India and Its Street Animals

admin@amritray.com — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 19:04:00 GMT

The first thing you notice when in India is its street animal population. It’s huge; where ever you go you see them everywhere. You see cows, bulls, buffalos, dogs, donkeys, cats, monkeys etc. This is of course not an exhaustive list but these are the most commonly seen animals on the Indian Road. They eat off the garbage dumped besides the road by people or the left over that people throw everywhere on the street.

Onion flower - Bamboo Plant - Money Plant

Mon, 26 May 2008 05:36:00 GMT

Plants of any kind - (floral, indoors, creepers, herbs) they work like relaxing agent for me. I simply love them around my house.

This plant is one of my favourite (do not know its name) - I call it "Oinon-flower plant". One of my so called aunty gave some bulb last to last year. I saw the same variety, but in different colour (dark pink) at my home town - Andharmanick. I brought it and have planted them but this season only the leaves are growing - maybe next year it will flower.

I took these photos last year, they just look perfect. I can be a good photographer (I love photography too - I'll write about it next time.)

Bhattacharjee jethu (jethu = uncle) brought two money plant "Scindapsus aureus" from Ramnagar, where his 2nd elder brother lives. One money plant, he planted in a small pot and another kept in a watered bottle. Before he left Delhi, he gave the bottle money plant to me. I didn't know how to take care of it; changed the water every 2^nd day. It was green but new leaves grew at a very slow pace, but still I was happy with it. Many times, I thought to plant it in a pot, but also liked to see its root through the clear glass. But eventually the green leaves started to turn yellow - yesterday I finally planted it in a pot.

I read in some article that money plant doesn't need much attention. Need little watering and little fertilizer; requires no direct sunlight - so better to keep them indoor or in shade.

The money plant that uncle planted, was growing very fast and looked very healthy - but its new leaves were turning brown. So I kept it at my so called bhabiji’s (sister-in-laws) house. Uncle’s all plants are kept on the terrace; the place gets shady at around 1pm – but money plant was unable to survive.

I was also reading in that article that the colour of leaves (green, dark green or yellow patch mix green) also depends upon how much indirect sunlight it gets; the more darkness it is getting the more greener it gets. Uncle’s money plant is a mix of yellow patch and green. It looks great – very beautiful! P.S. 2 new branches are growing from the bottom of the stem.

I was also studying about “Bamboo Plant”, I‘ll buy one soon. They look so refreshing, the tenant at Bhabiji’s house, has one but some how it dried up (actually they don’t get dried up – they rot and fall apart). Bamboo plants are also very easy to take care and very pleasing to the eyes too. So green - so fresh! I liked the way it is kept; in a glass saucer (with or without coloured stones) with water. Really beautiful! There is a nursery section in “Dilli Haat”, I never knew about it. Now I have a valid reason to visit it.

A Visit to the Taj Mahal in Agra during summers

admin@amritray.com — Sun, 18 May 2008 20:52:00 GMT

Last Sunday (April 27th, 2008) some of my relatives came to visit us in Delhi and I decided to take them to visit the Taj Mahal in Agra. We drove all the way, it is around 200km from Delhi and it took us around 4 hours to reach there. You are supposed to take your shoes off when you start to climb the steps for the Taj Mahal. Now we did not realize that the marble floor could have become so hot under the sun. It was burning the bottom of my feet. Believe me it was very painful. We all started running towards the shade and when we reached it, it seemed like eternity. (The picture of the Taj Mahal on the left was taken by me on the same day)

Now I really wonder why on earth the people who take care of the Taj do nothing about it? I can see the remnants of some sort of carpet that was once laid out for the people to walk on. Nothing is left of it and surely the care takers can see that. They used to put water on the carpets too to make them cooler, but I don't know what has happed to all that now. It is such a famous monument and people all over the world flock to see it. I saw so many foreign tourist jumping around with pain when they tried to climb the stairs.

Another bad experience that you may face while at the Taj is at the entrance gates. And I am talking about the behaviour of the policemen at the gates. Their rude behaviour with the tourist puzzles me. Serious hospitality training needs to be imparted to these rude policemen and hope that they may become a little bit more sensitized towards human feeling and emotions.The problem is that they have never interacted with other cultures and fail to realize that the way they behave may be considered inappropriate by others.

