Everything Under The Sun & Nothing

Back

2010-09-06T05:37:00.001+05:30

Dare I? It's been so long. Will it still mean something?

on the move

2008-07-25T11:12:00.002+05:30

will I start blogging again?

River Cruise

2008-02-17T08:18:00.008+05:30

This was definitely a difference from the night cruise on the Pearl River. First off, it was so cheap you wouldn't believe it. S$0.40. No frills of course; they even locked the bathroom. And it only runs in the day. But you get an entirely different view than at night. No less stunning I must say. Especially loved the sunset. So if you are ever inclined to do this, I highly recommend the 5.20pm departure.

Food of the Bloom

2008-01-29T05:29:00.000+05:30

莲子扣肉, or lotus seed stewed pork. Something we found in a 湘菜 restaurant, i.e. cuisine from the Hunan (湖南) province. Lotus seeds wrapped by fatty stewed pork. The fat may put some people off initially. But there's certainly eye appeal and the when tasted hot, the fat just melts in your mouth.

Another Sunday

2008-01-19T12:11:00.000+05:30

Mag and Viv got up bright and early that morning and headed off for some geocaching on the White Cloud Mountain. The rest of us decided to take it a little easier...

Our day started with a strill along the river bank over to the concert hall and modern art gallery on the island where I live.

Perfect weather for it. Haven't seen weather like this in such a long time.

There are quite a few pieces outside the gallery so there was no need to even to go in. Just enjoying the outdoors was perfect.

Is that a cat giving birth to Ed?

We persuaded Su to do a little posing with these working women...

... Ed of course needed little persuasion to practise some of the moves he's been using for Mag's specialty shots.

We had some pastry and coffee at the French deli next to the concert hall and then headed out to...

... yes! 四海一家, apparently the largest buffet in Asia. Max and Russell joined us for this excursion. Gosh, the crowd we had to fight through to just get the seats we had reservation for... you'd think we were getting it free! Unfortunately, no photos were really allowed inside of the food etc. The intrepid Janes cut it really fine by turning up just before the buffet was closed. So we had to bring a whole bunch of food to lay on the table before they arrived.

All said and done, the fare was only soso. Definitely value for money though. Nevertheless, I won't be back in a hurry.

Hainanese Fare ...

2008-01-19T08:46:00.000+05:30

After our little sojourn at Deer Lake on Sunday, we were looking for a place to eat and chanced on this Hainanese restaurant that just opened. It's not even had it's official opening. And we were pleasantly surprised at how good the food was.

My memory is really failing me here. Cant recall which was the duck and which the lamb dish. But they were both delicious though.

These are the shells of the "eye clams" that were fried with beans. They are rock hard and I could see any was for the clam to attach itself to.

Last Day of 2007

2008-01-19T08:20:00.000+05:30

Boon was inspired by Hweeb and Ed into performing a kungfu kick...

The weather was lovely, so we spent most of the day outside. We then decided to go for a massage, chinese style, stuff our faces with Portuguese tarts (not really), head home for a brief respite (last minute naps). Then it was off to NY's eve dinner.

炳胜 Bing Sheng

2008-01-07T05:34:00.000+05:30

One of my favourite restaurants in Guangzhou. Unless you've booked a private room, there's always going to be a wait.

Aubergines
Beef Ribs Chinese style
Crispy Char Siew... definitely worth the calories
Salmon Sashimi
Stuffed Peppers

Water Snake anyone?

Surrealism

2008-01-05T10:43:00.000+05:30

Mag started taking pictures of this scene and I joined her. The smog of China turned this afternoon to a scene of peaceful morning bliss.

Food Again

2008-01-05T10:03:00.000+05:30

We had the chance to try some truly local fare at one of the sites in KaiPing. This was the only restaurant in the AAAA rated Li Yuan (立园). The tofu was excellent. It was only when we were leaving that we realised that they had added a layer of fish paste before frying them. Even those who were not keen on rice enjoyed the claypot rice with eel (黄鳝).

Kai Ping 开平碉楼

2008-01-04T05:37:00.000+05:30

These have been called 碉楼 or 碉堡. Could be translated as a sculpted tower or fort. (Wikipedia)

We were not allowed to take any pictures inside. Couldn't figure out why as none of the old furniture or artifacts were protected from the elements anyway. And there was no one stopping those who did.

These buildings are even more amazing when you see them from high up. There are usually quite well spaced from each other and appear out of nowhere. Notice how small the windows are? Wonder if it's for keeping the cold or the enemy out.

Boy, were the koi hungry. Does nobody feed them?

One of these lucky shots that I managed to get. Just pointed the camera and shot from almost ground level. Couldn't look through the viewfinder.

A little afternoon tea perhaps?

Back to Bangalore

2007-12-18T10:43:00.000+05:30

Was back for a few days... not long enough but what fun.

Fave Food

2007-12-18T05:42:00.000+05:30

Yes, I do love my crab. Favourite dish? Chilli crab.

Managed to get some of that and pepper crab in SIN recently at the newish Long Beach Restaurant at Dempsey. Ambience was great. The area has really developed to become one of these bustling happening places.

Food generally good and it's perfect that there are wonderful options of places to adjourn to.

Oosh was our choice. Too dark for pics though.

Thanks guys for a lovely evening.

Orchid Garden

2007-12-06T05:10:00.001+05:30

But not an orchid was in sight.

It's the wrong time of the year. Nevertheless, this garden is still a worthwhile visit. The coffee lounge had a marvelous ambience. Good for a Sunday afternoon get away from it all.

Amidst the hustle and bustle of the city, this was a really quiet respite. But few people seem to know about it.

Weekend Recce

2007-12-03T05:37:00.000+05:30

Finally managed to get out to 上下九 (a pedestrian street with older buildings converted to shops) this Saturday. Street food and old restaurants served as a wonderful diversion for our morning.

陶陶居 is over a hundred years old apparently but has been taken over by new owners. However, the ambience was good (old time, loud and sharing tables). I loved the food. Taste was excellent, my favourite char siew pau in the city.

This street leads all the way to the 'antique' street. Lovely walk through older constructions...

Lotus Mountain

2007-11-27T05:03:00.000+05:30

On Sunday, we hired an MPV and headed out to 莲花山 or Lotus Mountain. The huge temple on the top of the hill houses the most number of Guanyin statues in the world, at least that's what the write-up says.

Of course the kids had the most fun. A bubble gun each and they were in heaven.

This is also where the largest statue of 观音 may be found, completely plated in gold. We walked around the large grounds of the temple but did not explore the rest of the hill...

...because it was already lunch time. 番禺 (Pan Yu) was nearby and spur of the moment decision was to try the largest buffet in Asia. Alas, that was not to be without a reservation.

渔民新村 stepped up to provide sustenance to the weary travellers.

凉茶店

2007-11-27T04:57:00.000+05:30

Lots of these little shops that sell cooling herbal drinks dot the city. Have it by the street or step in for a cooling jelly (龟苓膏). Your choice.

