The Spy Who Lost Her Head

This is a long pending review of Jane's hilarious debut novel. I came to know Jane (via her blog)  through the marathon bloggers' group on FB. Sadly, I did not get a chance to meet her (or the other bloggers), during her book launch.

Gulabi hails from village called Gayab, but is high on ambition and spirit. Her mummyji wants get her married off at the next possible chance but she aspires to meet her Bollywood hearthrob Sharook and does not care for the uneducated youth in her village. 

She comes to Mumbai in search of her knight in shining armour, also known as Bemba (loved the term-it stands for BE MBA, a criteria that her man must pass) and ends up playing a detective to unravel the deadly mystery of a lost head that lands up accidentally in her rental home.

Gulabi's mastery over the Queen's English makes you doubt your own. Her antics land her in the most incredulous situations and yet it makes you want to play along, feeling for Gulabi in her trials and travails and having in you splits over the funny incidents.

I really liked the unique plot and the way it has been treated. The lingo grows on you (I'm guessing, it is difficult to maintain the flow of such a language throughout and Jane does a neat job!). It's a book you'll like if you prefer/don't mind light reading. Gulabi as a character will not fail to endear you since despite her flaws she has her heart in the right place and is also a strong-willed independent woman who knows what she wants and will not rest until she gets it.

ETA: Details of the book are available on Flipkart here.

Conitnuing to be with nature..

My tryst with nature continued with a trip to Lalbaugh last Saturday when my sister-in-law and her daughter were in town. The weather in city turned much better since last week with some days seeing evening showers bringing down the overall temperatures by several notches; a welcome change indeed. So, it made for a lovely evening stroll amidst the vast expanse of some lovely flora and fauna. Fresh from our trip to Munnar, the husband and I were excited with the prospect of spotting the resident birds of the park. 

We started off excitedly by clicking snaps of the homely squirrels that are found in abundance here. A while later, the only birds we could spot were the crows, pigeons and mynahs. We did spot some migratory birds that flew by but could really get to capture them on the lens. We resigned ourselves to just slow walk, breathing deeply and smelling the fresh air, when suddenly the husband called out excitedly at a small figure perched on a near-by tree. It was an Owl. The only owls I have seen are on R's story books and on the pictures posted on FB by nature enthusiasts on a wild-life photography spree. I took several snaps from several angles, zooming like crazy on my point and shoot camera. The owl obliged and even did a small circus act of turning its head almost 360 degrees. Well, not exactly 360 degrees. It seems they can turn their head 270 degrees in both direction, hence the illusion. You can read more here: 

http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2013/02/06/how-owls-twist-their-heads-almost-360-degrees/

After a while, we saw a huge eagle too, but the proud bird was not as obliging as the owl and perched itself away on a tall branch that the lens could not capture. I could sense the adrenaline rush that nature enthusiasts must feel on their expedition. I think, I want to go on more nature and wild-life trips!

Didn't want to leave out the Mynahs..so what if they are not rare!

Can you spot the squirrel couple?

The star attraction of the day

The head does an almost eerie 360 deg turn

 Now, for the video. Excuse the poor quality:

Garbage mentality

Yes, that's what came into my mind when I came across an utterly idiotic bunch of Indian tourists at the Eravikulam National park. We had to wait in a queue to buy the tickets for the short bus ride that was to take us to a particular point at the hill-top from where one had to take a 2 km trek further uphill to spot the rare and endemic Nilgiri Tahrs. It was a long serpentine queue, it being the holiday season. There was a family of about 10- 5 rotund adults and 4-5 kids in their teens-in front of us. For the entire one and plus hour of waiting time, they ate sundry items- from fresh corn off the cob, to chocolates, to biscuits, to buying and eating many other items from the mobile hawkers around.

Well, what really got my goat was the complete lack of civic sense and disregard for public property. In spite of perfectly operational dustbins placed at regular intervals, the family chose to fling the waste papers, empty cobs and water bottles all around the place. Even worse was the nonchalant manner in which the adults threw the garbage from where they stood to the corner of the road without a care. It made me want to just shake them up by their collars and fling them to the ground.

