The High Tide in Mumbai

Sitting on the promenade and enjoying the calm of the Sea on a normal day.

I work very close to the Marine Drive Sea Face and had the joy of witnessing the highest tidal wave of the Season. The high tide started today at 2:05p.m. We had lunch and most of us took a walk to the Sea Face - I armed with Sancho Panza:) as always! The crowd collected there amazed me. I stood along with my friends balancing on the edge of the road divider as going any closer might have harmed my lenses. It was fun seeing the shooting heights of the waves as they hit the promenade with full force and drenched the young and old revelers, bounded off the walls and overflowed the platform and half the road. We all ended up with sticky faces and hair due to the salty spray but it was all worth it.

This is just the beginning of the tide

The first few waves that washed the footpath

After one of the high waves struck

They posed and then were washed!

These are a few pictures. You will find the rest on my flickr photostream, facebook and twitpic. It was good that today was not a rainy day otherwise there would have been havoc!

When I was taking these pictures I remembered the pics that were in circulation during the tsunami days. I think they were fakes - did they not look something like these?

Commuting by train

I didn't think but must admit that it has been surprisingly fun traveling to work after all these years. It takes me two hours to get there but I have discovered joys that I had forgotten, just as I thought I would. I discovered that I have changed a lot during these last few years too (read as wiser, more intelligent, more mature... he he).

It was a shock when I found myself getting distracted and no longer able to get lost in 'Picadilly Jim'. Is it possible that my taste has changed? Hey, I don't think I want the kind of maturity that will make me lose my sense of humour! That evening while returning I stood by the door to feel the 'wind in my hair' just the way I used to, some years back. Only this time, the wind irritated me and I had to keep using one hand to defend myself from the flying hair of the lady standing before me! Wonder who came up with this idea of letting hair loose!!

The next day I carried 'Message in the bottle' by Nicholas Sparks, and was able to read it fast! I don't generally like mushy, romantic books but I quite liked this one, though not as much as 'The Wedding'. I had to skip a few chapters lest the overly romantic lines put me to sleep, when I had only four more stations to go before I reached VT. That evening while returning I took a seat inside instead of standing at the door. I no longer wished to feel the wind! I finished the book, fiercely fighting the tears that were clouding my eyes and threatening to drip down the corners. Then I went back to the chapters I had skipped earlier and read each word sniffling a little more - ridiculous as it sounds, this time the words kept me awake and gave me a damning headache!

I came to the conclusion that I don't need a headache while getting home, so no more N.S for me while traveling - I will stick to dear old Erma Bombeck and P.G.Wodehouse. No more standing at the door and getting other peoples' hair into my eyes, nose and mouth - Ok! I accept that I am a little over thirty (Sheesh... Jr.H is here. Ok! that was thirty-five), and sitting for a whole hour is definitely more tempting than standing!

I have got the permission, and am all set to open the doors to a beautiful place in Churchgate - so close and yet far from the madding crowd!!

Pati, pallankuzhi aada varela?

"Pati, pallankuzhi aada varela?" ("Grandma, will you come to play pallankhuzhi?")

"O, varendi ma!" ("Yes, coming dear!")

My grandma(1915 - 1994) never said no to us. If she was busy with her prayer beads she would just nod her head to affirm and signal 'later' with her free hand. If she was resting with her head on the pillow or sometimes a 'palagai' and reading a Tamil magazine she would roll it up, tuck it under the palagai and get up slowly adjusting the folds of her 'ombad gajam'. It would always be, "O, varendi ma." My sister and I would immediately fetch the pallankuzhi box, the carefully stored red and black seeds and arrange the board while Pati settled down.

She was a beautiful lady at 70 with wrinkles and folds, grey eyes that seemed to hide a tinge of sadness behind the sparkle and spoke of the many hardships she had faced in life. Yet she always managed a smile that would show us a glimpse of her uneven broken teeth. Pati was said to be the beauty queen of her village as she was blessed with a rosy complexion and good personality. The diamond ear-studs and nose ring she always wore were not only indicative of her prosperity later but seemed to reflect her fiery person. Apart from that she is said to have been witty and called a spade a spade! The one quality I have always heard from relatives who knew her was that she would stand up for justice always and fight for anyone's rights.

At the tender age of 12 she was a much sought after girl married off to my Tata (the 't' is pronounced soft). Since then she had never worn anything other than an 'ombad gajam' even during her stay in Kashmir. By the time we really knew her, Pati was in her 60s, well past her youth but yet a 'pretty woman' - not in the physical sense but in a more soft rounded way. I hear very often about how skilled she was. I think it was not only her, but most people of her generation were skilled and self-taught as they had been through a lot of political turmoil and seen the Country going from a Colony to a free State and followed by the trauma of partition. Even essential food supplies were scarce and they naturally learned to value money and improvise with whatever was available. Pati would 'cut' frayed or worn ut sarees in her 'aruvamanai' and sew 'inner skirts' or 'pavadai' with them with her hand as a tailoring machine was a luxury few could afford. Though she would scrooge over every penny at home she was always generous, both in her attitude as well as in terms of material things - always willing to share and help people in distress.

