This is must try place for all Indians in London.. I still remember deep craving for some good food(read spices and hot meal) in London when Sanzz took me to this small lil shop in oxford street.. Those were first few days in London and i used to miss everything.. In the neck deep work, i had survived on sandwiches for a week.. So, with tears in my eyes, home on my mind and food to be the only practical solution to my rescue, i called my childhood friend, "Yaar, mujhe ghar jana hai. :P (nth time in one week, wonder from where do real friends get the tolerance:))".. "Hmm, how about dinner at a good place and then let us see if you want to go home?".. "Ya, i need food too, i am starving, i did not choose to be a model, i chose to eat and be merry, life is not heading in right direction..".. "Alright, we fix the starving problem and ething else after that?".. Yep..
So, we sat with a list of places to eat in and finally decided to relive some desi moments by visiting this small shop in street.. The ambience reminded me of college days, there was nothing fancy about it, my friend offered to choose best roll in the place for me and i trusted.. This place serves roti rolls with veg and non veg fillings.. wait, thats not the best part, they serve it with green chutney which is like a treat in the otherwise bland country.. Rest is history.. With every bite of roll, issues in my life started getting solved.. after 2 rolls life seemed to be ok and full ..:P
this has been one of my fav places to eat in since then, i can say once in a week is not really a lot.. the food here is simple AND TASTY, menu is minimal, people on counter are very friendly and its as rugged as it can get to let you be and not get killed with sophistication.. Yeah, you can laugh, talk, there is background music which gives it college canteen feel.. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.. There aren't many aunthentic Indian tasting places in London.. this one is a must try.. it can solve many issues at hand in your life with just one roll and no i am not paid for advertising for them, there are many like me who will endorse them.. :)
Monday, November 14, 2011
Thursday, November 10, 2011
The Reading Diaries..
So, i work for Energy Majors and life at that end is very different, its away from world, but very close to nature.. One of my usual visits these days is to a river side town Reading which head quarters some IT giants and then energy giants too.. I like travelling and this indeed is teaching me a lot.. :)
So, from day 1 of figuring out my way, to finding out my favs on the usual track is a journey i covered in last few days.. It was my first trip and i noticed that Thames Valley Park has lush green meadows with river running behind.. I was out of a meeting, day was almost ending and i wanted to open my shoes, walk on the grass, sit by river side and do nothing.. BUT, i told myself, control, understand that work day is over but this is still near office, what if someone recognizes you and thinks you are mad.. i queued, waiting for a taxi to pass by.. boom, there came two teenagers with a lovely dog.. "Excuse me! Do you know how to reach the meadows, and that river?".. "Ya, you cross the road and walk for few minutes, its right there.. Can i also come??" (Yours truly, i dont have very strong mind when it comes to such things:)).. So, me, two teenies and a dog.. we went to the river side, had a long walk and talk, till one of them asked me, where do you come from?? Oops, London, i need to take a train back.. interesting day; i loved every moment of it.. I decided that i needed to stay in a small town and also buy a cute dog at some later stage in life.. Lesson learnt part 1...
Today was another day.. While coming back from Reading last evening, i saw a little ice cream shop which intrigued me everytime i passed by.. i wanted to have an ice cream to come out of hectic last week which had left me sleepless.. i wanted, so i did get in.. the shop was beautiful, had candies, cholocates, lovely pastries and a small counter for ice creams.. the counter boy was cute and smiley, he helped me choose the ice cream i loved and i walked out.. Today, i remembered at 3 PM, that i had nothing to eat since morning.. i got dragged to the same shop.. as i stood on the counter waiting for my soup and sandwich, the lady on the counter asked, " what do you do?".. i do blah blah blah.. She cuts me short, "do you like it?".. yes, why do you ask that?? Well, i had a big business and i was lucky to be able to sell everything and open a chocolate and ice cream shop where i love all of my customers and i love the sandwich that i will make for you now, you know i love my job.. And i felt like asking this to you, coz the way you looked at my chocolates and ice creams, i thought you will own a shop like this one day.. :).. I smiled with no words; i did look at her shop with admiration a day back, it looked so made with own hands, small and beautiful.. i did think for a moment that i wish i had a shop like that..