My blood boiled at the sight, especially when the same energy that went into littering in the direction opposite to the dustbins could have gone into putting the waste into a bin that was right under their noses. They made a complete mockery of the many bill-boards that carried clear messages against littering and warnings of a fine and imprisonment for those who defied the rule. I'd have laughed at the irony if I were not so distressed with the whole thing.

But, I'm equally disappointed in myself for not airing my voice directly to the uncouth people instead of just fuming from within and making loud remarks in a feeble attempt to embarrass and shame them into propriety. I thought of different ways of confronting them but couldn't bring myself to directly question them. The ever practical husband too cautioned me against getting into pointless debates and fight. In his opinion, such people cannot be brought to senses by mere remarks and arguments since they have the capability to turn the situation to a disadvantage for even the one who is right and just. So, I just kept fuming and went away from the scene to make life simpler for myself.Sigh! :-(

These people were not poor from the obvious display of chunky jewellery and expensive gadgets they had on themselves. They also didn't seem deprived of formal education. Now, who needs foreign enemies to butcher the country's pride and economy when we have such gems within? On a different note, just wondering, how did the authorities plan to implement the punishment of a fine/imprisonment when all we had was a poor woman attendant, who was obviously ill-paid too, to pick up after these rouges for their cold-blooded crime.

Is there any hope at all?

So, Munnar it was

Ok, now this draft has been lying incomplete for the longest period after a vacation. Even when the vacation has been fabulous. Now, that speaks a lot about my interest for this blog. Not sure why exactly, but I find my earlier passion and near obsession to update this space slowly waning. To add to it, I've been quite busy with work and guests. So, before I lose out some lovely memories of a lovely vacation to lethargy and demotivation, here is a summary of our long awaited break that resulted in a trip to Munnar. 

We had been planning on vacation since March this year but were unable to take off due to some or the other reasons. Finally, the planets aligned well for the weekend following the 1st May holiday. We were a little skeptical about the weather in Munnar in this season since we heard from some sources that with climatic changes every where, Munnar too has succumbed to it and the temperatures are not exactly what you'd expect from a hill-station. Also, since I made the bookings only 10 days in advance, we were wary of any logistical surprises thrown our way.

Aside from little irritants like the bus journey that we undertook to reach Munnar, the entire trip panned out beautifully, in fact better than we expected. The weather was perfect as it rained intermittently for all the four days that we spent there, keeping any chances of the sun piercing wrapped under the cloud cover. Since I had already been to Munnar I had a fair idea of what would be the must-see places and what could be skipped. Trip advisor helped for the parts I was unsure about and we were sorted with just a few must-view sights in our itinerary, having the rest of the time to just relax, rejuvenate and soak in the essence and feel of the place at a leisurely pace.

We took nature strolls wherever possible. This was the first time I actually got a chance to revel in the joys of spotting rare species of birds and insects when not in a specific safari; something that this trip provided in good amounts. We did take a night safari to the Chinnar wild life sanctuary but it couldn't have been sadder with absolute nil sightings, baring that of a lone deer. The safari at Sri Lanka had really spoiled me with great expectations from a safari. Although I kept reminding myself to go easy and have no expectations, I must say I was disappointed. But, the point not to be missed is that the absence of big encounters was more than made up by the sightings of some lovely birds and insects on nature treks, and an overall splendid view throughout. 

The greens taking on a bright hue due to rains

We covered the Mattupetty dam- where we did speed-boating and touristy photographing, Eravikulam national park and a trek to Top station where you can get a panoramic view from the topmost peak point. The Eravikulam park is a sanctuary that houses the endangered and endemic species of the Ibex clan-the Nilgiri Tahr. They almost look like our very own domestic goats, so it is easy to forget that they are an endangered specie and not feel the enamour that is associated with spotting with its contemporaries. A pleasant soft trek of about 2 kms in this national park lets you spot these in many numbers and as you proceed to the very top, you are rewarded with sights of birds like the red-vented Bul-Bul, Grey-breasted laughingthrush, and Nilgiri Flycatcher.

