Just in case I die in a plane crash today or tomorrow....

I know the likelihood of anyone dying in a plane crash is FAR less likely than a car crash (and I take the car almost everyday, and I'm still alive (woohoo!) so the likelihood of me being in a plane crash is LOW), I still harbour disturbing thoughts of dying in a plane crash and not being able to say goodbye, allocate my "assets" (3 kate spade bags, 1 gucci bag, 1 diamond ring... :P) properly etc.

So.

Because I'm leaving on a jet plane in a few hours' time, I just wanted to say, 2012 has been a great year for me. I'm very thankful for the good karma we've experienced in Bombay so far (no psycho drivers or thieving maids, no flood in the apartment or mushrooms sprouting in Monsoon, warm and friendly people in general), the friendships built, endured and even strengthened (through the modern technologies of whatsapp, Facebook and email), the wonderful sights that India has to offer (places visited so far: Bombay, Pune, Delhi, Goa, Darjeeling, Kursheong, Uttrakhand /Himalayas, Neemrana Fort), the general sustained health of my parents, the opportunity to try new things (cooking, marketing, volunteering and teaching English), the luxury of buying books and magazines w/o having to be concerned about the price and the chance to finally have a fitness regime.

I love my life. I love my family. I love my friends. And I most definitely love PJ. :)

On the allocation of my "assets" in the event that I do die in a plane crash (or whatever accident), you will have to refer to the "will" that I've verbally communicated to PJ. Essentially, all my items to be donated (PJ can keep a few for memory's sake), jewelry to be sold and money donated to charity (or PJ can keep the pieces, too), bags to be given to Flo & Char (assuming they survived the monsoons) and all cash (both savings and insurance payouts) to my parents.

:)  

A-Z of Mumbai: P is for Paining

Every country has its unique form of English. In Singapore, we call it Singlish, where our sentences are punctuated with "lah"s and "lor"s and mixed with Bahasa Melayu, Mandarin and Hokkien.

In Mumbai, there's Bombay English, one of which includes the term "paining". 

Example of usage:
"I stepped on a piece of glass. Now my foot is paining."
"Her daughter did not get good grades in school. Her heart is paining."

We pointed this out to an Indian friend and he was very surprised that "paining" is not considered a proper term and that the rest of the world says "My foot is in pain". Nonetheless, I can see why "paining" is a term that makes sense. It's happening now, in the present, hence adding the "ing" sounds logical. Yes?

Some other forms of Bombay English:

"Tension" 

Example of usage:
"She has a lot of things to worry about. There's a lot of tension in her."

"Tell me"

Example of usage:
You dial a number or enter a shop. The person on the other end will usually say, "Hello. Yar. Tell me."

And the list shall continue as I find more interesting terms/phrases.

My Himalayan experience at Shakti 360° Leti at Kumaon, Uttarakhand

I really need to start writing on the holidays we've taken so far in India. Bombay as a city is very liveable, but it's really not the most exciting or beautiful place. Goa, Darjeeling and Kumaon (where we've holiday-ed so far), on the other hand, can take your breath away and make you go "Incredible !ndia indeed!"

Our latest experience was visting the Kumaon region in the norther hill state of Uttarakhand. When PJ told me that it was a luxurious Himalayas resort, and that it required firstly, a 2 hrs flight to Delhi from Bombay, followed by an overnight train (7 hrs) to Kathgodam and finally a 7 hrs car ride to reach Shakti 360° Leti, all I could focus on was the super tedious journey. In fact, I got so car sick within the first 2 hours of the ride, I told PJ that maybe we should abandon the idea and just stay at the simple guest house at the Almora district where Shakti has an office. Mark, our private guide (how luxurious right!) who picked us up from the train and travelled with us for the rest of the journey, assured me that "it's worth it".

It'd better be...

 And it was.

One of the four private guest pavilions (we were the only guests then, and hence got the pavilion with the best view!)

Inside the cabin. There was ZERO electricity. We only had a (real) fireplace and 3 solar powered lamps. That's it. No TV, no way to charge your phones. But with such views, you really don't need to ask for more.