The Indian Government has started initiatives under the umbrella of Incredible India! to impart education on such issues and I hope things turn out for the best in the near future. It is said that the most difficult thing to change in a society is the mind set of the people.

But the sheer beauty of the Taj can make you forget all this and make you want to come back again and again. It can mesmerize you.

Trip to Kolkata

Sun, 18 May 2008 07:10:00 GMT

Last year September, me and my maa (mummy) went to Kolkata. We took the Friday Rajdhani that goes via Patna - so the journey was longer and the site seeing was also different from the normal route that we take i.e. via Gaya.

Site seeing was beautiful with many rivers mendering through the paddy field or hilly area. It was night when we crossed Uttar Pradesh but saw river Ganga at Allahabad. It was huge - lamp post were there on the river bank so it was possible to see it but obviously not clear. [Note: Can see the river Ganga just after leaving the Allahabad station - within a minute or two]

When entered the Howarh station, it started to rain but stopped for a while untill we reached our mama's house (maternal uncle). His name is Narayan Pramanick - he is my fourth mama, married to Sonali mamima many years back (mamima = maternal aunty). They have a daughter name Dipannita and a son name Shoboshachi.

Let me get back to my journey. The moment we entered their house, it started to rain again and rainned continously for 4 days. Unbelieveable but true! I had never seen so much rain. Roads, open fields and low lands all were under rain water. Yes off course, I love rain and it was not too much for me. Mamima's house is also very beautifully made with lots of windows and slabs on both sides of it. One can sit on it and enjoy the rain. In Kolkata, houses are made in this design but not in Delhi. So any one from Bengal would know what i am talking about.

I would look outside the whole day, eat food, sleep and again look outside at the black sky and the water pouring down in droplets. Aslo wrote a poem on it.

My third mamima name Bornali (at home everybody calls her Mona) was and still is suffering from diabeties. She lost her left eye site. She was staying at Sona mamima's house for treatment from Barasat hospital. (Barasat = district city in North 24 Parganas in West Bengal.) She was very ill at that time, that upset the enjoying weather.

Other moments, when i hated to stay at their house is when Shomo (Shoboshchi) started to act stubron and impossibly irritating. One incident - It was raining at night and Shomo told his father to get him toffee (sweets). Mama told him it was rainning and gave him a toffee which he had at home. But he won't listen, he wanted the toffee from the shop only. And then started a scene which I'll never forget - crying, shouting, screaming by Shomo and his father trying hard to make him listen. I felt, if i stay at their house any longer, i will have start having a headache.

Next morning he was fine. Then again one night he started, because his mother get late in giving him a glass of water while he was having dinner. Unbearable!

Few days later, we went to choto mashima's house (choto mashima = mother 's younger sister). There is a wet land next to their house. I used to sit on their bed and watch many different kinds of birds coming to feed to the insects and snails in the wetland. One of my favourite was a bird (don't know its name) but it is a kind of Eagle - with long claws and nose, just like any normal eagle. I wished and still wish I had a camera - so that i could have taken many picture of those birds. Beautiful! But there was a problem, their bathroom was in dark, light doesn't work. Their "Uthon" (open space in and around the house) was under water, so all the dirt around their house had accumulated in the "Uthon". They didn't clean up as it might rain again and things will be same once again. Otherwise, staying was good.

On 3rd October, took the train for New Delhi from Hawarh. Dida (mother's mother) came with us to Delhi. Brought fish cutlets from the station - very tasty. [ Note: this fish cutlet shop is a small stall inside the railway station and on left hand side of the platform if you stand facing the trains or railway tracks]

The poem i wrote while staying at Sona mamima's house :

"Brishti-er Char Din"

First part

Khola janla-er dhar-ye boshe aami.

Jhom - jhommi-ye brishti cholchhe
Shara din shara raat,
Dube jachchhe rasta dube jachchhe lotano maath.

Janla-er dhare lal Rongona-r jhar.
Bhije hawa-r dula-ye dulchhe taar
paapri daar phool-er thoka guli,
Gaaro- haalka paata-er gaa be-ye
tip-tip topi-ye porchhe brishti-r jol.

