Spontaneous Funtaneous!

Before I go ahead with the post, I would solemnly agree that I don't swim in money like Scrooge McDuck does. I am not a poor person's daughter/sister, but being a student, I'm perpetually WBPL.. yes, Way Below Poverty Line.

But that does not restrict me from making plans with my friends. Plans for 2-3 day trips or even a random 1 day visit to a nearby landmark. The thing is, in my small way, I try to make the best of places and time available to me. If my parents permit, the budget is higher.. if they don't, the luxuries need to be laid off.

Somehow, all I have learned is that, The less money I spend, the more fun I have!
Ironic, isn't it?

Don't get me wrong.. I love it when I have luxurious vacations with my parents. Traveling in big cars, beach-facing suites, no shopping budget what-so-ever, everything pre-planned and all you need to do is: 'stick to the plan'!
But there is just so much of 'paneer makkhanwala + naan' that you can eat!!

In the last 3 years, I have immensely experimented with cuisine and people. Hence, a little more enlightened Shatabdi confesses that she has had a VERY good time!
Done a lot of crazy things.. But I am enlisting My most favorite 11.

*!* Ordering food at a road-side dhaba by saying "Jo hai, le aao" (Bring whatever is available). Eating 1 plate of everything among 5 people and paying 200 bucks.

*!* Changing in a disgusting loo where normal people would never even set a foot. And then after wards describing the feces to gross people out :P

*!* Getting out of home without knowing the means of travel. Break-journeying in auto 5 times! and later laughing about the fucked up backside.

*!* Celebrating a birthday party at an unknown person's rooftop.

*!* Drinking 4 kinds of unidentified (non-alcoholic :P) liquids just for experimentation. Further, mixing those drinks to make a Grey liquid and drinking that. All of this in a ultra-posh mumbai cafe. Yes, the kinds where film stars walk in :P

*!* Commuting for 23 minutes with 8 people in a 3 seater auto-rickshaw.
*!* Sleeping with 7 people (non-sexually) on 2 mattresses in a friend's friend's friend's boyfriend's house :D

*!* Playing a beach ball game with absolute strangers and terribly losing it :P

*!* Living for 3 days in a room with moss green dripping walls, 1 bulb and Giant insects. AC didn't work and fan showered dust. Thank-god it was in a hill-station!

*!* Traveling in a public bus that was literally about to fall apart.

*!* Getting lost and then mugged and finally, spending the night at Lonavala Bus depot!

Been there, done that! :D


All I am trying to say is that, to get to know a place one has to wander the streets. I lived in a fantastic city like Hyderabad for 2 odd years and did everything that was there to do. Next, I intend to check out some foreign country where language and cash isn't the barrier. OR even a trip just-by-myself sounds fun, but I am not sure if I am mature enough to handle that.

Also, I do not click pictures. Other people do and I choose and collect them. That way, I can absorb a lot more than worrying about "the perfect angle." No offense to the photographer-types, but well, that is just not something for me.

The intention of this post is not to brag about the unusual things that I have done. It was in fact to try and break the stereotype that 'fancier trips are more fun trips'. Call me crazy, but if I take a mountain-top trek, I drink the naturally precipitated water! That is something that makes me feel real close to mother nature.

I would really love it if my partner chooses to go to a national park for our honeymoon. Because all said and done, the best way of doing it, is the way nomads did it :P :P
So, what was your most memorable trip?


P.S. I do not want to encourage kids to run away from home, just to try and have some fun. My parents always knew where I was and how to reach me. Keeping a toe beyond the line once in a while is okay, but we must always be responsible.

Poona Puna Poone Poonay Poohne PUNE!

The city

where 75% population is under 30,
and accomodation is available plenty;
non-marathi speakers fall in trouble,
love stories shatter like a bubble;
Where education is ‘popular’,
Mango mastani simply spectacular!
And common-wealth games is called ‘Yuva krida mahotsav’....

Traffic rules do not exist,
People are absolutely not sexist;
Strange messages put up on puneri patya,
The yummiest varan-bhat, taak, bhakar-wadi and surdichya wadya;
Public transport is most low-geared,
If you don’t wear a scarf, you are considered weird;
Walk-in Plaza, KP, Camp, SB road, Law and FC,
People come to visit the university....

A little clean,
a little crowded,
a little pleasant,
a little comfortable,
sometimes very un-managable;
abundance and lack of sense
but a worthy experience.

Welcome to the city where dreams dwell

Welcome to Pune!
:-)


Yes, I am back. And apart from the food and hectic schedule, I loved this visit.
For people who did not understand; ask specific doubts :-D I will LOVE to explain :-P

Pune calling..

And I am answering the call.

I never thought I would feel weird doing all this. 4 rounds of shopping done to ensure nothing is left back, bags packed, lockers empty, shelves clean, check lists made, planned and re-planned everything, room orderly, no sign of life, heart - filled with vacuum.

Well, amusingly, most my bags are filled with a splash of just one color, blue! I don't know why, but somehow it just occurred to me that half the things I own are blue in color! When people ask me of my favorite color, I say brown or maroon, or black, or even better white :-P Also another nice answer is "depends". he he. But I don't know why I involuntarily choose blue! Its a nice color, no doubt, but, well...

Right now I am blue.
Cried eyes out on brother's call about being a big girl and taking care of myself in pune [He lives in US.] And I am not the ones who cry easy. The empty room makes me feel so low, writing this post is another horrible experience, last calls from best friends, last msgs to mates, all final formalities done. But where should I parcel this empty feeling? Like I am losing something very dear to me. Like I am running away from my responsibilities, Like I am being selfish and chasing my dreams on cost of my duties. Duties of being the sole kid of my parents in the continent, of being a true friend, of being the listener to people who have been just a call away whenever I needed them, of being a shoulder to cry on when mum misses her favorite kid.

Why am I so ambitious? Why can't I just stay put at home like all my friends and relish holidays? Why can't I just help myself make a future than choosing to go 2 another city to find people who can help me out? Why am I doing this to myself and my dear ones? Why is it so important to be the best in the run?

Well, priorities are set, the choices are made, and I made them. My parents supported me no end in all this and I just can't thank them enough for believing in me and my dreams. My brother is my support system and somewhere I want to live upto his expectations out of me, thus the chase, thus the burning desire to be the best! I don't know how correct this move is, how crucial it will be in shaping my future, how much I will be able 2 achieve out of it, how much worth it is of all the sacrifice..

All I know is, its now or never.
And I don't want to be the person regretting all her life about the choices she made.
Its not easy, well nothing is.
And I am going to give it my best shot.


So, adios my dear blogger-mates. I apologize from all my heart for not being around and contributing in your posts, for not being able to regularly provide matter from my neurons to my dear disoriented neurons. Hope you all gain harmony and lady luck showers her blessings on you in my absence. I shall make up for it when I am back :-)


P.S. Special mention, alisha. Your tag is pending, I am indebted :-P
Shall do it 1st thing when I get back :-)
Take care and take RPAS to the epitome of glory.