2020 - our rebirth
I know the whole world is talking about 2020 and the Corona effect. Everything planned and unplanned has gone for a toss as the whole EARTH is on stand by mode. Amidst the pandemic and human losses in epic numbers, I hope all of us are staying home safe and healthy with your loved ones and not risking out there not yours but your future generations as well.
I think none of us were ready at this and who would think that the 20s era would have such a world-changing story to tell our grandkids (if we play it safe and get pass this situation). 80s kids have their own eras memories, 90s have their own Doordarshan stories, and so does each era or generation but this one is beyond anything anyone can imagine. If we live this through which I'm sure as WE ARE STRONG inside and out, imagine how much it would be share this with your grandchildren to say WE FACED THE WORST MONSTER and kicked its ass left and right :) But everything depends on our mindset and actions. "BOOM IT OR DOOM IT" is entirely in our compassion vs stupidity towards guilty pleasures that many of us crave for.
Did we ever think that even a biryani craving could become a luxury ask that too being a hardcore foodie like me? All the things we took it for granted have now become a far luxury and not sure when we get back it. We have discussed, talked a lot about this situation but how many of us realized what all amazing things have happened around us without our knowledge that somebody has to call it out for us to realize.
I just want to pen down my overflow of emotions and thoughts of how I saw it, took it and dealing with it day in day out !!!!
Obviously the first thing that comes in our minds in these tough times is being with family and stay safe. I know everyone has been lecturing about be with family and this is the golden time to spend quality time with family. This might not possible without corona lockdown and all. But I slightly deviate in this. My opinion is yes, it has given us ample time to be with kids but at the same time if you are in general a person who balances work-home balance and keeps your family happy, then these times don't change much. To me it has been a roller coaster ride, as many times I feel I have truly connected with my daughters but the next day, I feel too much pressure and stress being all the time around them. I might sound rude but I never flatter to express myself. But on an optimistic side, I have strengthened my bond with lallu (Rava laddu) for sure even after 11 years, I still understand new things. It's again not to flatter everyone here reading to say I'm a great husband. No, that's not the intent. But this gives you understand them more as a person.
I can now allocate time for my wife to do what she always loved to do but may family maintenance took her tool. You can share the house works like cleaning, cooking, sweeping, and enable her to take some time off and maybe starts her long last hobbies. Who knows this discovery might even sweep you off your feet. The hidden talent might come out in these times if you create an environment. Lallu talked to me now more openly without any hidden agenda (which I might blabber and get caught later) and I can see her real smile and happiness. Well, I'm a defective piece and so I can easily tell something that I think is super funny and spoil that in a jiffy. We men never learn right??
So in short, my take away here is I have got more closer to my Rava laddu, proven that the divanikas love me than their mom (WooHoo), understand the stress my wife takes on her daily house chores and our job are nothing. Overall I think I haven't matured much but have become more accommodative and understanding. I think that's a huge deal for a mess-up like me :)
Of course suddenly during this lockdown, we start feeling that we are missing our colleagues, friends, hang out partners everyone outside of family so much that we feel we will be like this for eternity. Yes, the fact is its human tendency to always worry about something that's not with you and don't care about what we have. Being a foodie, you know that we end up hanging out in 3-4 meals in a week, and now for weeks even months, we haven't seen each other and so badly miss the company. Its a feeling that yes every friend will understand but if you are foodie friends, the addition of food makes the feelings far worse. What say?
Yes, Zoom and Instagram have been our social saviors in this area and just imagine if we didn't have either of them. I don't think anyone calls and talks anymore with friends. So this bridges the emotional missing a bit and we can just talk with them and have a virtual hangout. But when it comes to buds, just sitting around a table, ordering some junk food, sipping on your favorite drinks, laugh as if it's your last, and dance as if you are tangdis are gonna chopped. That's an unparalleled feeling and every heart yearns for that normal day. Of course, safety, being isolated, and be in lockdown mode is very important at this stage bu the more days you spend, the craving goes sometimes beyond your control and you become a FOODIE-ZOMBIE :P. Har Ek dost Kaminey hota hein.
