back to the sea

today, i rediscovered the joys of swimming in the sea. and it has to be said, that it is one of the most refreshing feelings in the world. nothing does it for me, like the sea does.

also, toasting in the sunshine and swimming in the sea did wonders for the mild hangover.

also, i love the sea.

also, i hate curlies. its overrated, overpriced and the management sucks. theyre snooty and are racist towards indians.

also, i love hummus.

also, the short hair is such a blessing now that the swimming season is back :D

also, i missed having the husband around as i re-entered the seaside season.

also, shiva valley is soon going to be open! and they now have 2 levels!!

also, i love the sea.

also, i cant believe 6 months of the "off-season" time have whizzed by. its put so many things in perspective.

also, i love the sea.

also, i love living in goa.

annoyances? quirks?

i found this cartoon. i thought it was cute. so i emailed it to vc. consequently, we began listing the various annoying things.

he: --when im dead tired after a long day at work and want to sleep. and you insist on filling me in on all that you did that day.
--when its the weekend and i want to sleep in and you insist on waking up bright and chirpy, and EARLY!

me: --when you forget to put your socks away.
--when you leave the newspaper in the loo.
--when you stay up drinking and im starving.

and i realized this could go on forever. but we werent fighting. i could swear this was all in good spirit of humour!

and then i found this:

and it reminded me of how he never complains when im chattering away. he never complains when i wake him up early on a weekend. and i also rememberd how i just quietly pick up after him. and how i snack on stuff until hes done drinking, just so we can eat together. and all was well in the universe again.

Ahhh

Big city—Cabs. Flooded Roads. Cattle. Dirt. People. Horns. Brands. Spirit. Choices.

Small city—Peace.

meet the parents

for a girl, its one thing to have her own parents over, and quite another thing altogether to have her in laws over. having never been in this situation before, i didnt quite know what to expect. despite initial panic and worry about whether my home would be homely enough, tidy and clean enough, vaastu-friendly enough, god-fearing enough and liveable enough for mom and dad, it has to be said that it was an absolute pleasure to have them over this weekend.



the rain decided to spare us and stayed away for the most part, giving us ample time to loaf around the streets of panjim. shopping, eating at street corners, discovering new restaurants, going to temples and also catching a movie.

after a fun-filled, action-packed weekend, i realized i like to have people over.

rain food

since most posts these days are about the rain/monsoon, or about the culinary journey i have been on since i moved to goa, heres something that brings both together.

in honor of the monsoons that have well and truly arrived (and HOW!? :O!), and keeping in mind that i have been fairly busy with some assignments, that have led me to neglect the kitchen every now and then, todays lunch is rain food. easy, healthy and perfect for rainy weather.

boiled french beans and carrots, sauteed in butter. with a sprinkle of home made cottage cheese.
mashed potatoes.
toast.

now, im ready to face the rain.

bliss

the monsoons have been playing a tantalizing game for a few weeks now. intermittent downpours and showers, leave us thinking its FINALLY here. and then it goes back to being bright and sunshiney. but the days when it rains, it really rains. and everything around me becomes a gorgeous verdent green. i cant get my eyes off it.

yesterday was one such day. i was lucky to have a meeting atop the hill at dona paula. as i drove up the winding road, i realized how everything was so fresh and pretty. nothing can give me an insnant high like good weather + lovely drive + great music can. and that can be such an instant mood upper!

on the way back, i could see the sea beneath me, off the edge of the hill, with rolling greens along the hillside. a sight i havent seen in an indian city before. lush. green. pretty.

i drove to the market. theres something about the rains that cleans out the air and gives everything a pristine sparkly look. the market was a delectable mish mash of bright colors and liveliness. everything looks fresh and yummy.

just when i thought the evening couldnt get any better, we ended it with a swim in the drizzle.

pure bliss.

a breathtaking discovery

iv been in panjim for over 2 months now. its a really small place. i think i have been right around the entire town many times. theres only so many places to see. or so i thought.

until i entered the kala academy yesterday. and saw this:





the nicest, prettiest, perfectly quaint jetty. with benches to sit and take in the view.

sigh. the discovery really did take my breath away.

the most awesome saturday spent at anjuna

its weekends like this that really make me grateful for having got this chance in life.

the good, the bad and the ugly...

The good…things I'm really looking forward to:

• a quiet life, with time to enjoy every experience
• cooking, alone and together
• being cooked for
• picking out random things for the house
• doing up the house
• slowly collecting the things that make a house a home
• quiet walks on the beach
• the simpler, clutter free life without the hassles of a big city
• a healthier way of living
• more together time, spent doing interesting things
• driving out on the weekends to the many escapes around Goa
• discovering Goa, for more than what it is known

The bad…things that have made me want to tear my hair out:

• getting a telephone is a nightmare
• getting internet, even more so
• no friends as yet
• the strange sounds I hear/imagine in the house

The ugly…things that make me go WTF:

• the neighbours' reluctance to offer help/advice
• the spaced out people who seem like they never know what's going on
• when you ask a passer by for help/directions/advice, and if they don't know the answer to your question, they can never just tell you they cant help! They'd much rather just look away or make some obscure sound/groan and hope you will disappear into thin air! What's up with that

day one

• Day one began with a sudden loneliness as soon as VC left for work. But thankfully it didn't last very long at all, as I surveyed the gargantuan task of cleaning that lay ahead of me. What better way to fight the sense of newness and unfamiliarity than to start getting things in order, the way you like them to be. The way it makes everything feel familiar. I'm amazed how anal I can get about keeping things tidy and putting things in their respective places. The soap now has a place, the washing machine detergent now has a place, and the sink scrubber now has a place. Yes, I notice how I'm only rambling on about cleaning equipment, but that's probably because the rest of our life's belongings are still tucked away in cardboard boxes and suitcases randomly strewn around the house
• That reminds me, day one is also the day the packers and movers safely delivered my consignment. Almost no damages noticed so far, except for a lovely Fabindia lamp that got a little bent. I hope it's fixable. It's almost scary to see how your whole life can get packed away into boxes. No order, no heed, just packed away. Everything that we hang on to so dearly, the clutter that we bring into our lives, only to make it substantial and filled with "stuff". So the house is strewn with boxes and other random household items, which will soon find a place of their own. Much like the soap, detergent and sink scrubber
• Day one also began with my first real up close encounter with a host of insects. I have successfully exterminated 3 generations of cockroaches (I'm pretty sure), an entire civilization of ants, some lonely geckos and a few wise spiders hanging around he place. The experience, I have to say, was not pretty, and certainly not something I would like to endure once again
• Day one was when I went to the good old Coffee Day I have discovered close to home, where I envisage I will be spending a lot of my time. I went there for a decent cup of coffee, my first since I left Bangalore. I was satisfied. The weather was lovely, the setting sun light, just right. And I was so happy to see the number of healthy campers trudging along in their sneakers, shorts, ipods etc. It reminded me of how Goa is going to be about getting back in good health, having the time to exercise, cooking healthy food, and staying fit (amongst other things..hehe)
• But of all the things I have just gone through, the one memory of day one that lingers in my mind is the feeling of immense satisfaction and contentment. At having my own place/space. Cleaning it up the way I know best. Being alone and feeling the tension. Brushing those thoughts away and coaxing myself into being brave. Day one was about the beginning of taking charge – which comes with so many other things attached. Day one was about the realization that living alone is overwhelming, yet it brings a sense of calm over me
• Day one will be most remembered for the feeling of finally coming home

as we open the window to a new life..

..in our new (finally!) home.