Some of my most cheerful moments were spent in the verandah sitting on garden chairs or charpois listening to stories of Krishna or playing Tamil verbal games like;
'kadai tengai ya edduttu vazhi Pulayar ku odachavan yaar da?' (who stole the cookie from the cookies jar),
'ondar dakkar dakkar done' (Out in the garden each fine day with my ball I like to play.....)
'iddu enna kodam?' (I don't think there is an English or Hindi equivalent) and of course, pallankuzhi.

That is where this post was meant to go before Pati took it over!

Pallankuzhi is a pretty ancient and traditional board game for two players. I guess it might be played elsewhere too in India but as far as I know it is basically from Tamil Nadu. It is a strategy oriented game. The board is a wooden foldable plank with 7 depressions on each side. The fourth hole in the center of each side is called 'Kasi'. Kasi is the bank where both the players deposit their loot. The depressions are called 'houses'. Each player receives a certain number (equal) of shells (chozhi)/red beads/tamarind seeds/red and black beads. These will be distributed equally in all the houses except the kasi. When it is my turn I have to collect the beads from any one house and go on dropping it one each in every house till it gets over. The full house next to the now empty house is open to the opponent for capture. Each player plays in turn with the aim of collecting all the beads of the opponent making him go pauper.

I have watched my kids playing a similar video game on TV. The principle is the same. When I was searching for pallankuzhi to revive my memories of the game I came across 'Ageless bonding', a blog by Usha which had a similar topic. From there I learnt, like the author about 'warri'. Isn't it odd that pallankuzhi is also played in West Indies as 'warri', and in Africa as 'oware' and 'kalah'?

Would you like to share about traditional games you played as a child? I will give the lyrics and wordings of a few more games we played as kids in further posts!

Glossary for this post:
Pallankuzhi - also 'pallanguzhi', pallamkuzhi' - a traditional board game from South India (Tamilnadu)
Pati - Grandmother. Also Tati.
Tata - Grandfather. Also Pata
Palagai - A small rectangular wooden plank elevated used as chopping board and sometimes instead of a pillow. It may be elevated slightly with two stands.
Ombad gajam - Traditional saree style as worn by South Indian brahmin ladies in earlier days. The length of the saree is nine yards hence the name. Ombad - nine, gajam - yards. To this day the bride in a Tamil Brahmin wedding wears this saree during marraige.
Aruvamanai - A foldable sickle shaped knife fixed on a wooden plank at one end and shaped into a coconut grater on the other.
Pavadai - Pleated long skirt worn by young girls in the earlier days. Nowadays you still find girls wearing it during festivals or weddings.
Red beads - Scientific name - Adenanthera pavonia. Here are the various names by which it is known in different languages - in case you have some memories of it!

English - red wood tree/bead tree/saga tree/gem tree.
Hindi - ratangunj or badi gumchi.
Sanskrit - ratnagunj.
Malayalam - manjadi kuru.
Tamil - Ani gundumani
Telugu - Gurivenda, Enugaguruginji
Kannada - Ane golaganji
Bengali - Ranjana
Marathi - Thorlagunj, Ratangunj
Gujarati - Ratna Gunja, Moti Chanothi

A trip down town

While January does wonderful things to my senses with the scent of Spring in the air, my heart keeps leaping ahead into February because this is when Strand Book Stall holds its annual 'more than 50% off' book sale at Sunderabhai Hall in Churchgate.

Mr.Shanbaug, the man who is behind the shop has sold dreams, created aspirations, shown realities, and introduced the best of books from around the world to Mumbaites for generations at a good price, is a surprisingly humble person whom I chanced to meet during one of the sales. He had just won the President's award and was taking a stroll and recommending some of the books to customers (not the costly ones - in fact he recommended one of the cheapest ones there simply because the book was good!). I introduced myself and shook his hands saying I thought he was a wonderful person (for being our book supplier from college to adulthood), and he beamed saying he had hardly expected the President (Shri.A.P.J.Abdul Kalam) to recognise the efforts of a book stall owner - see? that simple!