Second part

Aaj rood uthechhe -
Khara lomba narkol gachh-er paata-ye
Shonali rong chhori-ye gechhe resha-ye resha-ye.
Aakash neel no-ye, kaalo o no-ye
Shundor bohorupi hoye aache,
Kokhono megh - Kokhono she-i shonali rong.

Rongona ke ghire koto projapoti,
ye jhake to ek bar o jhake.
Kaalo-e holud chaka - Ta-de-r ga-ye-r rong.
Du-i dana mele, ye phool-e o phool-e ure cholechhe.

[note: First part wrote on 25th made changes on 26th sept. '07, finished on 26th sept. '07]

Pan Cake With Caramel Sauce

ray_khushi@indiatimes.com — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 06:12:00 GMT

Pan Cake With Caramel Sauce - (Indian Cusine)

Pan – Roasted Goat Cheese With Red Onion Marmalade and Pear Pure

ray_khushi@indiatimes.com — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:32:00 GMT

Pan – Roasted Goat Cheese With Red Onion Marmalade and Pear Pure

About my work and my nature

ray_khushi@indiatimes.com — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 19:15:00 GMT

In coming months i am planning to open a boutique. Right now i am studing for my exam (B.A pass )- completed it but my 1st year's economics was left so preparing for it. I have got certificate from ITI ( for cutting and tailoring course ). But did'nt learn much from it so joined a boutique at the place where i stay. This was a better idea - learn many thing which i will require later like how to deal with our worker - how to finish dress on time and to keep clothes in proper place. How to do mend mistakenly wrong cut cloth and how to deal with customer - and many more things which i definately could'nt have learn from any fashion designing institute.

Let us get back to economics - i really hate it. 2nd year and final year was not that bad but 1st year's economics is nothing thing better than hell. Cry and study. Today i studied "Nature of short-run cost curves and long-run cost curves" and "Equilibrium of a firm", yes i was at the end of the day could understand the notes i had made. God help me get through it once and for all.

Now let me write about my life. It's very simple and still not ordinary - very unique. One thing i have learnt that every body's life is interesting and not normal as one can see. I am dusky and little fatish - trying to lose weight. Hopefully will lose some in the coming months. I am pretty much sensible and very short temper person - not very ambitious and still know what to achieve and how to get my goal.

Some lines about who i am - about my schools

ray_khushi@indiatimes.com — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 15:38:00 GMT

Hi! I am Sharmila Ray. Live in New Delhi but born in Kolkata (Andharmanik to be specific P.S Baduria. It is on Bonga-sehalda line.)When I was one year old - my parents shifted to New Delhi as my father got job in ministry of external affairs. So I have been to many countries as my father is in the foriegn ministry.

Began my schooling in Karachi – Pakistan (1986-1989). School was horrible - very strict (unnecessarily), otherwise everything else was fine – infact it was pretty good. We lived near Teen Talwar in Panchil Court with 24 other families. Really good memories, but would not like to go back in time. I am very happy right now.

In 1991 – went to Rome, Italy. Great school (St. George’s English School) with some very good friends and many more different people. Best place in have ever been to. Beautiful country side , amazing city site, delicious food and very friendly people and above all very safe place to visit all by yourself. Enjoyed Rome till November 1994.

In 1997 August, went to Durban, South Africa. Heaven on Earth – this can simply explain Durban. I was in Durban Girl’s School. Really good School – with normal South African girls as friends. My life took positive turn from there.

Who is God?

admin@amritray.com — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 16:10:00 GMT

I bet if you are not out of your mind then you never questioned about the existence of God, have you? Just like the rest of you I also believe that God exists.

The Great Indian Population

admin@amritray.com — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 14:47:00 GMT

I always wanted to write something about the Great Indian Population. How in my opinion it is affecting India and its economy. Is there any way to deal this it? Only God knows.

Archive

India and Its Street Animals

Onion flower - Bamboo Plant - Money Plant

A Visit to the Taj Mahal in Agra during summers

Trip to Kolkata

Pan Cake With Caramel Sauce

Pan – Roasted Goat Cheese With Red Onion Marmalade and Pear Pure

About my work and my nature

Some lines about who i am - about my schools

Who is God?

The Great Indian Population