Nostaligia and a bit of wistfullness for what had been....

I know it's been a little less than a year since I last posted here....but I really did not have much to say....and now that I do here i am!!!

In my earlier avataar as a features writer for a Bangalore based publication, I have filled up reams of newsprint with fashion, food, theatre, celebs notes and more. Recently, I came across some of my writings and decided to post them HERE for posterity!!??!!

Here's the first 'editor's note' I wrote....and it was an honor and proud moment to see my name on page 1!

Bangalore, September 02, 2001:

High Steppin' Shoes

Stepping into someone else' shoes is always a scary thing to do. I mean it could be a cakewalk type takeover like Clinton after Bush. Or it could he the bumpy road taken by Yeltsin and Gorbachev.

By Vinitha Naidu

My entry falls somewhere in between. That's because taking Vincent's place as Information Manager for BTF is both a pleasure and a pain. It's pleasurable because I'm inheriting the well-oiled processes he has established. It's a pain because I still manage to jam my fingers somewhere or the other. But then, who said the road to success was easy? The May editorial is usually about spring and beginnings. Well, I'm beginning the possibility of more such tete-a-tetes with a "spring" in my step. And I'd like to think that you would support me... much like you did Ramjee, eleven years ago. And thank you Ramjee, for believing that I can do more than just look at my reflection in the pool. I'm stepping in.

Culinary perfection at The Banjara

Written on April 20, 2001

Dew drops, pink flies and great food....

The Banjara Group of hotels, which runs the much-loved Banjara on Kumara Krupa Road, also runs the multi-cuisine restaurant, with the same name, at Ramanashree Comforts, Raja Rammohan Roy Road.

The comfortably lit restaurant is reminiscent of a Chinese mandarin’s room (minus opium vapors, of course). Yet there is something modern about the place, something will appeal to today’s customers.

The food is predominantly Indian, with a lot of Chinese and Continental food to add variety to your palate. For lunch you can either order from the vast menu or pig out at the very economical buffet spread (Rs 200 a head inclusive of taxes).

You can begin with some innovative cocktails with names like Dew Drops, Pink Fly, and old favourites like Screwdriver, Tom Collins, Bloody Mary et al. The bartender does a perfect blend of fine spirits and liqueurs and his specials are a must try. Get adventurous and sample a bit from each cuisine. Chicken Man Chow soup, redolent with aromatic spices and garlic is a good starter and whets your appetite.

A Chinese chicken platter accompanied with a ‘ping’ sauce, was interesting with full points to the sauce. Flavoured without being overpowering.

For the die-hard meat lover, the Tandoori platter with various kebabs would be a delight. Made by Chef Bhagwan Singh whose come down from Mumbai, it contains Reshmi kebabs, Malai kebabs, Afghani kebabs, Tangadi kebab, an unusual vegetable sheekh kebab, made from beetroot and the Chembur kebab (chicken kebab layered over with egg pancakes). You can accompany this platter with cheese naans. Light but sinfully filled with calories.

Chinese fans have an extensive selection of dishes to choose from. Chinese Schezwan rice and Satay chicken is a good choice to make. Each and every bite is redolent with flavours from the mystic Orient, and keeps you wanting more.

The dessert section features a few Indian choices and some Continental ones too. Fried ice-cream, a speciality of the Banjara restaurants, both in Kumara Krupa and Ramanashree is the all time favourite and rightly so.

Banjara also offers breakfast buffets priced at Rs 126 and includes fruit juices, cereals, bacon, many breads and South Indian breakfasts.

Jeffrey Crasta, group general manager for the Banjara Group, said "We will be starting a family pub in the same premises, within the next few months. We hope to fill the need for a good pub in this locality."

Lucky Bangaloreans.

Enduring faith

Bangalore, August 29, 2001:

It's been an uneventful two months. BTF has been going along just fine... with no major goof ups from my side.

So there I was all complacent and content, and I thought to myself, why not seal this run of luck with a visit to the Lord of the Seven Hills.

Being the conscientious sort, I decided to do my spiritual seeking on the weekend. I reached Tirupati at about 4 am, raring to so and discovered that my appointment with the almighty was only at 10 pm.

Dotcom CEOs and God are equally busy these days, it seems.

Well, they also serve who only stand and wait.

That's when I realized that Indian Stretchable Time stretches all the way to heaven.

I waited and waited along with crores of others, all waiting for divine blessing to rain down on us in a cool, serene spray of enlightenment.

We were rained upon alright, but with blows, pushes and shoves as the sweating line of Humanity inched its way to divinity.

After what seemed like an eternity, I found myself in the sanctum sanctorum face to face with The One I had spent 24 sleepless hours waiting for.

Strangely, I found myself thinking of Ravi, our sales manager, describing some of his clients. "You spend hours waiting for the boss to see you," he had said, I knew then what he felt.

"Darshan" over, I walked out of the temple clutching two ladoos (these are strictly rationed) and a new respect for some of my colleagues.

Working for BTF or waiting for God... whatever.

I know I need a lot of patience.

Hmmmm.....makes u think...

Watch your thoughts, for they become words.

Watch your words, for they become actions.

Watch your actions, for they become habits.

Watch your habits, for they become character.

Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.

The Buddha

Fun Questions and Answers

They may be complex, vulgar or mixed. What are they ?
Fractions

Who said, "If you can count your money, you're not a really rich man'?
Paul Getty

What was Ringo Starr's original name?
Richard Starky

Paul McCartney has always used his middle name, what is his first name?
James

Which of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient world stood at Olympus?
Statue of Jupiter


Did you know ?
If you hit a diamond with a hammer, it will break! A diamond is 58 times harder than the next hardest mineral on earth, corundum, from which rubies and sapphires are formed. It was only during the 15th century that it was discovered that the only way to cut diamonds was with other diamonds. Yet, diamonds are brittle. If you hit one hard with a hammer, it will shatter.

Answer

The 'Star Spangled Banner' is the national anthem of the United States of America. The fun part is the words missing from the song are United, States, America!!!

The Star Spangled Banner
(The Defense of Fort McHenry)
September 20, 1814
By Francis Scott Key

Oh, say can you see, by the dawn's early light,What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight,O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.O say, does that star-spangled banner yet waveO'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,As it fitfully blows, now conceals, now discloses?Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,In full glory reflected now shines on the stream:'Tis the star-spangled banner! O long may it waveO'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
And where is that band who so vauntingly sworeThat the havoc of war and the battle's confusionA home and a country should leave us no more?Their blood has wiped out their foul footstep's pollution.No refuge could save the hireling and slaveFrom the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth waveO'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall standBetween their loved homes and the war's desolation!Blest with victory and peace, may the heaven-rescued landPraise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.Then conquer we must, for our cause it is just,And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."And the star-spangled banner forever shall waveO'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Question of The Day

What three words are missing from the "Star Spangled Banner"?

Post your answers here. Answer to this question will be posted within 24 hrs.

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