Walking Through the Sepia Tones

Hey guys, back after a loong loong time! How are you guyz! I have been travelling a lot in the interim and have got lots n lots of tales to share!

Recently I had been to a very remote village in north Karnataka (very near to my grandparents place near Bijapur). It was a 5 day trip to the wonderland as there was a function planned out by my cousin. I rented a sedan to reach out that place since it is very difficult for me to catch a state transport (I am very lazy :P).  The journey to the place was not very good as mercury was tipping ever high throughout the day (450 kms). But merely thinking of meeting cousins after a very long time and getting away from the monotonous work-life into the peaceful bliss brought altogether a different colour in me.

Narrow lanes, mud roads, small grocery stores with candles lit in it, in place of bulbs and tubes (probably electricity must have gone) and sun sinking in over the mountain – priceless! Looked like there could not be much difference between what I saw and what I expected! As I reached destination, there it was, standing proudly in front of me, the legacy of 150 years, welcoming as ever. It is built with wood, mud and stone – an eight room vintage home, perfect! My first maternal aunt still lives there and tell you what – they have jazzed up the place exactly how a traditional village home should look like, so magnificent! As I entered “home sweet home” cousins and relatives swooped in, waves and waves of merriness hitting me, easily the moment to be cherished.

Following morning after the function, I took my cammy and went to capture the best of the antiquarian. Emotions bubbling over, anxiously I went through all the narrow lanes which lined the old houses of their inmates. The first thing I noticed was the peace all over, no vehicles honking, no disturbing sounds, no yelling, just the peace, like wind blowing silently. Quietly, the village was buzzing! People buzy in their daily household activities, ladies carrying water in large pots, drying the grains in sun, preparing the traditional delicacies, men marching towards their farms, some catching the wind on their bullock-carts, gotto watch the scenes guys! It is one of the perfect ways to lead a healthy life. Next, I went to the market they gather up on Sundays. Astonishingly displaying their marketing skills, the vendors there looked like they are up to something. Interestingly, I noticed a peculiar thing that every one there was selling something different which the other didn’t had. No competition between them at all, seemed like all of the market unitedly selling the things! One of the major advantages of shopping at such locations is you get everything farm-fresh which is really healthy. As I asked them the cost, I was quiet startled. The veggies there were very cheap ranging from four rupees per kilo to maximum twelve rupees per kilogram. Greatest quality at the cheapest price, mann..who would miss out on that! Caught some great snaps which I will be sharing with you shortly.

Now the important part, what is the significance of all these? I feel living close to nature is one of the best times spent of your life.  We as humans are designed to be a part of nature and live with harmony and peace. But when living in the city, I somehow feel I am doing it all wrong! Being a part of the city-society, I am dragged into things which are not correct and absolutely intolerable. And these things happen virtually, like in a sub-conscious frame of mind. For example, sometimes I travel by bike even if it is a very short walk able distance, lots and lots of plastic usage unnecessarily, I mean there are lots n lots of options available here to spoil us and we are happy to ignore, happy to have all these options! In village there are a few options available but almost all lead you towards a healthier lifestyle unlike city. I felt this even more when I had this visit to my village. Look at it guys, healthy food, daily mandatory a long walking exercise, pollution free air and peace of mind, what else do you need J. However it is inevitable to leave city life, one of many reasons is our dependability on daily needs and sheer laziness to migrate into another world! What a pity! One more thing guys, it felt most amazing not to touch mobile for a couple of days! Peace.     

A Fruitful Tree - Eternal journey of me and You!

Why is that you want to be the best? Why is that you drive yourself nuts to crack that insignificant small stubborn thing? Why is that you consider the best option among all others when you know that you can cope up with a lesser one too. In simple words 'why do we push ourselves to the last toe-space at the edge of a cliff?', or "does it even matter". The question rests upon this.

Life in many ways shows different fruits at the end of its farthest twig. Mesmerizing it is to look from a distance, but equally difficult to get there and taste it. In ways many we think, to preach the best one, eying here and there. But in the quest we tend to forget that it is a journey one has to undertake, from root to the last twig until we reach the fruit "but of only just one tree". The tree grows as we grow, and strength to climb there also weakens after it peeks only for 'just one time'.

Then comes the part where we tend to look for the nearer one, slightly less appealing and think to settle down for it, crashing some of our expectations. Now this is exactly why I am talking about pushing ourselves, so that we can gatecrash the crashes anyhow we were going to face and fly high to reach that horizon. Life teaches us to "fight" and it comes down to us for making it legendary.

The secret to reach the fruit, as I see, is to choose the challenge wisely so as to which tree should we climb. Heeding on the fruit will definitely make us fall, sometimes flat on our face (that is however learning the hard way). Learning from our mistakes carves a graceful path towards the fruit given that we don't reiterate them.

Talking about "fight", be stubborn, naive, determined until you get what you want, but in ways which will yield positive! Fill your inventory, pack your arsenal and give a damn good fight. Never ever back down, never ever give up, but you should have a strong reason backing you up. A manor is judged by its base. Give everything you have, you will not falter.

Does it even matter? Of course it matters and in ways we'll never be able to understand. But when you look back as the curtain falls, you'll realize how it has rendered you, how it has altered you. It creates the difference between sky and earth, between fire and ice. You would be then surprised that the fruit tastes even sweeter than you expected it to be.

You can think or most probably you must have by now that what gibberish I am talking about, but read it once again with an irenic mind, it will make more sense.
Cheerio!

Pasta : Hunt for the Best in town (Pune)

Hi,

Let me introduce myself to you all. I am Guruprasad Kulkarni, living in Pune since I was born. I just completed my graduation from MIT and currently working in an IT firm. As it goes, I am a great foodie. My stomach has its own brain :P. Being a brahmin, I am a pure veggie!

