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~ Monika's World : Some memories I am trying to treasure in a busy life

Monika's World

Tag Archives: Delhi

The City of Everlasting Love – Agra

03 Monday Dec 2012

Posted by monikamanchanda in Highway Travels - the mad couples travel tales

≈ 33 Comments

Tags

Agra, Delhi, Highway tales, highway travels, on the road, road trip, taj mahal, travel, travel tales, Yamuna Expressway

While we were in Delhi this time during our crazy and epic drive, me and sister thought we should also may be drive out with the family for a day, someone mentioned the new Yamuna expressway and the plan was freezed in like two seconds, yes we are mad enough to get excited about being on road after 2500kms+ 3 drive too…

The expressway starts from Greater Noida and has only one entry, we stay in Rohini and thats like the other end of the town and it took us about 1.5 hours that too at 7:30 am in the morning just to reach the expressway start but we were able to find it pretty easily thanks to my most treasured thing when driving. Yes you guessed it right I am talking about google maps πŸ˜‰ How I love that app on my phone and one of the reasons I haven’t upgraded my phone to iOS6 is because I will lose google maps…but as usual I digress..

Once we were on the expressway, it was delight through and through. Cemented 3 (infact I think 3 and half) lane roads, barricaded on both sides. We were constantly cruising at 150. At one point of time, hubby even mentioned this is so smooth and good, I am almost getting bored. The only sad thing about the roads was the fact that they were so deserted. I mean I think we saw just 50 cars on an almost 150km+ expressway. Ofcourse we weren’t complaining on the lack of traffic but we were worried that if its not used, it won’t be maintained well in the longer run.

What I also liked about the expressway is the fact that after every toll plaza (and there are three of them) there is a pit stop, a small quick eating joint and very clean loos, there is a janitor always standing there who cleans it just after u use. Hopefully this will continue as the usuage of the expressway increases too. We had breakfast on one such pit stop, took bread pakoras, veg puff and stuffed kulchas and eat it on the car along with hot tea

That's my mum, younger sister and O enjoying our breakfast

That’s my mum, younger sister and O enjoying our breakfast

After the quick breakfast stop, I took over the wheel from N and enjoyed the drive till Agra and I tend to agree with him after the 3 days of drive this did feel boring essentially because it was so smooth πŸ˜‰ Like he says we needed a better car, a car that can take us to 200kmph may be and give that trip (Warning : The whole road is cemented and not tarred and there is a greater risk of tyre bursting which can be a huge risk at high speeds. Please use caution while speeding. We have all terrain tyres in our car which we fill with Nitrogen and hence the risk is lower)

We made it to the outskirts of Agra City including the breakfast break in under 2 hours after entering the expressway. What happened after we entered the city is another story though. My heart pains to say that roads of Agra are narrow, broken and dirty which is such a contrast from expressway that it hits you right into your face 😐 After traversing through those lanes and struggling with directions (yes google maps came to rescue again), Can u beat it there are not many sign boards guiding to Taj? It’s supposed to be a wonder of the world I thought, we did reach Taj Mahal parking somehow. The child saw the camel cart there and wanted to take a ride in one of those. So from parking to Taj was done in that and we all had fun like a child

DSC_0153

When we reached the ticket counter, I was ready for another shock. No one wanted to follow queues, garbage was strewn all around. It was shocking to see that this was the state of affairs just outside Taj, one of India’s most important and popular tourist destination. It made me realize that why do all people have the image of India that they do. People were eating chips, throwing packet on the road when there is a dustbin right next to it and the security guards standing there will say nothing too. Food isn’t allowed to be taken inside the monument and its stated on a lot of boards but people were still taking it and there was a huge bunch of discarded things lying next to the entrance because of that which includes discarded melted ice cream, imagine the mess it would make. Taj is a monument of pride for me, for me visiting it fills me with joy and happiness that its in India, I wonder why do people not feel the same?

The minute you enter the premise the scene changes though and what you witness is impeccable lawns, clean and tidy and oh so gorgeous. When you look at Taj, even with so many people around you know there is indeed something special about it

Borrowing my friend Tara's words to describe this picture - e lilliputian crowd, the bird in flight and the blue color

Borrowing my friend Tara’s words to describe this picture – the lilliputian crowd, the bird in flight and the blue color

Unfortunately I couldn’t get around clicking pictures as I would have wanted, too many people, tried parents and a hungry and cranky child aren’t things that can let you pursue a hobby πŸ™‚ So we exited Taj after a quick round of the monument.

