Its always about the people and the city...

Its nearing one year when i t first put step inn Europe. It was autumn of 2010. As part of student exchange program of IIM Calcutta called STEP in our college, i went to Oslo, Norway. During few weeks that i stayed in Oslo and months that i travelled across Europe, i lived and made stories. I remember how we would say that these days will not come again. One can earn money, come back, sit on those expensive river bed side coffee shops but this time of life can not be replicated. Oh the joy of being a student traveller- walking miles with heavy rucksack on the back, reaching random cities at random times and covering them on foot with one map in hand. Reaching a place and hunting for youth hostels, asking people and deciphering things in unknown languages, travelling in trains for hours and days, eating random food, being so forward thinker for few things and for others, leaving everything for god knows who to take care of. Getting lost and reconnecting without phones. Travelling on tra...

“Come fast so we can leave this place ASAP. We need to leave quickly. It is cold, fucking expensive and …” Yelled my friend on GTALK in BOLD and Caps. This was after just a day in Oslo. I still had two days before I would touch down to Europe, starting my ‘Eurotrip’ from almost the end of the world… Autumn of 2010 was our gateway to three-four months of student exchange program-culture exchange, information exchange and loads of traveling. I was visiting BI Norwegian school of Management, Oslo from IIM Calcutta. It was an unusual place considering not many students would opt to go to Norway-a secluded rich country at the corner of Europe. But we had opted for it, neither had we a choice, nor any second thoughts. Equipped with as much luggage as economy Aerofloat allows, a global 3 month Euro rail pass and currency prepaid card, I set out for the journey of my life, which will turn to be the most reckless, most crazy and clearly the most cherished one. Icing on cake- a student tourist i...

Most theories in life boil down to one pattern. This is my theory so far. I have learnt it is all a vicious circle. It syncs with our tradition too-vicious circle of life and death, lies and sin, love and desire, hope and despair... the more I know, the more I want to know… It has been nearly 50 days in the city. I do love it for what it is loved for the most-Sea. I have already spent multiple evenings on sea faces and beaches and they would easily be the best times amongst all the big clubs, binging, drinking and even theatre. Bandstand, Juhu, Worli, Marine drive, Carter road, Chaupatty, Haji Ali and girgaon…Bliss There are few main categories of people one can see there- lovers, thinkers, joggers. Then there are sellers on sea faces-additional category of families on beaches…and few others who I am not sure how exactly fit in there, or anywhere…looks like they aren’t sure either. I mentioned vicious circle because one thing that hits hard on face in Mumbai is the stark disparity betw...

All those who are comfortable with saying or hearing the word Vagina may raise their hand. Most people did…few, as expected by the narrator didn’t or hesistantly did after a second… “ well you have to bear with it now that you are here or walk off…sorry no refund. My hand din’t go up instantly, not because I wasn’t comfortable, but because I though why would it be uncomfortable. Then in some days I have realized I am an outlier in this case…low on these words and zilch exposure. Anyway Vagina Monologues is an extremely popular play across the world. Written by Eve Ensler, it started running in 1996. As is clear from the name, the play is a collection of short monologues centering around Vagina. It is more like describing the experience of women all over the world which somehow relates to the Vagina-the monologues range from best of things to worst-all encompassing women’s life and Vagina. In India, it is run by since 2003. Directed by Mahabanoo Mody-Kotwal, I watched it with four lea...

Chances are that if you have ever remotely been associated with theatre-acting or watching-and are visiting Mumbai, Prithvi theatres will ring a bell. You would have already heard a lot about it and will have it somewhere on the to-do list. I had it too-fortunately it happened much earlier, unplanned. In less than a week of me moving to Mumbai. I was at Marriott for the introduction orientation of my job so after hours it just happened-plan made and I found myself headed to Prithvi. It is different from what I had imagined. Completely. Not that I had imagined much but once you reach, a Delhiite will visualize Mandi circle, Kamani, SRC, LTG…... Prithvi is different. It’s an enclosed place amidst Mumbai's old semi dilapidated buildings. Inside, you can see the culture is bit different. The air is comparatively relaxed, people at prithvi café are in a bit unconventional clothes-not exactly the dilli jholawala types though… Then for the play, there is a queue a little before stipulated...

“DUDE I’M SINKING...THEN I THINK, WHEN I KNOW SWIMMING, WHY AM I SINKING…I START KICKING… I RESURFACE AND THEN AGAIN…I START SINKING” I get trapped in the loop. If I think about it, it seems like a problem I can never solve…If I don’t, I’m at ultimate peace. Wait, this has happened before- in a neat not so nice washroom of a youth hostel in some by lane of Amsterdam, I felt this before. Déjà vu. “I’m SINKING.” “DON’T THINK. JUST LET YOUR MIND LOSE. YOU WILL BE AT PEACE. AND THEN YOU WILL… STOP. STOP GETTING INTO MY MIND." I was standing under the shower, adjusting the water taps to get right temperature for god knows how many hours. The skin- biting hot water was falling on my head, dripping down to my shoulders where it lacerated my flesh as it felt freezing cold. I was in the hot cold loop. At times hot on head cold on shoulders, the other times cold on head hot on shoulders. Whichever way, it was never right, I kept on rotating the knob but whatever it felt on my head, it fe...

2010-08-27 12:23:42 Finally, It's time! 2010-08-28 07:23:58 In Transit-Moscow Met a Russian in flight who knew more vedas/chants/bhagwat geeta/Yoga than me...non drinker, vegetarian, strict diet regime...OMG...we Indian are spoilt kids! 2010-08-31 17:36:24 Traveler knows 2 things for sure: Making the ends meet and Live in jeans 2010-09-04 20:16:28 Train to Sweden-Tracks under construction-had a special bus drive us to next station and drop right on the platform to catch the train waiting for us for past 30 min... 2010-09-07 17:30:45 If these company PPTs were in Joka, everyone wud be drunk by the end of it..Hail free wyne...whine...WIjenwe.... 2010-09-09 12:26:18 OMG OMG...Vengaboys concert tonight!!! Who knew i'd getta watch teen icons:) 2010-09-11 12:32:01 Vienna! 2010-09-18 16:51:03 OKTOBERFEST Carnival Day 1 :) 2010-09-19 20:05:05 Next task: Rent and Drive a car in Europe...coming up soon :) 2010-09-21 13:49:48 "A realist, in Venice, would become a romantic by mere fai...