Problems and then there’s some more

You know there’s a charm in my sort of free life. It’s unpredictable and yes there’s’ scope for so many more events. The result being I find myself in a range of problems those others may never have heard of. Let’s say, I find a perfect top but I’ll never find a skirt to go with it, so I’ll actually wait 6 months. It’s not like I’m choosy, lets just say I visualize what Iwant and if I don’t have it, I wont settle for anything else.

My mother sends me messages like, “you last made any contact 17 days ago. Where are you? Is this the way a sane person behaves?” To make it easier, I do not use a phone, so that’s that. Now who will explain sanity?
17 days, I wonder where they went, honestly I don’t even know today’s day but I will when I check my inbox. But don’t trust it completely because my yahoo dates are American, there I’m always a day behind. And what is thsi about contact, does she think I'm in the secret services, or better still alien blood

Just when I need money and humbly ask for some the ICICI server goes down.
If I try to be good and make an attempt to go to the bank on a certain date there’ll be a popular “Kolkata bandh.”

If I decide it’s time to take a holiday, I have an accident and am confined to bed, and books. Well that part I actually like but whatever.

When I postpone my work and choose to write tomorrow, the Tata server conks for half the day.

Just when I wear my latest street wear fashion chappals it rains that day irrespective of the month.

When I choose to smoke a cigarette its’ always the last match, better still you can’t find the matchbox till you’ve nearly torn your hair apart.

Just when I decide maybe this is what I want to do in life, someone says you should try hairstyling, I mean just why, but actually why not? But I’ll let that be because I’m a little receptive to touch and so I recoil too fast.
I’ll explain that another time. And so it goes on... exciting, well I just laugh every moment... its funny that one can have such a brilliant existence in this pretty place with friends and family who make me laugh even more.

why wine.......

Of late, certain wines that were earlier available in the market with approximately 12 percent alcohol are now being sold with 14-16.5 percent alcohol. This increase has been credited to the use of very ripe fruit. This helps produce wine, which is richer in flavor. Consequently, the use of ripe fruit ensures that increased alcohol is produced when the grapes are fermented.
You should know that most red wines have a higher alcohol content as compared to white wines. However, this is not an absolute parameter and there are variances. Alcoholic content in wine is dependent upon the ripeness of the fruit. The ripest grapes have the highest sugar content. During fermentation, the sugar content gets converted to alcohol.
Usually, grapes that are used to make red wines are picked when they are riper than those used to make white wine. The sugar content, winemaking technique and character of the fruit determine alcoholic percentage. You can check all wine bottle labels to know it's a wine's alcohol content. Wine enthusiasts should be aware that all labels are not alcohol and the printed content may either be 1.5% below or above the actual level. This is not an offence as laws permit such flexibility

