Buenos Dias! - Our Cancun Vacay!

Ohh I've always wanted to visit Cancun and it was one of the destinations on my wishlist

How I wish I could say that . However our trip to Cancun had a boring reason behind it - Visa woes. I had to get a travel document extended and since we had to travel in January, we quickly picked Cancun as our travel destination. A few of our friends had visited the place and some quick tips helped us with our vacation planning. 

We had a 4 nights 5 day trip to Cancun and I tell you it is not enough - a week perhaps. 

We had a direct 4.5 hour flight to Cancun and we reached at about 11 in the morning.

Mexico has a Visa on Arrival policy for US Visa holders - so getting a tourist Visa costs nothing and takes 15 minutes  - Muchas Gracias Mexico for keeping it simple and making it so traveler friendly. Much Appreciated really .

At the airport we quickly exchanged some of our Dollars to Pesos and headed out to catch a cab to our hotel. Just as we stepped out , the warm, humid air greeted us and this Bong was quickly transported back to Kolkata. Well, so much for being homesick. The husband walked on ahead to arrange for a ride. We chose a shared ride to our hotel ( $16 pp) and after a brief wait packed ourselves into the van. Cancun is a beautiful city - Palm trees lining the clean roads, whitewashed pavements , blue skies all left us in awe. Reality Check - P was so awed that he lost his sunglasses on the way to the hotel . Note to self - Do not lose any more stuff in Mexico. 

A 20 minute cab ride later we were right in front of our resort. The bell boys rushed in to get the bags and directed us to the hotel reception. Both of us stopped midway and exclaimed "Wow!!!" - we could see the pool, cabana , beach chairs and the beach bodies.The note to self was kicked out the door - We lost our hearts to Mexico!  

We were given wristbands at the reception - the resort we chose was an All Inclusive one - All meals at any of their restaurants ,drinks, activities,minibar, room service etc. were all included and this wristband provided us with the necessary access. We were both hungry and since we would get our hotel rooms later we went to the buffet area to grab a quick lunch. "Quick". I thought so before I could see the spread - the buffet was huge and we both ate till we could eat no more. We made dinner reservations at one of their fine dining restaurants , grabbed some tour brochures from the travel desk and checked in to the hotel room. All the rooms in the hotel are sea facing so there is nothing called a bad view.

 Now all is not perfect - how can it ever be ?? The Internet - Wifi cost is extra , a whopping $16 per day per device. Now isnt that unreasonable . A rip-off to say the least. While we were at the reception lobby , a timeshare guy greeted us and promised us free internet if we listened to their 60 min presentation the next day about Royal Caribbean . Free Internet sounded like music to our ears - We signed up. 

That evening , we went off to Oriental restaurant at the hotel for our dinner. The restaurant's ambience, service, drinks were excellent , food was just ok though . After dinner we sat near the pool, happy and sad at the same time - end of day 1 of our trip to the Caribbeans. 

The view from our balcony

Adios Amigos!

"Let the Waves hit your feet & the Sand be your seat" - Pinterest

Thank You, Merci, Danke, Gracias , Dhonnobaad....

I've been off blogging for a long time now. I don't know why I stopped blogging -well, well lets not get into that. Let's begin like we were in the middle of a conversation and you know all about what's happening with me .We're through with scolding each other for not keeping in touch often and back to being best friends. 

I've been going through a tough time on the personal front for a few days and with no work in hand I had a lot of time for introspection. I know I don't crib about my life but how often am I thankful for the people who make this life so worthwhile for me - seldom I say. So, today I take a step back to get my support system into focus. Friends, colleagues , acquaintances, "Punching Bags" as SRK calls them aka family and God - Thank you for being a part of my life and making it so beautiful just by being in it. And a big and even bigger Thank You to the Almighty ( yes , yes am an Atheist) for this beautiful day you present me with - I choose to make it happy, sad , boring , exciting, excruciatingly painful and sometimes just while it away - but your gift is a beautiful day . Do I value it enough - I don't think so. 

So, here's to making it count - Note to Self : 

"Its a beautiful day,

Don't let it get away"....