Sure, may be someday lovely lady and i know i met you for a reason today, i believe in destiny :).. At one end there are meetings and numbers, at other there is simplicity, nature and contentment.. i find both in one destination.. :)
So, from day 1 of figuring out my way, to finding out my favs on the usual track is a journey i covered in last few days.. It was my first trip and i noticed that Thames Valley Park has lush green meadows with river running behind.. I was out of a meeting, day was almost ending and i wanted to open my shoes, walk on the grass, sit by river side and do nothing.. BUT, i told myself, control, understand that work day is over but this is still near office, what if someone recognizes you and thinks you are mad.. i queued, waiting for a taxi to pass by.. boom, there came two teenagers with a lovely dog.. "Excuse me! Do you know how to reach the meadows, and that river?".. "Ya, you cross the road and walk for few minutes, its right there.. Can i also come??" (Yours truly, i dont have very strong mind when it comes to such things:)).. So, me, two teenies and a dog.. we went to the river side, had a long walk and talk, till one of them asked me, where do you come from?? Oops, London, i need to take a train back.. interesting day; i loved every moment of it.. I decided that i needed to stay in a small town and also buy a cute dog at some later stage in life.. Lesson learnt part 1...
Today was another day.. While coming back from Reading last evening, i saw a little ice cream shop which intrigued me everytime i passed by.. i wanted to have an ice cream to come out of hectic last week which had left me sleepless.. i wanted, so i did get in.. the shop was beautiful, had candies, cholocates, lovely pastries and a small counter for ice creams.. the counter boy was cute and smiley, he helped me choose the ice cream i loved and i walked out.. Today, i remembered at 3 PM, that i had nothing to eat since morning.. i got dragged to the same shop.. as i stood on the counter waiting for my soup and sandwich, the lady on the counter asked, " what do you do?".. i do blah blah blah.. She cuts me short, "do you like it?".. yes, why do you ask that?? Well, i had a big business and i was lucky to be able to sell everything and open a chocolate and ice cream shop where i love all of my customers and i love the sandwich that i will make for you now, you know i love my job.. And i felt like asking this to you, coz the way you looked at my chocolates and ice creams, i thought you will own a shop like this one day.. :).. I smiled with no words; i did look at her shop with admiration a day back, it looked so made with own hands, small and beautiful.. i did think for a moment that i wish i had a shop like that..
Sure, may be someday lovely lady and i know i met you for a reason today, i believe in destiny :).. At one end there are meetings and numbers, at other there is simplicity, nature and contentment.. i find both in one destination.. :)
Thursday, August 25, 2011
My Summer Travels..
This is just a listing for my memory, but i do need to spend some more time over the long weekend to fill you on the most exotic of places in Europe.. Ladies and Gentleman, you take my words, Europe is bestowed with beauty by God and for all the fairness he is expected to shower, he did get biased here.. :)
So, it was 15 days, 7 countries, 3 different weather, atleast 8 different delicacies and lots of learnings and experience.. To the person who taught me the best thing ever, "Remember, its only money. It is meant to be exchanged for goods, so just go live.. " and to the quote i will never forget, " There are no strangers in this world, its only friends, we havent met.".. Those were some moments lived.. :)
So, here is my list of countries and my quick one lines:
- Belgium - Umm Chocolates
- Netherlands ( Its cute and one of the few lands where sea is higher than land, go figure out how:)) - As much as Amsterdam is fun for adults, rest of Netherlands is fairy tale for kids, with cheese, clogs and windmills..
- Germany - This is a hi tech country with river Rhine and Alps adding the dash of beauty ( Oops, did i say beauty with brains.. :))
- Switzerland - This is heavenly.. Did you know that Swiss don't fight for anyone but themselves.. They stay neutral in wars.. Is UN established for that??
- Rome - Vatican is as rich and Royal as any religious place can get..
- Venice - Cute! Like this merchant town.. Mysterious is the feel..
- Italy - Being an Indian, i just feel at home.. :P
- France - Class!! Style, food, wine and fashion.. And the city is beautiful, no one can take that away..
- Austria - Small, green and peaceful.. I would want to spend sometime just in Austria..
- Leicistan ( Aah , i dont remember the spelling, but this is the smalled country in Europe or may be competes with Rome:))
- Additional places in UK - Leeds, Dover, Canterbury, (Again) Isle of Whites, Stonehenge, Bath (recommend)
The snow at Mt Titlis, the waterfall inside the swiss mountains, the feel of venice, the grandeur of colossus, the austrain shimmer; everything just fills me with memories and peace.. I think i always feel that travelling adds a lot of perspective, tolerance and truly global mindset in people.. I got to see how borders change the look of land and everything associated with it.. Culture and people are accepted differences and i wonder if world can ever be truly global.. what i also learned was that there is huge element of local flavor to retailing and food in large part of europe.. what runs in UK is very different from what a country like Germany or France adopts.. under every similarity, there is a difference which is nurtured by years of learning and experience.. Value is in local innovation and doing something which appeals to the human soul of the land in question.. what i really liked about europe was that they have preserved and marketed their specialities well.. This is something Indian tourism cam dwell on.. The kind of geographical diversity and hence the culture and stories that India has to offer is unique in this world.. if India had the talent, infra and investment to market it well, it probably would have been the best one stop shop for a tourist.. There is a lot to learn, and do in this sector..