trail cameras

Whether it is your passion or your daily dose of adrenaline, hunting is a special ability that is mastered over time. Apart from honing personal skills for every forthcoming hunt, people do depend upon modernized hunting equipment to gain that upper edge over their next best competitor. The latest in hunting technology can provide you with far better results. The use of trail cameras is fast becoming a necessity. Also referred to as scouting cameras they are popular for various reasons. These cameras help you get a better understanding of your hunt every step of the way.
When hunting deer, a great obstacle hunter’s face is the animal’s ability to sense human presence in a certain area. This causes the animal to avoid using a certain trail for days at an end. The use of trail cameras helps scout deer and other animals on a certain trail. The best thing is that all this is achieved with minimal human intervention. Mounting a trail camera helps you attain detailed trail patterns of the animal you are trailing, and makes hunting it down a much more achievable prospect. For those who take hunting seriously, a trail camera can help you get better day-by-day. This tracking device is intelligent and goes a long way in helping you make better decisions regarding your prey.
It may take a while to understand your trail camera lingo but once you master the art, this beauty works well for you. You can start using your camera effectively to watch over travel patterns of your targeted animal. A trail camera can help you keep an eye on the animals travel patterns between certain predetermined points. This will help you analyze which trails the deer prefers and which it is less likely to use. These cameras are efficient and provide you with accurate time and date stamps. This means you can analyze each frame and start understanding its trailing patterns. A detailed study will help you determine the animals preferred trails at different parts of the day. Studying its trailing patterns can help you determine your time and place for the best possible shot to catch your target unawares and get it down. Setting up your trail camera is not a cumbersome job but it is essential that you place it strategically after having studied deer movement in the initial stages. This will ensure that your camera captures deer movement rather than stare into a blank trail day after day. When placing these super intelligent devices, it is important that you keep them out of direct contact with animals passing your trail lest they knock it down.
Since these trail cameras are doing their job round the clock they actually help track more animals than you would believe were walking down your targeted path. Trail cameras capture images of all deer and animals walking past your track. As such, you get a fair picture of all the deer around your targeted hunting area. This helps you determine a target after checking all fine details. Since a lot of your targets are timid by nature, it is obvious that you are not aware of their existence many a time. This is because many of these animals prefer foraging after dark. Your trail camera can help you acquire details of deer that you thought weren’t around apart from helping your identify each animal.
Best of all, gone are the days of spending sleepless days and nights at the jungle to catch a glimpse of your targeted catch. The use of scouting cameras has ensured that you can sit back and value your time. Better still you can go on with your daily chores and work routine without having to spend too much time watching over the deer and his movements. All you need to do is check the time and date stamps to know your animal’s whereabouts while you were out. This is a very feasible option because even if you are out hunting over the weekend you can spend ample time with your family rather than bore everyone over a deer. There’s much that separates the pros from the amateurs, but there are those that have gone on to use multiple trail cameras to steady their reputation even further. This is a great option as it ensures you leave no part of the trail uncovered even for a single moment. You can choose a specified time to remove your trail camera memory card and go through the day’s activity. This will help you study your deer thoroughly and prepare you for the ultimate kill.

Chilli, masala and paan.........

When going to an Indian dining venue, make sure you read the menu card thoroughly. On top of many dishes you will find icons of chillies. This goes onto denote how spicy a certain dish will be, and one thing is certain that your American spice and Indian spice are not comparable. When you eat at Indian restaurants, you are not likely to find baked products or bland preparations. There’s a lot of color, chili, oil, cinnamon, cardamom, use of black peppers, clove, bay leaves, ginger, garlic and turmeric. In fact it s great idea to read up a little about Indian spices to know what you would prefer if you ate at an Indian restaurant.
Once your meal is complete you could even choose to sample any of the Indian sweetmeats that are available at the restaurant. A large number of these sweet dishes are milk based and are unlike cakes and custards. They are smaller and could be served in a milk solution or even sugar solution. Indian meals are often ended with a cup of milk tea. You could order from some special cardamom black tea, also known as the “masala chai” Apart from this you could end your meal by eating some “paan” This is a betel leaf that is filled with certain sweet nuts, betel nut and even cherries and then the leaf is folded into a triangular shape. If it is up for grabs make sure you end your meal with the traditional Indian “paan.” Of course all this may seem a little different at the beginning but a little attempt on your part can help you understand India cuisine just as the Indians see it. So go ahead and sample a little something to know what you are missing

Indian bread and spice

When you order the Indian bread, make sure you order them one after the other rather than all together. This is important because the roti or chapatti is cooked over heat and loses moisture fast, causing it to harden. Surely you could still eat it but now you would be breaking pieces off it rather than tearing them off. So make sure you order your rotis as you need them because they taste a lot better when hot. Most Indian chefs who work abroad do understand that the American pallet is not used to Indian spices as your mouth could truly be on fire. So instead of leaving yourself feeling the steam it’s advisable to order dishes with minimal spices. Once you have developed a taste for all the spice and color you could move on to eating more spices, but this is not advisable on your first few tries. Another important parameter that all diners should follow is not to order things that feel to unfamiliar. In the vegetarian sectors, there will be use of certain vegetables that you may have never heard of so don’t order all alien dishes, lest you don’t find any of it interesting. Always seek help from the steward that’s waiting on you to know exactly what you are ordering.

