jayantiblogshere

When I first set up home, very often I would go through these intense cravings for what is famously known among bachelors and spinsters as maa-ke-haat -se-bana- ghar-ka-khana . In the initial years, my weekly calls to amma involved noting down the recipe for something that was her signature dish.Years later my calls no more involved noting down recipes. One just had to google and there were a hundred and one variations of authentic recipes for ‘vazhapu parupusali’ or ‘rava ladoo’ available on the ever so resourceful WWW. What more .. some had video demonstration uploaded on the youtube. They were far more exacting in measurements and ingredients and even doled out information on where to find the product or a brand when you were living away from India . It is while googling these sites that I discovered the magical world of ordering online and experiencing the wonders of dessicated coconut, tinned jackfruit and frozen drumsticks. Humility is not my forte and I would generally like to...

A 45 minute drive from Gurgaon to Chanakyapuri at an average of 60-70kmph was mind blowing. For someone visiting D elhi after a gap of 5 years the city’s landscape was simply unrecognizable. C ommon wealth games changed the face of landscape that once was Delhi and NCR. Lined with flyovers and 8 lane expressways the Leafy Lutyens Delhi has far outgrown its urban boundaries and r emains hidden in the ever expanding urban landscape. It is heartening to see that the grand Dilli designed by Lutyens still remains intact retaining its eternal grandeur reminding one of the immaculately designed urban planning and architecture that was a gift to many Indian cities from the British Raj. The tree lined Janpath, Rajghat , India gate, Rashtrapathi Bhavan and the South block where the political bigwigs hob nob remain unchanged atleast with the exteriors. If there is one lesson for other Indian cities to learn from D e lhi , it is the art of preserving the heritage and grandeur despit...

Makes you wonder how many english speaking / reading customers visit this quaint mobile dispensaries that you find sprung over the footpath in the big cities. I guess they are in demand ...and their customers sure understa nd what they are selling. Else they could not be so consistent, outspoken and bold with their banners. Now there are some cheeky ones like is 'no parking' freebie for this entrance from a pest control agency. I found this one just as I closed the toilet door at the fame cinemas toilet. Got the message ... wiped the toilet seat clean with about one km of toilet tissue before stepping out.   This sign board at the one and only pay and use toilet inside the Taj mahal ( the original one in Agra) says it all . I fumed citing the injustice to the jaintor who was rolling out toilet tissues to a white lady while i had to desperately hold my bladder while trying to fish out a Rs. 2 coin from my handbag...