“Rich and creamy New York-style cheesecake swirled with pureed fresh strawberries and a hint of lime juice, all nestled in a buttery graham crust”

beamed the lunch special menu. S was wowed. Well who wouldn’t be, look at the picture! She changed her order from bread and Earl Grey tea  to just the dessert. The waitress gave an understanding nod, openly feeling sorry for S’ state, the lonely vegetarian with meager choices and magnanimously approved S’ desperate attempt to fill her grumbling stomach with something. The cake looked big and S considered that she might be overestimating her appetite. “Big deal! It’s a piece of cake , how filling can it be?”  she thought, brushing such preposterous thoughts away. The waitress  brought the cheesecake ceremoniously and with a wink and a patronizing pat, left it on the table and busied herself with the arduous task  of filling the giant glasses with sparkling water and a slice of lemon.  The ambrosial aroma of freshly pulverized luscious strawberries blending with the citric tanginess and the curdled creaminess of the cold cheese tingled S’ nostrils and her pleasantly awoken taste buds without fail began their task of salivating. She took in the deliciously beautiful pink, white and brown on the swanky porcelain plate for a minute. Choosing the spoon was a feat of unimaginable controversies. All the high-society spoons made her uncomfortable for they resembled normal spoons in their design and dimensions save one or two tweaks in the whole shape of the spoon; and it looked more like the spoons were mutilated in an uncanny manner rather than made chic to reflect the sophistication of the place. Sighing , she picked the one that seemed closest to the fork family and dug right in.  In her first mouthful, she couldn’t help let out a low moan. It was THAT good. The strawberries were so fresh that it appeared like they were picked right then from the invisible fields behind the “Only Authorized Personnel” door and the corporate glass and plastics. The cheese was so creamy that she had to wonder what good deeds she had done over her different lifetimes and merits she had earned from the guy above that such a palatable pleasure was bestowed upon her. The cheese was so rich that she had to wonder what good deeds she had done over different lifetimes and merits she had earned from the guy above that such a palatable pleasure was bestowed upon her. The crust was light as air and the mocking hint of lemon danced lightly between spoonfuls. Her tongue had seen paradise.  The cake actually slipped from her mouth to the foodpipe, it was that flawlessly smooth. For the next few minutes, nothing in the physical world was actually perceivable except the wonderous dessert. Then suddenly her taste buds grumbled. They were saturated with the sweetness, they complained. Come on, S pushed. But she knew she was wearing herself out, she was exhausted from the creaminess of the cheese. Every mouthful introduced a fresh blast of the thin crust and the rich creamy cheese that felt like a blow and knocked her out. She tried everything , drinking sips of ice cold water, making conversation with the people sitting around her, interspersed with a million tongue clicks to free it of the sultry sweetness and the heavy aftertaste. It was impossible. All right, she decided. It’s you against me. The cake smiled back peacefully. She took a deep breath in and downed 3 spoonfuls blindly. Then drank water at once. Whew! She opened her eyes to see that the cake was hardly half done. Oh no! Her colleagues had started their main course already, after soup and starters. And she was still stuck with this royal cake which she had received even before the others’  starters had arrived. It was then when her stomach grunted. “I’m full! Stop stuffing me”, it instructed. She knew she had to ,but she couldn’t stop.  She had to finish what she had started. ” I cannot be defeated by a cake, and a cheesy one at it.” she declared. But she revamped her strategy and decided to tackle it one spoonful at a time, chanting ‘I can do this’ every time. The cake smiled back ruefully. After an hour, she looked proudly at the pink -white-brown crumbs sticking on the plate. And even though her motor skills were temporarily incapacitated and she couln’t move, she had finished the Colossal Strawberry Daiquiri Cheesecake for good. “Big deal! It’s a piece of cake , how filling can it be?” She shook her head and took out her red wallet.