Well, Italian food is something very special to me. Let it be pasta, pizza or lasagna, I love them all. So, I decided to take a walk around the town and find out where I can indulge into the flavours from Italy. I profoundly like pasta in white and pesto sauce, so I made a survey only about these pastas.

One criteria I want to mention though, finding the best pasta in the town is never only about its taste but also its price. If you pay around 400 Rs. for a plate of pasta, definetly you would expect it to be one of the best (Yes guys, I am talking about 'Little Italy') so price factor should also be taken care off.

I commenced my survey from a small restaurant named "AMORE" in koregaon park (near Adlabs). One of the reasons I went over there is, It claims it has the best italian food in the town. The ambience is elegant but gives you the feeling of as if you were sitting inside an air conditioned can. The staff is very cooperative and enlightens you about their various italian dishes. I went there in evening time, it wasn't crowded. I ordered Pasta (penne) in cheesy white sauce along with bell peppers and olives. When I tasted a spoonfull, the pasta was well cooked/boiled. The sauce however lacked taste, it was very plain and blunt. I added salt, pepper, chilli flakes and italian seasonings to spice it a little. The veggies were also less on top of it. The upside was its higene and the way they cook the pasta. Talking about the cost, it was efficient. I had to pay 90 (for the pasta) +20 (for veggies). For the pasta I would give it a 3/5, for ambience and staff 3.5/5 and for cost and its worth: again a 3/5.

Next on my agenda was "PEPINOS", but I somehow landed into a Pasta house at "GOLD ADLABS"  (just adjecent to U.S Pizzas). I ordered a plate of Penne pasta in white sauce. What I got was a plate full of disaster. Though it looked good but it tasted twice as bad. The pasta wasn't well cooked. Talking about the sauce, it was too too much cheesy, all you could taste was the excessiveness of cheese. The sauce wasn't thick at all. All I could think while eating it was, when will this stuff finish, stop tormenting me! Somehow I finished it, paid 110Rs (Not worthat all!) and left the place! For the pasta I would rate it 2/5, for the ambience 3/5(only because it is at Adlabs) and for the cost effectiveness: a mere 1/5.

A week after recovering from the pasta disaster at adlabs, I went to "PEPINOS". I had heard a lot about this place from my friends. This italian snack house is situated on FC road. The ambience is not at all italian, it looks like just another local restaurant. I ordered again Penne Pasta in white sauce. I felt a little jolly when I looked at the bowl with pasta in it. It certainly looked good and I am not sure if it was my imagination or what, the quantity appeard to be more than in any other restaurant. I kept my fingers crossed for how the taste would be. The pasta was well cooked, the sauce was 'fair enough' and it tasted 'how a white sauce pasta should taste'. The veggies were providing just perfect flavour to the pasta. I enjoyed eating at "PEPINOS" and would certainly like to visit again. The pasta here was priced at 130Rs. but enjoyed it a lot. For the pasta: (3.5 to 4)/5, ambience 3/5 and cost effectiveness 3/5 (just because the quantity was a bit more, thats what I felt).

I came to know the existence of one more pasta house on FC road, the "Cafe ROLLA'COSTA". It is just adjacently inside to SUBWAY sandwhich place. I went to explore and rate that restaurant on the basis of pasta. The ambience is not of how a restaurents should be, but then I can understand its on FC road and just a startup. The staff however is extremely cooperative and fast. I found many youngsters hanging out here. Okay, when I saw their Pasta menu I was quite taken aback. These guys have soo many pasta to offer you: Penne, Shell, Macroni, Farfalle (but not spagetti). Also a range of different pastas in red,white,mixed and pesto sauce. I ordered Funghi'da'pasta (shell pasta in white sauce with olives and mushroom). The bowl looked overfull (nice for me :D) and smelled very good. I took the first bite of it and felt italian air brush my hair (lol!). The perfect pasta what I imagined to eat. The sauce is just too excellent/perfect. The veggies are perfectly sliced and adds a zing while eating it. The shell pasta was very well cooked. The quantity is just too perfect for one person (he/she should be really hungry :P). All in all my taste buds were extremely satisfied! Later on(not that day of course) I tried Rosa'Macroni, Alfredo'Penne and Pesto sauce pasta. All were up to the mark. I must say, this restaurent has consistency and definately exceeds expectations each time you go there. Also, the cost efficiency is way too good. It costed me 60Rs. for Funghi'da'pasta and 60,80,100 Rs. respectively for the last three flavours. As far as giving the ratings, For the Pasta : (4 to 4.5)/5, for the ambience (2.5 to 3)/5 and for the cost efficetiveness 4.5/5. You should definetly try out this!

Lastly, I went to "Little Italy" on Ganeshkhind road. It is a perfect italian ristorante. The ambience makes you feel rich and alive. I could not wait to have pasta there. I ordered penne pasta in white sauce as my sister ordered the same in red sauce. Pasta obviously was very well cooked, the sauce was just exquisite along with all the veggies. Tasted havenly! Then I tasted my sister's order 'pasta in red sauce'. It turned out to be poles apart. Not at all good! The sauce was spicy and very very tomato flavoured! Look at the irony here! Even my sis who likes pasta in red sauce didn't like it. One advise from me about this ristorante is "dont try out new things here, stick to the basics!". Pasta is rated very high over here - 400Rs for one plate of pasta. Ridiculous! Ratings........umm......for pasta (judging on white sauce) 4/5, ambience: a definate 4/5, cost effectiveness: 2/5.

Based upon my survey I would suggest you to try out Rolla'Costa and Peppinos. Thanks for reading my blog. This is my first ever post in my first ever blog! :) Cheerio!