Girls of Riyadh Thursday, Nov 5 2009

While I was in Ahmedabad, I had the opportunity of going to one of my favourite places, where I have spent many a quiet Sunday afternoon – the Landmark store. It was there that I saw and picked up this book called Girls of Riyadh by Rajaa Alsanea. I first read about this book on Divya’s blog, and thought it had a really interesting storyline.

Girls of Riyadh is a story of four girlfriends living in Riyadh – Sadeem, Michelle, Gamrah and Lamees. The story is told in the form of a set of e-mails sent out by an anonymous person to members of a particular Riyadhi group. The sender later identifies herself as a friend of the four girls, but does not reveal her true identity. The story revolves around the relationships and break-ups and heart-breaks of the four friends, at the same time bringing to light the conservative culture of Riyadh as well as the mentality of the society. In other words, the book is about ‘life behind the veil’.

In spite of the serious storyline, the book has the chick-lit element to it and is quite an easy read. The writing style is unique and quite simple. I found myself shocked at some parts of it, and laughing away at others. All in all, I found it a rather OK-ish book. Somehow, I couldn’t find myself growing attached to the book, as I usually do.

Why don’t you check this one out? You might like it better than I did.

If you have already read this book, do drop in with your feedback on it. Would love to know.

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My rating: 2 stars

I read this book for the OT ‘09 Challenge. The stopover this time was at Saudi Arabia.

The countdown: 7 down, 3 more to go!

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Check out this fun song:

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Diu re-visited :) Wednesday, Nov 4 2009

It’s been quite some time since we returned from the trip to Diu and Ahmedabad, but the memories still linger. Time has been AWFULLY stretched, and there has been WAYYYYYY too much to handle, which has kept me from penning down these beautiful memories so far. Here’s an attempt to jot some random reflections from the trip, and an attempt at shaking off the cobwebs. Excuse me for the haphazard flow of thoughts here.

• What I loved most about the trip was the loads of free time that we had. When we are at Bangalore, life is so mechanical and time is EXTREMELY tight. So, it felt like bliss to have so much time and just being able to sit around and do nothing. It felt like bliss.
• It was heart-warming to see the happiness on the faces of family and friends at A’bad, who welcomed us both. Some acquaintances met the better half for the first time.
• What I loved most about Diu was the serenity of the beaches. We had a hotel just opposite to a beach and it was fantastic being able to walk to the beach any time of the morning, afternoon, evening or night. I satisfied my long-standing dream of taking an early morning or moonlight walk on the beach with the significant other. The sheer accessibility of the beaches was amazing, and some times, we would be the only two people on the entire beach.
• I can never tire of beaches. The sound and feel of the water, the soft sand sliding from under your feet as you stand in the middle of the waves – it is magical. It washes away all your stress. Diu was always on my list of must-visit places, and it was a total fun experience visiting the place, though it turned out to be very different from what I had imagined.
• Diu filled me with awe about underwater life. A visit to the seashell museum there added to it. There’s a whole world below those waves, and I would love to explore it – was what I kept feeling all the time. I don’t know why, I have this fascination for starfish and sea horses, though I have never seen either in real life any time. Note to self: Maybe I should go to an underwater safari sometime.
• Hoka trees and aloe vera ABOUND in Diu. We were amazed to find designs on the sand which were very much similar to hoka trees. Probably, these were made by crabs, though we never found out the truth. It just amazed us!
• It was ultimate fun exploring the footprints on the sand and trying to guess what the people who made them would have walked like. Yes, we do crazy things like that!!
• There are shells all over the beaches! We had the time of our lives looking for the best ones, and we did manage to carry some beautiful ones back. I will always remember the way I put my hand into a pit full of water, searching for shells, and came up with a huge, black, live crab! My reflexes made me drop it instantaneously, and though not bitten, we shied away from pits after that!
• It was fun reliving childhood by making castles in the wet sand and writing our names with a stick on the sand, just to watch them being washed away by the waves. Yes, we can be that childish at times!
• The last day of our stay at Diu saw us waking up REALLY early to witness the sun rise on the beach. I must say – it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, a totally moving one. The lost sleep and tiredness was forgotten as our mouths literally opened in awe of the entire water turning golden in the early morning sun rays. I still can’t believe I witnessed such an amazing phenomenon.
• The waves lapping at your feet, sometimes high enough to reach your face, the sound of the sea in your ears is therapeutic. It never fails to mesmerize me. Standing before the sea and witnessing the highs and lows of it, we realized just how tiny we are in the whole scheme of things in the world. And that, when nature decides to unleash its fury, there’s not much we can do.
• Being pampered by the parents and grandma and having the choicest of home-made food and sweets for Diwali – heaven on earth! We just rolled over in it. Dishes on demand by mom the best was the highlight.
• It felt wonderful visiting Ahmedabad again and seeing the city with new eyes. It was fun showing the better half around the city and taking him to some of my most favourite places, and sharing some of my most favourite foods with him. It was not so much fun, though, returning to Bangalore tanned and with a few extra kilos.
• I fell in love with the Gangeshwar temple at Diu. It is just so serenely beautiful, located on the banks of the sea, the waves washing over the Shivlingas. Felt a strange sense of calm and bonding with the place. For the umpteenth time, wondered about my connection with Shiva Lingas, beaches and underwater life. Can’t seem to get enough of them!
• The fort at Diu is AMAZING. It is such a huge place that we got tired walking inside it and exploring. Surrounded by water from one side and still housing some ancient cannons, it is a must-see place for its sheer architectural magnificence. We had fun trying to pose for firing-the-cannon pictures and jhanking from the jharokha. The sound of the  waves lapping against the fort walls is sheer bliss here.
• Standing at the edge of the beach on reefs formed by sand and hollowed-out by the constant lashing of the waves is a transforming experience, albeit a rather risky one!
• It was entertaining to watch the Bullet motorbikes converted into small vehicles, beautifully and colourfully painted, and being used for transporting people and goods in Diu. Didn’t have the chance to ride on one, though!
• We got the opportunity to visit one of the most famous temples of Gujarat – the Somnath temple. It was wonderful watching the sunset at the temple. Shopping for locally hand-made things around the temple was too good!
• I loved watching the expression on the better half’s face as he burst the Thala Deepavali crackers with child-like glee. This guy sure knows how to enjoy himself when he wants to! I had fun bursting crackers after a long, long, long time as well.
• I jumped up in happiness at the chance to visit a national arts-n-crafts fair at Ahmedabad. We both loved it and picked up some knick-knacks for the house too! Had one of the best bhel-puris I have ever eaten there.
• Call me childish if you want, but a plane ride never fails to excite me. I LOVE watching the moon travel with me from the window, the lights on the runway and the cities and seas looking diminutive. Fills me with a strange sense of miracle.
• The departure from A’bad was kind of sad. We returned with a sense of something lost and a lot gained.

