Why I hate shopping.

Today, i discovered a brand new pair of socks my dad bought for me. Now, i've got nothing against socks, really. I love them in fact - knee high, thigh high, calf length even, but not. . . OK, i hate ankle length socks. They're just. Horrid.

Like, i mean, they're adorable yes, but if you're wearing basketball shoes or ANY other kind of ankle length shoe, the shoes rub against your ankle and any other part of your leg that is exposed.

So, you might say "Big deal. Just buy a pair of normal socks instead of complaining"

Well, the next time you visit a store, look at the women's section and tell me if you see a pair of normal socks. The answer will be no. Why?

Because the geniuses at the fashion industry thought 'Oh you know, these ankle length socks are sooo adorable!'


So the whole world fell into the rut of ankle length socks, like they forgot that there are women who like playing games, who happen to WEAR SHOES. What do you have against us? And honestly speaking, what do people have against long socks? I mean, every time i've peeled the socks off in front of any guy, boyfriend or friend or whatever, they look, they stare - drool even. Long socks by jove are sexy. But Noooo. You people want stupid irritating scab and injury developing ankle length socks.

Fine. Rant done. Let me be fair to these socks now. Now, when you're feeling cold, like you're feet are feeling cold, what's the most logical thing to do? You pull on a pair of socks. Right. Now, what use are these socks exactly when they don't cover a length up to your calves? You're still cold. End of story.

Now, admittedly, i do commit the sin of wearing socks with heels. Open, exposed heels that is. I mean, my toes are cold and i'd rather they're not. So i pull on a pair of accursed ankle length socks. Now, of course, my feet are nice and warm, but now my ankle strap is cutting and jabbing into my skin, because there is not enough MATERIAL covering my ANKLE so it HURTS!

Honestly speaking, i see no use for these socks. Now of course, i could go to the men's section and buy a pair of socks, but have you seen the colors? Black, gray and white. I mean, i've got nothing against the colors, but after some time, when you need socks and you see them you wince and cringe and bemoan the loss of women's normal length socks.

The second reason and most primary reason as to why i don't pick up men's socks is because they're too big for me. I'm a size 3 according to Indian and UK standards, meaning that picking up shoes is near impossible for me. I don't about all you other ladies out there, but it's soooo difficult to find a beautiful pair of shoes that are in your size. So, no, sadly i can't pick up men's socks.

Now, the topic is clothes, so let's go there.

First i'll talk about sports wear since i have a very sore spot there.

Ahem, so, have you walked into Reebok or Adidas or Puma and found that strangely, they all have the exact same cut, size, shape and yes, even style. It's amazing really, i can imagine the conversation between the heads of their department going all 'Hey, for the fall season we're planning this' and everyone else says 'wow we're all doing the exact same thing!'

And they couldn't give a damn! They're just like 'Oh well'

So, what are these clothes you find? Let's look at the bottom's first and keep in mind that we're in India, the land where our ministers, female or male say that the woman was wearing something revealing, so she was asking for it.

Shorts have to there right? and what length are they? Just about covering your nether regions. Now i can imagine a lot of uses for this in a bedroom, but not outside or to a gym where i'll be well, exposed. I mean, i'm not sure about the other women out there, but with the looks men give us when we're modestly covered, i really can't imagine what would happen if you wore those shorts.

Plus, they stick to your body and if  you have slightly chubby thighs . . . the sight is not the best. AND There are no shorts that are knee length. NONE.

Why? Because we have calf length, skin tight, panty exposing if you bend track pants! How awesome if i wanted to seduce my husband at home by doing yoga in front of him while he's watching TV so he comes to me and gives my body what it wants. Then again, it could be your boyfriend or girlfriend too, trust me, they'll eat you up if you want them to.

Now, ahem. Supposing i decided i wanted to go to a gym or out to buy groceries and this is somewhat more comfortable than a skirt or jeans or something, everytime i bend down, there would be eyes on my butt, hoping for a panty line exposure. And if you have a slightly big butt, people will simply wait for you to walk by so they can stare at it.