speed boating at Mattupety Dam

Trek to Top station

The peak

One of the views

Misty view from our hotel balcony

Couldn't resist adding a snap of these lip-smacking pakoras that we gobbled along with the view from our hotel balcony

The Nilgiri Tahrs

We were already taken in by the beauty all-round in the first couple of days and couldn't ask for more, but apparently there was more in store with the climax of our trip being a night and half a day's stay at a nature resort called Nature Zone. Situated in the midst of thick plantations, and having options to stay in rooms on the tree top or out in an outdoor tent, this resort is truly a nature lover's paradise. We took the option of staying in the tree house. 

Waking up to the cacophony of sound of myriad insects and birds, surrounded by lush greenery that had a perpetual mist cover even in the peak of May, felt like heaven. A stroll around the resort allows you to have close encounters with colourful crawlies (I surprised myself by venturing near these to get a good click) and smell the fresh air and leaves. We also spotted (couldn't capture, unfortunately) the malabar squirel. We soaked in the bountiful natural beauty by taking a long pleasant walk around the tea gardens and spice plantations and chilling out in the well-maintained lawn gardens. We were left yearning for a little more time in this fantastic location. Sigh! maybe next time.

At Nature Zone resort

Our room

On a nature trek again

Into the spice plantations

I wanted to add many more photos, but will have to stop here since my computer is uploading the photos at an incredibly slow pace and I'm running out of time and patience.  Maybe you could check the space here later to find more.

The typecasting syndrome

Instance 1 
A little boy cries because a certain thing does not go his way. 
"Don't cry. Are you a girl to cry?", snubs the parent.

Instance 2 
Another little boy whines for some reason. 
"Don't whine. Only girls whine", chides the parent.

Instance3
An innocent lad plays an innocent game of "dress-up" or is playing with a kitchen set
"Don't play like this. Only girls play this game."

Instance 4
A small boy falls down while playing, is hurt and is crying.
"Stop crying now. Be brave and strong. You are a boy."

Yes, the crying had to be stopped. But the more important lesson to be taught is that, that it is OK when sometimes things don't go your way and life has to be taken in its stride. Unfortunately the only lesson learnt is-boys cannot/should not cry and that the expression, rather than the reason, is wrong.

Yes, whining is not a pleasant way to react to a particular situation. The boy had to be taught that one cannot keep complaining about a certain situation and that it is up to us to turn any situation to our advantage instead of looking at the negative side of it. However the lesson learnt was that girls generally behave in a disapproving manner.

Little kids like to play dress-up as it gives them an opportunity to explore and experiment. It is not important or necessary to give them an insight of worldly perception right then. The understanding or perception that the kitchen belongs to girls/women is injected so subtly yet effectively at this tender age that when these boys become husbands, it is no surprise to see them continue to hold the thought.

To cry when you are hurt physically and mentally is a way of expression. There is no harm in shedding tears if you are going to feel better at the end of it. Be it when you are 3 or 30. It is a natural reflex and it gives relief.  When you deny someone the right to express in a particular manner, there is every likelihood of the emotion getting manifested in a different level and perhaps unpleasant manner.

Girls have as much right to lessons of courage and bravery as boys. Masculinity and femininity have nothing to do with the gender. Yin-yang, male-female, X and Y are just attributes that are applicable to any living being. No one person can live a balanced and fulfilled life with just one set of emotions functioning. Being sensitive, kind and compassionate does not make a man effeminate. In fact, it makes him much more humane.

Maybe if we could stop typecasting our children and be more sensitive to what we say, we can perhaps raise a generation that is far more sensitive towards the other gender, less violent in thoughts and action, and more considerate and compassionate to the others' feelings. A new world of goodness in the future-however distant it might seem today-might perhaps be a possibility and reality. Can we hope and try?

Person or procedure- who takes precedence?

