Salaam Namaste

Tuesday 4th October 2005


After mosque, went to the movies yesterday. They have a huge no of theatres. Some are old fashioned and some are new. I went to a place called Regal opposite the Jehangir Museum. It was a big debate as to what to actually see. I wanted to see the choc factory, but my sis said that she also wanted to come, so I’ll keep that for a weekend. I was tempted to go see skeleton key, but decided to see an eye candy Hindi film....salaam namaste with saif ali khan and preeti zinta. I don't know why I went and saw this actually, but what the hell.

After dinner, sis told me that I could take her bike...wow. Was a bit worried about going without licence, but that’s what cool about my sis. She was like..Awesome. Its a Kinetic Honda 'Zing' 50 cc and no gears! It’s like driving an automatic. Absolutely no pick up and you’re cruising at a laughable 40 kmp, and more and it starts to scream. But it’s a damn useful bike to have. It’s got a mobile charger!!! And the best bit is that it can take the whole family (of 4!). I wore the helmet...bright red all face covering and left.

The kids saw me leaving and both wanted to come with me. I realised that if I don't take them, they might create a scene when I wanted to get away quietly, so I took them around the block. And then left. Muru has realised quite fast that this was a mamu who likes to get lost…

Another cool thing about movies here is that everyday you have late night movies at 9.30 and even 12.30. So I took the route I knew. I realised when I came to churchgate that I have had the wrong theatre in my mind as I reached EROS. So asked my way to the Regal. Bought a 100/- ticket (tickets get expensive during the weekend) and went to the balcony. Damn good seats. Had the usual ads in the beginning, but they were damn good ones (radio mirchi...these guys have a super outdoor idea in getting some ppl standing at the roundabouts in the morning holding signs saying switch to radio mirchi cuz so and so (usually a celebrity guest speaker) is on air now)
During the middle of the show, sis called me to make sure everything was ok and that she was sleeping. She kind of put the scare in me about where I parked the bike. Because if it was illegal then the thing would be towed away. We were having this conversation about how the cops love to tow vehicles away, so I got a bit worried about that. It was hard work worrying abbot the bike and concentrating on the movie. (Parking at a mall car park is 200/- and to release your vehicle after getting it towed is also the same. So the lack of parking compells some ppl to actually let their vehicles be towed away cuz it might be safer at the cop shed!)

The movie itself was one of those kinds that you don't have to use your brain for. But it was funny (slightly) enough to make the whole thing worthwhile. Very much like 9 months with Salma baby and Mathew Perry.

Raced out once it was over to check on the bike. Such a relief to see that the little beauty was still there. On my way back, I got slightly lost. Ended up at marine drive and the beach. What the hell though. Spent a little time there gazing into the black (slightly and slightly suspiciously smelling) water and the queen’s necklace. Left that place taking roads rather randomly knowing that I’d reach VT the train station eventually. And eventually I did (after taking a few tiny roads to avoid a few cops I saw on the way). On the whole it was quite a thrilling night.
I did not use the horn even once. I just had to prove to myself that you can drive in Mumbai without the need of the horn. Though I did feel like stopping, getting off, and kicking the shit out of a few idiots (mainly taxis and people).

Of fasting and shitt

3rd Monday October 2005

1st fast. Had to wake up early. Feel like a zombie on steroids. Have a very shitty day that made me ponder on the question “What happens when you hold in a fart” Does it get dissolved back into the system? Does it come out at a later stage much bigger? Does it come out of other orifices? Is this the cause of people saying that they feel shitty?

After work went shoe shopping. There are many branded shoe shops close to work and they are factory outlets so the Addidas, Reebok, Nike, Weatherman, Levis, Fila shoes are quite cheap. But me being the troubled shopper went to about 10 of these shops and found only 1 pair that I liked. No I need to go to another 10 and check out every option I can before I make the purchase or I’ll feel like there might have been something that I missed.

Because of this, I got a bit late to mosque and went after prayers. The food was bloody awesome.
The 1st day of every bhora Calendar month is also the day of the new moon. So today would be the second day. Apparently looking at the moon brings good luck. Also you cannot see the moon on the new moon and the first day of the month (you can only see it very slightly on the second after sunset), hence probably the reason why Muslims alw

Haji

Sunday the 2nd of October 2005

Woke up late

Mad rush to leave the home, cuz just as we were leaving, visitors had come and bhen had to do her duty as daughter in law. Helped out by making drink.

Finally left, past the 7 road junction and the first stop was the Dhobi Gauts. This is a mass washing machine where Bombay’s clothes are washed. Have to see it to believe it. People in little stalls hammering the clothes onto a stone. Wonder how they know who’s clothes is whose.

