was hoping to give my hubby some variety but then I realized that I will have to pack his lunch too so how will i manage to make his lunch and breakfast together in the morning ... and not to forget my one-year old who could wake up at any time and start running around.

So I began thinking about what preparations for lunch i could do the previous night and what kind of quick-recipes I could use for breakfast. He has not been living a healthy life in past several years because of all the travel he did and I intend to bring his health back on track (weight reduction goal of over 20% - and if that does not give u a perspective, let me tell you that he tips the scale over 92 kg these days)

Check out https://www.facebook.com/anaajkanashta

They have very interesting recipes on the page. The FB page also has links to the Kellog’s website where you will find a whole lot of recipes and other info about Kellog’s products (their nutritional values etc)

These are the recipes I have picked up to try them out myself first (before subjecting my husband to them)

1.    Choco Cornflakes Peanut Chikki – He is BIG peanut chikki fan and a chocolate fan. This is like bringing together both worlds for him

2.    Choco Mint Cornflakes  - I have seen him relishing mint chocolate so this will be perfect

3.    Cheesy Cornflakes – He loves cheese and anything with cheese on/in it. Once in a while, I would let him have it his way.  

 

4.    Chikoo Banana Cornflakes – Chikoo milkshake is his favorite. Banana not so. Lets see how this goes down with him.

Besides the breakfast snacks, there are some shakes also … this will surprise hubby completely

Black Forest Shake – From the black forest came to the milk shake. He will love this.

 

While visiting their FB page, I came across their #KellogsWaleGuptaji campaign and the TV advertisement. Well, I would love to visit the Gupta family and learn the tricks of healthy breakfast with variety from them.

 

Happiness is Time with Hubby Dear

 

Spending a day with hubby would not be considered as a Big Deal … right ?

Ask the wife of the guy working in merchant navy who spends 6 months on the ship away from home.

Ask the wife of a soldier who husband is away on the border for most part of the year with danger lurking over his head (literally)

And last but not the least; ask ME whose husband is a frequent-flier Consultant, who is traveling not only across the length and breadth of the country but also across borders to nearby countries of the Middle East.

We got married in 2010. I was told that his job requires travelling to other countries and often it is for long term (more than 4 months) in which case, I will go with him and live in the other country. In case of shorter than 4 months period, I will be staying back in India. It was a difficult to imagine what it would be like at that time.

Fortunately, the first project was a long term project of almost 2 years in UAE. Although I could not travel with him, but followed after 15 days; I was there with him. We were in Sharjah for 10 months of 2011 before his full time tenure on the project was reduced to part time and we had to come back to India.

AND then I coined the word 'frequent flier consultant' for him

His 'part time engagement' in the project meant that he had to travel to UAE for 2 weeks every month. That was a 50% Veer-Zaara situation for me. And that was not all. His office was in Pune while we lived in Mumbai. It did not make much sense for us to relocate to Pune since he would be out of country for practically half the time so he made a request to management which got approved. He now went to 'office' 3 times a week … and the rest was 'work from home'.

This translated in the fact that for 2 weeks of the month, he was away in UAE. During the remaining 2 weeks, he would spend 6 days in Pune (for that he had to leave home at 5 am and would return by 11 pm) and the remaining 8 days were in Mumbai … with family … with ME.

8 days out of 30 … that's just about 25% of his time. 

That schedule went on for almost another 10 months before he decided to resign and take up another job which would give him more time with me. He joined a company in which his friend worked and he had very little travel. Unfortunately, the team my hubby joined was pretty small and once again his travels began.

As per his statistics and records (and he is very good at keeping records  - and unfortunately not too good at keeping records of other things - if you know what I mean) , during 2012-2013, in a span of 12 months; he took 54 domestic flights (that's domestic 27 trips) and spent almost 40% of his time away from Mumbai. In 2014, the tide turned and once again his international trips began and it felt like it was his previous company all over again. He was spending 2 weeks outside the country every month.

With a job like that and he missing almost all our precious occasions – my birthday, his birthday, marriage anniversary – it definitely is a thing of joy to spend a day with him. Go out for lunch and dinner and even evening snacks of samosa with coca cola (have you tried that combination, it's a killer).

Coca Cola has always had family and happiness as their central theme in ad campaigns that's why it appeals to me more than any other soft drink. Watch the Coca-Cola India Video Ad and visit http://CokeURL.com/96jnc - It is pretty interesting

 

My Most Memorable Day

My First Wedding Anniversary was the most memorable day of my life.

My Hubby had planned out the whole day and kept it a complete surprise for me. It was the extremely rare occasion in the past 5 years that he actually planned a surprise and it panned out beautifully. I was delightfully surprised every hour of the day with new and new things coming my way in different forms and experiences.

The day had begun very normally with me doing the daily chores and hubby dear giving no sign of any special plans. Not even wishing me properly.

At around 10 am after we were done with morning chores and a nice brunch, he suddenly said, let’s go out somewhere. I did not ask much and decided to get ready before he changed his mind. We left home and once we were on the way, he said something about going to the beach (and I was thinking inside my head “Are you out of your mind?? Going to the beach at noon in 45 degrees”). But I gave him the benefit of doubt – thinking there might be something near the beach that he intended to see –  indoors. After all, he himself is not comfortable spending too much time in the sun.