Now the ass staring was started by songs because honestly speaking, i dig women and yes i do like it when they sway their ass and look sexy, but when you have no interest in the woman before you, why are you even staring at her ass? Just, why? After some point, asses aren't exactly sexy. It's, well, it's a butt.

And finally, the crowning glory of the store, full length, extra long track pants that will make sure you trip, but flatter you ever so slightly if you have slim legs (seriously, i am not even kidding people don't think about plus size people). Now, these are track pants for the winter or during cold months, so why, why is it that we don't have any normal looking not over exposing shorts?

So, what do i do? I go begrudgingly to the men's section. Now, understand that i have nothing against men's clothes, they're far more comfortable and for once you can find something in 100% cotton instead of spandex, it's great EXCEPT, I a WOMAN have to GO to the MEN'S section. Yes people, i hope all you so called 'fashion changing' mind blowing designers out there are happy. You chased a woman out of the section she SHOULD have been SHOPPING in. Are you happy yet?

Ahem. sorry. Right, so i got to the men's section and the sales staff ask the most irritating question.

"Buying something for your boyfriend?" Is this a pick up line? Coz it's the absolute worst pick up line. Secondly as a woman, in the men's section, no i DO NOT want your help till i need it, so leave me the fuck alone.

Ok, so supposing that's not what happens, instead they hover around nervously like they can't figure what foreign magical colored bug walked into their section, infact, some of them will re-direct you, they'll be like "Ma'am, this is the men's section, the women's section is over there"

And honestly, i know their jobs can be demanding at times, but sometimes i just want to say
"I know you fucking idiot! Why the hell else do you think i'm even here? Do you think I'd walk to the men's section if there was something decent in the women's section?"

I wouldn't mind doing that and seeing the look on their face, in fact, my cousin says that i have this super serious irritated annoyed expression on my face when dealing with them, like i'm dealing with a five year old who doesn't understand what the meaning of NO is and also that i look like i could have them fired at any moment by placing a single phone call. So, yes, they're probably already shitting bricks.

So, when you FINALLY manage to get past your opposition, you're like OK, now let me pick up a pair of shorts that will actually be knee length and are 100% cotton. You make your purchase and you walk out a happy woman. For those of you who have not experienced men's sports shorts that are 100% cotton, trust me, you're missing out on the comfort factor in your life. I love wearing these at home and even when walking out to buy groceries and so on.

As for the tops . . . well sometimes i wonder what is even running through people's heads. There are colors that don't even go together in stripes, floral prints that no one in their right mind would wear and then finally vests. Now, these vests are sexy. End of story. Plus, the fit is nice, but the colors. Neon. What is wrong with normal colors that don't burn your eyeballs out? Or even more dull or depressing colors like black or navy blue or i don't know some NICE color?

And that's how the sports world treats women. Like we DON'T EXIST.

In any case, yes, you might say but hey there's women's sports and all that jazz. Well to you sir/ma'am, when was the last time you watched a match that had women players? Hmm? Because honestly speaking, i don't ever remember watching a single match between two or more women. Other than maybe fencing. In the olympics.

Moving on, let's talk about norma clothes, you know, casual clothes that you wear when stepping out into the world, where you're friends and family members and strangers and colleagues can see you.

The first issue is (blows trumpet) : Cropped sweaters and shrugs!

Honestly, i think it was the tactic of someone who realized that their sweaters looked extremely ugly, so they cut it short. And that ladies and gentlemen is actually how cropped sweaters and probably even shrugs were invented.

Now, i understand that when it's warm out, you might wear something sleeveless and as evening approaches you realize you arms are chilly. Fine, shrugs are well, okay i guess, but aren't hoodies and jackets waaaaay cooler and cuter? Or am i mistaken? I mean, hoodies with the faux fur trim are cute and hoodies themselves are relaxed and comfortable and then jackets, i mean, who doesn't love jackets? Personally, i love the super long jackets that are ankle length, it's just a Carmen Sandiego thing. But, honestly, i'm sold on long jackets, so when i look at shrugs that have less material and cover less and don't offer half the benefits jackets do, i don't know, i'm just questioning their need.