India eating

When you are eating at an Indian restaurant, at certain specialty places, just to get the real feel you may be served your meal on low tables rather than your regular dining tables. You could even choose to sit cross-legged at such places if you are comfortable. When you eat roti, it is really an odd idea if you try to cut through it with the help of your folk and knife. At times like this eating with your hands is the best alternative. In fact most of your meal should be eaten by hand rather than using your spoon, except of course when you are trying rice dishes. In between changing your course you could choose to wash your hands before starting to eat with your spoon. In case you overlook that factor, don’t bother, it is not a topic of ridicule and is absolutely accepted. Another fact that could amuse you is that after eating certain dishes by hand, you will notice that there could be a yellowish stain left on your fingertips. This however is not permitted color and should not trouble you because it is the turmeric used when cooking that causes such coloring.
Along with your meal you could choose to order for some buttermilk or lassi, which is served sweet or salty. This is made from yogurt that is set at home and then the churned is churned continuously. It s quite filling in itself but is a great taste booster along with your meals. When you are visiting an Indian restaurant, it would be great f you could enquire whether it served Indian cuisine or was a specialty restaurant hat serves only one kind of Indian cuisine. This will provide a fair picture of what to expect at the restaurant rather than be caught totally unawares.
Another section that’s very popular at Indian restaurants is the Indian fish sector. They will not be baked but served fried, steamed or in gravy. Be very careful when ordering because many fish varieties have scores of tiny bones which makes it difficult to clean and eat unless you are a seasoned fish eater. So make sure you enquire in advance prior to sampling new fish.

Indian food colors

Your Indian curries are usually reddish, yellowish, greenish or brownish, depending upon the base used. Most green curries have spinach as a base. Spinach is very popular n Indian cuisine and is known as “palak.” Another poplar vegetarian inclusion is the use of “paneer.” This is made from milk that is fermented with bacteria and then compressed into a cake and is soft and tasty. This is then cut, slightly stir fried and used in any gravy of your preferences. The “paneer” chunks will be white in color and are usually not too fried, as this would cause them to break or get overcooked.
When ordering meat dishes, you could choose between chicken, mutton, lamb or even duck. Eggs too are popular n Indian menus and could be served for dinner or lunch and not just for breakfast as in most countries. You can sample excellent egg curries for dinner. You could order “tandoori chicken” which is very popular. The entire chicken is first marinated in rich thick sauces and then cooked in a tandoor. This s like a big oven made of clay and the meat is cooked on direct heat and the outside of the chicken could be slightly burnt which adds to the taste.
Indian meals are usually many course meals and as such you need to follow a routine when ordering. As such you could start with the Indian bread versions and ask for a dry vegetable dish. Along with your regular salads, you will be served pickles and even curd. This adds to the Indian taste. When starting you could even choose to order for “Papads” that are simply roasted. They are like paper-thin crunchy accompaniments with any of your meals. Usually one portion is enough for two persons but you can clarify this at the time of ordering. It is a great idea to order two different items on the menu card along with a “dal” to get the feel of the real thing. Meals are served in portions so all of this will come to your table together unlike other cuisines where you wait for one serving to be over o bring on the next new preparation. You could start the meal with the Indian roti, dal and gravy to know what most of India eats. After this you could order a rice dish with any gravy, vegetarian or non-vegetarian.