One of the four side forts surrounding the Taj

One of the four side forts surrounding the Taj

After seeing Taj we headed for lunch to Ram Babu Paranthas (read the post linked here on the food blog for delicious Agra food tales) where we had a yummy lunch, following which we headed to Sadar Bazaar for a little shopping. After all what trip is complete without having to see what the city offers to its shoppers πŸ˜‰ We picked up a bag, some footwear and so as Agra is also famous for its leather. We also visited Meena Bazaar and picked up a gorgeous marble mortar and pestle and some coasters.

Post all this when we saw the time it was already 5:00 pm and hence the plan to visit Fatehpuri Sikri had to be ditched 😦 and we started our journey back which was largely uneventful and the same kind of drive. We reached back home at 21:28 after clocking 508kms on road.

PS: this is my third post as a part of Marathon Bloggers, we are posting one post a day, Wanna join us ? here is the FB group

PPS: Here is the link to the xls with our travel data.

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The Epic Trip – Bangalore Delhi Bangalore Drive Tweets

27 Tuesday Nov 2012

Posted by monikamanchanda in Highway Travels - the mad couples travel tales

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

bangalore, Delhi, highway travels, hubli, on the road, road trip, travel, travel tales, tweets

We did an epic trip recently (finished it this afternoon) most of u following me on twitter/FB page are aware of it… this is the compilation of tweets of the trip… Hopefully will do a detailed post(s) later. Tweets are in reverse order though πŸ˜› too lazy to do otherwise πŸ˜‰

Delhi – Blore Trip : The Upwards Journey

Upwards journey

monika ‏@monikamanchanda

Dilli ki khushboo #win #backtoroots

monika ‏@monikamanchanda

The queue at the toll booth on Sunday evening is so long I am wondering what would the condition be on weekdays ? #gurgaon #Drive2Delhi

monika ‏@monikamanchanda

Now hoping the last leg gets over fast mum has made kadhi chawal at home πŸ™‚ #Drive2Delhi

monika ‏@monikamanchanda

Finally reached Gurgaon about 2hrs later than planned.. All thanks to horrid highways from Jaipur #Drive2Delhi

monika ‏@monikamanchanda

“Airtel welcomes you to Delhi” just received as SMS… Time to celebrate #Drive2Delhi

monika ‏@monikamanchanda

Ohoo just came to know that bikes don’t have to pay toll on highways.So unfair damnit, it’s been the biggest expense on this trip after fuel

monika ‏@monikamanchanda

Full of diversions and potholes… The worst roads till now post Jaipur, after all something has to go wrong *sigh* #Drive2Delhi

monika ‏@monikamanchanda

The best thing about highway drives – kadak chai on the road side tapri.. Yes I know I have said it before :)… http://fb.me/1BqpqOMPI

monika ‏@monikamanchanda

The best thing about highway drives – kadak chai on the road side tapri.. Yes I know I have said it before :)… http://fb.me/1BqpqOMPI

monika ‏@monikamanchanda

Last leg of the journey, just crossed jaipur. 2268 done. 250 to go #Drive2Delhi

monika ‏@monikamanchanda

Last leg of the journey, just crossed jaipur. 2268 done. 250 to go #Drive2Delhi

monika ‏@monikamanchanda

An early lunch – aloo parantha at a dhabha on the highway #win #drive2delhi http://instagr.am/p/SKTv7skQTC/Β  http://fb.me/wZepyiaz

monika ‏@monikamanchanda

“Rajasthan is a wrong country, everyone is driving wrong side” says the child πŸ˜‰ #Drive2Delhi

monika ‏@monikamanchanda

“if you are bad, I am your dad” #TruckQoutes #drive2delhi http://instagr.am/p/SJ2SSkEQX-/

monika ‏@monikamanchanda

That should have been day3 #Drive2Delhi

monika ‏@monikamanchanda

Day 2 begins drinking chai before we start #drive2delhi http://instagr.am/p/SJxQX3EQSF/

monika ‏@monikamanchanda

But met few friends and took it easy and happy today πŸ™‚ calling it a day now.. Good night folks #Drive2Delhi

