The Selphie Fever – Selfie Pullai (Tamil Slang)

Hahahh- yes, you heard it right.  All through our Chennai visits, we (oops to be precise Maddy) made it sure he mastered the art of taking selfies, because all thru the visit we have been all alone.  Clicking selfies is fun as long as you are able to click it in the right way.  Moreso, if you wish the backdrop to be captured.

Yes, we did it!!! Initially, the “so called selfies” only covered the plants, trees and the chirping birds, but with practice comes near perfection.   With hi end phones and gadgets, I am sure in the near future, we will no longer need photographers for the wedding and it will all be only selfie pullai photos. While travelling in the local today, I imagined this scenario with the bride and the groom clicking selfies after selfies.  Its pun intended of course, no offence.  Can we do without these wedding cameramen.  Obviously no.  The art of clicking pics has obviously changed.  I remember during my wedding, the photographer took great pride in saying that he could capture mine and Maddy’s pic inside the murukku (Chakli as we call in Hindi).  Creativity eh!!

That was no enough, so to say,  we were inside every SWEET – APPAM, ADIRASAM and even MYSOREPAK – hahahah.  Hey, but we loved it then and even now.  It brings a smile of course.

Wish the Selfie pullai fever was there then………, I can imagine me and Maddy taking selfies and the selfie pullai song being played in the background.  Agar bas chale, tho they would have ensured we even danced to that tune and I would have enthusiastically done those Bollywood steps and would have scored ten on ten on those.  Maddy I beat you on that!!!

More in my next blog!! Till then keep selfieeeng- Ek Selfie ho jaaye!!!! A selfie a day keeps insecurities away.

Luv

Rekha

Slaves to routine – Thou Name is Human

After the 2 week Chennai trip, I am back to routine or grind as people call it.  But come to think of it, this is what makes us and gives an identity to us. Every thing that we handle in our routine life, be it the smallest of things gives us that sense of connect.  The kitchen utensils that I handle, the feel of my gas burner, the lighter, the water flowing from my kitchen tap, the kitchen towel everything has a personal touch.

The morning chants –the ‘OM’ that lingers in the atmosphere, the agarbatti that I light up – everything combined has a beautiful effect on what makes ME.

My Chennai trip (rather I would call it our Chennai trip – this includes me and Maddy) was a mix of those magnificent temples from the Maangadu Devi temple to Kancheepuram to Pondicherry to visiting the Marina beach.  Beautiful memories of the visit and unforgettable memories of the time spent with my sister.  It completed our trip.   We enjoyed all the places, eating out at Saravana bhavan, Anand Bhavan and the authentic South Indian restaurants of Chennai and Kancheepuram. Initially, I was a bit skeptical of the bus travel, especially the long distance visits – the reasons for my thinking were definitely logical.

l was not quite comfortable with the thought of travelling continuously for three to four hours in the bus, more so because in Mumbai we are so much used to travel by trains. But things were different. I must admit that Chennai has excellent transport, especially when it comes to buses.  What about autos?  This is the next question?  Make sure you have done your pranayama and meditation first thing in the morning and have religiously taken your ATEN 50 (for your information – these are blood pressure tablets).  Arguing and debating with the autowallahs to even drop you to nearby places is going to take a toll on your health and that’s period.  Many of the rickshaw wallahs will clearly read from your face that you are not from Chennai and they know they can take you for a ride. Chennai being a round city, you will be driven round and round (without your even realizing)- the closest of the auto fares is anything between 100 to 120 Rs.  So guys, get ready to loosen your purse strings, if you are not ready to board the bus.

The bus travel was really comfortable thanks to the beautiful weather of Chennai (Chennai is beautiful between January to February) and quite pleasant.   We saw lush green fields on the way and the cool breeze blowing made me think that yehhhh, travel is something that is truly pleasurable.  The announcements at the bus stop and the fleet of buses that continuously ply on different routes are amazing and wonderful managed and definitely worth documenting. Chennai is known for its excellent point to point bus services.  Our trip to Chennai would not have been complete without getting the sweets and savouries from Adayar Anand Bhavan, Surya Sweets. Beautiful memories, lovely vacation!!!

Luv

Rekha

Hey Com’on - We are Indians in the way we think, look and behave.

Honestly, I believe that one size doesn’t fit all. Women come in varied sizes, shapes and curves.  Would we like it if we all looked like factory created products?  Of course not !!  What would we talk about then if we all looked similar and life would get boring for sure.  Just imagine if the same size had to be tailored by our designers – they would run out of business.  There is an entire industry that runs and survives only thanks to us.  So cheers to US.