Now cropped sweaters are worse. What do you do WHEN YOU'RE, i dunno COLD? I mean, what sort of insane logic was required to sell those things? When you're cold, it's not just your chest that needs to be warm, but also your stomach. I mean, ladies, imagine you're cold and you wear this cropped sweater when you have your period. It's just a recipe for disaster.

You'll be cold, in pain, cranky and probably end up acting like a monster. Instead, if you wore something nice and warm and cozy, you'll be a warm, HAPPY person. Not to mention a nice person.

Next issue of the day! (trumpet please) T - shirts and tops!

Floral tops, plain solid colored T shirts or T shirts with prints of unicorns and oh my god! more flowers! and silly slogans like "I'm beautiful" or i don't know something as crappy.

Firstly, let me just say you are catering to the image you have created for women. there are some other women like me, who happen to like superheroes and want to wear something COMFORTABLE and NOT GIRLY. But Nooooo. DO we get any such options? No.

I mean fine, in shirts defense they were never meant to be comfortable, they're just there to choke the life out of you, so let's leave the shirts out of this coz most times, if you look hard enough (like 4 hours or more) you'll find a beautiful shirt, that covers your arms and doesn't reveal cleavage. Yay!

So, T shirts. What do you do? You go to the men's section. Exactly.

Now once more, you're faced with idiotic sales staff. but fine, there's not much you can do about them. So, through the suffering we find the rack we're looking for! The T shirts, with super hero prints! Hip hip hooray.

Before i forget, why are there no superhero/heroin T shirts? Do people have something against that? I mean, if you have barbie and fairies and unicorns, what's wrong with star fire or black widow or i don't know, someone awesome?

Anyway, you look through the men's section and find some T shirts you wouldn't mind wearing outside in the open world, but make sure it's 3 times your size because the round neck tends to choke you otherwise. I just, i can't even begin to fathom the logic behind that, but whatever. So, you've made you pick and you're happy with life and the sales staff comes. And deep inside, you're like Oh God, what now?

"There are smiley T shirts in the women's counter"

Implication: You don't fucking belong here and you shouldn't wear awesome superhero t shirts because you're female so get the fuck out of here.

And for God sakes. Smiley T shirts? Is this what we have been degraded to? SMILEYS?

i for once, i lost all hope. I mean, shopping in the women's section is hard enough, and then, in the men's section the sales staff ask and say such stupid things you just want to whack them instead of explaining to them what fucking idiots their branch managers are for not providing for the women who don't want florals or unicorns or barbie.

The final topic for the day (because otherwise i will start raging instead of writing) : Jeans!

Levi's. Need i say more?

So, there's slim curve, demi curve and some other curves i couldn't be bothered about. Secondly, there's super skinny fit, normal skinny fit, no normal fit and most certainly no flared pants fit.

Now, i've looked through the jeans A LOT of times in Levi's and there's this disparity, this very clear disparity between the slim curve styles and washes and all of the others curves styles and washes.

The slim curve gets the most AWESOME wash while the others don't get anything awesome. they look like shit in comparison. And will Levi's take custom orders? NO.

So you kind of sit there really, really sadly, contemplating the mysteries of your ass and wondering and wishing why it couldn't have been flatter. Anyways, as if that's not enough, you would hope that the fashion industry would get it act together, well . . . NO.

See, first there was low waist, now it's super high waist. What happened to the normal waist? What was wrong with that huh? What? Then, as if that much suffering and sucking in your belly and everything isn't enough, your jeans STICK to you. i mean, i have these beautiful light wash pair of jeans that i bought a few years back and even though they're torn, i STILL wear them because they're so damned COMFY.

Of course, SUPER skinny STICKS to you, so you'd think normal skinny should be ok right? Right? NO. Even normal skinny kind of slides on your skin rubbing and sticking though not as much as the prior, but bottom line, its uncomfortable.