Thanks to a bunch of super hypers, after 9 long years I was lugged back to the wonderful world of the game of Seven Stones, (or as it is otherwise known, Lagori or something to that effect). Saturday morning was a morning of dark skies, extreme rain, a dimension sans the intellect, inhibitions, vekkams , hey-shy-is-coming-ya, and other things in that genre. The spirited screams, the victory dances, the team cheers, and the millions of slippery accidents served as a major entertainment element for the whole of Clementi Block 319 and possibly some of its neighbours. Like bharatmatrimoney ads {not STF; age, state, job (or the lack thereof, as it is evident from this blog post embellished with details in brackets following the BODMAS rule) NO BAR}, there were new players (:O) who were nevertheless excited to learn the game and were given orientation by champions with expertise from having played in teams of 10 people each and the experience from various leagues and associations( the ‘KK Nagar 4^th Sec 17^th St Rowdy Boys & Homely Girl’ , ‘Bangalore College Rainy Day Rolling in the Puddle Games Association’). New rules were being jogged from the memory in every round and new guidelines and subsequent arguments followed, wasting a lot of time but adding masala to the already loud drama. But I wanted to write down the principle and guidelines of the game before I play it after another decade when we are all Thoppa Mama s and megaserial housewives so that we can refer to my superblog instead of trying to remember the rules with sentences starting with “Nanga lam kozhandaya irukarche epdi aaduvom therimaaaa…… ?” and then discover new rules and fight about them yet again. Let this serve as the sole guiding light for the generations to come. These are of course not super steadfast and can be changed according to taste, like salt in a cooking recipe.

Player Qualificashuns:

1. Name, age, class, gender, language, caste, subcaste, creed, marital status, sexual orientation, annual income, CITIZENSHIP, country of birth, Class of Honours, CAP, GPA, 10^th marks, 12^th marks, CCAs, work experience – NO BAR . Anyone can play this game. In fact from previous experiential episodes, 5 year olds are the sneakiest to complete the game as it is an unexpected genius strategy given their ability to run through players legs swiftly and the gift to bawl the loudest when they are ‘out’ ed by the defenders of the Sacred Stones.
2. Dress code: Strictly no long skirts, wrap arounds, loose pyjamas, flowy dresses billowing in the wind, Marilyn Monroe skirts, Veshtis, Lungis or anything of the category unless adorned in Raj Kiran shtyle (folded above the knees).
3. Team Spirit: This is a purely team game and so every player must scream and bawl and possess thee kuliching patriotism and provide encouragement for the team. Remember, your teammate is always right, if he says he ’s not out, you swear you saw with your 2 perfectly functional eyes that he’s not out.
4. Decent Aim: The ball you throw must fairly hit the target or at least fall in the vicinity.
5. Force: Hit it with all the enthusiasm you can muster and give your 100 %, otherwise you’ll end up being an Uppuku chappa (‘every child is special’).
6. Eye contact: This is a major mode of communication (other than in rare cases of telepathy), and make sure you understand what your teammate is trying to tell you, and where to move.
7. Free time: Easily available with everyone, especially now with the recession and all.
8. Resourcefulness: Find means of playing the game no matter what – the passing vehicles, the cursing neighbours, the barking dogs, the bruises, accidents , falls , lack of materials.
9. Steel Body: The ability to withstand the physical violence and savage madness.

Equipment Needed:

1. A Ball: Tennis or the rubber kinds.
2. 7 stones: If not, suitable substitutes. (In the Great Game of 30^th May, 2009 at the Clementi block 319 badminton court, the irritatingly clean landscape provided no means to find stones and hence a pile of slippers was used instead: the material – or the smell, does not matter. Only the desire to win does.)
3. Minimum 2 players in each team. But it is much more fun with a lot more.

Procedure:

1. Players can adopt one of the numerous methods currently already in use for the process of selection of the captains and the teams ( Sha Boo 3, Ingy Pingy Pongy, oh god please tell me, etc… ) .New avenues in this area is also highly recommended.
2. After the teams have been selected, the toss is carried out, either using a coin or using the popular stone method, especially for the pocket-money deprived. One of the players holds a small stone in his hands and skilfully rotates his arm round and round in order to deceive the player of the opposition to lose track of the stone in his closed palms. The opposing team player then has to guess if the stone is still in or out. If he or she is right, that team can choose to defend or attack the stones. If not, this privilege goes to the other team.
3. The seven stones are piled on top each other within a circle and the defending team is in position wicket keeping behind the stones and each player of the attacking team lines up behind a crease line which is an appropriate distance away from the pile of stones, and has 3 chances to hit the pile of stones with the ball (Under or Overams) to disturb it.
4. If all the chances are over, then the defending and attacking team interchange places and continue to play, with 1 point for the formerly defending team in view of the worstu aiming skills of the formerly attacking team.
5. As soon as the ball disturbs the pile of stones, the defenders catch hold of the ball and try to get the opposing players ‘out’ by hitting them with the ball below their knee, in their legs.
6. The aim of the attacking team is to rearrange the pile of stones and trace the circle 3 times with their fingers before the other team can make all the players out. If they succeed in doing that , their team gets 1 point and they get the chance to throw the ball again. But if all the players are out, then the defending team now throws after gaining 1 point.

Rules:

1. The defending team player can only pivot with the ball and not move around. The maximum time he is permitted to have the ball in his hands is about 50 seconds. He has to pass the ball to other members of his team who will attempt the same – to make a player that they are marking ‘out’ by hitting their leg with a ball below the knee. People with the ball, however can dodge.
2. The stones have to fall within the circle only. If they fall outside the circle, then its again 1 point for the defending team plus they get to throw the ball now.
3. If any defending team player catches the ball after it has touched the pile of stones and before it has bounced, then they get 1 point and the teams interchange places.
4. The player of the attacking team can shield himself from the ball, by hitting it away from the main area, so that time is wasted when the opposing team player fetches it from far away. However, the palm should not be used and only a closed fist can be used to push the ball away.

Strategies:

Highly confidential content. Available upon request. (or buy the book ‘How to beat the Seven Stones during trying times: ISBN 0000000000 – 16 SGD only! Hurry, till stocks last! Now, also home delivering.)

The game can be played upto any number of points and double the fun when played on rainy days.

Future Works:

This project promises a lot of scope for future works, as people keeping having children, the target market for this objective.

Conclusion:

The game has been explained and the ideas explored. The challenges that were faced in the course of this served as an enhancement to the learning process and stepping stones to achieve the end result, whatever it is.

References:

Word of mouth. From many knowledgeable mouths.

Silence:

So profound in meaning, pregnant with prospects,

Swathed in unfathomable mystique, what is it you religiously conceal,

With a scornful derision, sardonic stillness?

With intangible nuances, what is it you won’t reveal?

So sinuously you smile, in your inflaming flatulent style:

An astute muteness and an enamouring calm,

You feel so close, yet so distant

I am powerless in your enthralling charm.

What do you hide? The future or the past?

A clandestine passion?a harsh truth? Eternal peace?

Current of black waters? The lambent tongues of a lucid flame?

Do you carry dying reminiscences, remembrances, waning memories?

What is it ? unconditional love, the language of the soul?

A virgin innocence?  An endearing blush? A formidable fear?

Distillates of wisdom? Truisms of life? Answers for posterity?

Surreptitious scandals? A prophecy? Or a frozen tear?

Do you contain the secret of exorcising the evil? The doorway to divinity?

An unspoken promise? An unsaid prayer? Hopes and dreams coagulated in time?

Untainted purity? Or plain treachery? Perhaps a bemoaned shame?

Sanguine ambitions? Liberated creativity ? Chronicles so sublime?

Voiceless sufferance? Pain? Or a buried guilt?

Infinite power? Limitless happiness, or the key to that?

Absolute authority? A ritual? Or fantasies of a forbidden love?

Utter understanding? An expression? Or the inanity of minds tightly shut?

What DO you mask, so unwilling to part, stories of heroes untold?

Silence, you vile temptress, break your charm and disclose what you hold.

OMG life is not JUST about “I, Me Myself” . Learn to listen…. if not,  at least keep quiet and stop complaining. Learn to realize other people  have their own problems , and even if  you cannot help them , which you don’t , stop burdening them with your worries and using them irresponsibly unless they have “Please vent out here”  tattooed on their forehead. DOn’t expect things from them when they especially don’t expect anything from you. You drive them to the point of not caring anymore.  Everybody has drama in their life. Big surprise. Argh, stop telling stories about how miserable your life is.  If it is, accept it and deal with it. What can be done? Who doesn’t have problems. Noone can pamper you constantly, get over yourself and act like a grown up.