I personally feel the zero figure is best for the Westerners who are born with that constitution. So good luck to them.  Hey comm’on we are Indians. We have the right curves at the right places and so what if our humpty dumplings are a little more visible.  So what if our derriere is a little more prominent.  How many of us love to look at Jennifer Lopez, Nicki Minaj and not to forget the latest Kim Kardashian and wish for such bodies.  Many Indians do have that figure, but we at times are hypocritical about the way they dress. Aren’t they in the news for a full figure?  So let’s accept that BIG is also BEAUTIFUL.  If life has given you curves, Flaunt them!!!

The entire tamasha should be about looking confident in our skin and to carry our bodies with elan and grace –not to forget healthy bodies.  Why is that we need a Westerner to sell us the idea that curves are beautiful and we need to appreciate our bodies.  But better late than never, let’s smell the Koffee!  Curves with confidence are in and they have always ruled and they are the right places where they are meant to be.

I recently read Rujuta Diwekar’s book on Women and the Weight loss Tamasha.  There is something really Indian about her and I love to read what she writes mainly because she talks of eating and losing weight healthily – The Indian way.

Lots of Luv

Rekha

P.S:

Trust me if men had to see the same size and shape, they would get bored and of course the same holds true for women also.

The Autowallah

Folks, this blogpost is a slightly longer one as compared to the other blogposts that I post.  So please be patient and read on!!!!

It is hardly that I get late to the office but today was one such off day when the clock challenged me. I missed my 7.38 a.m Kalyan train.  Mumbaikars relate to timings like 7.38, 7.43 as the local trains are the lifeline of every Mumbaikar. 

I got into the train and could not see the usual faces and I was not very comfortable- I was late - I did not get the usual window seat that I get eight out of ten times. I reach Thane station and there’s an announcement that all local trains from CST to Kalyan and back are running slow- the reason – train derailment. Yes, there’s more to come.

Having travelled in the auto for more than two years incessantly and having followed the timings to the “T”, there’s a set of autowallahs who generally greet me with the Good morning Madam. So I take one of the autos-  face new to me and quickly tell “ Subhash Nagar – Lodha”.

I was as usual trying to catch up on the morning Whatsap with my friends and cousins and smiling at the jokes. The auto had just crossed Talo Pali – he quickly looks into the mirror and asks – Madam, aap kahan se aa rahi ho – Kalyan se ki Mumbai se.  I replied Mumbai se.  He seemed a fairly decent person.  The next question was “Aap office mein kaam karti ho”.  The story continued. He said that he worked for century mills about 15 years back.  Later the mill closed down.  The case was in the Labour court. The moment I said I am travelling from town side here, he felt there was a connect.  He used to travel from Thane to Worli where the famous Century mill was located.  He was sad that the mill closed, but was happy that he and his family were not starving.  I don’t know what that was but somehow he wanted to tell me all this. He even mentioned that he received a monthly pay of Rs 18000 from the mill, his PF was deducted every month and that he used to go and collect the money from the Bank. Ever since the mill closed down, he had bought this auto and he drove the auto.  He said he was neither sad nor happy to drive the auto. But he said he got regular income from driving the auto as well.  He said Madam, we had a uniform at the mill and I was happy working there. All mills at Mumbai have closed /shut down with multi storeys adorning the place.  I felt a little sad at the fact, but that’s how life is.

At times when I am super tired after completing my household work and also have to reach the office on time, I am frustrated.  But it dawned on me that I atleast have a place to go and work.  I thought about that autowallah, he was longing to get back to the MILL where he had put in so many years of hardwork and dedication, but he knew that he would never be able to get back to it.

The Universe sends us messages in some form or the other for us to appreciate and be grateful for what we have.

Lots of Luv and Blessings Always!!

Rekha

Slow down a bit Baby!!!

The famous poem “Leisure” by William Henry Davies always attracted and interested me even as a small child.  Will like to put it down below:

What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.
No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.
No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.
A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare

How many of us consciously make an effort to take time and look at ourselves in the mirror? I was getting ready for my office and after many days, not months, not years I looked at myself in the mirror.  It took me back to school times when I had read the above poem.  When did I last look at my eyes and consciously make an effort to appreciate myself.  I had no idea.  When did I last look at the flowering plants and shrubs in my building garden. The part time security guard of our building Subhash uncle lovingly takes care of the plants and flowering shrubs of our building that even if I wish to oversee it, I cannot.  The plants are beautifully placed at the entrance making it a real pleasure to watch them everytime I pass by.