Once we reached the beach, he made a call and I heard him saying “We are Here” which gave me the inkling that this was not random but a planned move. A guy came walking towards us and handed over life-jackets to us. I looked enquiringly at my hubby who simply winked at me and pointed at a speed boat. My day was made.

I had wanted to ride the speed boat since quite some time and he knew it. And he decided to fulfill it on the anniversary. It was a nice little ride which I enjoyed very much … only to realize that they had begun to pull out harnesses etc. And that was when I realized that it was not just speed boating but Para-sailing also that was in the package.

I have no words to describe my ‘flying’ experience.

After an event time at the beach, hubby suggested we go to the nearby mall. We went there, got some snacks to munch on and then started wandering around. I had a feeling that hubby was ‘not simply wandering’ but had a clear path he was taking me on. In a few minutes, we were standing at the gate of Snow World.

A magical (for me at least) world of snow when the outside temp was close to 45. I was watching at it with awe when hubby tapped my shoulder and simply said “Let’s see it from the inside”. The next 2 hours were the coldest I have ever been … and smiling and blushing and laughing all along. I saw the child in my husband and I became a child myself as we both had fun in the snow on the slides, sleigh and tobogganing.

The evening was a contrast to the rest of the day … sea-side stroll followed by a candle-light dinner.

It was a truly awesome day and THE MOST MEMOROBLE day of my life ... of our lives ...

In a nutshell, we experienced the scorching heat at 44+ degree Celsius and the freezing temperatures of minus 4 degree celcius – the entire range in a single day.  We took a speed boat ride in the vast azure sea water and then went sliding on a snow-sleigh and a tobogganing tyre – we experienced the different extremes with complete exhilaration. We walked on the foot-sole scalding sand and then waded through waist and chest deep calm waters and then we found ourselves sliding and slipping on the frozen snow. In between we parasailed over the beautiful and breathtaking Dubai Jumeirah skyline. It was a heady mix of experiences which will last a life time.

 

Some pictures of our adventures ...

  

  

 

 

 

https://housing.com/ believes in the inimitable power of optimism. We also know that it's difficult to be optimistic all day, every day; and sometimes we need a little nudge to get back on track! This is the time we need to be with the ones we love the most. It could also be the simple act of meeting a long lost friend, having a cup of tea with a parent, or going for a walk with your best friend. Most times, it's the company that matters more than the advice, and that is the power of being #together!

First time away from home - Big Change

Marriage is one of the most difficult changes in life … especially for a girl.

I can go on and on about all the changes that it brings in terms of life-style, the home where you stay, the people whom you stay with, new relationships, the numerous restrictions and the host of other adjustments that one needs to make, but you already know about them. So let me skip that part

I got married to a consultant – his job could and would take him places. Some of these places would be his home for a year or two and I would get to go with him and stay with him in those foreign lands. Sounds interesting. Right?

NOT REALLY. NOT FOR ME.   

I have never lived away from my family. Never lived alone.

And now I was looking at the prospect of staying in another city, another country, with a new person in my life (hubby) who would be out of home most part of the day leaving me alone in a new apartment.

I was SHIT SCARED. Really really scared. Did not know what I will do and how will I manage the loneliness.

Thankfully, the very first project he got was in Dubai-Sharjah. Several things good about this place (as mu hubby explained).

Its close by – just a 3 hour flight from Mumbai.

Its very Indian – 70% of the population out there is pretty much Indian  (what he did not say was that most of them will be South Indian)

There is a prominent gold market in Dubai – which means Gujarati and Marwari crowd

Plenty of Indian restaurants and some pure veg restaurants too – food is not a problem.

He tried to make it easy for me but the deep-seated uneasiness would not leave me. I knew all these things were out there to comfort me but the loneliness inside the house was going to be overwhelming.

This was going to be the scariest change in my life.  

The first few days were really really scary. Lonely. I wanted to just sleep off the days so that I don't spend time thinking endlessly.

Hubby would take me out in the evening, little strolls in the neighbourhood. We explored the nearby shops and stores, identifying where to find the basics and locating the nearby vegetarian restaurants.

Then the weekend arrived and we went out on tour-of-sorts of Dubai. Went to the Dubai mall, the Burj Khalifa and the continuous series of very very tall buildings of Sheikh Zyed Road and Jumeirah Beach Residence. I was overwhelmed (my hubby's term for me that day) and he said that he did that intentionally.

He told me that now that I had seen the 'largeness' of the place, everything that I see now will seem small in comparison and almost nothing will over-whelm me.

Wow. What an approach I thought. Scare a person so much that anything scary afterwards will seem like child's play thereafter.

BUT, it worked. It did happen the way he said. I got comfortable with this new place and city.

It was a very welcome change and the one year I spent changed my outlook towards life significantly. I began to appreciate things in a different way.

I began to look at my own apartment in a very different manner. It was now my home and I was solely responsible for it. During the apartment search, I was making decisions and giving my opinion on what the apartment should be like. I had never experienced that feeling, that rush before.

Recently, I came to know about the transformation  https://housing.com/ is undergoing to gear themselves for the demands of today's consumer. The video about their new campaign 'Look Up' is pretty interesting …