The globalised spice story

Initially spices are cooked in hot oil, but moderated so as to not burn it. The chef always knows when the ‘masala’ is cooked just right because of the aroma it emits and also because at this stage the masala can’t soak in any further oil that’s in the pan. Very often Indian food is cooked in deep pans so as to be able to fry and cook well. The vessels used are very similar to Chinese woks. In many Indian dishes most food is initially fried and then cooked in the gravy. This ensures that the vegetable or meat doesn’t soften too much, but retains its actual flavor even when submerged in gravy.
Unlike European nations where bread is very popular as a supplement with your gravy, Indian curries are mostly accompanied with rice or the Indian bread, known popularly as the ‘roti.’ Rice may be served in its steamed version, or you could choose to explore a little by ordering “jeera rice” which is rice with a dash of fried cumin seeds to enrich flavor. You could also choose to have fried rice, which will have a mix of vegetables sautéed and served in the rice itself. This dish is also known as ‘pulao’ and varies only slightly. You may also choose to taste “biryani” which is an extravagant preparation and could be vegetarian or a meat dish. This portion is complete food and has a rich use of spices and is served with only basic gravy on the side because it is very filling by itself. You could even choose to have “curd rice” which is a mix of yogurt and a few fried curry leaves and fried mustard seeds and red chilies. This too can be eaten without any accompaniment.
Even if you are all for a non-vegeterian platter, there are certain vegetarian dishes that are part of all Indian meals. You can try the “dal fry” which is a serving of pulses in gravy form that is flavored with the use of special spices that include cumin, mustard, chilly and asafetida. Whenever there is a mention of the word “sukha” it implies that the dish is a dry dish with no gravy. Such food is great accompaniment to the Indian “roti,” “chapatti,” or “naan.” They are served hot and prepared on order. Wheat flour is knead and then rolled out in circles or triangles with the use of a rolling pin and then kept over the fire so that the bread gets cooked. In most cases you will find that there could be little charred portions on the outside, but this is not something to complain about.

The American Indian diner

Indian cuisine is fast gaining popularity in major cities all over the world. So much so, that they are a common inclusion in many top holiday destinations. So what is it that makes Indian cuisine this popular? The answer is simple. On a global platform, continental cuisine is very popular. But in the Indian sub-continent you need a little spice in your life. And this is very evident in the food preferences here. As such, in time Indian food has made its foray into the American lifestyle. Of course it takes great effort to break out of your comfort zone and sample something that’s so new to you, but with a little help, understanding Indian cuisine may not be as difficult as you think.
What sets Indian food apart is the generous use of spices. In recent times the use of spices is popular all over, but there’s a little difference. Spices used are packaged and processed and are in their dry forms. In Indian cuisine, you will experience different tastes because spices are used very differently. Whole spices are preferred. The use of fresh spice changes taste as well as the aroma. Fresh spices are ground, and not just put away in a mixer to do a quick job. The use of the ancient “mortar and pestle” is still popular where fresh spices are ground in generous quantities. This adds to the flavor, aroma and gives a rich texture to the food. Another thing that you have to take into consideration from beforehand is that a large number of Indian preparations will be a little oily as compared to the food you usually eat.
What you will notice about Indian cuisine is that most things you order for are colored. Instead of eating dishes that revolve around white sauces or baked products, Indian food is a lot more detailed. In most Indian food, the base for your gravy, which is the spices, is known as “masala.” When you sauté the spice it shrinks and in case you need a liberal quantity the chef could use coconut, tomato, onions or curd to cook up enough gravy, depending on what you choose to eat. In many dishes you will find the use of dry fruits like raisins, dates and even cashewnuts.

A little change...

