2 January 2014

Personal wish fulfilled

Some of you who are close to me are aware that one of the bucketlist items I have is to work in a bar. I am fascinated by the art of mixing drinks. I have even figured out couple of courses to take in Atlanta during my next sabbatical.

This is one of the reasons I make friends with the bar persons everywhere in the world. One of my absolute favorite mixologist is Bensan at Arola bar at JW Marriott Mumbai. He makes some of the best martinis I have ever had. He is a master at his art.

I had this goal of getting Sharmila to his bar and get him to show off his trade. Last night, Sharmila and I went to Arola. Bensan did not disappoint me. Made some memorable cocktails with great flair!!

Here are a few snaps of the master at his game!!

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2 January 2014

An exercise in learning or grossing out? :-)

All my friends from India undoubtedly know about this. Not sure that the concept is very well known among my US friends though. I also have a question for my friends from other South Asian countries or African countries – do you have anything similar in your rural societies?

While in my birthplace, I took these pictures to explain to my daughters what those near circular black ridged cakes were all about. I barely got to the part where I explained that villagers pick up cow dung by hand and mix it by hand when the girls got grossed out and put their fingers on their ears and started yelling “la la la la”. 🙂

We call them “cow dung cakes” or “ghNute” in our language. Made entirely from cow dung, it is essentially formed by village women collecting cow dung and then making small balls of them and then smacking them on to a wall or tree. The ridges are basically the impact of the fingers when it is smacked down. It stays on the wall or tree for a few days to dry up and then they are plucked out.

They are then used as fuel for fires that are lit up to cook food – pretty much like we use wood logs. I guess this is a great form of biodegradable fuel 🙂

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2 January 2014

… and smaller…

After breakfast with Shridhar and a chance meeting with Deep, I came down to my room and was enjoying the view of the Arabian Sea and Juhu beach right in front of us, when I received a FB message from a friend of mine from yesteryears.

Carol Krishnamohan was visiting Mumbai from Hong Kong! In fact, she had brought her kids to play in the beach!! In Juhu beach!!! Right in front of our room!!!

A quick phone call, hurriedly getting the Marriott security guy to open the back gate to the beach and a brisk walk later, I met Carol – after over twelve years. We used to work together in the late 90s – very early 00s – in i2!! Found out that her husband – Mohan is an avid runner too!!!

At this point of time, I will no longer protest if you think I am making up all these stories. I am myself stunned by serendipity and fortunate coincidences!!!

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Category: Intersection Points, Vacations | 3 Comments on … and smaller…
2 January 2014

The world gets smaller…

Last day in India. As I finished up my breakfast meeting with Shridhar (more on this 100 country backpacker later) and started saying goodbye in the Executive Lounge of JW, guess who walks in with that characteristic unforgettable smile of his?

Deep Bhattacharya from Shanghai!!

I met him in Atlanta thru a common friend more than a year back and ran together in Fowler Park. And then I run into him in Bombay!! Apparently he has checked into this hotel too!!

Unfortunately, both of us had to run… but these are the fleeting moments of interaction points that make our lives so enriched!!!!

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Category: Intersection Points, Vacations | 1 Comment on The world gets smaller…