There is passion when he does the job, I can see it in his eyes.  I am one hundred percent sure that he must be taking out time to even talk to his plants everyday. He is eversmiling and Subhash uncle is one perfect example of what our corporate world preaches.  Love your Job!!

Recently, I came across a wonderful article on Slow down a bit mommy.  I loved it.  It just goes to say that we need to slow down a bit, drink our tea a little bit slow, eat our food a little bit slow, laugh loud, frown less, appreciate more, complain less, walk more, use our vehicle less, smile more, frown less, forgive more, hold less grudges.   

All we can save by hurrying is a max of two minutes. Let’s change the gear from the EMERGENCY MODE to the RELAXED MODE.  It helps everytime and makes life a little more happier and a little more smoother, a little more relaxed.

Lots of luv

Rekha

 

 

What is the period of your LIFE VISA?

Diwali is over, but the beautiful memories of celebrations and the time we spend with our family and friends is something that will keep continuing to remain with us even for few days or weeks.

The ConsuIate gives us a Visa period when you apply for a Visa.  This totally depends on your requirements.  But it is generally not a permanent visa. If you are lucky, you might get a ten year visa for the U.S.  For the gulf, it is generally a three month visa and may be another month or so depending on your application.

I get down to thinking about our LIFE, for some it may be beautiful, for some it may be a challenge everyday and yet for others it may be beautiful at times. The life which we have been given is like a temporary visa and everyone of us know for sure that it is temporary and it can expire any moment.  At least when we are going on a trip or tour to a foreign nation, we know that it is for a fixed period and we try and enjoy the maximum.  So why not follow the same for our LIFE.  It is limited period, limited edition and yet many a times, though not always, we tend to ignore or overlook this fact.

People end up spending their life without enjoying it or if I may say so, expressing gratitude.  We feel we have ownership over all the concrete things, be it our home, office, our personal belongings.  I feel we do not even have control our own breath. When even our own breath is not ours, how can we be sure of this longgggg life where things and incidents are unknown .  It’s not a drama or a rehearsal. We will be given new roles to play everyday  which can be quite challenging, interesting and beautiful.  It’s a new drama everyday.  Absolutely new script, new screenplay, new dialogues and of course new actors and actresses everyday.

Let’s live LIFE as if it’s a LIMITED EDITION.  The second, minute, hour, day, week, month, year gone is gone. It will never come back to us again and that is the simplest and hardest part of LIFE and we need to accept it.

Lots of Luv

Cheers

Rekha

The lost art of HUMAN TOUCH – Let’s start using it beginning TODAY!!

Why do we call it the human touch?  It’s because being blessed with this beautiful human form is something divine and the senses that keep lending us the good feeling day in and day out is absolutely wonderful.  We emit energy and it is left to us to decide what energy we want to send out to the world and to the Universe.  The HUMAN TOUCH is the most effective and time tested medicine which can cure any sort of mental and psychological ailment. Elders love to be cared for and the best way to show you care is to be with them. Have you ever seen how an infant feels good the moment the mother cuddles the baby.  It’s the human touch here. The same holds true for old people. We have forgotten to use this beautiful shastra (weapon) which can really make things so easy and simple in our LIFE.  So start using this immediately without wasting any more time.

The human body is nothing but energy. Yes good energy is contagious.  One can easily make out from a crowd of people the one who transmits good or what we term as positive energy.  Aura magic it is called as.  The person who has positive energy automatically transmits that positivity which may in the form of a smile, a very warm touch. 

We come across a number of people in our daily life and amongst those we immediately tend to just like few people and it may be for absolutely no reason.  What is this “NO REASON”.  It means they emit a certain warmth and goodness. There are people who just make you feel comfortable and there are people who may not lend you that comfort feel.  Of course, this varies from one person to another.  Perspectives are different, you see. Why do we instantly love the feel of a particular home and there is positivity in some homes and love visiting those homes?  Positivity in our home also has a lot to do with the people living in the homes.  We breathe continuously 24 hours a day, just imagine the 86400 seconds of breath that keep rovering in our homes and offices.

Though at times, our emotions may overpower our common sense when it comes to these issues, it definitely makes sense to consciously think positive thoughts and if that’s getting too much, try not to think or say negative.  Yes, in the beginning, it’s difficult. But when you keep by hearting your answers day in and day out and revise your subjects, it becomes easy isn’t it?

THIS WORKS EVERYTIME EVERYTIME EVERYTIME

Rekha