Are there any normal pants? Slightly flared? Anything comfortable? NO.

And that ladies and gentlemen and whoever else is reading this, is how irritating and annoying it is to go shopping. Someday, i would rather stitch my own clothes rather than buying them from outside because when that someday comes, and trust me, it will, clothes will be so ugly and uncomfortable and revealing that you WILL want to stitch your own clothes.

How i actually began cooking

When i was much much younger, and by that i don't mean i'm old, just that it was probably 8 - 10 years back now, that i started baking.

The whole deal started when i was old enough to use half my brain and figure out that i loved the smells that emanated from the kitchen when my mom was baking. i still remember her marble cakes and chocolate brownies and one day i just asked my mom if i could help out somehow. Until then, my cousin and i were simply nuisances who would sneak a lick from the mixture and get swatted by my mom or grandmom. 

Their threats were "You'll get a stomach ache!" or "There won't be any cake to bake!"

Looking back on it now, i felt kind of silly, but it was something i enjoyed. the nonsense we did when we were kids was always excused because, well, we were kids. Also, i don't think i would've regretted eating the batter even if i did get a stomach ache . . .

So the first time i asked, i must have been around 12 years old and i think my mom was kind of shocked and surprised, but in a good way and she was totally cool with having me around in the kitchen. Most of what i could do at that age was limited however, i mean, mostly i was just cracking eggs into the bowl and if she thought i wasn't too tired, she'd let me mix the mixture.

Soon, i learnt about things like 'folding' and 'sieving' and so many strange things like that, but all the while i had fun. now interestingly enough, i didn't realize that this wasn't a normal practise. most kids my age were not allowed to even set foot in the kitchen, whereas, i, as i would soon learn, was going to be given free reign in the kitchen.

the first time i was allowed to do whatever in the kitchen is not something i really remember, it wasn't a significant moment, it was just me, and the kitchen . . . and well, the ingredients. So, this happened when i was at home once and i kind of picked up the things i needed and baked a batch of brownies. now mind you, this was a surprise and thankfully, my mom received a pleasant yet delicious surprise.

The very first batch of brownies i had made on my own, were soft, moist, chocolaty and it even had a nice beautiful crunch on the top. The powder was dusted by my mom, who figured that i couldn't do it the way she did, by making sugary powder snow down from a spoon. mine was just, well, a big mass that would careen off the edge of the spoon. I wasn't very happy about that and to date, i can say with absolute certainty that that, was the best batch of brownies i ever made.

Following brownies, i began to bake cakes and cookies, all chocolate, till i brought my friends into the picture, then we had a vanilla cake, a vanilla and chocolate marble cake, a vanilla and strawberry marble cake, chocolate cookies, chocolate chip cookies, strawberry and chocolate chip cookies (these were absolutely yum!), even strawberry cookies with broken pieces of candy. The last ones taste best when just pulled out of the oven - they're warm, soft and gooey and absolutely delectable.

After this, when i was a little older (i must have been around 15 - 16 maybe?) i made a banana chocolate cake and even an apple upside down cake. And this sort of marked the end of my illustrious (not really) carreer of baking.

Well, it's not like I quit, but what ended up happening was that whenever i chose to bake, i would go on a spree, like a marathon . . . like, well like i was absolutely crazy about it. At a time it was normal for me to bake maybe 4 batches of brownies and 7 - 8 batches of cookies and so on and my parents i can tell you, were not very pleased because i used to spread myself out all over the place and well. Ahem. They weren't too happy.

So, i kinda just stopped. but i still liked going into the kitchen, it was like a space for me now. After a lot of complaints and lots of nudging from my parents, i began cooking. Now mind you, i wasn't going to cook dal chaval or chappatis or things like that, i was going to make something absolutely exotic!

So, the first 'thing' that i cooked was, spaghetti. it wasn't revolutionary, it wasn't something mind blowing, it was well, plain old spaghetti. now, to make it, we had no sauces like none of that pizza pasta sauce or anything and well, it was just an experiment to feed myself and my cousin that day.