Day/Night 1 at 360 Leti
It was almost dusk when we reached Leti. After a quick shower (there's hot water powered by solar power), we had drinks & some light snacks with Mark and our hostess - Elly (whom, I think, is incredibly brave to live up there in the mountains with 11 men and a dog, cut off from most forms of civilisation; and also has a really cool job as a textile designer). As it was the first day of Diwali, the staff celebrated the festival by lighting sparklers and fireworks. Great fun. Dinner was fantastic with a copious amount of good food and we were so stuffed, it was really not fun. But it was good.

Day 2 at 360 Leti
"Crawl out of bed, draw the blinds, then crawl back under the covers to enjoy the view. And of course you'll need to take a picture of the view with your feet!" said Elly the night before.

We "followed instructions" and were rewarded with the Dangthal peak warmed pink with the sunrise 

At a pre-agreed time, our dedicated server appeared at our pavilion with cups of hot tea, coffee and biscuits. A little pre-breakfast treat. 

Freshly made cookies were served every morning. The cheese cookies were phenomenal! 

Breakfast was served outdoors, with a spread of fresh fruits, fresh juice, curd/yogurt, museli, eggs and toast in a breathtaking setting:

The only slight downside was flies, eager to share your delicious treats; but to counter that, we realised you'll just need to wake up earlier for breakfast to avoid them. :P

Slightly worn out from the previous day's traveling, we told Mark that we intended to take a short walk and take cooking lessons from Yeshi (the chief house cook) in the afternoon. Mark told us that we can go on a 3 hours trek after lunch and that it's an easy walk.

I've come to realise "easy" means different things to different people.

For one, I had interpreted "easy" as flat roads where I can walk with my pretty flats.

When Mark saw my flats, he looked genuinely concerned and that's when the alarm bells started ringing. Elly loaned me a pair of slightly oversized shoes and thick socks and I was deemed ready to go.

Good thing for the shoes, because we went uphill and downhill on narrow, rocky paths. There were times when I was paralysed and insisted PJ to walk in front of me so as to hold my hand. I could see that it really wasn't too difficult a trek, but I think my shitty fitness level combined with the oversized shoes made it rather challenging.

No regrets on going for the "workout" though, because the walk brought us through the village and to a beautiful vantage point.



For making it to the vantage point, we were "rewarded" with little treats of rocher chocolates, nuts and chilled rhododendron juice. How thoughtful of Leti. :)

On the way back, I told PJ that the only thing lacking at Leti was a masseur. "Imagine a hot foot soak or massage after this trek," I told him. So, imagine our pleasant surprise when we returned to our rooms to find 2 tubs of piping hot water scented with petals for our (mine, rather) battered feet.  It's really the little touches that matters.

Day 3 at 360 Leti
Deterred from the previous walk, I decided not to undertake the 6-8 hrs trek recommended by Mark. That would have brought us to unparalleled views, I'm sure, but I wasn't confident. PJ sweetly stayed behind with me, on the account that it was our wedding anniversary trip and that we should spend time together. And so we lazed around, read, meditated (well, PJ meditated whilst I did yoga), admired the architecture, photographed the beautiful place to death, and picked up momo lessons from Yeshi in the evening.

I really don't think there's a joke here; and we're laughing because Yeshi is just such a jolly, happy soul 

Momo is a type of dumpling native to Nepal, Tibet, the bordering regions of Bhutan, and the Himalayan states of India. It is similar to the Chinese jiaozi.

That night at dinner, the staff surprised us with a homemade chocolate cake with the words "Happy 1st wedding anniverary. Love 360 Leti". Turned out PJ had requested for something special. How sweet!

Leaving 360 Leti

I was really reluctant to leave the place, partly because of the tiring journey, but mainly because it was such a tranquil, happy and peaceful spot. Our stay was made very comfortable by everyone at 360 Leti and I would definitely recommend a stay there - regardless of how remote it is, and how basic it can appear (no TV, no internet, not even a hair dryer). If you think about the terrain and the location it operates in, it is a luxury stay because of the comfortable beds, warmed by hot water bottles and a fireplace, the modern yet traditional pavilions, the endless flow of tasty food; that you don't have to lift a finger here because everything is planned for you.

This place is blessed with good soil, good climate and wonderfully warm people. It doesn't get better than this.

