Realty Bites

Every year as I move to another city, I end up with my two week struggle to find the perfect place..am i finicky ? well a little, am i a worrier ? well a little and yes i find hotels mildly depressing..Well its right in the middle of a new job(position) and then to find a place to stay..and communicate to the hungry shark like estate agents on my budget, which is just never enough for these agents..am always having to stretch..when my budget as a trainee was inr 2500 i had to stretch..or even when it was 10,000 i had to stretch, and u get the drift right ?

So yes, here i am looking for apartments in chennai...preferably not in an independent house, with the landlord staying below, who needs a nosy parker finding out your every move..and i certainly dont intend to make mild chit chat with anyone's wife, or aunt so thats out!

An apartment with good ventilation, and windows that dont open into the neighbours house would be great!..i tried www.99acres.com, or www.magicbricks.com where most of the advts were given by owners themselves, but the flip side the advts are atleast a month old so most places have been let out already..

I remember looking for a place when i was in Bangalore..the realty agent said the place was for 10000 negotiable so i was under the impression it would be available for inr 9000 + maintenance. Guess what, another agent comes in with an IT sector Boy. IT boy is getting married and needs to zero in on an apt soon. The landlord, greedily smacks his lips when he hears IT boy is from a well know IT firm in Bangalore. He says the apartment is for INR 15,000 but for you i will give it for 14,000, IT boy takes his offer. I am left a speechless spectator at what transpired. What was quoted as INR 10,000 negotiable was just sold at 14,000.wow! realty bites indeed..the good part of the story was that i went and found another place in Tippasandra which was a penthouse and an almost private terrace..was really lovely as an apartment..its so important to find a comfortable place to live in...

Then was Kolkata..where i was looking for a place just like my Bangalore one..and then i found it..when i walk in i just know this is my apartment..huge old windows, abundant greenery around, breeze which blows your curtains out, its was a lovely place in Alipore..Yes., i am lucky when it comes to getting the apartment of my choice..but the path to it can be a little annoying at times :)

So yes, i am now on the look out for a good apartment in chennai...thankfully my friend has been looking at places for me(bless him) this is just what i needed as i am really stressed out thinking i havent made much headway yet..in my first 3 days in the new position..

Am sure i will find the place of my choice as i usually do...

Happy Birthday to me

Yes, its another 3rd april, and another birthday..I must say this year it just feels so much more optimistic..i think i know why :)

I was in chennai for two days prior..spent the earlier evening with good friends with dinner at Murugan Idli kadhai.i would give them the award of the worlds best idlis.so soft...so yummy..the variety of chutneys and the podi..yummy in the tummy :)

The next day was the 3rd..First of all, the day started with the red eye flight from chennai, waking at 03:45 for a flight of 05:50. reached Kolkata in time to get to work..So many wishes, and greetings..i took my team out for some happy hour drinks and of course dancing..Well like one of my friends said, so where will you be the next birthday ? i said Chennai i hope :)

Yes, now i would certainly like to settle in one city. Tired of being a vagabond..It was a good birthday evening...

My first Pujo in Kolkata(2007)

Here is a little account of a “non Bengali” spending Durga Puja in Bengal. For the uninitiated, during Navratri which is known as Durga Puja here, one sees the entire, West Bengal decking up with bright lights and giant Pandals to accommodate a torrent of happy people who flock to revel in the best of Indian craftsmanship and culture this side of the coast!

Having known how we celebrate Navaratri in the South with Gollu, and sundal, and in the west by Dandiya/Garba, the nine nights of festivities is something else in Kolkata..

The haunting beating of the Dhaak(Local Drums) beats echo from every corner, fragrance of the delicate "shiuli" flowers wafts in the air and as a multitude of traditionally dressed people, take to the streets. The city has suddenly been transformed into a place of light and sound as Durga Puja is back after a year-long wait. 

The Puja-crazy Kolkatans could not wait for Shasthi(17th October) to arrive. Many revellers, in fact, like some of my colleagues, had started pandal hopping right from Panchami itself. What is "Pandal Hopping"? Well it is a sport and something one does in groups of friends and relatives. Cars and booked, maps taken, so that prize winning and novel pandals are visited. The intricate pandal work, the ornate ceilings, the themes, the goddess figurines all add to the magic of the festival.

This did remind a bit of ganesh chaturthi in Mumbai, when we used to do pandal hopping and 'counting" the number of Ganeshas one saw in the season. Very similar but the Pujo is beyond Comparison

Mela type fairs for children, shops with discounts, Misthi, Puchkas, and theme food joints marked the celebrations.
Whether it was Sribhumi at Lake Town in the north or Badamtala at Rashbehari Avenue in the south or Mohammad Ali Park on Chittaranjan Avenue in central Kolkata, the frenzy that took off on Tuesday was at its peak on Wednesday with people thronging the pandals from morning till night. Though light rains in the afternoon may have augured a wet Pujo, the sun reappeared bringing with it it the element of joy again..

Kolkata this time witnessed pujas mostly dominated by varied themes - including the temples of Java, a Santhal village, the Hogwarts Castle of Harry Potter and global warming - reflecting social concerns and depicting creativity at its best.

Five-days of celebrations of Durga Puja finally ended as West Bengal bid a poignant adieu to the goddess and her children on Sunday, marking another yearlong wait for her autumnal homecoming.

However, the frenzied immersion ceremony of the idols of Durga, complete with elaborate processions, dance, beating of drums and cheers by youngsters, saw Bengal making most of the Jamboree.
In keeping with the customs, the idols of Goddess Durga along with those of Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesha and Subramanya(Kartikeya) - the four children of the goddess - were immersed with much fanfare, after the womenfolk smeared the deities with Sindoor.

Special pujas were held as the day progressed. Married women prayed for the well-being of their families. Sweets were distributed as friends and relatives wished 'Shubho Bijoya' (Happy Bijoya Dasami) to each other

What can I say? Make it to Kolkata at least next year during the Pujos. Its like nothing you have ever witnessed before. Am addicted and a confirmed fan for sure.

Kolkata, October, 2007