So i did what the recipe told me, got the skin off the tomatoes, pureed them, stuck it in a pot, seasoned it best as i could and dumped in some meat-balls that weren't very tasty and cooked the spaghetti and brought it all together.

Now honestly speaking, my first try wasn't the absolute greatest. I mean, yes, it was somewhat tasty, but that was about it. If i were to make spaghetti today, the spaghetti i made that day couldn't even hold a candle to it. Today's spaghetti borrows help from pizza pasta sauce, has a nice solid tomato puree base and generally ticks off all the right boxes on my list. Today's pasta is delicious.

Now of course, my mom insisted i couldn't make spaghetti all the time, i agreed and so i made my very first horrible, shepherd's pie. i mean, there was just so much wrong with it. So what is shepherd's pie?

It's basically ground meat that is cooked and seasoned and everything, stuck into a bowl and topped with delicious creamy potatoes. Simple right? No.

Not simple. Very very not simple. the potatoes need to be crispy for the texture, because predominantly you just have meat at the bottom, so your potato quantity should be more than the meat, secondly, if you make the potatoes overly creamy, it makes the whole dish just sort of fall apart. That was i think the most disappointing experience for me. 

We never made it again.

Sometime after this, my mom began making sandwiches and we discovered that the most perfect cucumber sandwich was one that was lightly buttered on both sides, with really thin slices of cucumber and a side of chips, specifically Lays American style cream and onion.

The combo was just delightful! There was texture, the butteriness would come out every once in a while and the cucumber would just sort of bring it all together, cool and crunchy. it was the best sandwich to beat the heat during the thick of summer.

Now, i liked the sandwich and obsessed over it and so, it was like a repeat of the whole baking spree. So, once more i was side tracked from discovering anything new. And the summer passed with an overload of cucumber sandwiches.

And i believe the next year or sometime much much later, my mother discovered 'grilled' tomatoes. Which was what i wrote about recently, so i won't go into much detail about that, but i tried a whole lot of things with the tomatoes after.

Following the discovery of this sandwich, my mom and i began to bake breads, make home made pizzas, even paella wasn't out of the question along with things like mulled wine or ice tea and things that she never really made with me - this was my experimentation phase.

except it was a guided experimentation phase . . .? i mean, i followed the recipe to the dot, because not following it meant that it would fail, which happens most times when you make desserts. Recipes are unforgiving. Especially dessert recipes. Do not underestimate their wrath. If they tell you to put a pinch, you put a pinch. not more and most certainly not less!

We watched masterchef around this time and began taking it seriously, so we made fries and burgers and all sorts of crazy things and then i just kind of lost interest i guess. i mean don't get me wrong, every once in a while i step into the kitchen and i think 'what if i added this to that' or did something this way and so on and then one day i discovered slow cooking.

Now what i've realized today, is that after the sandwiches fiasco, i stopped making food like there would be none tomorrow. i was now able to make food in the right proportion - just enough for the family or a party or something of the sort and i felt kind of amazed that i stopped making more food than necessary.

It was like i finally gained control over my berserk excitement. But, more importantly, i began opening up more avenues for myself - like slow cooked meat, slow cooked rice, slow cooked anything.

One of the first things i slow cooked in fact, was mutton kurma. i slow cooked it for 4 hours. it was absolutely delicious. I didn't follow the recipe to the dot, instead i added pureed carrots, leeks, turnip and tomatoes. The combination once roasted off with the basic spices and onions was lovely and with the flavor of the mutton, it was heaven.

See, there was this exciting moment where you simply pressed down on the meat and it would collapse beautifully, dripping wet with it's marinade and curry, and when you take a bite, it simply melts into your mouth, the taste of mutton with an undertone of carrots and something mildly sweet but also spicy at the same time, and then you get a hint of citrus from the lime you squeezed and everything becomes right with the world.

After this initial breakaway from the recipe, i began to try different things - slow cooked rice with herbs like mint or basil with a side of meat, perhaps honey basted and so on. This breakaway helped me discover recipes that i remember reading in manga and exploring in a different way or simply entering the kitchen and going 'what should i eat today?'

