Friends....your spice in life

How much is said and written about relationships. Today when I look around I have so many people who know me who are really good friends but there are just a few of them who really really know me and these are the people who I can really count on whenever I need them. 

In life we meet many a kind but it is always necessary to have someone whom you can share stuff or moreover could just meet and laugh away those sad feelings away that life bestows upon us. Life is not perfect always there are ups and downs and how you look at them is all that matters. You can either see them as a bumpy ride in one of those back breaking vehicles or you can see them as a joy ride which you will enjoy till the end.

I have a wonderful set of friends with whom I can share anything and laugh away till our tummy hurts and we have tears in our eyes. I love these people and cherish them. I have had bad people in my life as well, I say bad is because I hate it when people treat you like you are born for their convenience. They soon forget or rather dont even realise what all you do for them and then they try to take a walk on you. Trust me its better to throw such people out of your life the moment you see such signs. You rather be alone and happy than be with such people and hurt yourself.

I dont like to keep grudges cause people do what they have to do. All I do is forget....yes I forget that such people exist in the world. It is rightly said "Be the change you want to see"...so when I cant change a person its better I change and move on. 

There are many people who have lost friends, people who have walked out of their lives without any rhyme or reason...are such people really worth calling friends? When they can easily forget the time you both spent with each other how wonderful the friendship was then I think its best you too do the same...forget. I know some people say its difficult to forget and saying such things are easy but trust me I have gone through the same and within a few days I was back on track to my smiley self. There is no point in wasting time on such people.

I had been wanting to write this post for sometime cause I consider my blog this great canvas where I can vent my feelings and paint it with all the colours I want. 

Relationships or Friendships are very delicate, if let loose they can slip away or if held tight they will snap and break away. Enjoy your life you have just one after all. 

Book review : Losing my virginity and other dumb ideas...

Losing my virginity and other dumb ideas...that's the book i last read. Written by Madhuri Banerjee this book is a tad different from those typical love-romance stories where the end is too predictable.

It is a good light read, on how a women struggles with her inner voice and changes her thoughts and values to give away something she has been treasuring for so long....her virginity. From being a person who was saving up her virginity to give it away as a wedding gift to her "The Great Love" to being a person who now didnt think twice before connecting with a person and sharing "intimate moments" this book has it all...love, lust and all the masala that it needs.

Falling in love with a married man, being trapped emotionally with him and finally moving out of the relation a stronger person, Kaveri the protagonist finally decides to live her life the way she wants to. She does try to associate every relationship she has since then to LOVE....that is loving herself.

For me the book was just a light read and nothing more, though I was eager to finish it to know what was the climax. If she does find her "The Great Love" or not....well you have to read the book for that and I wont consider that to be a dumb idea :)

Review : One Amazing Thing

One Amazing Thing....just as the title goes so is the book written by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. I had read The Palace of Illusions by Chitra some time back and I loved it, her writing style completely engulfs you and keeps you engrossed even after you have finished reading the book.

This one is a story of a group of strangers trapped in a visa office after an earthquake. As they find no way out all they have to do is stay put and wait for rescue operations to begin. Until then they have to find ways of surviving and helping each other. Since they know anything can happen...they can either be rescued or they may share their last breath with each other..strangers a while ago...they decide on sharing one amazing thing of their life....and so each one shares a story of their life while the rest patiently hear them out.

Each story is filled with emotions...each character well played. However I wanted a close end. The book ends leaving you to choose how you would like the ending to be....would they survive...or would they take away each others story and travel to another world.

This one is a good read however people who do not like open endings would feel quite frustrated wanting to know what happens to the inmates or the victims trapped in that visa office. But for those who don't care can have a good time weaving their own ending for the book and deciding the fate of the victims.

I liked this one too by Chitra and would definitely recommend it :)

Fun Fridays with a Fun Meme

I wanted my next post to be a review of the book I am currently reading which is absolutely so awesome till now. Will write about it as soon as I finish it. For now I wanted to do something fun and what better way than to answer a few questions framed by someone. I love doing this cause when I think of the answers I always discover something more about myself :)

I read Preeti Shenoy's post where she picked up a meme from Stealing Sundays. I thought of stealing one for me too and I found the below. Though its called "The Not My Year Meme" which I dont think applies to me. I found the questions interesting and decided would get on with it anyway. 