To everyone out there -at the risk of sounding cheesy, look around or ohh wait!!! Maybe at the person right next to you and say a Thank You or better yet, remember Munna Bhai's "Jaadu ki Jhappii" just to say hat's off for dealing with a nutcase like me. 

"If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough."

Meister Eckhart 

Matru ki Bijli ka Mann is Upset!

I just got back this evening after watching "Matru ki Bijli ka Mandola", a Vishal Bharadwaj movie. An off-beat title for a movie and a teaser quirkier still got me really interested in this one. It also stars my favorite "Karamchand" - Pankaj Kapur and I thought it would be quite a delight to watch. I love watching movies - and well after a good movie I think about it when I get back home - and I definitely bring back at least one of the characters home with me - either for some bashing or for having a one-on-one "Sweets with Srey" kinda rendezvous . However, tonight's not the night and unfortunately with the absence of alcohol I only get to see "Gulaabooo" or that could just be me on the other side of the mirror! I definitely need a drink or two now.

It's got power-pact  performances from the entire cast. Ohh I loved Kapur playing the so very Grey Mandola - Good and Evil at the same time, transitioning smoothly and never for once looking out of place. Bijli seemed an apt name for Anoushka in the movie, however I thought she didn't bring anything new to the table it was all too similar , nothing that we'd not seen.  But what was missing from it all was perhaps some good consistent storytelling. There was sattire , slapstick comedy, over the top dialogues with slangs thrown in at the end of each sentence, I felt as if there was too much of everything... and finally which is why for me it missed its point. It talks of serious issues and I would have liked to feel for the hapless villagers of Mandola but well, I couldn't . It left me confused and disappointed as it could have been so much more! 

Sunday morning: I just heard Rajeev Masand's review this morning, and he seems to have really enjoyed it. So, definitely many have loved this movie and enjoyed it to the fullest. As for me, without my food for thought I head for the Fridge - for the kind that always leaves me happy and satisfied.
 It really almost never disappoints...

“It's not what a movie is about, it's how it is about it.” 

― Roger Ebert

Welcome 2013!

Wishing everyone good health ,happiness and the very Best this New Year!


New Year's Day:  Now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions.  Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual.  ~Mark Twain

It's another New Year and time for new beginnings - Resolutions again made to be broken.
Well , I had a resolution last year to start writing a blog - I did, though only 4 posts in the entire year is not exactly a job well done.
So , here goes one of my Resolutions for this year, to be consistent with writing a blog - a little more of Sweet'nSour and hoping it's a little sweeter this year.

A flashback into 2012 - The Husband moves to NJ on a new assignment. Visa troubles spurred an impromptu 2 month trip back home right in time for Durga Pujas. Though the working nights routine was a little overwhelming but a visit back home right in time for the biggest festive season for India was nothing short of extraordinary.  Mahalaya, Durga Puja, Bijoya Sammilani, Lakshmi Puja, Kali Puja, Bhaiphonta , Jagadhhatri Puja - Month long festivities and watching a Kolkata dressed up in its finery after years  will be cherished forever. I am back to Chicago, working and living with roommates. I travel back and forth between CHI and NYC on weekends and holidays and  though my travel carry-on seems to get heavier this winter my pocket feels considerably lighter with these weekend trips. 

Time Check - Current Day,  It's a chilly morning here in Windy City and as I head off to catch the morning train to work I can't help but wonder What would this year be like --- Make and Break, Sweet Love and Heartache, Exciting and Boring, Surprising and Shocking - It's going to have it all I know - A Bollywood Masala!

 As I speculate and wonder about this year and how it's going to turn out , I am reminded of a song sung by Doris Day from one of my childhood favorites -

Que Sera, Sera,

Whatever will be, will be

The future's not ours, to see

Que Sera, Sera

What will be, will be.

Lights, Camera Action ----- And it begins!

Home Alone

Its been a little over 2 weeks that I am Home Alone - and I seriously hate it.
I remember watching "Home Alone" when I was in school and all I could think of was the independence and sheer thrill to be Home Alone - my very own adventure and I get to be the protagonist.  Who would have known then that Independence is overrated and is not so much fun if you don't have to fight for it!