Shakti 360° Leti has a great story of how it came into existence and you can read more about it here: http://www.archdaily.com/63334/leti-360-studio-mumbai/

Adjustment

Nowadays, my weekday afternoons are predominantly spent marketing and cooking. But when PJ is not home for dinner, I'll be too lazy to cook and just eat leftovers or anything I can find (just like my mum who eats fruits, bread or biscuits for lunch when she's home alone). Cooking is an activity in which the output is meant to be shared with others. It's more enjoyable that way. 

Today's one of those days where PJ is not back for dinner and I have the entire afternoon free to do whatever I want. Instead of lazing at home (which usually would have been a default choice :P), I decided to walk down to Bandstand, a coastal strip about 15 minutes away from my place for a little "me-time" in the form of a mani & pedi session.  

Just before I reached the spa place, I popped into the compound of one of the oldest buildings in the neighbourhood - St Andrew's Church. The church was closed, but I ended up making small talk with a local whose eyes lit up when I said I'm from Singapore (we get that a lot here). He introduced himself by telling me his religion, age, marital status and his brothers' marital status, before asking "How about you?" Not ready to share THAT much information with a stranger, I simply said I was here with my husband and continued with some idle chat before heading off for my appointment.  

I keep forgetting how cheap a mani & pedi session is in India. When I opted for an item that says "Aroma Mani/Pedi" for Rs1200 (around SGD27), I had to ask if it was for Rs1200 for each or for both mani and pedi. The answer, of course, was for both. And it was not just mani & pedi, but with exfoliation and a hand mask treatment. That said, the mani & pedis I've had here so far are really average and not up to the standards back home (not even those dingy ones in Far East Plaza) but at such an affordable price, I've come to lower my expectations (and even to bring my own OPI colours). 

After my 2 hours "me-time", I headed home, not before popping back into St Andrew's Church to take a peek. The church was getting crowded, for evening mass I suppose, and dared not linger long as I was not modestly dressed. :| I walked around and realised that the street next to it had plenty of coffin shops. It was only when PJ reminded me that people buried their dead in the Church compound did it all make sense... 

Deciding that I needed a little pick-me-up after all, I headed towards the Gloria Jeans near my place and passed by an old auntie whom we say "hello" to every time and whom I realised speaks good English (after she asked, "Are you going to the market?"), I finally stopped and asked for her name today, and after some small talk, she sent me on my way and asked me to "Be careful and walk by the side of the road!" 

It's been a great afternoon on many levels. The fact that I can get around freely and safely on foot; that people are generally friendly here; that various amenities are available conveniently all matter to me; that I actually left my house without any regard for the oven man who was supposed to show last Friday/Saturday and might have just turned up today (typical!). 

You know how there are so-called "stages of culture shock"? Honeymoon, Negotiation, Adjustment, Mastery and Independence.

I think I may have moved to Adjustment already. From Wiki: 

Adjustment phaseAgain, after some time (usually 6 to 12 months), one grows accustomed to the new culture and develops routines. One knows what to expect in most situations and the host country no longer feels all that new. One becomes concerned with basic living again, and things become more "normal". One starts to develop problem-solving skills for dealing with the culture and begins to accept the culture's ways with a positive attitude. The culture begins to make sense, and negative reactions and responses to the culture are reduced.

*cross fingers* 

:) 

My hood 

A-Z of Mumbai: I is for Iranian Cafes

Back in May, PJ and I signed up for a Mumbai cycling tour, which resulted in us waking up at 5am to be in South Mumbai at 6:30am for an early Sunday morning cycle. 

South Mumbai is where most of the city's businesses are located. It is also home to some of the most beautiful architecture built during the British years. On any working day, South Mumbai is a driver's (and in this context, a cyclist's) nightmare with congested streets and crawling traffic. But at 6:30am on a Sunday, the roads are peaceful and quiet, making South Mumbai stunning and fascinating. You can almost imagine how gorgeous Mumbai used to be; before the cars, traffic and pollution ruined. 

Anyway, I digressed. This entry is about "I is for Iranian Cafes".

According to Wikipedia, Iranian cafes were originally opened by Persian immigrants to India in the 19th century. Today, Mumbai boasts the largest number of Irani cafes, which are very popular for Irani chai (tea). 

As part of the cycling tour, we were brought to what is supposedly "an Iranian bakery that is at least a hundred years old" - Yazdani Restaurant & Bakery. Tucked into a tiny lane in the Fort Area, we would have completely missed it, if not for the bike tour. 