Sometimes transpires this certain blankness;

When things transcend into a surreal world sans reason or logic

But full of love and an overwhelming security

A sense of belonging and freedom at the same time;

Where there is no limit or boundary,

Where the infinite space is a consecrated comfort and

A joy instead of trepidation,

And there is realization of a harmony

With each and all;

Nothing short of bliss.

Last evening, the 12^th of April 2009 , Guruji’s talk in Singapore took place at the Shangri La. After the incredible Satsang by Vikram ji and Kala (not just a singer, a total performer!), He spoke a few words and conducted a meditation session after answering questions. Then, poof! He was ready to end his short trip and leave the country. As soon as He was out the door, someone gushed ‘airport’, immediately followed by a lot of pushing and shoving and a few of us began hounding the road for taxis. The flight was in an hour and we were still calculating the number of taxis to take and calling people to find the terminal number et al… Would we make it to the airport in time to see Him up close? Of course it was a risk worth taking and frankly the whole ordeal was quite exciting … At long last we got into the cab and all hopes appeared implausible, when we heard the wonderful 2 words that brought joy for the first time in the history of their usage – “Flight Delayed”. We were not only early, but also got to enjoy some amazing stories by JD and Devang ji.

Here are a few excerpts from the evening; Words of Guruji as well as the 2 wonderful teachers … these are some phrases that left their footprint in me … and I feel it’s the simplicity that makes them even more beautiful. When something is expressed, the grace and adoration with which it is expressed makes it more meaningful, pleasurable and powerful.

“We are all obsessed with the bi-product rather the main product in life.”

“It is not possible to be disconnected from God. One only feels so, due to distractions and can feel connected to Him by meditation, Sadhana and inner peace through moments of Silence.”

“Only when you are out of the pool you realize you are wet and need to dry out the water.”

“Watch how your children are learn from them. Be aware that they are watching you always, like God….. or spies!”

“Keep yourself engaged and do something creative. Keep yourself busy yourself in Seva.”

“Honour every religion, but if it says this is the only way, be aware.”

“Encourage all the teenagers to take up YES!+ course… it will change their attitude and their level of connection with parents”

“What is the purpose of my life? Million dollar question…will not take that now…will let you know someday though.”

“It’s better to have doubts now. Once you have lived through them, they are the stepping stones to the next stage of unquestioningly being.”

“When there is no misery, no love or compassion is shown.”

“The planet goes through rough times as well. No one expected big shots like GM to come down. Greed is never good. They became greedy and important … so, God became jealous…and put them down for a while.”

“There is enough love in this world to go around.”

“Don’t doubt the love people give you. They shouldn’t have to prove it to you like they do to the rest of the world. A child never does a background check on his mother or asks her ‘Do you really love me? Will you love me all your life?’”

“Also, instead of saying ‘Why do you hate me?’ , say ‘Why do you love me so much?’”

To end it with my favourite of all,

“Leave your worries to me.”

It was one magical evening … every person walked out of that hall satisfied and happy, thinking Guruji had addressed him or her. Such was the unfathomable knowledge in his words.

I still cannot believe we were actually just two feet away, showered by his blessings and embraced by that priceless smile. Before walking to immigration, he gave a big ‘Yo’ pose for the camera, leaving us in peals of laughter and still enthralled in his effortless charm. I am proud of YES+ Singapore, and looking forward to many more such times.

Jai Gurudev.

P.S: Incase anyone wants to put down other things He said, please feel free to leave comments ; And thanks to Viksu for helping me with this blog!

This is a video for our german project … Germans in Singapore … by Zhou Jiao (she ’s the one interviewing) , Lingyi, XX and myself …. Thanks, Andy !