The european holiday was followed by a business trip to vegas again.. no, its not beautiful, its rich and grand and fun.. thats america for you.. if we dont have it, we will create it and live happily ever after.. :D
So, it was 15 days, 7 countries, 3 different weather, atleast 8 different delicacies and lots of learnings and experience.. To the person who taught me the best thing ever, "Remember, its only money. It is meant to be exchanged for goods, so just go live.. " and to the quote i will never forget, " There are no strangers in this world, its only friends, we havent met.".. Those were some moments lived.. :)
So, here is my list of countries and my quick one lines:
- Belgium - Umm Chocolates
- Netherlands ( Its cute and one of the few lands where sea is higher than land, go figure out how:)) - As much as Amsterdam is fun for adults, rest of Netherlands is fairy tale for kids, with cheese, clogs and windmills..
- Germany - This is a hi tech country with river Rhine and Alps adding the dash of beauty ( Oops, did i say beauty with brains.. :))
- Switzerland - This is heavenly.. Did you know that Swiss don't fight for anyone but themselves.. They stay neutral in wars.. Is UN established for that??
- Rome - Vatican is as rich and Royal as any religious place can get..
- Venice - Cute! Like this merchant town.. Mysterious is the feel..
- Italy - Being an Indian, i just feel at home.. :P
- France - Class!! Style, food, wine and fashion.. And the city is beautiful, no one can take that away..
- Austria - Small, green and peaceful.. I would want to spend sometime just in Austria..
- Leicistan ( Aah , i dont remember the spelling, but this is the smalled country in Europe or may be competes with Rome:))
- Additional places in UK - Leeds, Dover, Canterbury, (Again) Isle of Whites, Stonehenge, Bath (recommend)
The snow at Mt Titlis, the waterfall inside the swiss mountains, the feel of venice, the grandeur of colossus, the austrain shimmer; everything just fills me with memories and peace.. I think i always feel that travelling adds a lot of perspective, tolerance and truly global mindset in people.. I got to see how borders change the look of land and everything associated with it.. Culture and people are accepted differences and i wonder if world can ever be truly global.. what i also learned was that there is huge element of local flavor to retailing and food in large part of europe.. what runs in UK is very different from what a country like Germany or France adopts.. under every similarity, there is a difference which is nurtured by years of learning and experience.. Value is in local innovation and doing something which appeals to the human soul of the land in question.. what i really liked about europe was that they have preserved and marketed their specialities well.. This is something Indian tourism cam dwell on.. The kind of geographical diversity and hence the culture and stories that India has to offer is unique in this world.. if India had the talent, infra and investment to market it well, it probably would have been the best one stop shop for a tourist.. There is a lot to learn, and do in this sector..
The european holiday was followed by a business trip to vegas again.. no, its not beautiful, its rich and grand and fun.. thats america for you.. if we dont have it, we will create it and live happily ever after.. :D
Learnings in life!!
It is amazing how less we know about ourselves. And how end up losing to ourselves some of the unkown battles of life.. This is about an experience i had few months back.. i went for a buffet with some friends.. laughing and chatting on some things which mattered and some that dint.. there was a debate on what is that unavoidable quality in someone we really like.. no one knows.. so, there were some generic answers that came out.. on smartness, intelligence, compassion.. blah blah.. and then i happned to get up to take a second serving ( hungry as ever, yours truly:)).. i did not notice who was infront of me, i simply queued.. suddenly, a very kind looking and caring face turned towards me, you seem to be hungry?? i smiled, i said yes; had a long day.. and to the best gesture that anyone had ever done to me in last 10 years, the person turned and said how about me helping you choose the dishes that are good and also filling your plate along with mine.. i could not say anything, i followed silently.. i dont know what followed in my plate as my head was simply nodding, my mind was thinking how as a child i used to be chatter box and had it not been for papa consciously putting something in my plate, i would have filled my stomach with talks every night.. :) like everything else, this had to end, so it ended and i came back to my world with a plate full of best food..
it was my turn to talk, and God had told me the answer which i never thought was really my answer few minutes back.. i shouted: kindness, ability to think of others just the way you think for yourself and sometimes understanding that there is some other self who needs to take your thrill moment because his or her happiness will just add to yours.. the sexiest thing in life my dear friends, is a beautiful mind which shows in the patience in your voice, in the cure of your touch and your ability to drive your intelligence to bring out the best in everything around you.. i really had a plate full of best food and it had an effect which 1000 words could have never had on me.. :)
it was my turn to talk, and God had told me the answer which i never thought was really my answer few minutes back.. i shouted: kindness, ability to think of others just the way you think for yourself and sometimes understanding that there is some other self who needs to take your thrill moment because his or her happiness will just add to yours.. the sexiest thing in life my dear friends, is a beautiful mind which shows in the patience in your voice, in the cure of your touch and your ability to drive your intelligence to bring out the best in everything around you.. i really had a plate full of best food and it had an effect which 1000 words could have never had on me.. :)
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Primrose Hill!
