To Deutschland, With Love...

image courtesy: photobucket

And so Germany missed its chance for its fourth World Cup. Spanish fans celebrate tonight. But here's to you Germany, for playing like true champions. I'm proud of you and no matter what anyone says, you're still the best! Today's match was a sheer test of nerve. Spain played with their usual short pass strategy and with a stroke of luck in the form of Puyol's bountiful head! The irritating passing-the-parcel game that Spain deploy (which they call tiki taka or something!) is what kept them in the game. Their ball possession saw them through and one step closer to their 1st shot at World Cup glory. Well played Spain!

But Germany, oh they played like champions throughout the tournament. They remained unfazed despite missing their top players, including the captain Ballack and the goalkeeper Adler. Infact, Neuer was the third choice apparently and still the true champions that they are, Deutschland rose from the ashes and reached the semis with the youngest team and under a new captain. They played, and how! Thrashing favourites like Argentina and England, they charged forward in pursuit of the ultimate glory! Playing with a team spirit that demands respect, they did their fans proud.

And no offence to the Spanish fans, but Spain displayed a sad game today. It was sheer greed and negativity that shone through the La Furia Roja's game. They missed easy chances playing selfishly and whereas the scoreboard could have been atleast 3-0 in Spain's favour potentially, it read 1-0. Pedro especially, though a revelation, he spoilt it all by screwing up Spain's chance for an easy goal by not heeding Torres' desperate pleas for a pass and trying to go for gold himself, instead meeting the unrelenting Friedrich head-on. Flashback-the game against Argentina where Podolski instead of a straight hit decided to pass it to Klose instead and ensure the ball finds its mark. That is team spirit and that is what Germany is all about. Why doesn't Torres score when Villa is around? Why didn't Pedro pass the ball to Torres. Lessons in Teamwork, anyone?

P.S.-Tears for you Germany.. You're still the best! Screw Spain... They could have played better... Missing easy shots due to foolishness and sheer greed(ahem Pedro!) Murder Uruguay now! Your supporters stand by you.. (P.S.-Schweini twas nt ur fault..!U still rock!) Well played Deutschland! Klose still has a chance to give the German fans a reason to smile! Go Klose! {MY FB STATUS TODAY! }
P.P.S.- Müller, you were missed! Seems like No. 13 is the lucky number for Germany ironically! what say, Ballack? ;)

The Green Getaways!

Kerala is a very very green state. Everywhere you look there are trees, plantations, fields, forests. It's a real treat for those looking to get away from the polluted air of the cities for a while! These pictures are of this place called Thommankuthu, not a place that you might find on the Kerala Tourism brochures generally I guess, but a treat for those who love adventure. It's the perfect place to go trekking and exploring, and yes some major clicking! 

The place is famous for its seven waterfalls and scenic beauty. The path to the waterfalls is a long trek through protected forest land ( don't worry, no tigers there to gobble you up! Beware of the blood sucking worms during the monsoon season though!). Due to paucity of time we couldn't go up till the seventh waterfall but well, we managed to reach the third. It deserves an entire day to be explored to the fullest... My recommendation as a must visit in Kerala.

Thommankuthu is in Idukki district, about 70-80 kms away from the Kochi airport (Nedumbassery). Yes, folks, get used to the long and difficult-to-pronounce-names! Kerala has an abundance of those! ;)

 P.S- There are more pics of this gorgeous place..will put em up in the next edition!

God's Own Country

Here are some more of my clicks...As promised, will upload them by and by!

The most colourful shop out there!

 

The path to my grandma's place..

Lil Spider's home in the tyres !

Pictures Speak A Thousand Words

You will never go hungry if you are in Kerala and that's a fact. Especially if you have a relative there. That relative will have more relatives and they in turn will have even more and you know what I'm trying to say. Feeding the guest is like religion in Kerala. It is sacrilegious to refuse a helping! Even if you are full to your throat! So step in to any house and help yourself and save some cash! ;) Even if to just ask for directions! 

One thing that I have always been keen on apart from writing is photography. I have loved clicking and I love a clicker! ;) So there! And I did some major clicking during these vacations. Can't upload them all at once and kill the page loading time so will do it bit by bit. Looking forward to feedback! Got my thumbs up from my Nawab. Hope I manage to lure you to Kerala as well! ;) It's called God's Own Country for a reason, you'll see.. :) 

Meanwhile here's a tip for North Indian food junkies like me: Stock up on Maggi. You'll need it there! ;)  

Up In The Air!

 image source: WWW.FOTN.IN

3rd June 2010 is a day that shall remain embedded in my memory for a long time... The day I thought was my last. Air India to Cochin was the plan. What we didn't know was the rollercoaster ride in store for us!

The weather had been quite rough in Delhi, dust storms and stuff. The minute the flight was in the air the whole mayhem started! The flight went whoosh left and whoosh right and rocked like it was hit by an earthquake. Now let me not lie to you, I did get scared. Ok, I'm human too! I was scared out of my wits for the first one minute. I wanted to cry, scream, do something but all that came out was air. Let me also explain that that first one minute people around me were still coming to terms with the situation and realising what was going on, meanwhile I was at my wit's end being the only one with my knuckles turning white!

