Life Unpacked

Green Day rightly sang Wake Me Up When September Ends . At least, I feel like that this September. Mostly because the advent of this month has brought in an avalanche in my personal life. I won't disclose much; all I can say is that it has been an extremely testing first half of September. Emotionally, I have been a complete mess lately. And it wasn't until I had a catching-up session with a friend who has recently returned from U.S. that I stopped believing that I am having the hardest time. It was that realisation which pushed me from the path of wallowing in self-pity to the trail of reclaiming happiness. Blogging is one of the key things which make me happy, no kidding. I love penning down my thoughts and dishing out little anecdotes along with stuff that makes me wonder-eyed. Weekend Fix is the result of that love; I'm planning for it to be a weekly (or monthly) writeup sharing the Watch. Listen. Learn.  that made me break into that wide grin. So, let's d...

Sometimes, all you need is a reason to pack your bags. And when that reason happens to be the birthday party of one of your friends, you are already ready with a bag full of stuff for that extreme weekend within a blink. Now I won't bore you with the details of the party, rather, I'll simply jump to the part (I think?) you all are here for- The travelogue. The Journey Honestly, it was a very rushed trip whose details were etched out in the last minute. The night before embarking on the adventure, the group was abuzz with cancellations. It took our host exiting the group in rage for us to get our act together! True story. Anyway, due to crowd concerns, we decided to play safe and we reserved train tickets for travelling to Vapi. Post a dreadful lunch of Triple Fried Schezwan Rice, we were on our way to Nani Daman bus stop in the share-taxi. The drive was a pleasant one; something which I could truly appreciate once I saw the usual path through the concrete mayhem and...

People travel for myriad reasons- sometimes to soak in the culture, sometimes to unwind from their daily grind, sometimes to celebrate occasions, and sometimes just to see what's out there. The trip I undertook to Goa earlier this year is a testimony to the fact that if the reason to travel does not align amongst the travel companions, the sojourn could end up being a disaster. Every coin has two sides they say. Goa, on one side, for me, ended up being a synonym for perfectly lush green paddy fields, quaint Portuguese homesteads, idyllic beaches, and heart-melting hospitality. But, on the other, became a reminder of squabbles between my companions for every damn thing! Take my advice folks: always align the reason for travel before taking the plunge. Anyway, the reason I am writing this post is to document the bright side of the moon, which is- my journey to and the adventures in the charmer called Goa, back in January! Yes, I am that quick. Getting There ...

Nestled amidst the high rises in the posh locality of Malabar Hill, lies an oasis of calm and tranquil which instantly transports one to the holy ghats at Varanasi. Yes, I am talking about Banganga Tank. You see, vacation makes me do crazy things; I have been digging up the photo albums on my computer all day today. And that is when I came across the pictures I clicked when I went on a photo walk to Banganga Tank last summer. Time surely does fly by! Anyway, the point I am trying to make here is that there are several gems in Mumbai (I prefer Bombay, honestly). Every little pocket in this city has the power to induce the feel of some faraway land, no kidding. Banganga Tank happens to be one of those gems- perfect to spend an evening at.  Stepping down the steps leading to the tank is where the journey begins- the rustic and unshapely steps flanked by narrow lanes and tiny temples on both the side is enough to make you feel that you are no longer in the hustling and bu...

Chef Vikas Khanna, a proud Punjabi, once mentioned that there always ensues a fight at a Punjabi wedding regarding who gets the leg piece of Chicken Tandoori! Hence, it is quite natural to assume that Punjabis are hard-core foodies. And why wouldn't they be? Punjab is hailed as the land of abundance and Punjabis as the most vibrant lot. The theme-based decor at the entrance Backpacking through Punjab is on my bucket-list; experiencing the lush countryside made famous by DDLJ and savouring the langar at The Golden Temple has been a dream since, forever now. So when I got a chance to sample the delicacies of this glorious land as a part of the ongoing Baisakhi Food Festival at Nawab Saheb restaurant, right here in Mumbai, I could not pass up the opportunity. The rustic yet refined table setting I happened to be the first of the invited diners to arrive for the dinner service, yet, it wasn't awkward in the least bit! The theme-based decor and the live performa...

Today is Thursday, just another random Thursday where I go about my day, doing nothing out of the ordinary, and waiting for the weekend. Last Thursday, however, was different... One of the most striking similarity between Indian performing arts is the fact that they all heavily draw influences from nature- be it the Hindustani classical music ragas, or the mudras and stances of Bharatnatyam. Hence, it was but only natural for NCPA to choose 'pashu' as the theme for their sixth edition of Mudra Dance Festival as a way to appreciate the animal symbolisms in Indian mythology.  Mudra Dance Festival's primary intent is to celebrate the Indian performing arts heritage by placing them in different contexts. This year the festival ran from 21st April to 24th April. And this was exactly what I got a chance to witness last Thursday. The inaugural dance performance of Mudra Dance Festival '16 titled 'Hamsoham- the soul of Indian art & philosophy...

March was when college campuses across Mumbai were filled with nervous teenagers trying to cram in a last minute revision before their semester-end examinations. Well, I braved that March; mostly by clinging on to the hopes of a blissful summer vacation. It has been almost one and a half month of the holidays now, and I have officially declared myself 'bored'. Mostly due to the facts that the weather is too darn dreadful to even warrant a foot outside the house, and that all I prayed for in March were mangoes and long journeys, both of which haven't materialized until now! All I do to while away my days is scroll through a bottomless pit, that is, Instagram. It was on one such scrolling-away session that I paid attention to the abundance of 'skywatch' pictures I've put up, and the thought of collecting them in one post occurred to me (Oh, vacations, what do you do to me!). Thus, without further ado, 'skywatch'... Skywatch #1 Skywa...