monika ‏@monikamanchanda

End of day 2 – total kms done till now 1857, todays kms clocked 835… Lesser kms today but more time on the road #Drive2Delhi

monika ‏@monikamanchanda

Golden bridge at bharuch, 120yr old bridge that too 3yrs to make #drive2delhi http://instagr.am/p/SIZb8IkQVg/

monika ‏@monikamanchanda

Followed by a kadak chai http://instagr.am/p/SIZDjYEQVJ/Β  http://fb.me/21p9HVimb

monika ‏@monikamanchanda

Passing through gujarat can’t be fun without tasting the fafda πŸ™‚ #drive2delhi http://instagr.am/p/SIYv_ekQVB/Β  http://fb.me/vYG6o4EB

monika ‏@monikamanchanda

Just crossed ahemdadbad… Time for tea I guess πŸ™‚ #Drive2Delhi

monika ‏@monikamanchanda

Golden ball on fire #sunset #drive2delhi http://instagr.am/p/SIV6KGkQTU/

monika ‏@monikamanchanda

Had a brilliant home cooked Gujarati meal at a friends house in bharuch, one of the best veg meal I have had in a… http://fb.me/28uIoI07n

monika ‏@monikamanchanda

Also the man and me complete 8 yrs of married life today.. Happy anniversary darling

monika ‏@monikamanchanda

And my bestest friend, behena from Another mother, the darling @kiranmanral feeling terrible exiting without meeting her

monika ‏@monikamanchanda

What I am missing in Bombay this time is meeting some lovely people that I wanted to @Saeek @euphoRHEA @SassyFork @RushinaMG & others

monika ‏@monikamanchanda

Finally met @Finelychopped thank you so much for dropping in so early πŸ™‚ http://lockerz.com/s/262027690

monika ‏@monikamanchanda

Day 2 journey begins from Bombay, hoping to reach udaipur tonight #Drive2Delhi

monika ‏@monikamanchanda

Brilliant breakfast at a friends house before we head out http://instagr.am/p/SHV2gdkQd8/Β  http://fb.me/2aJdCsPdM

monika ‏@monikamanchanda

Day 1 close – 1022.2 kms, 18.5 hrs on road.. Been a good day #Drive2Delhi

monika ‏@monikamanchanda

Bombay . Now better be nice to me specially u traffic :p #Drive2Delhi

monika ‏@monikamanchanda

Gave in and had the vada pav at joshi vadawalla at pune, the vada was good but the pav was disappointing to say the least

monika ‏@monikamanchanda

The child is super excited about the tunnels on the express way … Almost jumping in his car seat πŸ™‚ #Drive2Delhi

monika ‏@monikamanchanda

Sometimes only crossing state borders makes so much difference to the highway scene, where we struggled to find… http://fb.me/Cc3PUGTL

monika ‏@monikamanchanda

Sunset always amazes me #skywatching #drive2delhi http://instagr.am/p/SFxkRHEQaJ/

monika ‏@monikamanchanda

The glorious colors of sunset just outside pune #drive2delhi http://instagr.am/p/SFwC2hkQZV/

monika ‏@monikamanchanda

Boiled peanuts on the way #drive2delhi http://instagr.am/p/SFt6fcEQYK/Β  http://fb.me/1ZMshnQ7Z

monika ‏@monikamanchanda

Drinking chai πŸ™‚ #drive2delhi http://instagr.am/p/SFt2HgEQYG/

monika ‏@monikamanchanda

This is how one should enjoy ice cream πŸ™‚ http://instagr.am/p/SFW1paEQfa/

monika ‏@monikamanchanda

Rice with kolhapuri dal, takes spiceness to a different altogether *wipes sweat* #drive2delhi… http://fb.me/2feF36VOA

monika ‏@monikamanchanda

Dal , baingan bharta and roti at roots just ahead of #drive2delhi http://instagr.am/p/SFS62iEQdz/Β  http://fb.me/1KPzFltxP

monika ‏@monikamanchanda

Now having belgaum special Kunda while searching for a place to eat lunch #drive2delhi… http://fb.me/1TONXnjJR