Then went to the race course. Its large and more impressive than the Nuwea Eliya course, but I’ll still vote for the later. You just can’t beat the climate and location. There was a large club and restaurant there as well.

Then came to the Haji Ali. It’s a long causeway to the sea (which is closed during high tide). This is lined by beggars lying on the causeway in a square chanting continuously with all their money collected in the centre. The mosque is actually a tomb of a saint, and is not that impressive now., though people throng there. There are men who you pay to care for your slippers and signs telling people to report them, if they over charge. On the other side are rocks, where you can catch the Arabian Sea breezes and get wet. A man was scraping a mollusc off the rocks with a spoon to feed raw to his 5 year old kid. Apparently it cures him if having a fit. Maybe he means Epileptic. Leaving the place, we got caught to the rain. So while sheltering outside under the tikka restaurant, we had a meal. It was Yum to the Max. Marinated so well, that even though eaten raw, was tasty. Falcons were hovering close by. It was crowded and in typical Muslim fashion had people screaming at the top of their lungs. Even though he was screaming, a man complained that non-one was listening to him.

Then left to the Planetarium. This was really nice with the experience much better than our local one (obviously) the seats rocked. Wish they could give a chart that could map out the night sky and name the stars. Almost went to sleep though during the session.

Opposite the planetarium is the Nehru Centre. There was an amazing exhibition on India and its History, Great Leaders, Religions etc. It was all a walk through with real life looking models. It began all the way from the Indus Valley till present time. The best part was that you could see how it must have actually been, because of the costumes, stages and décor made like real. I am sure Sri Lanka too could have an equally amazing story to tell.

Finally came home by 5.30. Had to get ready for prayers at the rooftop! The way it was done you don’t even realise that you’re on the top…open air would have been nicer though. Dinner was downstairs in the carpark. Damn yum with yummier home made ice cream.

5 days of action

26th Monday

Finally got the travelling to work right. Did not miss the stop.
Went to lunch at a seea food restaurant. Had an awesome bombay duck...which is actually a fish dish. Went to my first focus group. Slighlty nervous about it, cu i have to conduct it and make a room full of strangers comfortable with each other and gain some useful insights. But it was quite fun.

Took the train home from Dadar (one of the largest stations in Mumbai)

27th Tuesday

Took the ppl at work some Gal Seeambala. It was fun seeing their reactions at this very exotic looking, tamarind tasting fruit :) Had lunch at the amazing office canteen. Wainted till late to discuss the Afla discussion guide with the AE.

28th Wedensday

Today is the focus group i organised. Ajeeta is doing one at 3, so we leave for that. Its was amazing to see the brains (Ajeeta and Rajeev) in operation completing the focus group DG in the car. The location is in Vile Parle (further than last times dadar) about half an hour car ride. The others had though that my grp was in walkeshwar and so we had assumed that we would come to work an pick up the stimulus and DG on the wasy (hence i had left it here), but my grp was also in Vile Parle. So i called the account guy up and he sorted it out for me. I should have seen this coming. Got some amazing insights about women and thier motivation for fitness and why they don't like going to them.
The first thought when people realise i'm from SL is Murali. Then come the LTTE and the war. The tsunami is a distant last. Rajeev took the group as it was conducted in Hindi. Again amazing to see him handle them. Rajeev was a bit pissed that i had not taken the tags and branding off the suitcases (stimulas) though he hadnt told me to. I guess i should have realised that too (2nd boo boo).

Ahd some amazing food (idli and sav puri) from a nearby place that was fabulously mouthwatering. The location is in front of a Hindu temple where a sermon was taking palce.

It got over at about 8. On the way, Rajeev confirmed that i'd be attending the wrokshop tomorrow).Got dropped to a cab and went straigt to office where i updated my blog and got some work done before i left for home, a bit late (at 11.00)

29th Thursday

The hotel is The Grand Hyatt in Santa Cruz and starts at 9.00. Had to leave home by 8 and take a 20 minute train ride to santa cruz station. 40 minutes is quite a distance cuz the trains are amazingly fast. But not fast enough to miss the huge no. of people shitting on the track with their butts in the bloody air and a bucket of water by their feet. Had breakfast of sandwiches in the train seeing allthe scenery (including the shitters) go by.

None of the ppl i asked knew the location of the Hotel, so i called up Ajeeta who picked me up from the bus stand next to the station.

After the workshop (it wasnt residential) i got dropped off by the Barista in Bandra at the top of Linkin Road. There is some amazing shopping here. After much deliberation and bargaining bought a bag and a belt. Wanted to get bling bling, but wasnt sure of what would be nice, so left it (sorry ppl who could have recieved blin bling gifts from me.)

Met another fellow burnetter (hot chick) who directed me to hill road for some shoe shops. But came away dissaponted. Tool the train from Bandra back home and switched tracks at Dadar. Came home to a pissed Huzi bhai cuz i had not called and they were worried.

