iThank iYou iFor iPad

I can't take my "I"s off the iPad (that's when it is plugged for charging or I am in sleep mode). Else, I can't take my hands off the wonderful creation!

I was thinking about buying an iPad 2 for quite some time. But as I waited for the price to come down, IndiBlogger and Dove surprised me by announcing the second prize (iPad 2) for the The Hair and the Tortoise post. For the first time in my life I was happier about the prize rather than the winning part!


I thank IndiBlogger, Dove and all my blog readers straight from my heart. I also thank the Apple team for inventing this beauty. And I wish they take some time off and do not introduce iPad 3 soon... hehe.

Meanwhile, there are some people because of whom I am an active blogger. I have never thanked them in person, so I would like to talk about them here.

Mrinal, my sweet husband: He has always encouraged me as I spend hours blogging. If he learns any update about Mumbai Local Trains, he immediately informs me so that I can update the blog. And if it weren't for him praising my cooking, I wouldn't have been interested in kitchen stuff and the recipe blog that much. Had he not gifted me Nikon D3100, how would I have shaped up the photoblog! Oh yes, and if he weren't in advertising that makes him reach home mostly after midnight, how would I have got all the time to kill! That's the reason I 'gifted' the iPad 2 to him (now that he reaches home too late to use and so I have it all the time, is a different story!).

Deepak Amembal: I can't thank him enough! I am glad I once stumbled upon his blog and discovered his photographs and the various memes he participated in. These encourage me to keep updating the blog with new photos. He always comments on my posts!

SurangaDate of the Ugich Konitari fame: Her take on life and beautiful poems add life to the work of many photographers. How I look forward to her poetry whenever I post a photograph! Her blog Gappa is a lovely read too!

Siddhesh Raavan Kabe: Have you checked out Sidoscope? A wonderful blog to read that also leads us to Holy Cow, his comic blog that is simply hilarious!

And IndiBlogger of course. When I visit the site and see so many people submitting fresh blog posts, I get motivated to keep my blogs updated as well.

Anyways, it's been a 'long' time since I've been writing this post and I've been away from my iPad. Must go back to it now!

Thanks guys! Oh... now a Kissan contest... cooooooooooooool!

Blogging Tips and Best Practices

Most of my friends have been suggesting that I start a blog on blogging. While it might take some time, I have tried to cover some important blogging tips in an interview conducted by Jidhu Jose in his blog Reflections.

Some of the questions answered include:

• Why (the hell) did I get into blogging ;)
• Suggestions for blogging newbies
• Tips on building a community around a blog and social media
• My three favorite blogs 
• Plug-ins that I would you suggest bloggers to have

The interview might not be very elaborate, but you can use the comments section on this page or Jidhu's page to discuss this further. Do feel to ask questions or offer suggestions. Let's learn more about blogging together!

Househelpness

Tum jo mil gayi ho
Toh yeh lagta hai
Ke sab kaam ho gaya

Ek tadapte huye raahi ka
Kaam dhaam ho gaya (listen to the original song here)

Jaana na duur hum se
Dekho khafaa na hona
Kismat se mil gayi ho
Mil ke judaa na hona

Meri kya demand hai
Hota hai ye bhi
Ke bartan se bhi kabhi
Sabun ka jhaag mil gayaa (faster happier tune follows...) 

Tum kya jaano
Tum kya ho
Ek jadui nagma ho
Sukhe farshon pe paani 
Kachre ka safaaya ho

Tum kya jaano
Tum kya ho
 

Ab jo aa gayi ho
Jaane na doongi
Ke mujhe ek achhi
Househelp mil gayi 

Tum bhi thi busy busy 
Main bhi bujhi bujhi
Tha matlabi zamaana
Bai denewaala na thaa

Mujh ko jo mil gaya hai
Tera sahara
Ek nai zindagi ka
Nishaan mil gayaa

Tum jo mil gayi ho
Toh yeh lagta hai
Ke sab kaam ho gayaa 
 

Ek tadapte huye raahi ka 
Kaam dhaam ho gaya 

No offense meant to the creators of the beautiful and evergreen song I really love. 
Apologies in case any sentiments are hurt.

Film: Hanste Zakhm 

Singers: Mohd. Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar (who else can create this magic!)

Music Director: Madan Mohan

Here's what I penned when I faced Househelplessness.

Househelplessness

Har pal, har lamha
bas usi ka khayaal hai
Har aahat pe lagta hai
ab khatam intezaar hai

Har gali, har mohalle mein
dhoondti phirti hoon usko
Duniya banaane waale
ek Househelp dila de mujhko

I Prefer White!

We just started our first dream home search in Navi Mumbai thinking we can get a bigger space and more affordable options in this area. So while our only concern was if travelling would be really difficult in the far-off sectors, the harsh reality presented itself - Black is in!

We were shocked the way brokers / estate agents openly asked us, "Black kitna kar sakte ho!" (How much can you pay in black.). 

No there wasn't the slightest hesitation in asking for black money. In fact, we were looked down upon once we told that we will only pay in white! Guess what, each estate agent we met until now has only 1-2 all-white flats and several in the black-n-white mode. While we insisted to know why the hell we must pay in black, the answer was unanimous - arre builder ko bhi toh khilana padta hai na, woh kidhar se paise layega! As if we are being inconsiderate by refusing to pay in black!

But like builders we too are adamant. We are gonna discriminate and favour the white in this case! 

Do diwaane shaher mein
Raat aur dopahar mein
Aabodaana dhoondte hain
WHITE aashiyana dhoondte hain

Here's a tip: If you haven't bought a house in the recent years and you do not want to deal in cash, be prepared to be super patient in your home search. Give yourself a window of 8 months to find yourself a WHITE HOUSE. I am sure we will, and even you will find the one sooner or later.