monika ‏@monikamanchanda

Yeah we are all cool πŸ™‚ #drive2delhi http://instagr.am/p/SFKeOykQas/

monika ‏@monikamanchanda

Lunch in belgaum, so what’s a good place to eat ? #Drive2Delhi

monika ‏@monikamanchanda

The land of wind mills – chitradurga #drive2delhi http://instagr.am/p/SFEVSeEQXc/

monika ‏@monikamanchanda

Hubli 425 kms done since morning and it’s been such a lovely drive… Fab roads #Drive2Delhi

monika ‏@monikamanchanda

The chai shop? Fantastic chai #drive2delhi http://instagr.am/p/SEyqKNEQbR/Β  http://fb.me/2dW102BCL

monika ‏@monikamanchanda

#highwayBreakfast with a cutting chai #drive2delhi http://instagr.am/p/SEvY1uEQYV/Β  http://fb.me/18wwV0DtB

monika ‏@monikamanchanda

Blue skies and brilliant roads πŸ™‚ #Drive2Delhi http://instagr.am/p/SEtlGMEQWl/

monika ‏@monikamanchanda

2 hours ,149kms now wondering whether to find a place for breakfast or make a cheese tuna sandwich #roadtrip #Drive2Delhi

monika ‏@monikamanchanda

And off we go, like the say Bhagwan ka naam first … Jai Mata Di #roadtrip

 

Delhi – Blore Trip : The Return Journey

Tweets of the delhi – blore trip, return journey

  1. monika @monikamanchanda

    And we are home, 2.5 days – 2556kms and about 5500kms in last 10 days & yes loads of memories #return2blr instagr.am/p/ShwVwQEQeX/

    27 Nov 12

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  2. monika @monikamanchanda

    And there was a person on a Scotty with pillion behind doing wheeling on the NICE road, we just don’t care about life #Return2Blr

    27 Nov 12
  3. monika @monikamanchanda

    And we are catching Bangalore fm now πŸ™‚ at neelmangala #Return2Blr

    27 Nov 12
  4. monika @monikamanchanda

    Tumkur yay #Return2Blr

    27 Nov 12
  5. monika @monikamanchanda

    In another news, the husband told me I drove brilliantly in the last stretch #IHaveArrived *faints with happiness* #Return2Blr

    27 Nov 12
  6. monika @monikamanchanda

    Crossed hiryur, final leg of the journey this is πŸ™‚ clocked abt 2359kms till now #Return2Blr

    27 Nov 12
  7. monika @monikamanchanda

    And some for dada πŸ™‚ #return2blr instagr.am/p/ShJxi2kQYT/

    27 Nov 12
  8. monika @monikamanchanda

    Finally a breakfast stop has been found , now for some hot hot idlis πŸ™‚ #return2blr instagr.am/p/ShJMotkQX4/ fb.me/PezoZggE

    27 Nov 12
  9. monika @monikamanchanda

    Belgaum to hubli – not a single eating joint 😦 #Return2Blr #bussinesOppurtunity

    27 Nov 12
  10. monika @monikamanchanda

    Agree in our 5000km road trip we saw two patrol cars #Return2Blr RT @pragmatic_d: A call for highway police for India: indianexpress.com/news/highways-…

    27 Nov 12
  11. monika @monikamanchanda

    2 hours and 197kms… Brilliant brilliant roads and they come with a beautiful countryside too #Return2Blr

    27 Nov 12
  12. monika @monikamanchanda

    Hunger crankiness is happening *reaches out for a murkku* and yes I am talking about myself and not the child πŸ˜‰ #return2blr

    27 Nov 12
  13. monika @monikamanchanda

    A beautiful looking and huge building in the middle of nowhere #return2blr instagr.am/p/Sg_c7vEQeZ/

    27 Nov 12
  14. monika @monikamanchanda

    child just announced that he is sad that the road trip is ending, so all those who thought I am torturing him can stop worrying #Return2Blr

    27 Nov 12
  15. monika @monikamanchanda

    And it’s out… Good morning people πŸ™‚ #sunrise #return2blr instagr.am/p/Sg8_7UEQbW/

    27 Nov 12
  16. monika @monikamanchanda

    Orange ball of happiness peeping out of the clouds #sunrise #return2blr instagr.am/p/Sg8BetEQZ9/

    27 Nov 12
  17. monika @monikamanchanda

    And the last leg of the journey begins on a slightly foggy day, 600km to home.. #return2blr… fb.me/1vvSTJYrC