For some reason the sale was pre-poned this year and held in January, and I would have missed it had it not been for a birder friend's email. This is one sale where I really splurge. It is probably the only reason for me to visit Churchgate anymore, and I anticipate a lot from this visit - I wander about on Colaba Causeway and sigh at the dwindling magic, still shop for trinkets at Asiatic to revive the memories of a teenager who shopped there frequently for trinkets then (I found that the artifical jewellery has jumped five times in price), go further down and buy some pastries at Gaylords (they never had the drab ones ever, and still remain among Mumbai's best bakers!), eat at Lenin's pav bhaji at Khau Gali to hear the laughter of my friends (it still rings loud and clear) - before I eventually go for the icing on the cake of memories!

A trip to Strand Book Stall's sale is an experience by itself. You will need at least three hours to do some justice to the collection laid out. I simply like to look at the book, feel the covers and browse idly for an hour before I realize that time has flown and then I run back to the first rack and start choosing the ones I need to take - this is one daunting task! High on priority is one Tintin, one Calvin and Hobbes, one Trixie Belden, one P.G.Wodehouse and one cookbook, as Jr.P, I and Jr.H are building our own collections. Apart from that I end up picking up pun books, poetry collections, some things I may never read - last time I bought a coin atlas and it would have not seen the light of day had it not been for a history project my daughter did at school! This time I also bought "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini (Read already but will re-read), a Louis Lamour to complete the Sackett Collection and "The pleasure of finding things out" by my favourite physicist, and humorist, Richard P. Feynman. I looked around a lot for some good bread baking books but was disappointed not to find any of the names blogs have familiarised me with - Peter Reinhart or King Arthur's books! I did find a very good book - The Tofu Cookbook by Becky Johnson with many recipes for desserts, mains, sides and appetizers all using tofu as the centrepiece! Tofu will rule my blog this year as the photographs in the books are extremely well set, and appetizing:)

Strand Book Stall:
"Dhannur", Sir P. M. Road, Fort, MUMBAI - 400 001
(022) 22661719/ 22661994/ 22614613 Fax : (022) 22630154
strandbookstall@vsnl.com

Sunderabai Hall:
Behind Income Tax Office, Churchgate, Mumbai 400020.

Gaylords Hotel:
Mayfair Building, Near Ambassador Hotel, Veer Nariman Road, Churchgate, Mumbai - 400020

New landmarks!

The other day I was to visit a friend who had recently shifted to a new place. I did not know the route to the place well and called her asking for directions. She mentioned the highway, a flyover and branches, confusing me even more! When I said I was completely new and did not know the area at all she struck upon a great idea. She is one of those gifted people who will have you in splits with her timely one liners and cracking wit.

"Go straight down the highway till you find a hoarding on the left side of "X"(The local corporator) - it is a huge one wishing him a happy birthday, take a left and keep going straight till you come to a lane."
"Is it the first one?" I asked.
"Don't bother about that - just look out for the one which has a huge overflowing garbage pile," she said adding, "you won't miss it!"
"What? I have to enter from that place?" I asked.
She laughed and said, "I knew that was coming. Don't worry you have take the opposite one, and this one is a clean and neat one."

I was a little confused as there were a number of hoardings in various sizes. One wishing everybody happy new year(from local politicians), some just displaying 'a', 'b', 'c',names of politicians in the area), and all along the road 2 feet hoardings of a prominent political leader in white churidar kurta! Looming behind all these was a huge board wishing "Happy birthday" to "....ji....." - I knew I had found my man (sorry the hoarding I needed)! The garbage pile was easy to locate as the stench was unbearable - the ghantagadi that was to pick the garbage had not yet come. I reached on time.

Do the directions sound weird? Strange as it may sound it is the most practical way especially when the roads are not maintained, when there are no signboards on most lanes. Sometimes you could even use the huge potholes as landmarks, or the flamboyant fountains that show opulence more than anything else! The buildings themselves are well maintained. If the lanes are well maintained you will find more hoardings obscuring the skyline. The leader has to make sure he is seen in his latest fashion. You could make out the change as the dress changes accordingly - each leader obviously has a portfolio shot!

These hoardings have become (a)political menace - the hoardings themselves are a problem because they loom bigger and larger than all other nature's beauties.

They have become a menace because politicians use it most hence a political menace. I hope someone's hearing!

'Apolitical':

• having no interest or involvement in political affairs;
• having an aversion to politics or political affairs
• having no political significance

(Courtesy - Marriam-Webster)

Food related 'Muhavre', 'lokokti' in Hindi (Idioms, proverbs and pharases)

Mood tha ki kucch aisa ho jaaye, maze ke liye! Have you ever thought how much we refer to food in the world of idioms, phrases and proverbs in Hindi? I just thought of putting them together here. If you know of any more leave it in the comment section please. I update this post on a regular basis.

A

Apni khichdi alag pakaana - Have radical ideas.