1. Are you in a job that you truly enjoy?

Enjoy - Yes, Truly - ummmm...... next question pls...

2. If you could do any job in the world what would it be?

Something creative...maybe a writer..painter..

3. If you could be a character in a novel who would you be?
I would be Harry Potter so that I could live in a magical world and get all my word done with my wand :)

4. When it comes to spending time with those you love, do you think it should be about quality or quantity?
Quality - that's what makes fond memories :) Let it be quality and quantity will follow....

5. Is there a job/career you wanted but realized you couldn’t possibly do for one reason or another?
So many!!!! I could have been an actor...but there are several reasons why I cant be...lol

6. If you could live anywhere in the world or out of this world where would you live?
I couldn't possible think of not living in my city ...so wherever I go I love coming back to my home...my Mumbai.

7. Where would you most like to visit and who with?
Spain with my hubby.

8. Which skill would you like to learn?
Creative writing and painting...oops and of course cooking :)

9. What made you laugh today?
Silly jokes during lunch with my friend Santy...he cracks me up...totally!

10. What are you looking forward to tomorrow?
Movie with my friends.

11. What is your sign and do you believe in horoscopes etc?
Cancer.....sometimes I do and sometimes I dont.

12. If you could change one thing about your life thus far, what would it be?
Nothing - I believe everything happens for a reason hence would not like to change anything.

13. If there was one charity you could give a huge contribution to, which charity would it be and why?
The orphanage....it is heart breaking to see children who are deprived of parental love and other facilities that they deserve. This is the least I could do for them.

14. Should smoking be legal?
No

15. What are your views on the smoking ban in public places?
Its great but people sadly dont follow them yet....esp bustops in Mumbai, you could easily find people smoking and spitting away.

16. Why do you blog?
I love to write and this is the most amazing platform to bring out the creativity in you....or maybe discover the the creativity or maybe nurture it.

17. Do you have a favorite author?
For now, Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni.

18. Can you play any musical instruments?
I can play my iPod....he he he.....sadly I cant.

19. What would your ideal car be?
An SUV :)

20. Describe yourself in one short sentence.
Fun loving girl who loves to read.

21. What do you look for in a spouse/other half?
Lots of love, understanding and trust.

22. Worst meal you’ve had?
It definitely should be something that I cooked :)

23. What do you do to relax in the evening?
Read or listen to music

24. Do you get along with your siblings?
Yes I do.

25. Do you have any regrets?
So many!!!!  If I didn't I would either be a perfectionist or very snobbish person, which thankfully I am not :)

Short Review : Tea for two and a piece of cake

When I decide to write a review on a book or a place I can do that without much thinking....its just putting down your opinions right...how difficult is that... :)

But today I kept wondering on how should I begin this post. So much is said and written about Preeti Shenoy's 3rd book Tea for two and a piece of cake that I feel there is nothing much more to write or say about.

Its a beautiful story about an average everyday girl and how her world changes completely. I am amazed the way her character has evolved from being a simple girl to a stronger confident person.

I am so thankful that the climax is not predictable and not a typical "hindi movie ending".... I don't want to reveal much and hamper the excitement of those who haven't read this one yet.

But yes, I can say this is a good light read and different from the previous 2 books of Preeti's. The language is simple and the story easy to relate to. So go grab your copy now....and dont forget your cup of tea and a piece if cake :)

The last prompt my first entry....Tea for Two (and a piece of cake) Tuesdays!

Last evening when I visited my library to return a book little did I know that in return I would be able to grab a copy of the latest book of Preeti Shenoy called Tea for Two and a piece of cake. As mentioned in my earlier post I have loved both her earlier books and was waiting to read this one too. She has an amazing writing style. So finally, I started reading the book last night till my eyes hurt and protested to go to bed...cant wait to get back home and finish it off. 

I also love reading Preeti's blog which is aptly called Just a mother of two. She puts up various challenges for her readers to follow and her best was the Ten day Challenge which I did undertake. The latest one she has had is the Tea for Two (and a piece of cake) Tuesdays! I found the following prompt interesting (which is also the last of it) and decided to take it up. So here it goes.....