    27 Nov 12
  18. monika @monikamanchanda

    And halt for the day at kolhapur, today for some strange reason I am feeling very very tired, clocked about 1000kms today #Return2Blr

    26 Nov 12
  19. monika @monikamanchanda

    Is looking for Hotels reco closer to highway in kolhapur and belgaum, pls RT #Return2Blr

    Retweeted by @fiddlesticks83 26 Nov 12
  20. monika @monikamanchanda

    Salute to all Mumbaikars on my TL, god knows how you manage the distance and traffic.. I would have lost in 2 days #Return2Blr

    26 Nov 12
  21. monika @monikamanchanda

    Drove on the Pune – Mumbai expressway ❀ ❀ though traffic on both sides more than makes up for it, an hour both sides #Return2Blr

    26 Nov 12
  22. monika @monikamanchanda

    Is looking for Hotels reco closer to highway in kolhapur and belgaum, pls RT #Return2Blr

    Retweeted by @Sairee 26 Nov 12
  23. monika @monikamanchanda

    Is looking for Hotels reco closer to highway in kolhapur and belgaum, pls RT #Return2Blr

    26 Nov 12
  24. monika @monikamanchanda

    And Mumbai special custard couldn’t have missed this #return2blr instagr.am/p/SfNaVCkQc1/ fb.me/1mVEsXkDy

    26 Nov 12
  25. monika @monikamanchanda

    And mutton biryani for the biryani purist husband πŸ™‚ #return2blr instagr.am/p/SfLsxgEQcN/ fb.me/2ncMNFbxZ

    26 Nov 12
  26. monika @monikamanchanda

    Prawns biryani at fountain for lunch today #return2blr instagr.am/p/SfLcZ-kQcJ/ fb.me/1dIh5RNzQ

    26 Nov 12
  27. monika @monikamanchanda

    Mumbai why you so hot ? #Return2Blr

    26 Nov 12
  28. monika @monikamanchanda

    Look what I am eating – swad #youRemember #nostalgia #return2blr instagr.am/p/Se6mx7EQWI/ fb.me/1J1s9jh0g

    26 Nov 12
  29. monika @monikamanchanda

    Want to reach Mumbai by lunch , any place on the highway I can grab a quick bite ? #Return2Blr

    Retweeted by @SulekhaTravel 26 Nov 12
  30. monika @monikamanchanda

    Me and the child at chai break πŸ™‚ #return2blr instagr.am/p/SerBIakQay/

    26 Nov 12
  31. monika @monikamanchanda

    Stylish Gujarat – this is the best looking toll booth I have ever come across in India πŸ™‚ #return2blr instagr.am/p/SeoWJkEQYT/

    Retweeted by @HimnitS 26 Nov 12
  32. monika @monikamanchanda

    Stylish Gujarat – this is the best looking toll booth I have ever come across in India πŸ™‚ #return2blr instagr.am/p/SeoWJkEQYT/

    26 Nov 12
  33. monika @monikamanchanda

    Want to reach Mumbai by lunch , any place on the highway I can grab a quick bite ? #Return2Blr

    26 Nov 12
  34. monika @monikamanchanda

    The kind of roads I love, crossed baroda at 8:44 thats like 100km from start in a little over an hour πŸ™‚ #Return2Blr

    26 Nov 12
  35. monika @monikamanchanda

    Dear neck, please behave yourself till I reach back to Bangalore. Yours, Monika #Return2Blr

    26 Nov 12
  36. monika @monikamanchanda

    The beautiful cross section #return2blr instagr.am/p/SecyLzkQb5/ fb.me/2ynLH3bhK

    26 Nov 12
  37. monika @monikamanchanda

    Ice cream cake that we had for dessert yesterday night πŸ™‚ #return2blr instagr.am/p/SeclZ_kQbx/ fb.me/NIdpvaz0

    26 Nov 12
  38. monika @monikamanchanda

    Farsaans that welcomed us – Gujarat #return2blr instagr.am/p/SdccyukQT-/ fb.me/vwfV4Rfe

    25 Nov 12
  39. monika @monikamanchanda

    And we are done for the day phew πŸ™‚ 980.4 clocked #Return2Blr

    25 Nov 12
  40. monika @monikamanchanda

    1.5 kadak masala chai on the highway and we start for the last leg for today… 195kms to Ahemdadbad #Return2Blr

