Papads to Papadoms...

June 2007 when I went to London on an official assignment we (me and Vivek) used to stay in Surbiton, Suburb of london in Surrey County. Thanks to Vivek's company we got a decent accomodation and enough money to enjoy our stay, otherwise, HCL does not pay enough that we can opt to loadge and board in a decent place. My office was in Kensignton High Street, one of the posh locations of London, near Kensigton Park and near Lady Diana's Palace or mansion whatever you want to say.

I reached London few days before him. He gave a surpise by not letting me know that he is also reaching in another weeks time. Wow.. Can't tell you it was a dream come true!! Everyday I used to miss his company ... :-) and used to tell him about Earl's Court, Kensington Park, Hype Park, and etc..etc.. where I had spent my evening walking alone and watching the couples and families enjoying themselves.. Finally he came and I shifted from a hotel (motel is the right word) with him. First week we lived in Heathrow IBIS which was very close to Airport. Every evening we used to watch planes landing and taking off.. 7-10 planes in a row.. it used to be a scene and great degree of timing !! Really well managed..

We then shifted to Surbiton, a small town away from rush-rush london. I used to take 8:15 am South West train from Surbiton railway and would reach Wimbeldon (yeah, its same Wimbledon which has Open Tournaments in summers) by 8:30 and take a tube from there and reach office by sharp 8:57 AM. I am being precise because of the best of the train and tube service I have ever seen in my life. Better than the pathways of NewYork.

Well, the adventure is yet to start.. there were few neat Indian Restaurants in Surbiton like Joy, Prithi, Red rose, Krishna, Agra Taj or Amritsars ! Our dinner used to be in either of these places and starter used to be Papadoms.. made of rice and some grains which were neither had south indian taste nor north indian taste.. served with Mango Chutney.. sweet one.. Dal - Moong Dal and large size Naans or Chapaties serviced in Heated plates.. heated mean sterilised and heated in real terms... Rice used to taste real good so used to Mango or any other fruit.. But that Indian Khana was more english than Indian..

Much more later.. feeling sleepy now..

I am back again ! Coming back to my experience from Papad to Papadoms :-)

These food joints are owned by Bangladeshi or Srilankan folks not Indians except for a food chain in eastern and western suburbs of london called Upney, Honslow, Oysterly, East Ham and West Ham, not to forget the very famous South Hall. South Hall - a amalgation of Indian and Pakistan Punjab. In other words, Punjab would have been like this before India and Pakistan was seperated. We were brought there by one of the Pakistani Taxi driver who used to drop Vivek from office to our then home. He was married to Mumbai based lady both of them had settled in London. For him boundary was not a barrier! Coming back to Papadoms, how can I forget the veru famous Chennai Dosa - chain of south indian restaurant, more authentic than our so called north indian restaurants. Dosa served with so what sweet sambhar. Don't forget to mention that you want it Teekha to have the original favour.

Next time when you plan to visit london, do not carry anything from India. Enjoy the journey from papad to papadoms..

Experience of Art Of Living..

I have always been fascinated by meditation and spirituality but never got a chance to experience them. I met around many people who followed Kriya Yoga, Vipassana Centres, sahaj yaga, Art of Living and etc. On 12th may when there was a basic course happening near our apartment I finally decided to attend.
Very first day physical exercise; not so interesting.. :( Sitting in Vajrasana was next to impossible.. Second day started with regular warm up exercises and Pranayams.... then came the real fun.. Sundarshan Kriya.. another kind of breathing exercise..50 minutes.. I was totally not in control ..probably this was the first time in my life when I allowed myself to go with the flow without holding myself.. the very first time I felt the flow of oxygen from every part of my body.. head to toe..i have never felt as fresh as this before..
My ankles, which used to pain badly when I used to step down from the bed had all gone.. walking upstairs that to 4 floors without being suffocated and breathless.. that was the power of Sudarshan kriya for me. I loved every moment of Life.. I was as light as wafer emotionally, mentally and physically charged.... it was a re-birth.. those 5 days have cleared my mind from the clutter and unnecessary demotivating thought and it is me... new .. rejuvenated ME..
I energy which was subdude somewhere was recovered and it was all together different ME. Emotions and feelings which I preferrably control by constantly watching on every little expression has become a history. The whole process made me realize that - the feel of being accepted by self is the best feel in life. Now, I enjoy every expression of mine and every moment I live has complete ME in it..
Life is not always about accepting others and their needs but self acceptance is must before we give anything to others...

Feeling Connected...

I have a virtual world like any other perosn; I am a regular visitor of Orkut and Facebook. I meet my long lost family members and friends over them. Orkut for me is a platform to celebrate and share events with the family members. Facebook.. Ah.. its my playground where I play games and a joint where I meet my friends... Lots of them whom I have not seen for years.. now I connect with the almost daily..
I have even those ones who were not even there in my friends list then!! Funny na... but thats true..
Everytime I am on my virtual world.. I am a teenager, college going or school going girl.. Feeling of being connected gives a high .. emotional strength and moral support.. After all, its all a state of mind.. isn't it.. Everyone is living their lives still together ..connected.. The freedom of being yourself ... in the virtual world is more real then reality..