Sydney

2007-11-22T05:28:00.001+05:30

Had the chance for a brief visit to Sydney. When I say brief, I mean brief. Was there on Mon at 11am and left the next morning before 9. It was mostly for work.

Took the train from the Airport Hotel to Circular Quay and spent the entire afternoon there. Lovely weather and fresh air for a change. We had all been to Sydney before, so all we did with the iconic Opera House? Took pictures from afar.

Sydney has got quite expensive, or has it always been that way. I must remember to change money before I go. (No commission at Changi airport for airport pass holders, I think.) A$8 to change S$250? Not worth it!

Relaxing by the Quay, enjoying the fresh air and the sun and the beer... ahhhh...

Family Visit

2007-11-12T04:10:00.000+05:30

The family visited me over the Deepavali weekend. First stop was obviously for some local cuisine. I had booked a private room for the eight of us. Minimum spending required was about S$100. Who'd have thought that after ordering more than eight dishes, I couldn't make up the amount...

That evening, we went on a river cruise that took us down the Pearl River. The weather had cooled down and a light sweater was actually required. This country does not stinge on the lighting required to make an evening cruise interesting. As as the countdown to the Olympics continue, various signs are visible to remind us of the impending event.

Dim Sum

2007-10-31T05:47:00.000+05:30

...in an opulent setting... what else when China is concerned. The setting here is a converted theatre. Food stations on the stations on the side... On my Sunday excursion to Shenzhen.

Day Trip to Italy

2007-10-26T05:47:00.000+05:30

Had the chance to pop over to Macau to check out the new casino, the Venetian. Feels almost identical to the one in Vegas, except it's much bigger. We were told there are three as compared to the one canal in the Vegas property. All I can say is, "It's huge and overflowing with opulence." Well worth a visit though.

Halloween Come Early

2007-10-21T21:38:00.000+05:30

"Wedding from Hell" was the theme at Mansion on Saturday night. Some people came dressed. As usual, yours truly did not make the effort. My costume/disguise? Paparazzo.

It was a pretty cool evening so the air-conditioning was perfect. The cocktails were pretty lethal. I paid the price today for my overindulgence. "Pace yourself" is what I keep telling myself. When will I learn?

The party ended after 2.30. No 11.30's for the Chinese.

Sight and Sound

2007-10-19T05:38:00.000+05:30

It's a beauty. I've finally set it up after I got the Pioneer Home Theater set delivered over the weekend. My blank white wall is converted into a canvas of action and colour...

I had completely forgotten about the regions on DVDs. Guess what? My home theater system does not play Region 1 discs. Have to be creative and plug in my portable player that is multi-region. More wires... but worth it.

Back to Food

2007-10-08T20:59:00.000+05:30

It had to happen sooner or later... I mean me blogging about food. 俊田会 is a multi-cuisine (except maybe Indian) restaurant in a mall. It's huge and service was so-so since it was so busy on Saturday. It's still a wonder to me how these massive restaurants are always full. Food was pretty good though.

On a Little Street in...

2007-10-08T20:45:00.000+05:30

I wonder if every city in China has a 北京路 just like every city in India has a Mahatma Gandhi or MG Road.

This street is now closed to traffic and the crowds throng the shopping area, especially on weekends. Too bad my battery went dead. More pics next time.

Back With Lights

2007-10-08T20:08:00.001+05:30

On a recent sojourn home, I had the chance to drive through the Geylang area. No chance to stop, so I had to take the pictures from the car. Turned out pretty interesting.

Went by little India too around evening. The Deepavali decorations were also up. Purple or lilac on a sunless evening really gave the place a weird feeling. The lights were not installed yet. Wonder what it will look like then.

Back

2007-10-08T04:43:00.000+05:30

Weird all the instructions are in Chinese. Anyway, should be able to start blogging again soon. Round about way but ok.

Will be going back to work again today after a week's break. Getting the feeling thta I will be overwhelmed today. But that's ok. It will all sort itself out. That's the optimist in me speaking...

Calm Before The Storm

2007-09-08T10:34:00.000+05:30

I was leaving my office yesterday around 6pm and saw this sight in the distance. It was getting very dark and cloudy but the sun was almost setting on the opposite side. The colours looked really amazing.

Banned

2007-09-08T09:03:00.000+05:30

Just realised that blospot is banned in China. Can post but can't view. Managed to view from another site but then can't comment... Sigh!

Back to Basics

2007-09-05T15:54:00.000+05:30

Food that is. Went to Shenzhen on Sunday and dropped in at the largest mall there, Mix C. Was going to try out this theatre restaurant but they were booked for an event. So ended up with another Chinese restaurant. What else! Can't quite recall what region the cuisine was from, but it was yumms! The salmon sashimi and shredded cucumber wrapped in the thinnest pancake was especially exciting, accompanied with a dipping sauce that had no wasabi in it at all.

Lights

2007-08-25T11:11:00.001+05:30

This city must spend so much on lights. Buildings, riverside, all well lit at night. Mayor Plaza is the adjacent building to my office block and it is no exception. I have no idea when they switch it off at night, if at all. Welcome to the third world indeed.

Bang!

2007-08-25T10:59:00.000+05:30

It had to happen sometime. I was heading out Friday evening to meet some friends in Hooley's Pub. The taxi driver was an impatient young chap, weaving in and out of the traffic. I wasn't paying attention and before I knew it, he braked and I was thrown forward. There's a cage divider between driver and passenger and my nose decided that it was going to be the first point of contact. Touched my face and the blood told me that my forehead had that little nick as well. He dropped me about 200m from my destination where he stopped to negotiate with the driver of the car which he had hit. No charge! Rightly so.

Anyway, I didn't let it spoil my evening. Hooley's is another Irish pub and there was a live band. Pretty good atmosphere on a weekend. I stayed for a while and then adjourned to Riches. Needless to say, I'm still nursing a hangover..., with the little accident quite forgotten.

Room with a View 2

2007-08-22T06:30:00.001+05:30

This is the view from a friend's 37th floor apartment. That's the thing here. There doesn't seem to be any control as to how high these buildings can go.

The rain may have settled some of the smog or it's just better at night. However, I'm developing a cold which I'm definitely not happy about.

Made in Singapore

2007-08-18T12:38:00.000+05:30

I haven't seen the movie but heard a lot of good things about it and this MTV actually tells me that Singapore cinema has come a long way. Maybe I should organise a screening in Guangzhou... 881

Another good song from the movie.

Only In China

2007-08-17T07:04:00.000+05:30

I was accused of being tardy and pathetic in my updates... OK I agree. So to reward people that do come back once in a while, here's a little tidbit.

This is parked in the garage in my apartment. I have never in my life seem something like it. Unfortunately my flash is quite limited. Promise to get a better picture next time.