Eventually, i realized that i loved just putting toppings on bread with a bit of cheese. Every bread no matter how much you hated it, just became really really tasty. it was healthy too, but not something i really thought about, i mean, healthy does not always mean tasty and one i realized that healthy could be tasty too, it just kind of sat in the back of my mind.

I've begun to regularly use spinach, things like corn or turnips or leek, things i've never used before, seen only once or twice in my life. Yet, i feel open to experimentation, just picking up a few ingredients and going all, what shall i make with you?

And i mean, at any point that these veggies intimidate me, there is always the safe place to go back to - vegetables and dals and rice you've always known all your life.

Anyone wanna read about a store launch?

MINC eco fashion

New store launch

Scoop

MINC is run by a ‘Mini Shibu’ (NID graduate in fashion), who started this store, her lifetime dream. She chose to work specifically with eco-friendly fabrics because she felt that people didn’t see the possibilities with these beautiful, soft and breathable fabrics.

One of the fabrics found in the store is khadi. Almost unrecognizable, this fabric is soft and light. Mini mentioned that she worked with khadi weavers, because she feared it was a dying industry, what with all the mechanized processes present today. She also works with ‘karigars’ to bring to life beautiful hand embroidery at affordable prices that aren’t too out of reach.

The style

The clothes here are for women and kids (supposedly a men’s line may start), mostly indo western, there are skirts whose borders are heavy with embroidery, along with kurtis and tops that are either machine embroidered or hand embroidered. Then, there are the ever so rare but beautiful kurta pant combos, with the few rare dresses and pants that are the only western garments present.

Willing to customize anything, whatever the style may be, she quotes estimations and will even do budget customizations as far as possible, all with natural fabrics, and I know this because I had MINC make my cosplay outfit for me (A Shinigami outfit from Bleach)!

The store

MINC eco fashion can be found in a quiet, almost sleepy street called 1^st cross Vivekananda Nagar. The store stands out with its elegance – a very chic looking store that you enter by going through a steel gate and the heaviest glass door you’ve ever encountered!

The inside of the store too is a simple, soft textured white, which brings out all the colors present and emphasizes the complex embroidery that can be found on the clothes.

What to look for?

The skirts and kurtis are to die for! The embroidery is beautiful and breathtaking. If you’re looking for pants with the perfect fit, this is the place to make your waist’s dreams come true!

But most surprisingly, all the clothes are made according to the ‘Indian’ woman’s figure. Enough space to breath and no tugging or pulling at the hips or waist. And adjustments for waist or length doesn’t mean folding here. It means opening the garment out and perfectly adjusting it for your size!

Who it’s for

This is a place for all those who are eco conscious, but don’t want to give up either fashion or style. All the clothes are 100% organic, including custom orders, and are all indo western or in the case of the few rare dresses, western. For anyone who has a custom style in mind, this is the place where your ‘garment’ dreams can come true!

Buyer’s tip

This is not the place you come with a budget. The best time to come is when the store owner and head designer ‘Mini Shibu’ is present. She can tell you what is and isn’t possible when you want to customize something or get something entirely new made along with an estimate.

Also, though they have an online store, it is best to come to their brick and mortar store, since all the new designs appear there first. For any first time buyers, visiting the store yields better offers – from customer loyalty programs to gift coupons (Pst. . . they’re also planning to start a referral program)!

Where: 110, First Cross Vivekananda Nagar, near ITC infotech park, Cox town, Bangalore - 560033

When: 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (Monday to Saturday)

Contact: 080-41659461

Price: INR 1500 onwards

On the web: www.minc-ecofashion.com

                        www.minc-ecofashion.co.in

How to make a tomato sandwich unnessarily classy!

So recently, i got into the craze of cooking. I still love baking of course, but there is something absolutely magical about cooking you know? You could throw in a bizarre array of spices and if you're lucky, it'll be the best thing you've ever eaten!