1. If you had Rs.50,000 to just blow up (you have to spend it on YOURSELF. Giving to Charity or buying gifts for others not allowed), what would you spend it on and why?

Being the person I am, I would have invested it. But since I have to blow it up....would buy shoes, a treadmill, spend it at a spa, buy some clothes or gold...would that all come in Rs. 50,000??? :-)

2. Name three of your closest friends (not family or spouse) and say why you love them.

Kalpesh : For being the person he is and for being able to discuss anything under the sun with him

Santy : For insanely making me laugh whenever I dont feel good or otherwise and for being a really good friend in the true sense.

Pooja and Sarika : All we have to do is make a call and meet up and we are transformed into a crazy group of 3....and then we start behaving like teenagers :-)

Yes I know I have mentioned an extra name but it would be really unfair just to mention one name from both of them.

3. Name three books which have profoundly affected you and which you would recommend to everyone to read.

1. 34 Bubblegums and Candies by Preeti Shenoy

2. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khalid Hosseni

3. Love Story by Erich Segal

4. If you know for certain that you can never ever fail, what would you attempt to do?

Start my own business.....and make lots of money :-)

5. What is THE ONE THING that you want very very badly?

A fab slim, healthy body!!!!! :-)

Well that is about it....it is fun to take up these challenges and I hope Preeti gets us some more of them :-)

Trip to Bhandardara

It was a long weekend coming up with Mahashivratri falling on a Monday....and the person I am, I was desperate to go out somewhere...some place nice...some place not visited before.

Checked all the weekend getaways (my hubby agreed for just an overnight trip :( so had less options), but there were not many...and I had already been to some before.

I thought of Saputara a hill station in Gujarat but then thought it was too long a travel. So I logged on to MTDC (Maharashtra Tourism website) and came across a place I had always wanted to go...Bhandardara. 

I quickly checked the availability and there was just one room available waiting for me....it seemed so! Without batting an eyelid I went ahead and booked it, got a deluxe room for Rs.1500/-

Now there is something very weird about this place...it has this MTDC resort at a very good location and very cheap...and there are 2-3 resorts which are very expensive with no good view or location. 

Anyway so we set off early Sunday morning by car and reached there in around 3 hours. The Kasara ghat which we have to pass has amazing roads but the inner village roads are quite bumpy.

Once we reached the resort, we were escorted to our room which was huge enough to play cricket in :) The rooms were clean and spacious and perched on a small mountain facing the beautiful Arthur Lake.

We freshened up and headed for the canteen in the resort and ordered lunch which was tasty and more like home made food. After clicking a few picks and having a look around the resort we went back to the room...me to catch a few winks and my hubby to watch the India-Aust match. 

At around 5 pm, after a cup of tea we headed for the lake, there were boat rides which we decided to skip and just sit along the banks of the river and enjoy the sunset and the view.

Once the sun was set and after clicking a few pics we walked back to the resort and relaxed on the bench in front of our room facing the lake.....as darkness engulfed the place we spent an hour star gazing...it was wonderful.

We called room service and ordered dinner....yummy chicken roast and biryani.

Next day we woke up to the calm and quiet surroundings. After having pohe and sandwich for breakfast we checked out of the resort and proceeded for site seeing around the place.

We got a local guide who took us to the Wilson Dam, Randha falls and Umbrella falls (supposedly the famous song of Mandakini in her white sari in Ram Teri Ganga Meli was shot here at Unmbrella falls as told by our guide)

We then checked out the gates of the dam and had a view of the Kalsubai (highest peak of Maharashtra) and Ratangad Fort. 

After that, since it was the eve of Mahashivratri and the villagers have a style of setting up a fair (Jatra as called by the locals) near the Shiv mandir, we decided to go visit the temple at Taked and pay our tributes. We were surprised by the crowd moving towards the temple and quickly went back to our car and headed for Mumbai after paying our guide (don't have any pics of the mandir as the place was packed with people) .

We stopped for lunch on our way back and were home by 6.00 pm. The weather had got warm by then and if I had to advice anyone who wishes to visit the place, please do go during the monsoons as you can see the real beauty of the place during monsoons and make your hotel booking way in advance cause MTDC is completely booked during the monsoons.