Saturday, April 25, 2009

My Affair With Sankey

We have grown up together. Sankey and I. We have changed with the passing time; sometimes for the better, sometimes not. But what remains intact, even after all these years, is my love for Sankey, and Sankey's acceptance of me.

As a primary school kid, my brother once took us to Sankey. Having not ventured out much on my own then, this 'trek' to sankey, crossing the deserted temple and climbing up to reach the road was my own Enid Blyton fantasy in the city. Looking back, I wonder, was my life so sheltered, considering I have lived on the same road all my life and Sankey is but 5 minutes away and that was adventurous for me!! Well, I was excited to be so close to the water then, kid that I was, and surprisingly, that kid in me has never bid goodbye and I feel the same excitement each time I go to Sankey.

Other early memories of sankey are boating. Boating was the only way we could reach out to sankey. And of course, the viewpoints that were on the road: I would love cycling on the empty Sankey Road on summer afternoons, stand and watch the water for endless hours. I still remember the bougonvilla flowers adorning these viewpoints. I remember taking morning walks with Swetch on Sankey Road, discussing the weirdest dreams we dreamt the night before.

Adolescence arrives. Sankey still stays. I still remember, cycling around Sankey one cool summer evening, wearing shorts and for that reason not wanting to spot anyone i know en-route. And I remember better, bumping into not just my crush, but also his three sisters!! All the times I accidently wanted to bump into him, and it had to be the time I least wanted it! Walks around Sankey have also been special bonding times for me with my closest friends. Talks about life, love, ambitions, dreams and everything else under the sun. Talks about other people. Catching up. Craziness. Running(Walking actually!) away from home in anger, and taking refuge in Sankey. Sitting alone for hours together watching the insects on the surface of water. Singing to myself in happiness. Singing to myself in sadness. Crying and getting comforted in(by) Sankey. Morning walks and familiar faces. Crushes on unseen faces, just coz they looked good , observed from behind. Reading a book. Commenting on people. Immersing Lord Ganesh's idol after ganesh chaturthi. Standing outside the gates of Sankey, late in the night, and half wishing to climb over the gates and enter in. Seeing a dead body in the water. Analysing the behaviour of couples , watching live specimens in Sankey. Memorable one to ones with very dear friends. Messaging countless friends about how beautiful the sunset looks when viewed from Sankey. Giving advice. Receiving advice. Done it all. But Sankey still remains. Also remain countless other things I will do in Sankey.

The affair with sankey has lasted this long and this affair will never end, because here, I am myself and because this is the only place in the world where I do not feel lonely when I am alone. I always have Sankey with me :)


Sunday, April 19, 2009

Why CTR Rocks

Today, I had the fortune of visting, what is probably CTR's longest standing rival, The Vidhyarthi Bhavan in Basavan Gudi. My 'very loyal to CTR' friends, were more favorable in going to CTR. But hell, we were so close to Vidyarthi Bhavan, I coundn't resist putting my taste buds to test and more importantly, see which is better.

What I thought was an Urban Legend, that people stand next to your table and stare down like "bakhapakshis", was really not!! The waiting space that this place offers, is next to a table. You have the liberty to choose your own table, stand next to it and wait for its occupants to finish eating and leave. Well, why??? It causes for an unnecessary lot of spiteful looks from either parties, no space for the waiters to move about, and a waste of the 'angala' outside the hotel where you can stand in the cool air smelling the lovely jasmines!! They ought to think about it. And also , in cases like ours, aunties who love eavesdropping on our interesting conversations, just don't want to give up their seats for us and leave!!! 

The place itself!! Why did they have to renovate it? The old building charm is entirely gone with an attempt of modernization. I love the old walls of CTR. The enter one room to enter another room to enter yet another room concept, like in Janata and MTR.  The old wooden windows painted a shade of dull blue or green. The very 'Old bangalore feeling'!! I love them all!! I'd never trade this CTR for a fresher look!! 

Then the most important part. The Dosa itself. The Dosa, I agree was good. But no comparison to CTR. CTR dosas are bigger and better. And yes, they do not POUR chutney onto your dosa and plate in CTR! A place that serves Dosa with 2 types and chutneys AND sambar, beats a place that makes it's own Dosas soggy, any day!

Today, once again, I realized, there is no place like home, and there are no Dosas like they make 'em in our CTR! :)