kal, aaj aur …kal

Yesterday, we room mates tried out new Indian Restaurant for change. Little India was random idea that just came to one of among us. It is hardy a five minute walking from our home.

It is a small restaurant at Toorak Road and had capacity of 20-25 people. As it was cold outside we preferred to sit inside.

We were all impressed by Little India’s business-style infrastructure and executive staff. For drink we ordered Corona with lemon and as always it tested great.

For starters Onion Bhaji is default for us. I did not found much difference in taste compare to other Indian restaurants. I rarely eat mushrooms. But it was red and spicy Tandoori Mushroom dish served and made my mouth watering. I enjoyed mushrooms first time in my life. Again Paneer Pakoras disappointed us. They were taste less but with mint chutney somehow we managed.

In main course, as we were not aware about quantity and quality we tried Shahi Paneer and Paneer Shimla Mirch. And they were delicious and not too much spicy as we preferred. But it was not enough quantity. As we were five, we ordered one more of each.

I tried Onion-nan with spices and it didn’t make much difference. But Garlic-nan was crispy and thin.

Throughout the dinner, staff service was excellent. Even Little India is in South Yaraa, our bill was reasonable. ($150)

If you are looking for Indian taste in Melbourne, dine-in Little India.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Technorati: Little India, Restaurant, Food, South Yarra, Melbourne, Australia

Last Sunday, I and my friend Rajdeep played Squash at Hawthorn Sport center. But Today, I was just recalling my all games which I used to play during my Childhood. It left me with laugh and regret.

*

Langadi, Kho-kho, Hide & Seek were most frequently played games in school. But I am not going to write about those games. Those were the games which were unique and funny which I used to play in Ahmedabad.

*

“Color-color”

“Kayo color?” [which color?]

“Blue!”

Color-color was the Game. A main player announces any random color and then everybody has to run away from him/her. Everybody then has to search for that color somewhere near by and has to touch it to survive from main player. If anyone would not able to find that particular color and touched by the main player then he/she declares OUT and would be main player in next game.

Ice-Pice had a similar concept of Hide & Seek except wasted Colgate powder still wrapper. One of player has to throw still wrapper as far as he/she can then main player has to run to get it back, as fast as he/she can. Till then everybody has to hide somewhere. A Main player has to get that wrapper back and he put at the ground and circles around it. If anyone found by the main player then he announces his/her name and hit that wrapper with ground two-three times and he/she declares OUT. But if main player is away from wrapper and any of hidden player able to reach at the circle and hit wrapper with ground then Game restarts.

It was Aishwarya Rai who was playing Sattoliyu in the first song of Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. We have to build a pyramid-type structure using seven stones. Each stone would be larger than other, where larger at the bottom and small at the top. There are two teams of seven players. One by one player tries to break a pyramid with a ball. If player is not able to break the pyramid and ball caught by an opponent then the player who throws bowl declares OUT. Excitement begins when anyone breaks the pyramid of stones. The team who break the pyramid has to run away from the opponent. The opponent players try to hit ball to the players of other side to get them OUT. While on the other side, players try to re-build the pyramid again. If they succeed to re-build it, Everyone shouts S a t t o l i y u … Means, We did it!

*

As I recall all these games it really feels good but regret too. Because I know that I can recall, write and re-write but can’t go back to my Childhood again.

On one of 90s Saturday night, before sleep my younger sister (pooja) told me “kunu, tomorrow is Sunday. Will you wake-up me?”

“Yes, I will.” I said.

But there was something different in my mind.

I woke-up early in the morning and carefully left the room so my sister couldn’t wake. Hurriedly I rushed and switched-on the TV. Hema Malini was about to start Rangoli at 7 a.m. I felt so relaxed. Around 8:30 when my sister woke and starred at me with complain that why? But she didn’t tell anything to me. Next Sunday I missed to watch because she didn’t wake me up!

It was then where a mischievous game started between us. Most of the times I won and sometimes she won to watch early Sunday programs. As we grow, we had little mutual agreement and we started to see Sunday programs together. We were always eagerly waited for Sunday mornings and very much upset on Sunday night.

“Will you both go to bath or I switch-off the TV?” was first default sentence from our mother we heard on every Sunday mornings.

Without proper bathing and breakfast, again we used to sit in the front of TV like statue. How can we move when we are seeing Mile sur mera tumara and Baje saragam. Again we knew that to see Mogli we have to wait a while, especially to sing Chaddi pehn ke phul khila he. Kaka chale wanka was very humorous serial based on amdavadi uncle, where he used to fool everybody with his wisdom. Ramayana was very amazing when we see Hanuman went bigger in size and sometimes smaller. I still remember that there were more than ten neighbor come to our home to watch Mahabharata. I was especially interested in war episodes. Where before left the arrow Arjuna close his eyes and read some mantras and then starts fire from the arrow with jankar beats sound effects. It was always thrill for me.

One of my uncle always used to come on Sundays to meet us. Those Sundays was horrible for us as he did not like TV.

“kunu, Get some khaman-dhokla [A Gujarati Food Item] from the market for uncle” Mummy said to me.

“Where is it?” I said without watching to them. I was busy watching Potili Baba Ki.

“aree! You don’t know Jalarama Khaman House.”

“ummmm. Don’t know exactly…. ahhh.”

I tried my best to keep watch my program and I was almost succeed till my uncle said.

“I think I will try to remember you”

He switched-off the TV and said “Now?”

With highly disappointed expression I started to run from the house and in less than ten minutes I returned home and switched-on the TV. Potli and Baba both were gone!

“Will you both come for lunch or I switch-off the TV?” was always a second default sentence from our mother.