My stuff is still stuck in Bangalore. Who knows when I will receive them. Have moved into the apartment but still living out of two suitcases.... Sigh

Room with a View

2007-08-02T07:43:00.000+05:30

Haven't had a chance to edit these photos but this is the view from the conference room in my new office.

The windows are tinted so you get that unnatural hue. But the smog is real. Pollution is quite bad here but the city is defintely more than I expected.

Farewell My Concubines

2007-07-15T22:12:00.000+05:30

It was certainly a night I would remember for a long time. Thank you all for making it so fantastic; especially M, P, B & S for 'sacrificing' so much to bring such entertainment and laughter to us all. For everyone who had anything at all to do with making it happen, please excuse me if I haven't thanked you personally. It was wonderful to see everyone who managed to make it and those that did not, I shall miss you all.

Will try and post more pics. Once I leave, may not be able to do anything with the blog for weeks...

Farewell Begins

2007-07-13T08:00:00.000+05:30

Thank you CW & S for the wonderful meal. I was really bloated when I left. I think I've put on another 2 kgs in the last week.

Daemons

2007-07-13T00:38:00.000+05:30

Got this from Jonzz. Definitely attracted by the graphics. Live most of these, the traits can fit almost anybody I think, and always positive.

Just some news. I'll be leaving India next week and will be moving to China. Haven't really had time to process this yet. Have lived here for more than four years and made some amazing friends.

Chinkinin will soon become Chinkinchin.

Another Au Revoir

2007-07-09T01:51:00.000+05:30

Thank you Ani and Dhruv for a lovely evening and the send off. Loved the biriyani!

Se7en Se7en Se7en

2007-07-08T10:56:00.000+05:30

Counting Down

2007-07-08T10:49:00.000+05:30

As it draws closer to my date of departure...6 Jul 2007

Another Feast

2007-07-02T07:10:00.000+05:30

Yes, Ternasser worked over the weekend and served up a delectable one indeed. Amongst the dishes were her signatures and a notable success in experimentation. I have to say that her skills extended to mojitos too. This was her farewell treat for Chris and Marge and it kinda was mine as well. They leave Bangalore on the 4th and I'm off on the 18th. Enjoy!

Another Binge

2007-06-29T08:45:00.000+05:30

Dinner at Vienna. Value for money for sure! All the seafood you could ask for. Not the best quality but we really enjoyed it. Especially some of the soups.

Ed joined us halfway through but managed to catch up as far as stuffing our faces went.

Interesting dessert. Looked better than it tasted though. The inside tasted like the durian cakes you can buy, a bit artificial for my taste and the yam was a bit hard. Nevertheless, we left quite satisfied indeed.

Happy Hour

2007-06-29T08:36:00.000+05:30

Got 'let out' early on Tue and was thought we'd start at the Brauhaus at United Square. How many are there in Singapore? And are they part of the same chain? Why do some of these places look kinda sleazy when you arrive before dark? Large choice of beers though.

It's interesting how some of us only know each other from blogs, which prompted Beng to remark, "So you are Poohbearie?" And yes PB, you are much better at keeping mum about personal stuff!

Home-Schooled

2007-06-28T00:24:00.000+05:30

Ed hosted us on Saturday night. Not that he's not already an excellent chef in his own right, with some advice from his mom, a delectable feast was guaranteed. And from the bar, mojitos, Croatian wine and Champagne were served.

Yumms the word!

Moving Out

2007-06-27T23:39:00.000+05:30

Finally said goodbye to my flat in Singapore. Everything into storage. I will miss it.

Impromptu 3 - Deja Vu

2007-06-22T08:30:00.000+05:30

This was decided at lunch time. It's fortunate that I now have help to set these things up.

Definitely putting this bar to good use. Make sure you invite 'bartenders' and you will always be able to keep the area well populated.

Was desperately trying to come up with something different to order. Unfortunately, Nanking wasn't ready to do home delivery, so when I picked up the phone to ring Chung Wah, the same dishes sprang out of my mouth.

Terna returned from Bangkok with no juicy stories but these lychees and rambutans made an excellent dessert.

Then it came time to distribute the spoils. Spoils is right. Some have gone past their sell-by date; result of culinary ambition that lacked the follow-through. Most popular? Instant noodles and 'paper products'.

Impromptu 2

2007-06-20T08:15:00.000+05:30

Another ploy by an Airline that shall not be named? Well, some friends of mine were booked to travel to a domestic destination at 1500. At midnight, an SMS was received that the flight XXX will depart on XXJun at 1630. When they arrived at the airport, they were told that their flight had already departed. What about the SMS? It was to tell them about their return flight... no delay, just the schedule. That's the way to do it. Send someone an sms in the middle of the night telling them the schedule of their return flight when they have not departed. My guess? The flight was oversold; so they send out a few sms's in the hope that some passengers will get confused. This way, they will not have to offload anyone. It will be the passenger's own fault for turning up late. And they were right.

So they visited me at my now not so new but completed place. A couple more phone calls and we had an impromptu party.

A became the bartender by default. However, I was not really prepared for cocktails, so he didn't get his chance to strut his stuff. The strawberry margueritas will have to wait.

We discovered J's hidden talent for Bollywood dancing. Unfortunately, I value my life too much to post any of the more risque pics.

S loved the cuisine. Alas, it was only Chung Wah home delivery, the eatery that has taken care of me from Ulsoor to this new place. They are also responsible for my inability to maintain my svelte-ness.

I asked A to bring some CDs in case they didn't like my music. So she brought her iPod and even the mini-player with docking station. That's how we managed to operate our Bollywood disco into the night.

Monday night. Who'd have guessed.

B-B-Q

2007-06-11T07:52:00.000+05:30

Quite a few birthdays amongst the Singaloreans to celebrate in June, and that's not including some people who were travelling or left Bangalore.

With the help of TC marinating everything for the barbie, HL hosted the small gathering. As he started the trend, once again, he arranged for some live entertainment. Margaret brought us some great mee siam, possibly for the last time in Bangalore. Diya treated us to nasi goreng and ox tail. Sharon provided the salad and Geraldine turned up later with a whole bunch of mangoes. As you can imagine, we had a lot to put away. But who's complaining.

Mysore Palace Revisited

2007-06-11T07:00:00.000+05:30

We thought we could return to the Mysore Palace for a visit. Alas, we were running out of time.

We only managed to visit the grounds in the blistering heat, stare at the monumental building in awe and then moved on.

This is the last post from Su and Boon's recent visit. Unfortunately, the food pictures from our last dinner at the Park didn't turn out right. It was great having them.

Opulence of a Bygone Era

2007-06-10T15:36:00.000+05:30

We left Ooty early next morning (31 May 2007) hoping to see some of Mysore before heading back to Bangalore.

On a low hill, just outside the royal city of Mysore, stand a shimmering white palace - a splendid Italianate palazzo, double-columned and domed - set in sprawling terraced and landscaped gardens. This is the Lalitha Mahal Palace, built by the erstwhile Maharaja of Mysore to host his most important guest, the Viceroy of India. Set on a ridge commanding a panoramic view of the gently sloping and curving valley, at the foot of the Chamundi hill, this dream-like palace was built in the year 1931 for special guests of the Maharajah's.