All in all, it was a trip that I’ll never be able to forget.

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One-word tag Monday, Nov 2 2009

Flicked this tag from here, as I was in desperate need of it.

• Where is your cell phone? – Table
• Your hair? – Bad
• Your mother? – Fantastic
• Your father? – Cool
• Your favorite food? – Lots
• Your dream last night? – None
• Your favorite drink? – Water
• Your dream/goal? – Happiness
• What room are you in? – Office
• Your hobby? – Reading
• Your fear? – Loneliness
• Where do you want to be in 6 years? – Bliss
• Where were you last night? – Home
• Something that you aren’t? – Talkative
• Muffins? – Chocolate-chip
• Wish list item? – Time
• Where did you grow up? – Ahmedabad
• Last thing you did? – Work
• What are you wearing? – Pink
• Your TV? – Sony
• Your pets? – None
• Friends? – Good
• Your life? – Good
• Your mood? – Tired
• Missing someone? – Yes
• Vehicle? – None
• Something you’re not wearing? – Watch
• Your favorite store? – Landmark
• Your favorite color? – Maroon
• When was the last time you laughed? – Yesterday
• Last time you cried? – Today
• Your best friend? – Mom
• One place that you go to over and over? – Office
• One person who emails me regularly? – Friend
• Favorite place to eat? – Lots

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Latest obsession:

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Hum Thursday, Oct 29 2009

Kahin kahin mujh mein tujh jaisa kuch hai,

Kahin kabhi tujh mein main bhi hoon,

Kisi roz, kisi mein

Kahin tu hai, kahin main hoon.

Penned this down on a sudden impulse. Hope it makes sense to you.

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Song on my mind:

Tu hi haqueeqat – Tum Mile

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Morning Raaga Wednesday, Oct 28 2009

The swish of dosa batter,

Mustard spluttering in hot oil,

The morning sun rays

Playing hide-and-seek through the holed ladle,

And you, gaily singing rap in the shower;

The perfect chorus,

The perfect backdrop,

All that my heart needs

To burst into song.

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PS: For the week’s prompt over at Weekend Wordsmith - Singing in the shower. A modified version of a pretty memory worth preserving for life.

Title credit: The movie Morning Raaga

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Diu flashback :) Friday, Oct 23 2009

Check out some pics from the trip.

Will be back soon with some beautiful memories about the trip!

Till then, I leave you with these beautiful lines by Tagore that I just discovered:

Unending Love

I seem to have loved you in numberless forms, numberless times…
In life after life, in age after age, forever.
My spellbound heart has made and remade the necklace of songs,
That you take as a gift, wear round your neck in your many forms,
In life after life, in age after age, forever.

Whenever I hear old chronicles of love, it’s age old pain,
It’s ancient tale of being apart or together.
As I stare on and on into the past, in the end you emerge,
Clad in the light of a pole-star, piercing the darkness of time.
You become an image of what is remembered forever.