Day #1, we landed in the airport and reached our hotel late night but the Foodies Day out team in its entirety was present to welcome us and they immediately escorted for dinner to "Madurai Bun Parotta" kadai who are known for their milk-used bun parotta, soft and fluffy, unlike the regular Madurai parottas. We also tried their signatures like bun parotta kothu, Pichu pota kozhi along with their delicious salna and chicken curry. Vadiyal was also available (another form of kalaki with more onions ). If eating and relishing them was one kind of experience, watching master make it was whole another vibe being a foodie. Such are the places you need to visit to appreciate any city's or region's food traditions and making techniques.
Day #2, We started off with their day tour and Mr. Soundar picked us up promptly from our hotel and we headed to the quintessential primo spot, Lord Meenakshi Temple which you can't or shouldn't miss. As we got down and walk past the temple, Soundar explained about the nit-bits of this temple and also how it has evolved to be an identity of the city and also the modernization effects in the last decade. With rich heritage feeding our ears, we headed into "Murugan Idly Shop" which is iconic for their traditional and authentic south Indian tiffins. We started off with their Ghee podi idly served with 4 different types of chutneys (each one was killer) on a traditional banana leaf which makes the whole experience as regional as it gets. Also, we had their signature butter onion uthappam which was pure bliss. Next, we headed to a 70-yr old iconic coffee shop at the premises of the temple called Visalam Cafe. Filter kaapi here is made with their in-house coffee powder and palm jaggery instead of sugar. The whole making process is 2 mins but the first sip engulfs you with their 7-yrs old traditional flavors infused into that single Kaapi glass. Each sip takes through you pure bliss. Words cannot describe and you better taste it. To beat the heat, we then headed to another local favorite spot selling "Ilaneer Sarbath". Nannai Sarbath made with nannari roots which hold a lot of cooling and medicinal values. This is being used in making sarbath throughout the city which people drink a lot to quench their summer thirsts. This one was special with coconut water and chilled tender coconut malai chunks infused within the sarbath essence and served super chill. A summer killer and is a must-have when you are here. The morning tour ends with a summery punch to be precise.
Day #1, we landed in the airport and reached our hotel late night but the Foodies Day out team in its entirety was present to welcome us and they immediately escorted for dinner to "Madurai Bun Parotta" kadai who are known for their milk-used bun parotta, soft and fluffy, unlike the regular Madurai parottas. We also tried their signatures like bun parotta kothu, Pichu pota kozhi along with their delicious salna and chicken curry. Vadiyal was also available (another form of kalaki with more onions ). If eating and relishing them was one kind of experience, watching master make it was whole another vibe being a foodie. Such are the places you need to visit to appreciate any city's or region's food traditions and making techniques.
Day #2, We started off with their day tour and Mr. Soundar picked us up promptly from our hotel and we headed to the quintessential primo spot, Lord Meenakshi Temple which you can't or shouldn't miss. As we got down and walk past the temple, Soundar explained about the nit-bits of this temple and also how it has evolved to be an identity of the city and also the modernization effects in the last decade. With rich heritage feeding our ears, we headed into "Murugan Idly Shop" which is iconic for their traditional and authentic south Indian tiffins. We started off with their Ghee podi idly served with 4 different types of chutneys (each one was killer) on a traditional banana leaf which makes the whole experience as regional as it gets. Also, we had their signature butter onion uthappam which was pure bliss. Next, we headed to a 70-yr old iconic coffee shop at the premises of the temple called Visalam Cafe. Filter kaapi here is made with their in-house coffee powder and palm jaggery instead of sugar. The whole making process is 2 mins but the first sip engulfs you with their 7-yrs old traditional flavors infused into that single Kaapi glass. Each sip takes through you pure bliss. Words cannot describe and you better taste it. To beat the heat, we then headed to another local favorite spot selling "Ilaneer Sarbath". Nannai Sarbath made with nannari roots which hold a lot of cooling and medicinal values. This is being used in making sarbath throughout the city which people drink a lot to quench their summer thirsts. This one was special with coconut water and chilled tender coconut malai chunks infused within the sarbath essence and served super chill. A summer killer and is a must-have when you are here. The morning tour ends with a summery punch to be precise.