Inside, there was a stuffed lion standing regally in the middle of the lobby. The atmosphere conjured up images of the days when the maharajahs ruled. It was so evocative of the days of yore that I felt completely out of place in my jeans and t-shirt.

I could actually imagine carriages pulling up into the driveway, disembarking royalty in all their finery. A visit is a must. Wished we had time for at least a drink in the bar, if not a meal in the palatial restaurant.

Mountain View

2007-06-10T14:38:00.000+05:30

Doddabetta is the highest mountain in the Nilgiri Hills, at 2623 meters. It is a popular tourist attraction, and is about 8 km from Udagamandalam. The Chamundi Hills can be viewed from the peak. The name "Doddabetta" traces its roots from the Kannada language, in which "Dodda" means Big and "Betta" means Mountain

That's where we spent our final evening in Ooty, soaking in the rays of the setting sun. I'd been there once before in the morning, so it was a lovely change. There was a rather large crowd up there but the view and the weather were simply gorgeous.

Boon was so taken with this sign that he insisted I take a picture of them together.

We were denied a glorious sunset as the low-lying clouds scattered the rays and the fact that the park was closing. We were unceremoniously ushered out.

I wish we could have stayed longer on the porch, with a lovely cup of tea and watch the sun sink slowly below the horizon.

On our way down, it was interesting to see the stall vendors packing up and then secreting their bundles into the bushes. Are there no wild animals there that might be tempted by the food and wares they were selling?

We started driving down the quiet road and the light disappeared. We watched as several of the women carried huge bundles on their heads as they went on their long lonely trek down the mountain, think what it must be like to do the climb the next day.

Lunch Anyone?

2007-06-10T13:30:00.000+05:30

Not many choices outside of the hotels. We had read about some multicuisine restaurants but we were not ready to try it. Safe bet? Indian. We settled on Quality Restaurant, which turned out to have branches in other cities.

The lamb dish was delicious and I'm sure it was the 'sweet meats" that added to it. The dal and chicken were up to par, all in all a very satisfying meal.

Farm Fresh

2007-06-10T12:43:00.000+05:30

We read from a leaflet that we could get some home-made jams from Beullah Farm and headed out in search of it. It wasn't easy to find but it was definitely worth the visit. Mind you, we never saw much of the farm.

From the gate, it was about 20m to the shack. It was a quaint little blue structure with really low ceiling. There was already a group of about six people inside when we got there. That was all the room there was. Immediately, we met an elderly gentlemen holding a tray of about 20 to 30 shot glasses. He started introducing us to his home-made 'nectar' that have been fermented without yeast. He's made them with all sorts of fruits; guava, plum and pomegranate were our favourites. Needless to say, we carted some of these home, together with some rhubarb and peppino jams.

83 year old Mr. Eappen Jacobs is quite a character. His card actually reads "engineer turned agriculturist". He claimed only to be the 'in-charge' since God is the owner of the place. He wanted us to taste everything. When Su surrendered, "This is last one." He quickly added, "Last but one." I think we had three more after that. Everything was priced at Rs. 100 and he didn't want to get himself involved in the 'dirty' business of collecting money. He made our little visit even more memorable. Thanks to his hospitality, we left there quite happy, especially Su, who couldn't stop giggling.

Erin Villa

2007-06-09T19:05:00.000+05:30

Apparently, people in the know will come to Coonoor to pick up petit point table linen. We chanced on the sign enroute to the tea plantation. Boy, were we not disappointed.

Apart from the fact that Su managed to get a table cloth large enough for her dining table, this 'shop' is actually operated by two sisters from their home. The grounds were amazing, overflowing with wonderful flora at every turn. We wished they would serve tea in the gazebo. But then, they were only doing this to help underprivileged women and ran the place like a non-profit organisation.

The clouds rolled in behind us giving the place such a surreal feeling.

The Tea Affair

2007-06-09T18:41:00.000+05:30

The only way to see Coonoor was by car. Our plan? Take the train while our driver bring the car by road. No eco-friendly at all but it meant we had wheels. Or we would never had trekked out to the absolutely charming Singara Tea Plantation.

We had expected a guided tour of the grounds and a charming little tea shop where we could have a cuppa and enjoy the view. Alas, all there was was a factory and a little office that was nice enough to sell us some tea direct. We were invited into the Manager's office. You can't imagine how much that felt as if we had been summoned to the Principal's office for misbehaving. We couldn't get out of there fast enough.

It was also here that we met those delightful kids who could teach Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie a thing or two about the simple life.

Nilgiris Express

2007-06-08T08:31:00.000+05:30

The Nilgiri Mountain Railway became a world heritage site in 2005. The ride from Ooty to Coonoor would take about 45 minutes. The train conductor told us which side to sit for the best view. Unfortunately, others were more clued in and had already reserved those seats.

Several times, stunning vistas would open into the valley, which we never would have got from the road. The conductor would tap me on the shoulder and point and prompt us about tunnels that were coming up. He called the place the second England, "England is the King and Nilgiris is the Queen."

King's Cliff

2007-06-07T00:56:00.001+05:30

That's the name of the lovely little hotel we stayed in. It was converted from an old house. All the rooms had names of Shakespeare's plays. We had the pleasure of staying in Macbeth and Tempest. My room actually opened into the service corridor and one of the rooms is actually accessed from the restaurant.

Like all hotels in Ooty, the grounds were very well kept. Flowery shrubs abound. It was absolutely glorious in the early morning sun. Unfortunately, we never really had the time to enjoy the grounds. We actually encountered people who appeared to be regulars to the hotel. An escape to a hill station is a perfect way to escape the summer heat.

We made the mistake of ordering western cuisine for our first dinner. Bland soup and rubbery lamb do not a good dinner make. We wised up the following evening and ordered Indian. Is it actually possible to find bad Indian food in India?

Thread Garden

2007-06-06T23:57:00.001+05:30

The Boat House is a tacky little carnival created next to the man-made lake in Ooty. We dropped by and Boon managed to buy not one, but two, peacock fans. Imagine the poor peacock strutting semi-naked now somewhere in the Nilgiris foothills.

However, we did discover this little interesting exhibit across the road. Every flower and every blade of grass here is made from thread that's been carefully wrapped around some cardboard. This particular creation on sale apparently took two and a half weeks to make.

Udagamandalam

2007-06-06T08:41:00.000+05:30

...which is also known as Ooty to the rest of us. Our first stop was for a spot of lunch at the Holiday Inn, which offered a lovely view. Unfortunately, not directly from the restaurant. Food was nothing to shout about but the Indian choice will always be the safe bet.

We then wandered the streets since there was not much else we could do in the light afternoon drizzle. Part of the agenda was also to look for the legendary King Star Confectionery that sells the 'original' Ooty chocolate. Between us, we must have bought five kilos of the guilty treat.