You and I have floated here on the stream that brings from the fount.
At the hear of time, love of one for another.
We have played along side millions of lovers,
Shared in the same shy sweetness of meeting, the distressful tears of farewell,
Old love but in shapes that renew and renew forever.

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I’m back… Monday, Oct 19 2009

…. after a long and much-deserved break, all refreshed and excited. I’m ready to begin ranting on my blog once more. And what better way to re-start than a rant about books? So, here I am.

The start of our trip was pretty good – it involved a visit to Crossword at the Bangalore Airport, as we had time to kill. And that’s where I discovered Chetan Bhagat’s latest book – 2 states, supposedly the story of his marriage. Of course, I had to get my hands on it.

I finished the book amidst much hullabaloo and festivity at Ahmedabad and while enjoying the picture-perfect beaches of Diu, where the better half and I took off to for a quiet break-in-between-a-break for a couple of days.

Like his first three books, Bhagat’s latest is also a light and easy read. It has all the masala that you need, and a Bollywood-film-worthy storyline and melodrama. But, as always, it was a fun read, witty, humorous and a sincere painting of the world as it looks from Bhagat’s eyes.

2 states is the story of Krish, a Punjabi boy who meets a Tam-Brahm girl Ananya and falls in love with her at IIMA. It is the story of the trials that they both face in convincing their respective set of parents that they are the right match for each other and in persuading them to bless them on their marriage. It is a portrait of how both Ananya and Krish see a new world – their partner’s world – consisting of their relatives, food habits, customs, et al.

Being a Gujarat-bred Tam-Brahm myself, I could SO relate to what Bhagat is trying to convey about stereotypical Tam-Brahms and Punjabis. If taken in the right sense, his writing style is indeed witty and sincere.

I would say I liked the book for its humour and LOL lines rather than the storyline or insight. If you are looking for a quick, fun read, go for it!!!!

PS: More about the trip and the Thala Deepavali in the next post!!

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My rating: 3 stars

I read this book for the 4-month Challenge, under the 20-points category – Read a book of your choice BUT read it outside.

Points so far: 80

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Song on my mind:

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I’m heading off… Friday, Oct 9 2009

… to Ahmedabad tonight with the better half, for our ‘head’ (thala) Diwali!! Can’t wait!!!

See you guys around on returning, hopefully with a detailed account of the trip! Till then, enjoy yourselves! Advance wishes for a colourful, beautiful and safe Diwali!!

Image Source

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Tuesdays with Morrie Thursday, Oct 8 2009

I finished reading Mitch Albom’s Tuesdays with Morrie some time ago. And LOVED it!!

It is a memoir penned by Mitch for his old professor Morrie. It is about the valuable life lessons that Morrie passes on to Mitch, as he himself is on the verge of passing on from this world. Morrie has an incurable disease, and instead of breaking down, he decides to live life to the fullest in the little time he has.

I found it rather inspiring, because that’s the way I want to die too. The way Morrie led his life is the way I want to live mine too. I think I do already follow some of Morrie’s principles in my life. At places in the book, I felt like my feelings had been put into words; I could relate to EXACTLY what Morrie and the author were trying to say.

I have also experienced the effect that a good teacher can have on one’s life – and the damage that a bad one can do as well. I have always wanted to teach, and I have always wanted to be a teacher like Morrie – one with a humane approach to teaching. I never got around to building a career in that direction, because I have always felt that I need to develop myself more. That’s an entirely different story, though.  I can very well understand what Mitch means when he quotes Henry Adams in his book: “A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.”

All in all, I found it a book that I could feel and relate to completely. Each and every one of Morrie’s thoughts – on culture, death, regrets, feeling sorry for yourself and the rest – are beautiful. Something very simply put, yet deep.

Worth a read? Definitely a yes, if you haven’t read it already.

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My rating: 4 stars

For the 4-month challenge under the 10 points category – Read a book by an author you have never read before. Points so far: 60

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Hooked to this song for some time now:

Do let me know what you think, about both – the book and the song!!

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One doubt!!! Wednesday, Oct 7 2009

I have a doubt – There are some things like Golu and Varaha Maha Lakshmi Pooja that a married girl is supposed to do only if there is a vazhakam of the same at the maamiyaar’s place. What if the girl has a GREAT desire to do all this, has always dreamt of it, but it is not done at the MIL’s place?

Should she just go ahead and do it, following her heart? Or, should she never do it in life, as it would invite the wrath of God, as some people say? If she decides to do it, is there any initiation proceedure that she is supposed to do?

Pliss to consult your ammas and paatis and maamis and elders and let me know!! Thanks!

PS: Maybe I am falling into the category of ’smug-marrieds’, as Bridget Jones says!

PS 2: I really want a serious answer to this one, pliss!

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