After lunch, it was always crucial time for us to watch TV. Everybody used to eat very heavy food with mango ras, puri, and shak. Unfortunately after lunch, they always preferred to sleep in front room where our TV was. But we were never hopeless. We already found the solution. We used to sit in front of TV with distance of three to four inches and watch White Elephant documentary movie or any Gujarati Movie with very minor sound. I liked Gujarati Movies because of Ramesh Mehta’s comedy. My right hand as back-up was always at the switch-off button, as soon as I realize that anybody is waking up because of the sound, I switch-off TV and ON again after five seconds as I start to hear their snores.

We both had to struggle to watch alone till night. Everybody wants to watch at night. So as evening starts it was very easy to keep watching continuing. Flop Show by Jaspal Bhatt, was highly humoured program. It was the only program that we laugh after we see that everybody is also laughing. We should too. But I liked Surabhi. It was like I am travelling to different parts of India by sitting at home.

*

“Go to Sleep. Sunday is over. Tomorrow you have to wake-up at 6:30a.m, not to watch Hema Malini but to watch School Rikshaw.” With smile, Mummy said.

We said “ “

When my sister asked me before sleep “kunu, how many days after next Sunday will come?”

“Six. Unfortunately” I tried my best not to cry but she cried already.

Well, here’s the New year 2008 and the first post with good news that finally I got my own domain and thank you for easy word press domain purchasing feature.

Then: http://davekrunal46.wordpress.com

Now: http://davekrunal.com

Bookmark: Feed

Generally I do not listen gujarati gazal, but luckily as a gujju; This gazal sung by manahar udas is exceptional for me. I love its sensible words and beautiful piece of music.

 

Thaye sarkhamni to utarata chhiye

Te chhata aabaroo ne, dipavi didhi

Emna menne roshni apva

Emna menne roshni apva

Zupdi pan amari, jalavi didhi

Thaye sarkhamni to utarata chhiye

 

Ghor andhar che akhi avani par

To jara dosh tema araroye che

Ek to kai sitara j noh’ ta ugya

Ek to kai sitara j noh’ ta ugya

Ne ame pan shamao buzavi didhi

Thaye sarkhamni to utarata chhiye

 

Koi amne nadya to ubha rahi gayaaa…

Koi amne nadya to ubha rahi gaya

Pan ubha rahi ame koi ne na nadya

Khud ame to na pohchi shakya manzile

Khud ame to na pohchi shakya manzile

Vaat kintu bijane, batavi didhi

Thaye sarkhamni to utarata chhiye

 

Kon jane hati kevi varso juniii…

Kon jane hati kevi varso juni

Zindgi ma asar evi tanahayi ni

tanahayi ni…

tanahayi ni, tanahayi ni, tanahayi ni

tanahayi ni, tanahayi ni……..

Kon jane hati kevi varso juni

Zindgi ma asar evi tanahayi ni

Koiye jya ‘mstu puchyu kem cho

Ene aakhi kahani sunavi didhi

Thaye sarkhamni to utarata chhiye

 

Jivta je bharoso hato ish par….

Bharosooo hato, iish par…

Jivta je bharoso hato ish par

Ee marya baad befam sacho padyo

Jaat mari bhale ne taravi nahi

Jaat mari bhale ne taravi nahi

Laash mari parantu, taravi didhi

Thaye sarkhamni to utarata chhiye

 

Te chhata aabaroo ne, dipavi didhi

Emna menne roshni apva

Emna menne, emna menne

Emna menne roshni apva

 

Thaye sarkhamni to utarata chhiye

Thaye sarkhamni to utarata chhiye

Thaye sarkhamni to utarata chhiye

Technorati: Thaye sarkhamni, Manahar Udas, Gujarati, Gazal, Music, Lyrics

Actually, this photo I shot last month but unfortunately posting on this month. Taken by me when I was roaming alone near the bank of yarra river. I found stage performance by one group; but when I saw one Indian lady with ‘veena’ (classical indian musical instrument) in her hand, I rushed their. The music rhythm was classical western theme and It’s good feeling to hear in Melbourne!

I always used to see World through Travel & Living Channel, that time I was thinking how could be our world so beautiful? More Importantly, When I will see world where there will be everything different. But, one my wished just came true on last weekend when I went to see a Beach with my room mates.

I have never seen a beach till I saw first sight, it was just green water. Clean green water. The sky was too clear and crystal. It was sunny Saturday afternoon when I, Piyush Bhai & Ankit reached at CARRUM BEACH. It is somewhere near Frankston. The flow of water was almost silent but it’s too cold. The water was so clear that I was seeing sand from my eye sight. We’d a nice sun-bath. The only missing thing was I didn’t know swimming or it could be a different experience!! And how can I forget my photography?

Technorati: Carrum Beach, Friends, Melbourne, Australia, World, Travel, Travel & Living, Beach, Memories

The evening was pleasant when I reached to flinders street. First evening to the city of Melbourne. I had my Nokia 6288 which I purchased for my one of mad hobby: PHOTOGRAPHY

I started to walking down the streets and saw strange yet amazing infrastructure, It was Federation Square. Though I am not belong to architecture side, I would not write about it, but the design was unique. Opposite to that, There was YARAA RIVER. The sunset was almost visible in water. People were sailing with very thin boat, at first I thought it’s a ONAM in Melbourne

One by one, I started to take snaps, I couldn’t resist myself to take lots of photographs. The fact was I have never seen so many beautiful things in one day. The building were amazing, tall, thin and consisted diffrenet and historic color combinations. I want to explore more around city and till then let me search for another great views…