German Project Interview

Hit me Baby one more time in german  – By Wise Guys, an acapella group

Whoa ! Long time since i updated this category … almost a year , i see !  i’ve had inertia to write recipes since then for inexplicable reasons … but my recently brilliant recipes have  driven it away and i ve got to share this:

1. Methi Pulao:

Soak rice aside. Use Kasoori methi (dry) / fresh leaves that are crushed to a fine texture ….  fry chillies ,  turmeric powder, heeng, jeera, elaichi, clove, cinnamon , basil with salt and the leaves.  Add any other masala needed .. i personally use lot of herbs instead of powder these days … enhances the flavour but retains the taste .. and ofc, its healthier.. then add some grated coconut, and finally the rice. fry for 4-5 min and then microwave it with a little extra water than usually needed to make plain rice. People with a fondness for ghee can pour a little ghee over it wen  its hot out from the microwave.

2. Pudina Rice:

All you need is the pudina powder, available in mustafa. Repeat above procedure with pudina powder instead of the methi. In this also add a little lemon juice wen its out of the microwave. Can also add urad dal and mustard.cashews, too.

3. Paneer in coconut gravy:

Soak/ Marinate the paneer. Fry the herbs also with methi powder, amchur, dhania , pepper  and nutmeg powder. Add generously turmeric powder, then the frozen vegetables and let it wallow in the melange .  Take coconut cream and dilute it to a considerable consistency , add it to the dish and let it simmer. When its thicker and boiling, add the paneer and stir for about 5-7 min. Just before taking it off the stove, add some curd and stir well.

4. Better Oats in Life:

Instead of just oats and milk, try adding bananas and some cut fruits in tin , also berries in syrup. Its really good, both like dinner and a dessert.

Tada !!!!!

Ein Franzose, ein Italiener und ein Schweizer sitzen auf einer kleinen Insel im Meer. Sie sind enge Freunde. Sie verbringen die Zeit in der verlassenen Insel, ganz allein und traurig.Plötzlich sehen sie eine Flasche im Wasser. Sie öffnen die Flasche.Es gibt einen Lichtblitz ! Eine wunderschöne Fee erscheint aus der Flasche. Sie sagt “Jeder von euch hat einen Wunsch frei!!” Der Franzose sagt, “Ich wünschte, ich wäre in Paris mit dem Eiffel Turm, gutem Wein und einer schönen Frau.” Flup! Die Fee erfüllt seinen Wunsch, und er verschwindet! Der Italiner sagt, “ Ich wäre am liebtsten in Rom um Spaghetti zu essen, mit meiner Freundin.” Flup! Die Fee erfüllt seinen Wunsch, und er verschwindet! Der Schweizer fühlt allein. Er vermisst seine Freunde. Er sagt,” Ich wünschte mir, dass meine Freunde wären hier.” Die Fee erfüllt seinen Wunsch, und die zwei Männer kommen zurück. Sie sind nicht glüklich. Sie sind an ihrem Freund böse. Sie verfolgen ihm, und vielleicht verletzen sie ihn.

I have expressly borrowed the title from William Dalrymple’s travelogue for Delhi, the capital of India: a place with a raging and celebrated past. I cannot think of words more fitting to illustrate it, the city of genies. In the most clichéd terms, Delhi is a hot melting pot of all cultures. One of the most striking things about Delhi is the symmetry in the contemporary lifestyle and the reflections of the past. Progressive commercial expansion on the one hand and historical footprints on the other thrive alongside each other. The myriad of malls, markets, industries, offices manifest the modernity while the many monuments reflect the ancient legacies. Delhi bubbles with a very cosmopolitan population, so much so that sometimes it is said to have cast away its own identity while embracing the cultures from all over India.

Chandni Chowk, a 300 year old shopping area is one of the most affluent and flamboyant markets in Old Delhi. In contrast to New Delhi, the antique and adorably old school way of life seems unperturbed here. Since it was established during Mughal rule, the buildings still hold on to the Mughal architectural grandeur. Chandni Chowk screams life! It depicts a plethora of dynamism, centre of opulence, mélange of aromas, blaze of beauty and a jumble of sights and sounds. It is always busily teeming with people in the multitudes of shops in the narrowest of lanes, buying, selling, fervently bargaining and eating.

Before I start talking about my mini-voyage, I have a few disclaimers:

1. The details that I am providing here are things that I have gathered from hearsay from the people in Delhi and not facts from the internet or other sources. This implies their authenticity maybe questionable.
2. The pictures were taken in my 2 megapixel phone camera, and though they have not failed to capture the spirit and colours of CHandni CHowk in all its splendour, the quality is lousy.
3. I have no flair for photography. This experience is my story and I am recounting it my way.