The exterior of the bakery 

Quirky & somewhat endearing quotes 

Old school everything 

It was head-scratching - pictures of bodybuilders? 

I later found out that Yazdani was actually established in 1951 (making it 51 years old) but the building/place it was housed in was indeed really, really old (early 20th century building). 

This Iranian restaurant started out serving staple Iranian fare but later focused on being a bakery. We had the maksa (butter) pav (pronounced as "pao", which means bun), which is kind of like a toasted white bread bun drowned in Amul butter (a popular local brand) and the chai; both of which are so good that I'm going to make this a "must-go" place for any friend who is visiting Mumbai. :) 

The fantastic brun maska and chai. Ginger biscuits were really not so good though. 

a cup. or two. and maybe three. or four. :)

My 6-months mark in Mumbai

It's been close to 6 months since I joined PJ in Mumbai. A colleague who is now in town, said to me last night, "Okay lah, India is not so bad hor?" To which I have to agree. It is really not as bad as most people would imagine; nor as bad as some of the Singaporeans who stay here make it out to be. But then again, another Singaporean told me recently, "The first 6 months - I love it. Now? I hate it."

*bites nails*

Whenever someone asks me how I find India, I will always reply with a neutral "It's Okay".  And that's really it for me. For now. I don't hate it. I don't love it. Well, some parts I do love; some parts I do dislike. So I guess it all balances out.

Some things I love:

1. People are generally friendly and helpful here.  
2. I live in a great neighbourhood that is relatively peaceful (save for 3:30pm-4:00pm when the kids get off from the nearby school and the line of cars to pick them up creates a huge hooting scene - literally) and with basic amenities within walking distance. 
3. Cost of living is generally lower. Books, magazines, cable TV, fresh flowers, public transport are some of the things that are much more affordable and readily available here.  
4. Many retailers charge for plastic bags. Whilst it's just a few cents, it changes my behaviour and I've started carrying a reusable bag around. Sure, I still "buy" plastic bags on the occasion for our trash; but I reckon my plastic bag usage has cut down by about 30-40%. Our Singapore government simply do not have the balls to implement a similar policy whilst some of our citizens are too negative to see that this is a green initiative and not something to profit corporations further. 

Some things that still bug me: 

1. Dirty, bumpy roads and the lack of pavements (where there are pavements, people still walk on the roads).
2. Incessant use of car horns. Mumbai drivers honk when they're coming towards or behind you to warn you (good); honk the moment the traffic lights turn green (bad); honk when they're in a jam (bad); honk when they are turning at a bend (quite good) i.e., they honk at every opportunity.  
3. LACK OF GOOD CHINESE, JAPANESE AND KOREAN FOOD. Sigh. 

Some things I've accomplished (in my mind, these ARE small wins and accomplishments): 

1. Working with 2 non-profit organisations  
2. Being able to walk around on my own and crossing the roads safely and (relatively) calmly 
3. Knowing where to get my kang kong :D 
4. Bargaining (though I'm still not very good at it) 

So here's my mini "report card" at my 6 months mark. Let's see how it goes from here. For better or for worse, I'll (tryyyyy to) keep calm and carry on (not that I have much of a choice!). :) 

Leaving Singapore...

...this morning was somewhat depressing. Not because I was saying goodbye to my family and friends (again), but really because 2 incidents caused me to reflect on the state of affairs in Singapore.

First, the taxi uncle who drove me to the airport was telling me how his shift that day was from 5:30am to 9pm (wtf!?) and he had to do so in order to make ends meet. If he had a choice, he would not be driving a cab (for 11 years). He felt that the government today is simply concerned with profit-making and have left many citizens behind. Uncle was not angry and disgruntled like many other cabbies, but he just sounded tired and resigned to the way of life. He also shared that he was from the Chinese stream in Changkat Changi Secondary School but in secondary 3 (in the '70s), the curriculum suddenly switched to English. As a result of this, he got an 'O' in all his subjects. The second time he took his exams, he got 5 'O's. An improvement, but still not good enough to pass. His is a generation of Chinese educated citizens who got left behind in our push for economic growth in the 1970s...