I wanted to surrender an insurance policy taken years ago. I took it on a whim as soon as I began my first job and never really understood the benefits, if at all. Over the years, especially after changing cities, it became a pain to service it as the online payment rarely worked. To add to it, I no longer have a steady flow of income, so it didn't really make sense maintaining the policy. So, I decided to surrender it. Simple enough, right? Wrong! When you buy something, you don't need to move a finger, just work them enough to dole out the required cash and lo, behold, the world is placed at your feet. But when you want to get rid of the product, you are made to feel miserable in many ways.

Firstly, I realized that I had misplaced the policy bond. My fault. Totally, I agree. But, the procedure to get a duplicate one is like sentencing a person to life imprisonment and then hanging him at the end of it. That's not all. When you go to the office, you realize that complimentary punishments like a name correction, signature change and address correction are involved too. Producing the correct proofs is no cake walk either. Even after complying with all the necessary and unnecessary documentation, attestation and copies of various proofs, I hit a roadblock because the name on proof D does not match my current name. This, despite giving multiple proofs of documents bearing my current name. Proof D was simply given as an ID proof.

So, you have proof A, with current name and address, proof B to corroborate the name change and Proof C to corroborate address change, proof D is simply an ID proof but unfortunately the ID proof contains old name. Any one with good eyesight and plain logic will have no issues validating that the person on all the documents is the same. But, not our geniuses, who have developed the rigid procedures. It is like saying, "I know you are alive but the computer shows you are dead, so I have to believe that you are dead!" Finally, I was let off with a self-declaration letter that stated the obvious.

And, know what, I was under the wrong impression that recent bank transaction meant anywhere between last three months. I was wrong here too. Recent meant as recent as the current month. Only, because I cannot produce a government bill like the gas or electricity bill under my name, in which case, any time period is acceptable. Tell me, when scores of working professionals keep changing cities every two years, most live in rented apartments, where the heck will we get an government authorized proof of the address?

What gets my goat is that despite such multiple (and redundant) layers of locks, unscrupulous activities flourish and only the honest get more and more enmeshed in the quick sand of red tapism. I am assuming, all the documents are in place and there are no more surprises in store. I hope to find the money in my account shortly. Fingers crossed until then.

ETA: I got my refund and quite quickly too. Thought this needs a special mention since I crib so much, the good part gets marginalized many times.

That special relationship called friendship!

In school and college, I always yearned to have a big group of friends, bonding over small and big things and in general painting the town red. That never happened. I was a shy and introverted girl and this seemed more like a fantasy. I was naive and short of perspective to package friendship into certain brackets. Sharing the same bench in school and college was not the only factor that went into this complex, but beautiful relationship.

What I also didn't know was that, I would develop a thick bond of friendship with a bunch of people from different family backgrounds, each from a different educational institute, who'd later go on to choose  different career paths, get married at different points and go on to live in different states and countries, yet having the one and only common thread between us, that of friendship remaining intact, despite all these differences.

We 'd hang out in the evenings after our respective college hours, go out for movies, party hard on special occasions, have frequent sleep overs, gossiping all through the night, the likes ; the typical  stuff teenage and the adrenalin of independence brings along. All of us did have a good head over our shoulders too. We all belonged to different interests and stream of education, yet we shared the common bond of having the same values and outlook towards life. Life took each one of us to task in its own way and at different points of our lives. We were extremely lucky to have one or the other among the gang to provide the proverbial shoulder to lean on while going through a low phase in life.

Life has been more than kind to let this friendship grow even after we got married and had kids. The icing on the cake has been having three of us coming to reside in the same city after many years, to discover the husbands getting along well and our kids (being of the same age) becoming default friends too! As is the rule of life, this ideal situation is soon going to change since one of us is about to relocate abroad for a while now. The time seemed apt to have a reunion of sorts when our fourth friend who stays at Bombay decided to pay us a visit, for who knows, when the planets would align like this again in future!

So, last weekend was such a time when all of us got together. It was so much fun catching up. It seemed like the time had never passed by. Of course, we now had kids to remind us of how much things had changed. Yet, nothing had changed between us.  We are like the spokes of a wheel: diverging in different directions with different aspirations and goals, yet we converge at the central point that is our trademark of being friends together.