Syria has got added to my list of "1000 places to visit before I die" :-) The reason is yesterday's episode of Feast Bazaar on Discovery Travel & Living Channel and its coverage of Syria's national iconic ice-cream Bakdash!
I knew you wouldn't believe me. Go watch this clip onYouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ay8up1-lLr8
BTW, the guy is dipping the ice-cream dollop in powdered nuts such as pistachio. And those guys are pounding the ice-cream so as to make it elastic.
You can see the photo of the sumptous ice-cream at http://rarer1.blogspot.com/2008/08/bakdash.html
Worth a trip, won't you say? :-)
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
I had opted for Sanskrit as the 3rd language instead of Hindi in my 8th, 9th and 10th standards because it was known as a scoring subject. Weird reason for choosing a subject? Not for our kind of education system, I would say. Anyways, after SSC, Sanskrit for me became limited to the occassional hymns sung during prayers.
That's why sometimes I am amazed when I remember whole Shlokas learnt during all those long-forgotten years. Here is one of my favorites:
अतिपरिचायदवद्न्या संतत गमनादनादारो भवति
मलये भिल्लपुरन्ध्री चंदनतरुकाष्ठमिन्धनम कुरुते
Loosely translated in English, it goes like this:
Familiarity breeds contempt। If you frequently go to someone's place, there is possibility that you might be insulted one day। (Just as) On the Malay mountain (there are so many Sandalwood trees that) the tribal woman uses Sandalwood to stoke fire।
That's why sometimes I am amazed when I remember whole Shlokas learnt during all those long-forgotten years. Here is one of my favorites:
अतिपरिचायदवद्न्या संतत गमनादनादारो भवति
मलये भिल्लपुरन्ध्री चंदनतरुकाष्ठमिन्धनम कुरुते
Loosely translated in English, it goes like this:
Familiarity breeds contempt। If you frequently go to someone's place, there is possibility that you might be insulted one day। (Just as) On the Malay mountain (there are so many Sandalwood trees that) the tribal woman uses Sandalwood to stoke fire।
I have always admired yesteryear's famous actress Rekha for her timeless beauty and grace. Whosoever has watched her in that movie with the song "गुम है किसीके प्यार मै दिल सुबह शाम" and again in movie "अगर तुम ना होते" cannot help but be amazed at the startling transformation of a chubby short actress into a shapely beauty. But I must confess that I have also felt sorry for her. God knows heartbreak is horrible enough but to be reminded of the loss every time you attend one of the Bollywood functions must surely be agonizing. I have always felt the journos deserve to be hanged till death for such callousness।
That's why I was angry with Rekha when I read about how Amitabh positiveky shuned her at the Filmfare awards ceremony. For those of you who came late, reportedly, Rekha hugged Abhishek Bachhan and Aishwariya Rai, oops sorry, Aishwariya Rai Bachhan but before she could reach Amitabh he got up and moved away।
So I wondered why Rekha needed to do this? Surely, it wasn't to give the journos their photo-op of a lifetime. God knows they have hounded her at every award ceremony for precisely that. I also find it hard to believe that she still has the old flame burning. Then was it an attempt to let bygones be bygones? Whatever her reason, it didn't work out.
Now if I were in her place, I would have given such a man and his family a shoulder so cold so as to put the Antarctica to shame! I strongly believe in the adage 'Hell hath no fury...."
That's why I was angry with Rekha when I read about how Amitabh positiveky shuned her at the Filmfare awards ceremony. For those of you who came late, reportedly, Rekha hugged Abhishek Bachhan and Aishwariya Rai, oops sorry, Aishwariya Rai Bachhan but before she could reach Amitabh he got up and moved away।
So I wondered why Rekha needed to do this? Surely, it wasn't to give the journos their photo-op of a lifetime. God knows they have hounded her at every award ceremony for precisely that. I also find it hard to believe that she still has the old flame burning. Then was it an attempt to let bygones be bygones? Whatever her reason, it didn't work out.
Now if I were in her place, I would have given such a man and his family a shoulder so cold so as to put the Antarctica to shame! I strongly believe in the adage 'Hell hath no fury...."
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
उलटा चोर कोतवालको डाटे
Whatever may be their shortcomings (and God knows they have many!), the Pakistani authorities at least seem to have a great sense of humor. You don't agree? They are alleging that the attack on the Lankan team could have been arranged by India. If this is not a joke, I don't know what is.
I guess if Zanab Zardari gets indigestion after eating too much of Biryani one day or chokes on a Naan (aka Bush and his pretzel!) the Pakistani authorities will suspect India's hand there too.
Ok guys, now that we all have laughed, can you please check what's happening in your own backyard and try to deal with it for once?
I guess if Zanab Zardari gets indigestion after eating too much of Biryani one day or chokes on a Naan (aka Bush and his pretzel!) the Pakistani authorities will suspect India's hand there too.
Ok guys, now that we all have laughed, can you please check what's happening in your own backyard and try to deal with it for once?
Monday, March 2, 2009
Saw two wonderful movies last week. One was 'Just Like Heaven" - a light romantic comedy or comic romance, whatever you might want to call it. The story in a nutshell? Well, David moves in a spacious apartment with a view to kill for - only to discover that a young girl keeps materializing there claiming the place as her own. Almost convinced that he is hallucinating, David suddenly realizes that she is a spirit - who unfortunately doesn't remember a thing about her life. I won't say a word beyond this - but trust me, this movie is definitely worth spending your time on!
The other movie was Air Buddies. I missed the beginning but that didn't stop me from enjoying this cool movie with a brood of five pups searching for their parents. I am glad someone let these dogs out! This one, too, comes highly recommended! :-)
The other movie was Air Buddies. I missed the beginning but that didn't stop me from enjoying this cool movie with a brood of five pups searching for their parents. I am glad someone let these dogs out! This one, too, comes highly recommended! :-)
It feels as if it has been ages since I wrote about the TV ads. So here are some which I love to watch and some others who drive me up the wall:
Just love the sweet granny who rattes off the IVR menu for blessings when her grandson touches her feet. You have got to see this ad to hear what she says when he chooses the option which promises a beautiful bride for him. The Bank of Baroda guys have got the CBS message spot on with this gem :-)
Is there any insurance plan for the hapless viewer who has to endure boring banal ads smack in the middle of an interesting program? If yes, Bajaj Allianz would do well to start selling it because their ad with that heavy-weight guy doing impossible acrobatic tricks is banal enough to drive consumers off their balconies - with or without protection!
I am not sure about the new Airtel ad. On one hand, I like the way they have made use of the child's innocence to drive home the point. But on the other hand, I am not too sure the kids should be given an impression that he/she can approach one parent to complain against another when it is a matter of discipline. :-(
Likewise, the new Virgin Mobile ad has me stumped. Why is that bespectacled girl talking in two different styles - one polite and the other one, umm, not so polite? :-)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