Time: 10 am, on a chilly foggy December morning (peak winter)

Take the Delhi Metro and get down at the Chandni Chowk station. The Delhi Metro is very similar to the Singapore MRT system, minus some coaches, dustbins, and plus the people pushing and falling over each other. Of course, the Metro system is more useful there since Delhi is huge and has the cut by half the commute time taken by other public transport systems.

Shopping in Chandni Chowk:

Although you get everything under the sun here, Chandi Chowk is especially famous for its trinkets and Zari work sarees. It is an ideal place for wedding- and window-shopping. Each little store has thousands of commodities stacked in its every inch. And even though the outlook is archaic, the goods are still very much à la mode. As soon as you enter the market, a dozen people marketing for their own business invite you to their shop, breathlessly reciting their offers and price ranges, and trying to convince you that it is the best shop in town and that you are their most valued customer. Keeping with the custom in Delhi, the market has ample scope for bargaining. If the shopkeeper quotes a price, ask for at least half of that and more often than not, if you are an experienced bargainer and draw on how you’ve been in Delhi for so many years and know the correct prices of goods, or how your grandfather’s father owned 2 shops in the area, the recession, etc., interspersed with enough “Kya Bhayya,”s and “Theek daam bolo”s, you can get it for the price you want. The price of bangles here is around half the price of those in the main city.

Every inch in Chandni Chowk houses a shop. Be it the murkiest corner of the darkest alleys, there has to be a shopkeeper hard at work in the tiny cramped shadow of a space. Most of the buildings are old and some even dilapidated, but the signature of Mughal style is all over them. Some corporate offices are also here.

Transport:

To travel within the vicinity, the cycle rickshaws (a conventional travel vehicle in India, now dwindling in number) are the most convenient and accessible, if the driver is not in the middle of his mid-morning nap or engrossed in a game of cards or heated discussion about the rise in the prices. The cycle rickshawman is also a rich source of information about the offers and sales in the different shops and can direct you to the best shop that has the best stuff you are looking for.

Eating:

Hail from any culture or region or religion, the Delhiites are united by their passion for 2 things: shopping and eating. Besides the Haldirams and the McDonalds here, Chandni Chowk is most famous for its Halwais (confectioners) and parantha shops (note: different from prata). The street called Gali Paranthe Wali has parantha shops from the 1800s, before which it used to include silverware stores in the Mughal times. They make paranthas in unimaginable flavours, and one bite of those will make you wonder what noble deed you have done to experience such culinary bliss. The food is vegetarian without onion and garlic, but spicy. The walls of the tiny eat – out are decorated with pictures of eminent personalities who’ve visited and eaten their paranthas. The paranthas are served with sweet and sour tamarind – banana chutney, mint chutney, potato-red pumpkin subji and chole. You can choose you parantha flavour. Some notable ones are chilli , plantain, bhindi, peas, and pudina. The special taste is also because they sprinkle some aloo water on the paranthas when they beat the dough.

Glistening in pure ghee, sweet and a wee bit tangy, the most well-known local dessert delicacy is the jalebi. Every second shop in Chandi Chowk sells jalebis. Another famed dessert is the Rabdi Kulfi, and since Kulfi is a non-whipped frozen dessert, it doesn’t melt easily, the perfect snack even for a cold winter evening.

Come dusk and all the shops are embellished with the most dazzling lights.

If we walk along the main road towards the Red Fort( a very famous monument of ancient India), we can see the Gurudwara Sheesh Ganj, Digambar Jain lal Mandir (the most well-known and oldest Jain temple in Delhi) and the Gauri Shankar Mandir(over 800 years old), flaunting the glorious history and the multi ethnicity of the region.

Then, across the road comes the Red Fort.

Exhausted at the end of day, I went back home munching on hot moon dal ke pakode, bags bursting with goodies and mind laden with memories. Chandni Chowk is a speck of true India, a bit of this and that, and a totally brilliant package for having a good time.