    Retweeted by @alpesh4ever 25 Nov 12
  41. monika @monikamanchanda

    1.5 kadak masala chai on the highway and we start for the last leg for today… 195kms to Ahemdadbad #Return2Blr

    25 Nov 12
  42. monika @monikamanchanda

    Btw we did make up for sometime we lost in the morning. Crossed udaipur sometime ago… 740kms clocked till now #Return2Blr

    25 Nov 12
  43. monika @monikamanchanda

    Traversing Beautiful ghat roads at dusk #pleasuresOfRoadTrip #Return2Blr

    25 Nov 12
  44. monika @monikamanchanda

    Mom’s rock – just finished the lunch that mum packed for the way πŸ™‚ paranthas sabji and achar πŸ™‚ #return2blr

    25 Nov 12
  45. monika @monikamanchanda

    Hills on the horizon and car on song.. Now feels like my kind of journey #return2blr instagr.am/p/SchHN3EQfe/

    25 Nov 12
  46. monika @monikamanchanda

    Hoping will now catch up on the average and do some good kms #Return2Blr

    25 Nov 12
  47. monika @monikamanchanda

    Phew finally crossed Jaipur sometime ago, by this time day 1 upwards journey we had done 500kms, currently at 320 #Return2Blr

    25 Nov 12
  48. monika @monikamanchanda

    Highway breakfast – paranthas and curd .. First stop on our journey back to Bangalore #return2blr… fb.me/24pCOhl2G

    25 Nov 12
  49. monika @monikamanchanda

    And the guy at the breakfast break just told us that there might be more two more jams ahead *faints*#Return2Blr

    25 Nov 12
  50. monika @monikamanchanda

    This is become like jam to jam travel, we avoid one and get stuck in the next..what kind of a highway is this 😦 #Return2Blr

    25 Nov 12
  51. monika @monikamanchanda

    The traffic jam continues on the highway till as far as I can see And I have travelled 3.5kms on the service road already #Return2Blr

    25 Nov 12
  52. monika @monikamanchanda

    This is mother, father, grandmother of all traffic jams… We have taken the service lane on the opposite side #Return2Blr

    25 Nov 12
  53. monika @monikamanchanda

    Now heading to Jaipur, the only strech of bad roads we encountered in the upwards journey *fingers crossed* #Return2Blr

    25 Nov 12
  54. monika @monikamanchanda

    Packed, belted and ready in what the child calls as night morning to start the return journey back #Return2Blr

     

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Band Bajaa Baarat

08 Saturday Jan 2011

Posted by monikamanchanda in fun

≈ 14 Comments

Tags

Delhi, fun, movie, personal, review

 

Isn’t that a very catchy number, a number one would like to dance on… and keep on dancing Smile I have been wanting to see this movie since it released and Ritu posted about it but my husband was not interested in watching it so I was wondering to when Wednesday a friend called me in the morning saying would I like to come along with her to watch the movie and I was jumping with joy yes yes yes ofcourse Open-mouthed smile 

And what a lovely movie. It was fun, good timepass and well executed but I think what I loved about the movie most was it made me warm inside for Delhi. It made me miss Delhi even more. The movie is soaked in Delhi right from the first scence where they show the metro, the delhi university, the cycle rickshaws, the banta, the bark ka golla…. damn I miss it…

The movie has captured Delhi so well that I don’t think any other movie did atleast the part of Delhi it wanted to capture… the fun loving loud Delhi…. the weddings… sigh I agreee its a waste of money but I can guarantee you there can’t be a wedding which is more fun than the wedding in Delhi…

And this movie made me miss Delhi to an extent that I was found crying on the things that the whole theatre was laughing at Sad smile Damn I cant’t wait for Feb when I am off to Delhi for a cousin’s wedding no less where we will dancing a lot…. and I am sure Avin Avin will be played a lot

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Dilli Ki Sardi

27 Monday Dec 2010

Posted by monikamanchanda in personal

≈ 29 Comments

Tags

bangalore, Delhi, dilli ki sardi, memories, personal, winter food, winters

Some memories are just deep encrusted in ones minds and hearts and one of those memories or a set of memories for me is Delhi Winter. Though its been a little more than 9 years I have moved to Bangalore and started calling it home and slowly loving the city too I sorely miss the Delhi Winters, every December I go into a sad mode when I hear about the winters in Delhi from friends and family.