I work out of home nowadays and though it keeps me busy throughout the day my high point of the day would be when Mr. P(THE HUSBAND) comes home and we get our hot cuppa and chat about all things under the sun. The weeknights are spent cooking dinner together, sharing it, picking on some fancy destination and making a travel plan even if we don't have any vacation days or most importantly Moolah to even remotely make it happen. Some days its office work which he brings in and though the calls are a tad too long I somehow like to read my storybook amidst all the chaos.( I guess it reminds me of home! )
We end our weeknights with movies ( our weeknight favorite - the Poirot Series)

I remember our discussions on one such evening where I had animatedly said that our life was so mundane , so very routine. I had then perhaps unknowingly wished for "Change" - and so Voila Change it is... I now crave for my mundane routine in this small city of St Louis with my best friend. I am not regretting the Change - its perhaps a realization of the small nothings which really collectively make a beautiful Something.

Even though I follow the same routine now , everyday at just about 5:30 PM I feel as if there is going to be a very familiar knock on the door and it is going to be P -all set for our weeknight adventure(Routine) to begin. Till I await my knock here's hoping you have a "Boring evening with a Beautiful Someone " or perhaps the otherway round. Take your pick!
  
 A Lesson Learnt : BORING IS BEAUTIFUL!

"Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood".~ Hellen Keller

 

Beat the Heat with Ted Drewes!

These days when the daily highs in our small city, St Louis crosses the 100 F mark with ease and neither chilled iced tea nor the AC makes you feel relaxed we decided to brave the heat and enjoy St Louis special Frozen Custard from Ted Drewes .

 We went to the Chippewa Street location which although was a tin shack and nothing impressive we saw a 100 odd people queued up on a Wednesday night. Kids dipping their spoons and eating the buttery gooey custard and instant delight on their faces.

Their main selling items are the sundae and the "Concrete" ( so named because you can turn your cup upside down and the custard wont fall down! )

As always, there were numerous options for Sundae's with toppings like nuts ,berries, caramel and loads of other fun options  both sweet and salty which could satisfy a host of cravings. We finally chose the "Terramizzou" which had chocolate and pistachio nuts. And oh my gawd!! did we like it...After just 5 minutes it was all lapped up and we decided to try another one. - "Southern Delight Concrete with Praline nuts" .Of course, my Concrete was melting pretty fast and so the upside-down cup would'nt work for me.  However, the dessert was excellent and I am not complaining.

It was delicious and refreshing on a hot humid day. 

Ted Drewes is a St Louis Institution and rightly so. It is the best custard in town - and am sure after a visit it will leave you drooling for more.Have a wonderful summer everyone!

Ah, summer, what power you have to make us suffer and like it.  ~Russel Baker

My Oscar Movie Watchlist : Midnight in Paris

After a stressful day at work, people do various things to relax - listening to some soft music, grabbing a drink etc. I like to watch movies. Good, positive movies. Couple of months back, there was one such day and I enjoyed watching Woody Allen's "Midnight in Paris". 

This is a romantic comedy about an American couple (Owen Wilson & Rachel McAdams) who come to visit Paris and have some remarkable and really strange experiences that change the course of their entire lives. The movie is essentially about these characters, love, and what else?  - About Paris!


The movie opens with some beautiful snapshots of Paris - a touristic montage and it looks apt as the lead actors are an American couple on a vacation to Paris. What really appealed to me is that the movie talks about an illusion “It’s the present. It’s dull” - that we all want to escape to another time and place; could be our childhoods or perhaps another century altogether.

The cast I must say is terrific. Owen Wilson really comes through as the dreamy writer who's personal life is in a state of mess. It's amazing to watch his reactions on everything going around him.
It also has some wonderful cameos from A-listers.

Without delving deeper into the story in fear of revealing it - my recommendation is to sip some hot coffee on a cold evening when there isn't much to do and travel to where else ... but "Paris"..