Aam ke aam, gutlion ke daam - Reaping double benefits (Fell two birds with one stone)

B

Bandar kya jaane adrak ka swad - Incapable of appreciating the value of a thing/art etc. Literally it means "Can a monkey appreciate the taste of ginger" - English counterpart - "Casting pearls before swine". (Contributed by Sharmila on 21.12.08)

D

Dal mein kucch kaala hona - Used when we would like to emphasize that there is something more than what is visible to the eye, or to indicate doubt.

Doodh ka doodh, paani ka paani - Used when we would like to say that "Justice is achieved", or used when a situation gets clarified.

Doodh ki nadiyaan bahaana - Used to indicate wastage usually of money (Using milk in place of water).

E

Ek Anaar sau beemar - Too many takers for one thing.

G

Ghar ki murghi dal barabar - Tendency to undervalue what is ours.
Literal translation - Chicken made at home is equivalent to dal.
Contributed by Smitha on 13.01.09. I wonder how I missed this. My husband keeps telling me this because I go to a gym even though he himself is a good trainer!!
(I find this odd - how can one say that? dal is more universally loved:))

J

Jale par namak chidakna - Rub salt on open wound.

K

Kaanon mein tel daalna - Not paying attention or not listening to what is said. Be indifferent.

Khichdi pakaana - Scheming secretively.

L

Lohe ke chane chabaana - Work very very hard, or do a difficult job.

M

Mann mein laddoo phootna - Become very very happy

Muh mein paani aana - Getting tempted

N

Namak mirch lagaana - exagerate the truth.

O

Oonth ke muh me jeera - This is used to imply the 'short supply' for large numbers. Suppose you have to feed someone with a large appetite, and you serve very very less, we say it is like 'Oonth ke muh mein jeera'.

T

Tere muh mein ghee shakkar - If someone gives you a good news, which you wish would come true you say "tere muh mein ghee shakkar" to indicate that you hope that the news comes true.(Contributed by reader, Bhavani)

Til ka taad banaana - to make a mountain out of a molehill.

U

Uddhaar khaaye baithna - Remain dependent on someone.

This page will be updated as and when I come across or remember more 'food related phrases'.

Movies, masti, magic.....

I am a huge movie buff - its a different thing that I hardly see any movies these days thanks to exorbitant ticket rates. I like watching movies alone, when it is not a rush hour and there are no pesky youngsters around me, and now one thing or the other crops up besides being answerable to kids!

I like watching movies alone not because I have always been doing this but I realized there was no point in dragging along my husband and having him snore next to me in the theatre - it spoils the ambiance for me as well as others who glare at me! I remember once when I just had to see this new digital version of 'Grease' in Sterling near VT (Now CST). I took a day off, bought two tickets as my husband promised he would meet me outside, and was simply kept waiting! This was long back and I had never seen a movie alone before but the thought of missing the show having come that far was too much for me! I am a big big fan of John Travolta and love watching the music videos even now! That day I realized that watching alone was an even better experience. After that incident I have never again pestered P to accompany me to a movie. I think the last movie he really watched was 'My Brother Nikhil'.

Watching a movie alone has many advantages.
You do not need to suppress your tears if it is a tear jerker (I took two napkins, picked a seat in an empty row and drowned myself sneezing quite noisily at 'Black')
You do not feel embarrassed when there are adult scenes (I had to literally disown my children who kept asking me quite loudly as to what Abhishek was doing in the last few scenes of 'Salaam Namaste')
You can wistfully smile at romantic scenes(Music and Lyrics) without having your husband comment that the picture is getting boring, and
You pay half the price and get to have a sandwich with the coffee and popcorn without having to think about the exorbitant rates at the theatre cafetaria(Too many to name)!

There are some pitfalls especially if you are seeing something like 'Brokeback Mountain' and have giggling college crowd next to you, when you are watching 'Omkara' and admiring Saif's performance when the youngsters nearby start mouthing 'gaalis'. Uggghhhh.....that is the only thing that irks me and makes me squirm. I also hate it when I am seated next to young lovers who keep whispering so much that I hardly get to hear dialogues(Hitch). I hate when people are indifferent to the seriousness in really good movies, and keep making odd noises - I got into a fight with one such person when I watched 'Perzania' (during the interval) and sat as far as possible to enjoy the rest of the movie.

Such is my love for movies, and for the songs in Bollywood. My day begins with getting up groggy and putting 'on' the dvd without which I find it difficult to pep myself - I need it like tea! Songs whether from films(Bollywood/Tollywood/Hollywood Zindabad), non filmy, ghazals, qawwalis, rock or reggae (my favorite genres), classical - western or Indian, decide my mood and I am incomplete without music!

P.S: Today I am going to see 'Dostana', and don't miss 'Taare Zameen Par' on the tube - I am all set with a few napkins, popcorns, and the kids........:)

How do you watch movies - in a group, with your partner, alone?