It reminds me of those early school morning where we would just not be able to get up and dad would be shouting and we just murmring 2 more mins from the warmth of the rajai (quilt)

It reminds me of those lazy lazy afternoons we would spend a dari (rug) spread on the terrace soaking in sun, pretending to study with a book in hand sometimes alone and sometimes chatting with a friend

It reminds me of those times in the winter vacations and sometimes otherwise in the early evenings too when all the aunties of the street will sit together in a corner on a charpai (cot) knitting and exchanging colony gossip and we kids will get a chance to do whatever we wanted to πŸ˜‰

It reminds me of those lovely evenings and nights when we will all get inside the biggest rajai in the house and eat moongfali (peanuts) endlessly and than we would push each other to get out if anything is needed

It reminds me of those fights we would have when we get into a rajai which has been already warmed by someone else πŸ˜‰

It reminds of those morning paranthas and pickle breakfasts and steaming hot besan ka seera to end the day with

It reminds me of that yummy gajar ka halwa and the yummier sarsoon ka saag and the pinni made by mom, those gajaks and gur after every meal

It reminds of my of those morning where you would get up on the terrace to see nothing yeah the fog would have created the zero visibility and it reminds me of that hot cup of boost that dad used to make for us on those days

So last week when we in Bangalore woke up to see a fog similar to what used to be DilliKiSardi… ofcourse we were very happy πŸ˜€

And seeing Ojas as excited about the fog and enjoying his cup of boost watching it, made me even more nostalgic… I guess its true… memories are for a lifetime

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WW16

03 Wednesday Nov 2010

Posted by monikamanchanda in Wordless Wednesday

≈ 20 Comments

Tags

Delhi, delhi metro network, metro, proud of delhi, wordless wednesday

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The Sunset Story

21 Thursday Oct 2010

Posted by monikamanchanda in Thrusday Photo Challenge, Uncategorized

≈ 19 Comments

Tags

Delhi, pciture, sunset, thursday photo challenge

The story and journey of sunset as seen from my mom’s balcony one evening…

And this is my entry for the Thrusday Challenge which today is “GOLDEN” (Jewelry, Coins, Sun, Leaves, Fields, Hair,…)

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An angel sent my way

19 Tuesday Oct 2010

Posted by monikamanchanda in This and that, Uncategorized

≈ 44 Comments

Tags

auto, Delhi, good people

Last week I was in Delhi and was travelling in an auto after ages, me, my sis, N and ojas… so I got in I kept my handbag in the backside of the auto and took ojas in my lap… in between the travel sometime my phone rang and I started chatting with Sups, the destination came (which was Sarojini Ngr markeet BTW :D) and I walked down with ojas in my lap, phone on my ears and bindaas crossed the road… 2-3 minutes when the conversation ended I realised something is a miss……….. damn I had forgotten my handbag inside the auto…

damn damn damn… It contained all my documents, the credit cards, pan card, driving license and ofcourse some cash and damn my favorite gold earrings too..

We turned back crossed the road and tried searching for the auto man everywhere around… but as luck would have have it we couldn’t see him anywhere 😦 Totally frustrated depressed and irritated we went to the near by Police Station to lodge an FIR and give my number to them so that if a kind soul wants to give it back he can… Anyways I would needΒ  a FIR to get the duplicates of all those documents

With a heavy heart and no hope of getting the bag back I blocked all my cards and was going to the ATM in the night to withdraw cash from N’s account that will last me the trip… and suddenly my phone rang… And those words are still clear in my head…

“Monika Didi bool rahein hain? Mera naam R hai and mere papa auto chalate hain…. aap aana bag unke auto main bhool gayee the, so maine aapko phone islye kiya ki tension mat leejye, aap aaram se so jaao main subah aake aapka bag de jaaonga”

I was amazed stunned shocked and elated… I started jumping with joy… πŸ˜€ πŸ˜€ πŸ˜€

I told him I will come right away and take the bag if its ok with them as I was to travel to Gurgaon the next day morning and he said yes most welcome.