I never would have attempted the Anthony Bourdain stunt of indulging in street fare if not for the adventurous Siaws, especially Su. She was immediately tempted by the fried green chillies, which turned out to be quite delicious. She even had the cut mango with massala.

What was also interesting was that this stall was run by two chaps that look educated and spoke excellent English. They were even dressed like office workers.

Enroute

2007-06-05T13:46:00.000+05:30

The drive to Ooty isn't particularly exciting until you get to the 36 sharp bends. But the national park has the best paved roads, at least on the Karnataka side. We managed to spot some langurs and elephants too.

As we got closer, the sight of the Nilgiris (Blue Mountains) with the clouds clothing parts of it really made us long to be there immediately. Su remarked that we get that sight occasionally on Bukit Timah Hill as well. But without the cooler temperatures of course.

A tea break at this little tea shop yielded the best tea on the trip. Su & I were having coffee until we tasted what Boon ordered. We stopped there again on the way back, but I think we should have just stuck to our memories of the first sip.

Ooty Blooms for Sarah

2007-06-05T00:55:00.000+05:30

Mysore Palace

2007-06-04T23:58:00.000+05:30

We actually thought we could visit the Palace en route but we were too early. It wouldn't be open for an hour yet. So we just went to gate and took some pictures.

The weather was simply perfect at the time. The sun had yet to impose it intense heat. We just gaped in awe of the structure before us and decided that we'd check out the Palace on our way back from Ooty.

Starting Out

2007-06-04T23:23:00.000+05:30

We dropped Ed off at the airport started out bright an early Tuesday morning. The 300 odd kms would take us at least 6 hours. Every time I had headed off in the direction of Mysore in the past, we'd make a stop at Kamat. Kah Hoe introduced this restaurant to me. Didn't realise it was a chain though.

Perfect place for a great South Indian breakfast of idli and wada. The great thing about wadas in India? They are so crispy on the outside, unlike anything I've ever had back home. Rustic ambience adds so much to it.

He Made It!

2007-06-04T09:24:00.000+05:30

Finally, Boon arrived on Monday night. It's the epitome of travelling light. He had sent his stuff with Su earlier, so all he had to do was saunter through Immigration and Customs with two bottles of duty free.

First order of business, since he had so little time here, was a visit to Taika. Just enough time to check the place out and have one drink.

More?

2007-06-04T07:34:00.000+05:30

It had started to rain by the time we made our way to Olive. Nothing like being ushered into the restaurant under umbrellas. We sat indoors and it was a pity not to be able feel a bit of the damp air or hear the rain. As usual, the food was excellent and so were the cocktails. Of course I recommended the tea-smoked duck breast. We then passed round the three main courses of orechiette, risotto and lamb. By comparison, dessert became a let down. I was dining with people that made better tiramisu...

Next day was a work day. So Su and Ed went gallivanting on their own and we only met for lunch at Sunny's. Another restaurant where the favourites will never let you down. Su enjoyed her seabass; it was amazing watching her lovingly pick the bones clean.

Brunch

2007-06-02T13:41:00.000+05:30

The champagne brunch is still the thing to do on Sundays in Bangalore, even though the prices have almost doubled since I first arrived here three years ago. Some people swear by the Oberoi but I still feel the Citrus at the Leela creates a great atmosphere with the live band and the sunny ambience, especially if it's the first time you are doing brunch in Bangalore.

Hanging Out

2007-06-02T13:00:00.000+05:30

Going out in Bangalore has become a real mad rush nowadays, especially when you want to hit as many places as possible before the 11.30 curfew (well, it might as well be.)

After the protracted high-tea and waiting for Ed to conclude a marathon interview, we only had time for a quick shower and change before heading out again. First stop was Sari's apartment for a quick drink. Then it was over to Cosmo for a meal, excellent phad thai and spicy lamb curry. We then joined the rest of them at Blue, where we only managed the one drink before the bar closed.

All this on Su's first night. Bet she was exhausted.

Shiny Happy People

2007-06-01T08:42:00.000+05:30

We met the five kids at the tea plantation. They are children of plantation workers. 58 children from grades 1 through 5 attend a small school held in the church there. I was surprised when Paul, aged 9, said his ambition was to be a father. Then I realised he meant a father in the church.

Vista

2007-06-01T08:23:00.001+05:30

Would I ever attempt PB's tag? There is not much I would not settle for. Life is about compromises. We do not live on this earth on our own. There are two sides to everything. If you can do something about an unhappy situation, do it. If not, change the way you look at it and live with it. Is that settling? I think there is always a choice.

It's All About The Company

2007-06-01T08:04:00.000+05:30

Taj tried to launch a Hi-Tea at Mynt on Saturdays. Despite all the promises, alas they did not live up to it. Where were the scones and clotted cream? Anywhere, we did our own thing and managed to enjoy it anyway.

First Impressions

2007-05-29T01:09:00.000+05:30

I decided that Su's first meal in India should be Indian. So before she even had a chance to breath, I whipped her and Ed off to Dakshin at the ITC Sheraton. I have always loved the ambience at this hotel with it's throw-back charm. The Pavilion with it's massive glass conservatory look and the Indian with modern paintings on the wall and Indian ornate bells hung in the corners.

I always loved the thalli there. I had forgotten about the banana pancake that they served as a starter. It was excellent! I decided to order extra lady fish. It was lovely but it only served to fill us up even more.

...and the chutneys and pickles which Su loved. Needless to say, lunch was a roaring success.

Sunday Morning

2007-05-28T06:37:00.000+05:30

I just realised the blog's going to be a little chronologically out of sequence because of the camera I'm using. Ed arrived on Friday evening and Su on Saturday morning...

The specialty at Koshy's on Sunday is the appam with mutton stew (peppery and creamy). It's amazing how the place just fills up. 15 minutes after they open, there are people standing around waiting for a table. Jonathan also joined us since he's never been to Koshy's for breakfast in the three years since he's been here. And he leaves for good at the end of the month.

And of course the Sunday morning experience would not be complete without a visit to Premiere Book Shop. One can't help but be fascinated by the precariously stacked books, especially the one rotating stand that resembles the leaning tower of Pisa. It also helps that the proprietor would give you a discount regardless of whether you're a new or old customer or if you'll ever visit the store again.

A stroll down M.G. Road would take us to the Bombay Store. Best find for the chefs with me? vanilla pods. They were literally ecstatic...

A Date I Remember

2007-05-21T07:48:00.000+05:30

Jomee's birthday falls on the same as sister's as well as Su and Boon's wedding anniversary. And yet I forgot to wish the latter three. Sorry guys.

J decided to have her celebration at the Park and said she had invited a 'few' friends. At least now I have an idea of what her definition of 'few' is.

Hey Jomms, we can finally see the 'blue'. Thank you for a lovely evening.

Afternoon Delight?

