Aaj Ki Kahani

"What's this?" "Hatchimals..." I blinked and scratched my chin " Never heard of it" "Don't you know what they are?!" Sanvi a 6 year old rolled her eyes looking at me in total disbelief and animatedly explained. They are toys of hatching animals which comes in shapes of colorful egg and you crack them up to get miniature dolls of animals. "Quite expensive too", her mom quipped from behind. I was excited to watch her hatch an egg and looked at my best half. "No way I am buying you toys" !!! Well I know my age to play with toys is long gone, ahem, anyway these types of toys I mean. Got me thinking about the toys I played as a kid. There were no barbies or stuffed toys. Had a few plastic dolls and an occasional imported doll gifted by someone from the foreign land. The kitchen sets were a craze those days among girls, (do the kids nowadays play such games?!) plastic ones in different colours...tiny ...

When you are enjoying something you don't want it to end, isn't it? I was prolonging the end of the book, reading it for the past 4 months and sad that it's done. Engrossed over the end, mindlessly locked the house took my mobile and went for my evening walk. I realized I had left my water bottle on the kitchen counter so came up, took it and in the lift a lady was giving me funny looks. I realized that I was wearing my socks and slippers instead of shoes. Went up again put on the shoes and got on to the task. The sun had set and it was getting dark. The street lights weren't on yet and it was eerie walking in a deserted patch with no lights. I gingerly made my way through the narrow path shrouded by very tall grass, even in daylight this place gives me the creeps. There was a movement in the blades of grass, out flew a black bird. Then suddenly something leapt on to the track, my heart skipped a beat ,a dog with a spectral menacing face and perky ears stared a...

Women and Sex.. Are they really getting it...?!! It's the general belief that women don't talk about sex...quite contrary ...women love to talk about sex - Their theory and practical knowledge earns them great grades. Women crack jokes on the subject (really dirty ones that cannot be mentioned here), there's miss know it all ... a miss shy, who with  just some encouragement would put Sunny Leone to shame ....aunty of the group, an advocate of missionary...miss laughing uncontrollably to hide the inadequacies....miss innocent who needs to be educated ...et all. Having friends ranging from the late 20s to the 50s in both the genders and the conversations with all of them  makes me ponder on the necessity of sex and making others believe that you are getting it and getting enough of it. A few like to flaunt their assets, (in some case missing) kind of exhibitionists, I wonder why? They strike a pose accentuating the curves, craving appreciation. The never end...

Nothing like a good game of cricket and if it's India and Pakistan head on, the pleasure is infinite! Remembering the words of George Orwell here, "Serious sport is war minus the shooting". Nothing short of a duel when the arch rivals meet !! The temperature was a horrible 40+ with high humidity so I was contemplating to stay and watch it in the comfort of my home. But good sense prevailed and I packed caps, a small hand fan and water bottles. Slathered sunscreen and picked a cotton dress in bright CSK yellow (tweety bird looks as my friend tweeted) reached the venue with 2 hours to spare as we needed to get the best seats available. The parking lot was a good 1.5 kms away from the stadium, we had to walk in the scorching sun. I turned red with the heat and exertion and with my bright yellow dress, I was a sight! The security at the gate refused to allow my water bottles inside, I was sad to part with my favourite bottle, my friend had warned me to tak...

To be frank I wasn't impressed by the Thomsons falls. Have seen better ones. There were Maasai tribals and touts around, pestering for a fee to click pictures of the tribals. That's one thing everyone needs to be beware off, the tribals pose for a photograph then charge us for it! We had a long drive ahead of us to the Nairobi city. As usual I was asking so many questions to Moses and if I was silent he enquired if all was well. I happened to notice on the road, till now I had noticed it 6 times and thought why do people drink so much as to fall on the road and sleep...well it's a common occurrence in India so I didn't make it a big deal. But all these men whom I noticed were all lying in a very distinct pose, arms and legs splayed lying prostrate like an "X". So I asked Moses and he explained they were weary travelers who walk for days and a great distance in search of a job or to sell their wares etc. and they just fall on the ground out of exertion and sle...

We bid farewell to Siena Springs camp and were on our way to Lake Elementaita. For most of the travel, I was on the front seat clicking random pictures and asking many many questions to Moses who enthusiastically answered them. The scenery was different. The flat topped Acacia and the Mara trees were lesser in number and there were more of the yellow barked Acacia or the fever Acacia or the Naivasha thorns as it's otherwise called. These trees use barks for photosynthesis and also aid in maintaining the water table. The roots are brewed and given to women after childbirth to regain strength. There were the whistling thorn acacia too which are myrmecophyte that live in a symbiotic relationship with ants. Lake Naivasha is a freshwater lake, highest elevation point of the Kenyan Rift Valley, in Maasai language Nai posha means rough water. The underground water feeds the Olkaria thermal power station, which is situated in the Hells Gate National park. The lake albeit it...

Mambo (wassup) everyone! The Siena Springs camp uses the generator from 5 am to 11 am then again at 6 pm to 11 pm. Off the grid experience! Game Drive is better if done early so we decided to leave by 6.30 giving us enough time for morning activities once the lights are turned on.Got ready and stepped out of the tent to complete darkness then rechecked the time - Sujith glared and flared at me. As the lights switched on I thought it was 5 am and woke him up, how was I to know the lights came an hour early! Our co travelers were fashionably late so we started on our drive at 7.45. We clicked pictures at the entrance of the reserve and did a bit of haggling and bought a few souvenirs from the tribal peddlers. The roof of the van was lifted up 2 feet so we could stand and watch unhindered. We were strictly advised not to step out till the drive is complete, that's another 6 hours or so! We were thrilled to see the numerous Zebras standing in various poses, most of them were o...