Second, when I reached the airport and was waiting for the lady at the counter to prompt me to deposit my luggage on the belt, a very old uncle (probably in his seventies) came by quietly and started to lift my bag. I stopped him, only to be dismissed by him that it's his job and he's not asking for money. Very quickly, he lifted and dropped my 20+ kg bag on the belt and walked away. :( 

 What is Singapore becoming - a society where old folks need to clean tables at hawker centres and take up work that is equivalent to manual labour, albeit in an air-conditioned place? The cleaning lady at my workplace has been advised by her doctor to undergo a surgery to remove the corn in her feet and to take rest for 6 months. Not working for 6 months is something inconceivable to her. So, she's been putting it off and bears with the pain as she hobbles around.

As much as we want to believe that the quality of life in Singapore is good or good enough, there is a group that has been left behind or has fallen through the cracks. To me, they are the elderly who hold a job and are considered financially independent enough to not be provided with the extra support that might make a significant different in the quality of their life. If you know someone who falls into this category, why not reach out to them and see how you can help him/her in your own little way. A little help might go a long way for some of them.

Before

Before I started this blog, I used to have another blog (and a few others before). Perhaps out of nostalgia and with some time on hand, I revisited one that I wrote frequently between 2006 and 2009. What a transition I went through. I started work so bright-eyed and hopeful and eager. Then as I progressed, I became more and more jaded, confused and extremely self-centered. As I read on, I cringe at how naive I appeared, how prideful I was and how I seem to think the world should revolve around me and that I deserve certain things...

I was also a mess when it came to relationships and I had to smile when I saw what I wrote in 2008:


MARCH 01, 2008

Juno

In my opinion, the best thing you can do is find a person who loves you for exactly what you are. Good mood, bad mood, ugly, pretty, handsome, what have you, the right person will still think the sun shines out your ass. That's the kind of person that's worth sticking with.

~ Juno

How's that possible, really?

I now know it is possible. :)

Right place, right time

Things have been moving rather quickly for the past 1 year or so. If I stop and think about it, it's really about being at the right place, at the right time.

Take for example, if I hadn't been working for close to 6 years and was feeling a little tired and worn out (not mentioning jaded - or at least some of my bosses feel so), I would not truly appreciate these days of taking things slower, smelling the flowers (literally and figuratively!), pouring over books (especially cookbooks) and experimenting in the kitchen. 

If I hadn't taken on my previous HR portfolio and "CCAs", I wouldn't have been able to help the NGO I'm currently volunteering with to beef up its HR systems. In fact, if I hadn't picked up a handmade candle from a shop here, I wouldn't have learned about this NGO; and this HR project would never have materialised! 

If I hadn't been with this team for a while and had earned enough trust and goodwill, I wouldn't have been able to work out the flexible working arrangement that I'm currently enjoying. 

I guess, all I'm trying to say is, things feel very right. For now. 

:) 

What's Cooking?

Okay, it might be too preliminary to tell, given that I've only cooked 2-3 meals so far - but I actually think I enjoy cooking.

I enjoy flipping through cookbooks and food magazines, especially the BBC GoodFood (India) magazines (which, btw, cost just Rs100 which is just...SGD2.50. !!!) and sieving what is attainable (to an amateur cook like me), what would be most economical and what appears to be more palatable.  I would then spend the day planning for the meal - do I need to buy groceries? Where do I buy them? How long do I need to prepare the ingredients? Which step should I do first and concurrently etc etc etc.

I enjoy learning about food - how to cook pasta al dente; how to cook basmati; how to steam chicken breast; how to store herbs; what is the pith and zest of a lemon. To communicate with the vendors at the market, I even went to google the hindi names of basil and dill.

One of the drivers saw my little post-it with the words "Dill --> Savaa" and exclaimed, "Huh! "Savaa" is the English word for "Dill"!"

Wide-eyed, I explained, "No no. Savaa is the Hindi word... At least that's what the Internet tells me."

"Oh oh. In India, we all call it "Dill."

Okay. Now I know.

I enjoy having PJ coming home and saying, "Ummm. Smells great!" Even though he assures me I'm a good cook, I'm still lacking in self confidence. But at least it looks decent on camera. :D

Having spent just 2 days in the kitchen, I can fully understand why housewives who cook can be SO occupied and tired out. Maybe it's because I'm just starting out and learning about a lot of things, but cooking seriously takes up a lot of time and energy. Let's see how long I can keep this up before I get tired and want to spend my time doing other stuff. :D