The latest version of the arranged marriage in the Indian society is to allow a prospective bride and groom to further their alliance ad have private dialogues over a period of time. This is not true n all cases, but in certain families individuals are given some time to get to know each other and see if they could be married. This is a lot better than the original arranged marriage system but isn’t the best alternative because most of the interaction boils down to telephonic conversations and emails which aren’t the best way to get to know someone you consider spending the rest of your life with. Another form of the arranged marriage system can also be compared to consistent dating where parents at both ends are eager to get their children married and fix ongoing meetings for them, giving them the opportunity to spend some time with each other.
However the arranged marriage system is not popular amongst those who are educated and are the new age youth, because quite certainly falling in love is a matter of chance and not something that can be arranged. It is an emotion that comes into full play for a special person when the time is right, and it is only right that people marry when in love rather than make a compromise. The ironic truth regarding the arranged marriage scenario is that the Indian society has great respect for parents. As such, once you decide to marry, most to be married couples will not just go ahead and marry but will in fact go ahead and seek their parent’s permission. In most cases this is just a formality because those who know their parents will not agree simply elope. And as such, parents do interact and eventually arrange and seal the marriage. It isn’t everyday that the man who loves you will walk to your parents and tell them he wishes to marry you. In most cases it is the would be grooms parents who complete the formality. However this shouldn’t dishearten you as the emerging Indian man is modern and will sooner or later take his decisions himself and the educated parent will not consider this an act of disrespect. Till then surely, marriages will not stop taking place, so whether in the name of religion, love or parental responsibility, go witness the next Indian wedding extravaganza.

the Indian family system

The arranged marriage system will not be completely wiped out from the Indian society in any great hurry. One major reason why it still works is because in a large way many Indian parents have a habit of interfering in their children’s lives even when they are adults. The Indian family system is rather strong and serves as an example in itself. There are many joint families that survive even to this day and as such when it comes to marrying of someone n the house everyone feels it is their responsibly to do so. Even in a single-family unit, parents look after their children even when they are adults. In many families even when youngsters get a job they continue to live at home rather than go out and experience life. In many families that follow such value systems the arranged marriage system works. Quite honestly the Indian society needs to be less sentimental about such issues and move on. It is quite another thing to cherish family values and quite the other to be obsessed about it. Hence it‘s time for young adults to act with maturity and make decisions that will give them a better life. Certainly such changes will be more effective and visible when the country starts witnessing a stronger education system. This is when change will not be met with sneer and rebellion and all parents will accept the change.

Married to the stigma

In addition to all this there is the social stigma of having marriages break up. Of late most married couples are working individuals. With work pressure mounting and too many things to handle many relationships are strained and move towards a break up. It is at times like this that the conservative society does point fingers at the modern day love marriage concept. If you consider the same scenario where the working male is married to a girl who chooses to be a housewife in the orthodox arranged marriage system, there are chances the marriage would work, but is it worth the price for having to spend the rest of your life with a stranger.
What’s very difficult to comprehend is that the arrange marriage system still works in this country, but with some luck things will change for the better in a short period. Of late most weddings take place when a man and woman make this decision on their own. Also an educated sector of society is no longer hell bent on marrying people from the same religion. Slowly a segment of Indians has awoken to the fact that marriages are meant to unite a man and women rather than marry religion into religion.

the license

One thing that sure is disturbing is the fact that most of these marriages are based on compromise because you do what is expected of you rather than live your life. You learn to love your husband and his family and live life just the way your in-laws expect you to because in most cases, that’s the only choice you have. Since divorce rates are low in the country it is difficult for young couples to say they want to be divorced because the rest of the family steps in to ensure they remain married. Unfortunately for many of these youngsters, the choice of being in love is not theirs alone. They aren’t given the natural choice of falling in love or experiencing the laws of attraction. They simply have to start loving the person they are married to. This surely is a very strange arrangement because many times two absolutely incompatible people remain together for no real reason. What further complicates their lives is the incident of childbirth. Being in a physical relationship after marriage is not a matter of love but compulsion in arranged marriages, then it’s a habit and you live with it. And once there is a child, your life stars to revolve around him/her. This is another reason why many Indian marriages have survived because both parents feel a bond for their child but in reality do not have much of a relationship amongst them. In fact many arranged marriages have even been termed as a ‘license to rape’ because most women are not given a choice, they just follow the only path they know. What’s really saddening is the fact that in many societies girls are never given the same opportunity as their male siblings. And as such their worlds are very small. They grow up believing that their only purpose n life is to marry, bear children and have a family of their own. And this is what most of them readily do in the name of arranged marriages.