2007-05-09T08:00:00.000+05:30

In our perpetual search for some place air conditioned, we ended up at the Eskibar in Holland Village. This after a buffet lunch binge at the Pariss at Ngee Ann City. Yes, the Canadian oysters had no chance!

B & E were quite intent on trying the different cocktails. Unfortunately, my impending cold meant I wasn't even scoffing the beer I had ordered. Surprisingly, we did not venture into their ice room for some chilled vodka.

B headed off to another dinner and E and I met LH and TK for dinner at Ding Tai Feng followed by guess what? Karaoke until 3 in the morning. Hahaha.

Coffee Anyone?

2007-05-07T08:09:00.000+05:30

A misnomer truly when you see the huge bar the minute you enter. B introduced us to this as as the Japanese Whiskey Bar, which I think is so much more appropriate. I must admit I didn't even check if there was coffee on the menu.

We were looking for somewhere 'AC-cool' to adjourn to after dinner and this was where we ended up. Ambience was pretty good and there was lots of seating and one could actually hear himself think. We were most excited by the crystal and the ice ball; and I must say that was the prettiest fruit platter, just the way the Japanese would serve it.

I didn't take a picture of it but they actually installed one of these fancy toilet seats with all the buttons on the side. You almost feel like you needn't do anything apart from push some buttons when you're done.

I thought we had taken a private jet and flown the entourage to Shinjuku... not quite but it was very different indeed.

Food! Glorious Food!

2007-05-05T14:10:00.000+05:30

You asked for it, you get it - food pictures. Ed celebrated his birthday a few days in advance in this very nice restaurant called Whitebait & Kale. It's location at Camden Medical Centre should not be a cause for concern but it certainly prompted some of us to attempt some lame jokes.

The ambience was great; the air conditioning could have been better though. I had stuffed my faced in the afternoon at the Ellenborugh Market Cafe and so was unfortunately indisposed to sampling any of the cuisine. But I did manage to dip my fork into a few of those excellent looking desserts.

I will have to come back another time to satisfy my greed.

Changing

2007-05-04T08:59:00.000+05:30

On my recent trip to Singapore, managed to catch this on my visit into the CBD. Singapore's skyline has certainly changed from what I remembered. Quite stunning actually and unique. The 'durians' have become rather iconic, whatever we say.

Blue Frog Relaunch

2007-04-23T14:05:00.001+05:30

It was an occasion for many reasons. Day after A&A's wedding anniversary, they decided to call a few people home. They will be leaving on their trip back to the US for more than a month. They also decided to try out a couple of Thai recipes since they just managed to get some fresh ingredients from their recent trip to Thailand. And most of us haven't visited the 'Blue Frog' since Arvind shifted the bar. There is so much more space now.

Arvind tried to recall his recipe for cosmopolitan. He didn't quite get it the way he wanted, but we enjoyed it anyway. You can since we almost finished the entire bottle of Ciroc.

The sky was clear for a change and it was once again great to be hanging out outdoors. They've really brought the Goan shack back into Bangalore.

Their cook also managed admirably with the recipes. My greed kicked in as usual as I continued to bring the spoon to my mouth. I loved the curry.

It was a Sunday night. So I was really surprised that we stayed until almost 1am. Anyway, we will not be seeing A&A for a while as they go gallivanting all over the US of A. Arvind will then take the girls on a 10-day trip to Vietnam and Cambodia. Mixing work and pleasure. Almost two months in all. Bon voyage!

How Do They Do That?

2007-04-22T12:43:00.000+05:30

Stay married for so long that is; and still be very much in love. A & A celebrated their wedding anniversary (I won't say which one) on Saturday. In the midst of all that's been going on in their lives this year, they had actually forgotten about it until Am's sister called to wish her.

A celebratory bottle of champagne at Blue was followed by a lovely dinner at the Blue Ginger. Nice wine, great company, the time flew.

You won't have to wait long to find out what their secret is. They're bottling it and it shall be available at a store near you very soon.

Bountiful Harvest

2007-04-22T12:01:00.000+05:30

The Chias went on a short trip to Singapore and look what they brought back for us last Sunday. Familiar favourites all. Quite a few of the Singaloreans were not in town, so the more for the rest of us who were.

Water, Water Everywhere

2007-04-22T03:08:00.000+05:30

I really have to check if there is something is my karma or whatever you call it that is disagreeable with water.

I came home from an anniversary celebration with A&A, which will be blogged later, just after midnight. It had started to rain quite heavily. The small porch at my front door doesn't really get any rain but I notice water there. It was bubbling and I realised that the water was back-flowing. I checked all my windows and they were ok. Guess what, I never thought to check the balcony.

Not five minutes later, I stepped into a puddle in my living room. Lo and behold, water had been back flowing on the balcony too and flowed into the living, stretching to the dining and my bedroom doorway. Fortunately, I had some help to somehow clear some of the blockage on the balcony and also threw some over the side. And I also managed to put all the stuff that had been lying on the floor onto tables and chairs. After more than half an hour, managed to dry up most of the
place.

Went downstairs to take these pics of the car park, which was also flooded. Not quite a disaster but bad enough. The rain stopped after about an hour and the water started to subside.

Remember I said karma at the start? A similar thing happened to me about two years ago when I moved in to my previous apartment. I had just arrived home after work during some heavy rain. How weird is it that I always managed to just arrive in time?

Tag

2007-04-18T23:47:00.000+05:30

Never been tagged before and was really hesitant about doing this. Anyway not even sure what one defines as weird. And a list of 10? Tall order indeed.

1. My taste in music? Or some might say the lack of it. These are two albums I just bought. I listen to almost anything with the exception of rap.

2. When I was a child, I used to visualise elephants stomping whole bunch of upright toothpicks.

3. When I read a book, mainly fiction, I see the action happening in my head. That's why I read slower than most people.

4. I buy books faster than I read them. I lived in Manchester for about four years. During that time, I loved to visit the book stores. Invariably, I would leave with some purchase or other. When I was packing at the end of stay, I discovered that I had about 250 books that I hadn't read. If I read a book a week, which I don't, it would take me five years to finish them. I am still buying books now.

5. Same with CDs. There are still some I have not listened to. Few CDs, I have duplicates. I forgot that I already had them.

6. Same with DVDs.

7. I love top lists. Be they top 10, top 100, whatever. And I love to scan reviews for recommendations of what books/CDs/DVDs I should be getting.

8. I believe that one shouldn't sleep too much i.e. should spend more of our lives awake than asleep. Burn your candle at both ends. Maybe you burn for a shorter time, but you were so much brighter. I say believe, because it's hard to practise.

9. I believe that if you binge, your body is not able to process all the rubbish you put into it. As such, most of it will just go right through you i.e. you will not put on weight if you binge occasionally, like every other day.

10. I am a walking encyclopedia of useless information. Someone once called me that. I don't have an opinion on everything but I do know a lot, by that I mean quantity and not quality, about a lot of things. Must be because I watch so much TV.