Now, onto the topic of tomato sandwiches. i used to hate (no seriously) tomatoes while growing up, there was just something slimy and watery and yucky about them, including the taste.

But then one day, i discovered (ahem. my mom) grilled tomatoes. They are absolutely delicious! Especially, if you've grilled them with a bit of salt and pepper and maybe chilli flakes and oregano and  . . . well, you get it.
Now of course, grilled tomatoes can't beat sundried tomatoes or anything, but they're about as good as you can get with fresh tomatoes in your house.

So, how to make a tasty tomato sandwich?

Firstly, get yourself a loaf of exotic bread (and by exotic i don't mean go to France or something), something different from what you usually have - like garlic bread, or in this case sour dough (yes, it actually does taste sour. i don't know why it surprised me so much) bread.

Now, slice the bread and place it on a plate or something (hygienic. germs are not tasty kids). and over it shred half a cheese slice (note that this is only for one sandwich).

Get a non stick pan out and place it on the stove to heat. Wash your tomatoes, cut them into slices and keep them ready.

Get out your chopping board and some parsley and mint. A bit of basil doesn't hurt either! Finely chop your leaves and sprinkle it over the cheese and bread.

Your pan should be hot enough now, so place your tomatoes on it! The sizzle is the most delectable sound i have to say and all you have to do to heighten the smells of grilling tomatoes is a bit of salt and pepper. (Go crazy if you like, with things like paprika and all, but trust me, first time keep it simple)

Once your tomatoes are grilled, and by grilled i don't mean completely charred to a cinder or till they're real crisp. By grilled, i mean till they have a char on them, but they're still soft and kind of juicy. No one wants indigestion right?

Place your tomatoes over your chopped leaves, grate a bit of cheddar or any other cheese you like, sprinkle a bit of oregano or chilli flakes, any one of your favorite spices,  place the second slice of bread over it, and it's ready to be eaten!

Now, while grilled tomatoes with cheese are heaven, the leaves really help to freshen up the palate and keep you going for the next bite! Enjoy ~

The night for contemplation

Hi everyone,

So i had just recently gone on a trek, specifically, on the Deoriatal - Chandrashila route provided on IndiaHikes. The whys and hows and details of the trek i'll put up on another blog, this post was because of something that kind of hit me while i was waiting with my cousin at a Railway station.

Now, I know that a lot of us are lucky to live in homes we can call our own and have cars that we drive or have someone else drive for us, but when i was there at the railway station, i felt really, really out of place, i mean, people do look at people sitting at railway stations, but i guess we were just dressed so differently and we were both 'unattended' females, sitting together that people gave us a second look and were like 'What did i just see?'

And i hated it, every moment of it, but then, i started thinking about it a little differently, looked at everyone and attached what if's? What if i was in their shoes right now? What if i didn't have what i do today (which i have only because of my parents)? How would the world look?

Would i be looking for the beauty of the world? or would i be looking more at survival? How to get by? How bad things could get, how cold? And i ended up writing this.


On this cold winter's moon,
I sit and watch.
The moon does not watch,
nor the sun.
There is simply me
and the clouds.
together we sit in contemplative silence.
The clouds roll by,
But i cannot.
Frozen in place,
with only my mind.
The tormentor is me,
and as i watch in silence,
my mind warps.
We say nothing,
but my mind is screaming.
Where to go,
where i can hide from my mind?
I sit here, unmoving.
Where to go,
is the question.
The moon does not care,
nor the clouds
as i ask ifs and buts,
my mind supplying images,
replacements.
I sit here, i sit still.
To move would be to shatter the illusion,
Unpleasant as it may be,
yet i cannot bring myself to move.
Through the sadness and despair
comes raging acceptance,
and with it a flood of love.
So i sit and let myself despair,
so that i may value what i have
and what i may soon lose.
Until then,
I sit in silence.



I would like to thank my parents for everything they have given me and will give me, along with their love and i wish to let them know how much i love them as well. This journey has been an eye opener for me. Are there any one you who have had a change of view after travelling? I'd love to hear about it!