This is about how i have spent a fair deal of my summer in London this time. I wanted to take a break from my routine gymming and walking or running in Regent's park looked like a fair deal to me. Its a huge, beautiful park right in the heart of London and at walkable distance from my place. The more i discover it, more i like it. There is a small pond with ducks and cranes who do walk on the park lanes, there are huge football fields and so many people gather in evening to play, something i did all my childhood religiously. :) And then one day i walked through this rose garden to this 200 Plus feet hill in the center of the city. I was too tired by the time i reached there. Decided to sit on the hilltop, i could see whole of London and the transition from daylight to night; made my day and i knew i loved it, i am going to come here every evening and watch the day end. If there is anything that leaves one calm and at peace, i guess its the natural beauty and time spent with it in silence. Few days back while i was sitting on the hill and watching the horizon and expanse of the city, i just thought, this is what life is all about-- exploration and the feel of being with nature.. i was literally on top of the world, at peace with myself and smiling; watching the world go by.. I wondered if this was the best part of my life and if i will ever regret if tomorrow never comes.. :)(Yeah, i know i have to give free and unwanted gyaan to many, so tomorrow has to come but then.. :P)
Monday, June 6, 2011
Something too true to be neglected.. :)
Read on a social networking site and thought it should stay with me somewhere, this is as raw and right as it can get.. :)
There is always (Truth) ... behind (Just Kidding)
A little (Emotion) ... behind ( I Don't Care)
There is always a little (Pain) ... behind (It's OK)
A little (I Need You) ... behind (Leave Me Alone)
And a lot of (Words) ... behind (Silence) ...
There is always (Truth) ... behind (Just Kidding)
A little (Emotion) ... behind ( I Don't Care)
There is always a little (Pain) ... behind (It's OK)
A little (I Need You) ... behind (Leave Me Alone)
And a lot of (Words) ... behind (Silence) ...
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
The Food expeditions..
Dear Blog,
I have been having too much fun lately that i managed to ignore you. So, here is an update on the life lived and you know i so love it when it is lived. ;)
a) I went to France and i have fallen in love with the indeed so romatic city in the world.. While i travelled like there is no tomorrow and have many things to share with you, i loved the culture and aura.. Guess what? I had some of the heart throbbing pics taken on eiffel tower, and i managed to somehow mess up with those.. My camera somehow has everything else but for them.. Can you think what did i do? :( Ok, i get it, i have to go again and i dont mind committing some mistakes in life a hundered times.. :P
b) I have started my food exploration again. I went to Thai Metro near Goodge street and must say while i cant rate the ambience, i did like the food. Please do something about the ambience of hotels in Soho and Central London, trust me it sucks.. :)
c) I managed to lay my hands on greek sweet peppers in Andreas which is a Greek joint in central. Food was pretty average, but the owner is a greek God. So, on an average i will rate it high on related aesthetic sense and average on food. :)
Rest, life has been chill and you will see me covering up Europe in next few months. I will write in detail on Paris, though i still rate London as THE BEST; i somehow did get intrigued by France. It has got food and culture and wine and perfumes and clothes and fashion and BAD weather. I have been keeping busy, but we will meet again soon with more details. :)
Gary
I have been having too much fun lately that i managed to ignore you. So, here is an update on the life lived and you know i so love it when it is lived. ;)
a) I went to France and i have fallen in love with the indeed so romatic city in the world.. While i travelled like there is no tomorrow and have many things to share with you, i loved the culture and aura.. Guess what? I had some of the heart throbbing pics taken on eiffel tower, and i managed to somehow mess up with those.. My camera somehow has everything else but for them.. Can you think what did i do? :( Ok, i get it, i have to go again and i dont mind committing some mistakes in life a hundered times.. :P
b) I have started my food exploration again. I went to Thai Metro near Goodge street and must say while i cant rate the ambience, i did like the food. Please do something about the ambience of hotels in Soho and Central London, trust me it sucks.. :)
c) I managed to lay my hands on greek sweet peppers in Andreas which is a Greek joint in central. Food was pretty average, but the owner is a greek God. So, on an average i will rate it high on related aesthetic sense and average on food. :)
Rest, life has been chill and you will see me covering up Europe in next few months. I will write in detail on Paris, though i still rate London as THE BEST; i somehow did get intrigued by France. It has got food and culture and wine and perfumes and clothes and fashion and BAD weather. I have been keeping busy, but we will meet again soon with more details. :)
Gary
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