OK Jonzz, it's done. Don't think they really qualify as weird. Most are not even particularly peculiar to me. But they are quirks about me. Kinda.

Little Bangkok

2007-04-15T16:48:00.000+05:30

Taika goes through a transformation every Sunday afternoons. Four sois appear where street stalls abound. I was pleasantly surprised by the carts with their red umbrellas.

Started off with a coconut drink served authentically in a plastic bag with a straw. It was most refreshing. I ended up having more of those without any alcohol whatsoever the entire afternoon.

Food was great. So much so that I actually forgot to take pictures of them. Loved the variety of seafood done Thai style. Deep fried drumstick, so sinful, especially after the KFC I had last night.

There was also plenty of activities to keep everyone busy; from 'tattoos' to foot massages and even board games. All this while, a live band was playing. I think they really go the atmosphere right. And when you enjoy the company, what more can one ask for.

A welcome change from the usual Sunday brunches at the five-stars; especially when you only pay about half the price!

The Flea's 1

2007-04-12T08:13:00.000+05:30

It's been a year since Olive Beach started their monthly Flea Nite. I actually thought there'd be some sort of celebration going on but it was only the usual but with a much larger crowd. Because of that, the service was appalling slow.

I actually said that when I left Olive, I would head straight home. But it didn't take much to persuade me to go to Blue, which turned out to be pretty good. Ran into a few people too. First time I've met Pat since she returned from her month-long trip to Bangkok. And guess what? She's no longer blond.

When it came time to say goodbye, some of us decided that supper would be a good idea. I really should quit while I'm ahead sometimes... but that's another story.

Living With Plastic

2007-04-11T07:22:00.000+05:30

... and dust. It's been 10 days and some of my furniture have yet to see the light of day. They are all upholsterd in white or off-white, so you can see my dilemma. With all that dust floating about, there's no way that I would remove them.

I have not even taken the plastic off the mattress. Yes, that's right. So I have my sheets on top of it, giving me the extra sound effect of crinkling platic every time I roll over.

The damp walls are drying slowly but surely. So with some luck, thes plastics come off this weekend. Will have to pop a bottle of champagne then.

The Current State of Affairs

2007-04-08T12:31:00.000+05:30

I'm always posting nice pictures, so this will be a change. It might also start a trend for me.

I moved in to a brand new apartment on April Fool's day. How auspicious is that? The apartment really wasn't ready but I took a chance since my previous lease had expired and I really didn't want to extend it any more. Besides, the new apartment will be stunning when it's done.

I actually slept in a construction site the first couple of days. There's dust everywhere so I was reluctant to change to new sheets. On the third day, I had airconditioning, so I thought things were looking up.

Lo and behold, two days ago, spotted the puddle just inside my bedroom door. Bubbles were forming under the paint. The builders are working on it but have yet to locate the source of the leak. This morning, the puddle became a pond and I started looking for tadpoles. And it's ruining even more walls. They need to fix this fast. Dreading the dust when they redo the walls...

...the saga will continue

What Does One Do On A Friday Night?

2007-03-31T00:41:00.000+05:30

Spoke to Saritha today and she said she was going to live in her new apartment for a few days to make sure everything works before renting it out. So she decided to just call a few people home just to hang out and chill.

I actually thought she suggested that she'd ask whoever called her that day. I thought, "What a great idea! Decide to have a party and only invite the people that call you that day. How spontaneous!" But what if nobody called? That's probably not something she'd worry about.

She ordered some food from Lazio. We all brought a little something to drink and we were set. We sat on the terrace and it was lovely. It was really too hot indoors.

I left early as I still had to prepare for the big move to my new apartment the next morning. Cops were staking out around the corner. Fortunate, my driver doesn't drink. For those of you who do not know, an Indian breathalyser is the policeman's nose. He sticks his face real close and tells you to breathe out at him. Yucks indeed!

Well, that's it for now. New apartment's broadband connection will not be ready for a few days. Have a great weekend y'all.

New Kid in Town

2007-03-29T23:47:00.000+05:30

A & A & I decided to try out this new Chinese Restaurant in Sigma Mall. It is apparently owned by the same people from Ling's Pavillion in Mumbai. Their specialty is supposed to be seafood.

The decor was above average. However, it was ovbious from the way the tables were arranged that this was a family oriented restautant and the sense of fine dining is not there. For that, Qi would be a much better bet. In true Chinese restaurant style, the lights were bright enough so that you could see what you were eating and actually read the menu. For a week night, they had quite a good crowd.

I had heard that the food was ok and the seafood was fresh. But it was somewhat disappointing when a few things we had asked for on the menu was not available. Rice paper, lotus leaf... or certain things like some Teochew platter and clay pot stuff would take a while to make. We couldn't help but chuckle at the appearance of tiramisu on the menu. Did the Chinese also invent that and then have it promptly appropriated by the Italians?

We liked the noodles and the chicken but the Singapore sauce was not like what I expected and perhaps did not go as well with prawns as it would the crab. Amy put it best, "It's not the greatest Chinese food, but I'll come back."

Another Move

2007-03-25T16:51:00.000+05:30

Spring must be the season for it. Ben and Sarah recently moved from an apartment across the road from me into a house. Saturday was their housewarming. Lovely place; perfect for all the art pieces they have accumulated. They also inherited the previous tenant's cook of 11 years, who was especially handy on this occasion, whipping up some wonderful canapes and finger food to accompany our drinks. Loved the prawns.

The living room opened directly onto the lawn and the newly grown carpet grass was perfect for the impromptu picnic that some of us decided to have. The outdoor was the best antidote for the heat that has descended on to Bangalore.

Slowing Down

2007-03-20T08:11:00.000+05:30

After two rather frantic days, we decided to take it a little easier. Infintea gave us our start and I thought Annie should at least see a little of the city before we join TC and the Chias for lunch.

By the end of the meal, Annie was pooped and was having a headache. The cure? Get a massage at Spratt, then head home, pop two Crocins and have a nap.

Before heading out to the airport, I thought she should check out another place and my favourite dish. But all she could manage was a burnt tomato soup. So guess who had two more eggs that day?

It was then time for Annie to bid farewell to Bangalore and her whirlwind tour of Bangalore was over.

Breezy Sunday...

2007-03-19T18:20:00.000+05:30

Or was it a whirlwind? How much activity can one actually squeeze into one day. We thought we'd take it slow. No breakfast but we'll proceed directly for the champagne brunch at Mynt, Taj West End. Lovely spread that included oysters, caviar and parma ham. But the price had also been increased. So even with the OWC discount, it wasn't cheaper than Singapore.

Check out the desserts. In terms of presentation, I think this is the best in all of Bangalore. But guess what Ed concluded at the end, "In India, desserts look much better than they taste." I think that also depends on what you pick. Pastries are usually much better.