30th Friday

Got late for the workshop today. But it was cool. There were so many ppl going in out and tho, it was pissing the conductor. Everyone at the office is so fucking smart its really humbling. Even the creative ppl are hands on with the brand and are fully involved. The ideas they came up with was bloody amazing...Eg: At the ESP workshop last week, they came up with some crazy ideas for McD's in 2 hours. the essense was a boring thing..."Happiness" Thought that they will have trouble getting good ideas from something as general as that...but no...
The strategy was to make it enjoyable to teenagers, so they will have movies screenings, special menu, music etc.
One idea was you see on the frame a large built man on a chair munchin on a burger. Then some one from the back taps his shoulder and asks him to bend down a bit (line...movie screening at McD's). Another had ppl eating their burgers and then all together gurgling the word bock ku (say it out aloud). This happens together every few sceonds. Then the background sound slowly increase. The mucis is "we will, we will Rock You" AND the ppl are all asying rock you with food in theri mouths. There were about half a dozen like this. Supper....

Had bloody awesome dessert of Kesar Rasgullah.

After workshop got dropped off in a Chevrolette to the top of the road (only) and walked to the station which was actually not that far. (people assume everything is far apart, but in my walking shoes, they are not actually. I guess thats cuz i don't mind walking). Near the station, i got a bus to Juhu beach. The beach i really large and wide. The water sucks. Gently and apologetically lapping at your feet like a dying mongrel. There were some nice food stall that i passed by (damn). Was walking for about a km on the beach. Came out and headed for my destination of Pritvi Theatre. The show Sir, Sir Salra starts at 9.30 and it was 7.30

They have some art on the wall, a small libabry and a cosy restaurant. But i didnt hang around there for long. Went back to the beach and succumbed to the temptatiion of the food. Had the special of some joint there called Mysoor Masala. Damn Yum. As a treat to myself on the way back stopped by at Barista and had an exhorbitantly rich and yummy but expensive (84/-) coffe and chocolate with ice cream and whipped cream in a tall glass thing.

The play was in hindi and unfortunatly about 50 % of the dialogues went aver my head. But i understood the gist of it. Just 3 actors, live music (funky stuff with a digaroo and playing a guitar with a bow like a celo) The stage was right at the foot of the audeience and we were really close to the actors. It was a really cool setting. I thouroughly enjoyed the 150/- i paid for it.

Went to Vile Parle and took the train back home via dadar. Reached at about 12.00

1st Oct Sat

Took the no. 3 bus all the way to the end to navy Nagar. This is a place where all the navy folk live. Practically all of it except the main road is off limits to ppl without passes. But it was nice to know that i'm at the extrememe tip of mumbai. Nice old, large houses as well as apartments. Like a seperate community altogether.

Walked to the Afgan church. An old one in dedication of ppl who died during the Afgan war in the 19th Centuary i think . It was closed, so i took the buss to Cuffe Parade. Again a very posh place with large hotels and the world trade centre. By Maker apartments i coiuld reach the ocean and see all the way to marine drinve, Walkeshwar and nariman point/. Went to the mall and brought a cd.

Took bus to Jehangirr. Went to the art gallery first. Its in a heritage buidling. 3 floors. Really nice. It had indian art from way back then till present day. ppl there were quite strict. Don't let u use mobiles and you cannot see the painting in reverse orer against the floor of traffic.

Crossed the road and went to the museum. In both these places i paid 10 and went in as a local. At the museum, if i was a foreigner, i would have had to pay 300!!! Again in an old building. It was a bit musty and old. But the exhibits were awesome. The history and culture in there and in india is stunning. The best part though is the weapons.

Regal is across the junct. Opposite this is little joint called Chicketas. Had a (recommended) Franky here. Its basically a fotti with a filling of yum chicken and cloeslaw. From there i walked to the Gate way. Tried to climb up to the Taj and take pics, but they were onto me i think. But went up to the top floors and checked the view out anyway. Apparently the architect who built the place had made a huge blunder. He put the entrance the wrong way round. Had later killed himself after realisin the mistake.

Took the no. 3 bus home after it got dark at the gateway. Got into some killer traffic and horns at Mohamadali road. The horns are a huge pain. Its continous. When one taxi stops, another bike starts, and then another. It just doesnt stop.

After reaching home at 8, went straigt to my Masi (aunt)'s house for dinner. After the amazing dinner and playing kabadi with the kids and checking out the hilarious spoof of monopoly by MAD, went for some sight seeing.

Bhen and huzi bhai on their respective bikes took us to marine drive and queens necklace. We hung around at the far end (tip) of this - Nariman POint - in fron of the theartre NCPA for a while and came home at about 1.00 am.