How he tracked me is another story. He searched my bag for any phone number, though he didn’t find my number he did find a friends visiting card and called that friend for my number telling him the whole story. He also said that if he would not have found my number he would have googled me tomorrow morning from office and tried to see if he can find some contact (yeah yeah the blog would have helped then πŸ˜‰ )

I was so impressed, I can’t even explain…. So off we went in the night to pick up the bag, me N, sis and a niece all happy and decided we will give them a good tip and when I got down from the car to meet them there was another surprise waiting for me… the auto uncle with his son who was carrying his sweet little son in his lap waiting for me on the road with my handbag… and I thanked them for the help and they kept insisting aap ek baar check kar lo please, I told them please uncle aapne wapas kiya bahut badi baat hai… i am sure sab theek hoga… They invited us home for tea and uncle told me that he didnt take a customer after he saw the bag so that any customer doesn’t put a claim to it… he also went back to the market but that was after an hour or so and I think we had left by than 😦

The uncle and his son R were both so warm that in all this me and N felt that tipping them would have been an insult to them if u get what I mean…

They were true angels sent my way… God bless them… duniya main abhi bhi achaihye baaki hai.

As for me I will be forever grateful to them and I am sending a small thank you card and gift to their house.

May the breed of such people increase !!!

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WW13

13 Wednesday Oct 2010

Posted by monikamanchanda in Wordless Wednesday

≈ 26 Comments

Tags

Delhi, drool, food, street food, the joy of delhi food, wordless wednesday, yummy

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House Guests and some more blabber

22 Sunday Aug 2010

Posted by monikamanchanda in personal

≈ 16 Comments

Tags

Delhi, guests, life, mil, mom, personal

One thing that this seems to have come along with this house for us are the house guests, days after we moved in here and the house was still not looking like a house my mom and sis came from Delhi and helped me make it look like a home… The next 10 days were spent sharing the load of opening boxes, making food and taking care of Ojas like a dream come true… isn’t there something about your mom just being around that makes one feel fantastic πŸ˜‰ and now that she is gone back… I miss her like crazy… and my sis too and not just me, the little brat has also been missing them and gets up almost every morning saying that I want Appu massi and nani to come to my house…. awww baby I want that too…

This is the worst thing in staying away from ones family… these are times when I want to curse the job and my career which bought me to such far away land… I hate that Ojas is growing up so far from her loving nani and massis but sigh such is the way of life and things can hardly be changed

And then after my mom and sis, went away we had N’s cousin from the US coming and living with us for a day, who fell in love with Ojas and vice versa… both were inseparable till the time he was here and the dotting uncle did all the tasks for him from playing to feeding him food, to change his clothes and even clean the dirty bum πŸ˜‰ it was such a pleasure to see them bond, right now he has gone to his village with a promise that he will be back next week

And then there is another friend of mine K who I havent met in years coming over for a week with his wife (whom I havent met at all) and a 5-month old daughter on Wednesday morning. Its so long that I have met him and this is one visit I am really really looking forward to, needless to say the next week will be a little busy πŸ™‚

Apart from house guests too there has been a lot happening in life, I have taken up a consulting working from home assigment with a US firm which invloves about 3 hour of work everyday, its a small start but I am slowly making a move from becoming a stay at home mom (which I have been for the last year) to a full time independent woman (as my profile still saysΒ  πŸ˜‰ ) again and yes guys my catering and business plans are still on… have delivered some 3 orders and waiting for some more… so spread the word around u….

With all this happening in my life the last thing I needed was an argument with mil which I ended up having this afternoon. There are sometimes when I really feel that all this talk that dil’s are like daughters and mils as mothers is all bullshit. Howmuch ever one tries, how much ever one does (and here I am not talking about only me, I am talking about both sides… so people don’t throw brickbats ok) one still remains an outsider and the things you are still taken with a pinch of salt, even if they are well intended.

I know what happened was not something which will probably stay with us forever, I am in a half a mind to go say sorry or else things will turn normal in a day or two but right now I just feel depressed, angry, agitated and sad all rolled into one.

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WW4

11 Wednesday Aug 2010

Posted by monikamanchanda in Wordless Wednesday

≈ 21 Comments

Tags

Delhi, india, janpath, picture

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Me, Myself and me

bundle of contradictions, a working independent woman, a mom, a wife, a daughter, a friend, a traveler and ya a blogger :)

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