Then I thought, why bother! If I was going to die anyways, let's just make the best of it. So I put on some good songs, pushed back my seat and thought how it should be. If I had to go, I wanted to go down fighting, not like some sissy! After all, the Minstrel has a reputation to keep up! ;) So I plotted what should be the modus operandi should crisis occur.

I made a note of the emergency exits, planned what to do to make my fear-stricken mother move in case there is a problem and sat plotting my heroic escape from the vicious pits of Hades! ;)

I kept one hand on my phone just so that if these were indeed the last few pages of my life I wanted to talk to my Dad and my Nawab before I go, one last time. Not being with them, being the only regret that I had.

It was the one of the most exciting moments of my trip ironically! (Okay I know I must be sounding high but truth does sound crazy most of the time!) In those 30-35 minutes all I thought about was how best to spend those final moments, what I wanted to do. Not once did I sit and think about all that I didn't do. It's long after this incident that I had this happy realisation that I've lived my life in the best way possible in the given circumstances and I shall go the day I go with no regrets. That is a happy feeling I must admit.

Yes, I'm still around to tell the tale but dude that was fun! Even fear has its own way of getting you high! ;) After that first one minute I sat back smiling, plotting and watching with amusement as others around screamed out for Allah, Ram, Jesus Christ, Mumma!Well, you know how it is! I knew for one that that was not the way I was going to go, screaming and crying for my life. There's one life, let's all just live it to the fullest, savour each moment. Time never does an about turn so cheers while it lasts!

And here's to the Air India pilot who steered us out of that mess! I don't remember your name but thanks for everything!

P.S.- I utilised (or wasted, as you like it!) my time on the flight watching Ajab prem Ki Gazab Kahani twice! Don't ask! That was the only crap that they had playing on the flight apart from something called Dance Premier League (Huh!?). Mind-boggling bullshit that was! I had a headache by the end of it! But well, all's well that ends well so, well, I guess that's well enough!

P.P.S.- I know this aint typical Minstrel stuff but hell, I can afford to go philosophical and profound once in a while! How can I hide my mighty intelligence too long! ;) :P

Back from the Dead! ;) :P

Like it or not, here I am again!;) Yea, the hibernation is over...And god do we take some things for granted!!!!! Roti, for example! Ask for roti in Kerala and what you get is sweet bread! Ask for parantha and they give you the Kerala porotta made of maida which can gift you with endless trips to the loo if you don't limit the intake. (yea yea..that is exactly what happened to me, and don't you dare laugh!Wait till it happens to you freaks!:P)

The first thing I craved on hitting home soil again is my beloved dilli ka khaana. I'm gonna binge the month away. :) 

LESSONS TO BE REMEMBERED WHILE VISITING KERALA

Lessons learnt on the trip were many. The most popular thing in Kerala? Its not coconut trees silly! It's കള്ള്, the local liquor that can be found in shops at every nook and cranny! My little sister who can't read a word of Malayalam learnt how to read the word because that's what you find wherever you look.  

Lesson no 2: Everywhere you turn is a canvas with a view.. Seriously, Kerala has stunning spots to visit and is a photographer's delight. :) It sure was mine.


Lesson no 3: If you're visiting relatives or friends in Kerala just pretend to have a stomach upset! That's the only thing that can save you from actual stomach upset caused by the copious amount of food you will be made to consume otherwise! 
Lesson no 4: Don't trust restaurant signboards in Kerala. Just because it reads "INDIAN CONTINENTAL CHINESE" it doesn't mean that they serve any of that. True story.
Lesson no 5: when there's nothing else, there's always Maggi!:)
Lesson no 6: (for girls only) Do not wear Janpath chappals/jootis if you ever wish to see them again!
Lesson No 7: Do not stand under a coconut tree! Ever!
Lesson No 8: You want to use public transport? Learn the language first or you're done for!
Lesson No 9: Do not say "I'm not hungry" on visiting someone. It's worse that an insult. Refer to Lesson 3 again.
Lesson No 10: Do not insult Argentina or Brazil when the football season is on! Trust me! Even if you think they suck!
Okie...more on this later, now I need to go binge on some aloo ka parantha...O Delhi thou art my tummy's delight!


P.S: Minstrel's itinerary for tomorrow- Golgappas, Rajma Chawal, Dhokla and Chole Bhature!

Displaced!

image source:  keralabudgettour.com/kerala3.html

So here I am, far away from home, watching the raindrops falling on the windowpane. It's a beautiful morning, cool breeze blowing, but all I can think of is going home!

I miss the noisy people, the winding streets, the blazing sun, the crowded roads, the pollution, the grime, the dirt, the tan. I miss the unhealthy oily food, I miss binging like there's no tomorrow! (Kerala food is very eekily healthy!!!!Pah!) I miss the crying about my tan and my floater straps leaving their mark on my feet! I miss cribbing about the crowd on the metro! I miss wanting to stay in my room because it's too hot outside! Golgappas, cholebhature, momos, tandoori chicken, kebabs, shawarma, jalebis, samosas, dhokla, Kurkure, butter naan, cheesy gooey pizzas, KFC!!!!! I miss it all! No matter how many replicas I find here, it's never as good! :(

Most of all I miss home...Home is where the heart is, and my heart is in Delhi...and that's where I wanna be!

Either I am an idiot or I'm just being the same Mad Minstrel!

P.S- booooohooooooo..... :'( and a whole lot more boohooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!