After all that stuffing, we decided a walk would be a good thing. The grounds of the Taj was lovely. Even in the afternoon heat, there was sufficient shade that offered respite.

We then headed off to the Grand Ashok for a sale. Rummaging through piles of various tops, we manage to come away with a large bag each. Next stop, Bombay Store. Annie managed to get most of the gifts she wanted in the form of more than 10 dupattas. Needed a drink badly after that - Kappi Nirvana, Iced Eskimo and Strawberry Iced Tea at Cafe Coffee Day.

We then had a housewarming to get to. Stopped by Empire to pick up some barbecue chicken and leg of lamb. Annie and Ed had the first hand experience of IST, Indian stretchable time. We were told it would only take five minutes for them to send a leg of lamb from their main branch. Wasn't surprised when it took more than 15. Even knowledge of the fact aforehand did not make it any less frustrating.

Singaloreans Neo and Sharon had their housewarming. Main feature - Hainanese chicken rice that was prepared from scratch. Excellent! Other capable chefs also contributed to the feast. Needless to say, mahjong and football were also the order of the day.

Of course I had to show our visitors a little of the night life in Bangalore, even if it was for a quick drink. Olive Beach also happened to be showing the works of a photographer whose name I forget. But that really added to the atmosphere there.

We ran in birthday boy Patrick, whose party we had just attended the night before. He had Jason and Jeff with him. They were actually taking a breather between parties. They had gone for Gautam's farewell at i-Bar, then Fuga. After their drink, the were off to another party at the Meridien.

We decided that it was time to call it a night. Ed had some packing to do for an early flight and frankly, I was pooped. It's a good thing Monday was going to be a public holiday.

Lazy Saturday?

2007-03-18T12:14:00.000+05:30

Not quite. Annie finally made it to Bangalore. We whisked her directly from the airport to Ista's Liquid where we joined TC and JT for a drink before heading on home.

Despite the late-ish night, at least by Singapore time, we were up and out of the house by 9 for my usual Saturday jaunt to Koshy's. That is the rightful induction for any newcomer to Bangalore.

We dropped by my new place and Fab India before adjourning to the most iconic hotel in Bangalore. It should come as no surprise that I brought them first to the galleria to contribute to the Indian economy.

After all that hard work, we rewarded ourselves at the Citrus. We were too lazy to choose from the ala carte menu, so buffet it was. Even if we tried, we couldn't have prevented ourselves from overeating. We were quite happy with a couple of dishes but I'd be hard pressed to remember the food if not for the photographs.

Having recharged ourselves, next stop was 100ft Road. Bhandej, 100ft Restaurant shop then Levi's. Last stop was Commercial, where we finally declared that we were done for the evening.

Home. An hour's rest and then off to Sari's for Patrick's xxth birthday party. Loved what the cakes said. On one was the simple message "Old Age..."; the other "is not for sissies". A sentiment we shall all come to embrace soon enough.

Introductions

2007-03-14T23:59:00.000+05:30

It was Audrey's first trip to Bangalore and big sister and brother-in-law decided to show her around. One of the first places we usually bring visitors to? Cosmo Village. Love the ambience even though we definitely felt the first signs of the summer heat sitting there on the terrace.

Old trusted orders of tom yam goong, phad thai and spicy lamb curry. It still tasted pretty good but the portions and small but noticeable differences prompted us to enquire if there had been a change of chefs. The DJ also hadn't turned up for work and we therefore only Madonna to accompany us through most of the evening.

An old acquaintance dropped by after getting rid of some 'official burden', to relive the good old days. All in all, a rather relaxing evening to see us through the rest of the week.

Housecooling?

2007-03-14T08:19:00.000+05:30

Probably the last party I will have here before moving to a new apartment at the end of the month. Ordered the food from Saigon again, this time minus all the frills. The fried rice and pork were excellent. And I made sure we had some of the chicken winglets and momos (Tibetan xiao long bao?) which most of us like.

Another wonderful thing about Bangalore is how reasonable the flowers are. I believe a lot of it comes from the hill station of Ooty. That's like Cameron Highlands to Singapore. It's amazing that you still find imported artificial ones when all this fresh stuff is so easily available.

I will miss the large balcony on this duplex on the sixth floor. The view and the memories.

Make a Wish

2007-03-10T17:41:00.000+05:30

9 March is Saritha's birthday. We started the evening by attending the Imedeen launch. Yes, the product that attributed the "My secret to beautiful skin? I swallow." line to Zoe Tay. Imedeen is now in Bangalore. Wonder if Indian society would be inclined to do the same...

We were supposed to play everything by ear but by evening time, Sari had a change of mind and pulled one of those last minute miracles, with the help of S&S, and there was suddenly a party was going to be in her new apartment.

We started turning up after 10 and the music was on and drinks and ice were ready. Candles were lit to enhance the mood on her terrace. Even the bathroom was converted to some boudoir, enticing the visitor to linger. You can tell that if she was living there, she would be spending a lot of time in that particular room.

Last minute catering was arranged from Empire. Probably the best Indian food available late at night. There was lamb biriyani, roast and butter chicken with coin paratha. One sinful dish I wished they had brought was the brain fry.

We managed to do the cake cutting about 15 minutes before midnight to still properly celebrate the day. A little of obligatory cake smear was performed by Sonam; otherwise we were all rather civilised, even if we did use the spoon handle as a knife.

A few of us left at about two in the morning. As I was walking to my car, I could still hear the music and laughter drifting from the terrace quite loudly. The neighbours must be so grateful that Sari will not be living there permanently. Happy birthday.

The Other Garden City 3

2007-03-10T14:41:00.000+05:30

Actually thought the yellow blooms were over but discovered them all over again when I walked through Cubbon Park, from St. Marks Road, right up to Vidhana Soudha.

The Other Garden City 2

2007-03-09T08:45:00.001+05:30

This is what I see out of my bedroom window. A neighbour's roof terrace. This is what's in bloom now.

2-in-1

2007-03-05T01:07:00.000+05:30

Two celebrations together or it could also mean two people (Sam ans Raymond) sharing an apartment, who were our hosts for the evening.

This was also the last day of the Chinese New Year festivities. As you can see, everyone who was a cook in Bangalore contributed something. The earlier ambition of having auspicious dishes kinda fell by the wayside. Abalone yu-sheng was abandoned as TC heard from Joseph that it sounded like 'guaranteed not to prosper'. Sharon and Neo did not manage to bring in the duck. Nevertheless, it was still an excellent menu. No pics, but Jonathan brought charsiew and 'kong ba' paus as well. There was also a dessert soup made by chef JT. Yes, compared to me, they are all chefs. Kudos to all of them.

And what would new year celebrations be without a bit of gambling. A mahjong game was ongoing while we started on an exciting game of 'polish'. After dinner, black jack was the order of the day. It didn't matter if one won or lost since the stakes were hardly significant. It just added to the atmosphere.

I think hardly anyone of us would still be here in Bangalore next year. Treasure the moment, eh?