stately marraiges

What was once considered a success formula is now perceived as outdated as more and more people are marrying the person they wish to, rather than marry as per their parents wishes. In fact of late many parents do not interfere in marriage issues and accept modern day alliances. Earlier interaction between men and women was practically zilch, but now times have changed. Even though you are unlikely to view a full fledged public display of affection, you will certainly find more and more people holding hands and at least embracing. Of course it has taken a while for the Indian parent to accept such changes but they have finally given their consent. However this is not the overall notion as there are many societies who still make decisions for the younger generations. There are many instances where youngsters are married as per their parents decisions and there are times when marriages take place within weeks or even days of proposing an alliance. There are many families who are interested in getting their daughters married to boys who are settled abroad. As such, there are many NRI weddings that take place where girls and even boys are not really given an opportunity to express their wishes. This is mostly true in case of Punjabis, Gujaratis, Sindhis and Marwaris. It s very saddening because in such communities absolutely capable youngsters are not really allowed to go and take on a profession but are married too quickly especially in case of girls and n many cases boys are introduced to the family business rather early. This gives them a more respectable mage when they are considered as a marriageable alliance.
The poorer states like Orissa and Bihar too have a marriage system where very young people are married off. This is unfair because at times these individuals do not even have the maturity to understand what a wedding is all about but are expected to live this life that is chosen for them by elders in the society.

still the marraige saga

In the Indian society men and women have always maintained a strange awkwardness between themselves, even as adults. Here it is absolutely normal to find men and women who are virgins till they are not married. Though society is changing of late, marriages have often been left in the hands of guardians, parents, relatives and well-wishers. Till a few years ago, women never ventured out into the job forefront and were happy managing their homes. They were housewives for life. So from being loving daughters who respected her parents every wish, they happily transcended to being wife to a man they had never interacted with. This was widely accepted, as it was the done thing. Most girls were in fact never given the right to choose. A prospective grooms family would come and have a first look at the concerned girl and would let the hopeful parents know their decision after a little pondering. If the proposal was accepted the girl would be considered very lucky and soon the Hindu priest would be summoned to decide upon an auspicious date. If an alliance were not made immediately, the prospective girl would be put up on display a few more times till an alliance was not found. One important thing was that alliances were welcome only from families that belonged to the same religion as well as same sub-caste. This was true in the case of emerging India, where there was no real scope of male female interaction. The government did not even support the co-education system, which kept boys and girls apart from each other all through till the time they were not married off.
The arranged marriage scenario has worked in India from yesteryears. This time, tested formula has in fact even worked wonders for many people. As compared to western countries the divorce rates in India are comparatively very low and this is often a matter of wonder for many. However what goes unnoticed in this so-called marital bliss is the domestic violence that is often a part of many marriages in the Indian society. Of late, there has been a huge change in the way things function, and people prefer marrying a partner they choose rather than depend upon intervention from family members.

why arranged marraiges???

As they say, marriages are made in heaven; in India there is another version of where marriages are made. In most of the European and American world, marriages are made when two people decide they want to be married; this is not entirely true if you are an Indian. In India, the events that lead to a wedding are rather different when compared to norms followed in other parts of the world. Though Indian society has made adapted many changes in the way society itself functioned, few things are still followed. As compared to most first world countries India is still a developing nation and as such backward in many aspects. One such important difference is the manner in which many families marry their wards. Since girls were not working women in many states and societies in India, they were wholly dependent on their families for their existence. For their male counterparts life was not very different as even grown up men seemed all too dependent on their fathers. Society in itself was always male dominated and there was no scope of male-female equality. Women were the second-class citizens and very few women had any identity of their own. Life only revolved around being a good daughter, faithful wife and loving mother. In time the government made adequate changes and women were given the opportunity of higher education. This changed the outlook of society n large way. In time women folk became working professionals and society was faced with further changes. So from the very early days of marriage in the Indian society where men and women didn’t even see each others faces before being married came the new age dilemma of letting youngsters marry according to their own choice

freelance writer

guys please tell me if anyone wants to be a freelance writer...thanks