Month: June 2024

Posted in Interests

Men in Blue, We love you!

Posted on by veeskitchen

Wanted to record this post hot, hot! A while since the world cup came home! After Dhoni, very well deserving for Rohit and Virat and of course the entire team to be bringing the trophy to India all the way from West Indies. Watched only the matches played by India in the WI. What beautiful locales. Have to thank the windies for being such gracious hosts and conducting the tournament without hickups. We can see the reasons: sponsors such as Aramco! Before congratulating our men, I would like to record my displeasure and distaste for having this Jay Shah at all as BCCI sec and as ICC Director. Its a shame for the entire nation that money and power can play such an obvious and vulgar role in our midst and we have to stand watching the entire tamasha without a comment. Its also very disrespectful for the game of cricket to have women starting from Mandira Bedi to analyse the game along with experts without actually having played it. There are dozens of Indian women cricket players who can fit the bill. Glamour seems to rear its ugly head up over talent and merit. Otherwise very proud of the cool way India handled the tournament. They were very much there in every single game they played and remained unbeaten. Match was almost lost when South Africa had to score just 30 out of 30 balls and victory was well within their grasps. An iota of hope against hope sneaked in as the batsmen were tailenders. Bumrah and Hardik reined in the last few overs. The Suryakumar catch reversed the fortunes and at that point India found the foothold to get back into the game. Had it been a sixer with Yadav dropping the impossible catch, the match would have gone the South African way. SA played a great game as well and it felt bad watching their players weeping in the tv. Equally winners no doubt about that. Its also a satisfying victory for India who tamed Australia and Pakistan. The other arrogant nations are Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Australia kicked out of the tournament without having a berth in the semi finals probably taught them a lesson. The Pat Cummins comment in the last final we toughed it out, that he would make entire India go silent still reverberates in my ears.

Finally cricket is just a sport. The popularity of the game has a lot to do with the masses of the subcontinent taking to cricket, playing it out in the streets without having to spend a naya paisa. The reason cricket is a huge obsession is that its not sophisticated like tennis or any other sport. To a large extent you can enjoy playing the game without having to spend much – unless otherwise you want to be a professional. IPL has made cricket very much a financially viable option for our youngsters who nowadays don’t even want to play for national team! I stopped watching IPL because to me its overkill. It can either make the players extraordinarily fit or fatigue them completely. Besides, the commercial sports somehow never seem appealing to me.

As for Pakistan, they have to come out of their denial first. For them every single Indian win is match fixing. Only if you admit that you are not competitive enough, you may want to work on yourselves. For me, Indian win is mainly based on strategy. India focuses on batting line up instead of on bowling attack. Our poor stamina is one plausible explanation. Our tropical climate being next. Its instrumental to build ourselves stronger first than trying to destroy others. The focus must be on the self.

As the tournament was in progress, Dipa Karmakar won the gymnastic gold for India in artistry for seniors at Asian level, for the first time in our history. Neeraj Chopra won few more golds in javelin throw. At least 2 to 3 in world top 10 in chess are from India. Impressive that Indian athletes have qualified for Paris Olympics. To get on to this stage is a feat as we all know. Cricket does shadow every single individual success in alternate sporting fields and events. Its sad. But the masses relax with cricket like with no other game. In the April-May heat wave see our stadiums packed with kids for IPL. Cricket is also A class fitness.

We have the younger generation who cannot be under the sun for 10 minutes. Real physical fitness and stamina is the ability and endurance to be under the scorching tropical sun for hours. That way I find that cricket shall keep our young men and women healthy. For every other sport you have to pay out of your wallet – cricket is free until upto a stage. May the poorest of this country enjoy the game that is reaching their drawing rooms without them having to pay a single penny for it. May the urchins keep breaking window glass panes playing street cricket with tennis ball. Indian team also is seeing a lot of players in recent years who are making it big from small towns. Dhoni being the prime example.

Anyway, what an evening today! Quality entertainment!

Blue army, the Bharat army deserved to win. They really were in the game throughout. They played a disciplined game and were a balanced team. Their temperament was good. As the venue was not India, I think the pressure was off them. Very noble of Virat Kohli to announce his retirement in time unlike Sachin Tendulkar and even Dhoni who blocked the younger players for years. Retiring with grace is important to infuse flesh blood into the team.

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School time memories: Huge fans we girls were of Viv Richards and Geoff Dujon! Cannot forget the time they toured India and were in Madras too in the ’80.

Posted in food as therapy...

Sweet Tomatoes: A sweet sensation!

Posted on by veeskitchen

fully loaded! my salad plate!

For the first time had a buffet lunch at Sweet Tomatoes in Arizona. My daughter’s recommendation. Its out and out American, and therefore I really expected junk food frankly! But what a surprise the restaurant was. Packed to full, it had queues waiting for the weekend lunch. As a vegetarian from birth, I could not have hoped for better. Like in some buffet lunches in restaurants back home in India, the salads took the place of pride. There were dozens to choose from: broccolis and carrots and lettuce and mushrooms and beans and cheese and others such as pasta and raisins with meat portions and sea food combinations. Toppings were interesting. The main course had the regular breads after soups. I settled for broccoli my favourite anyday. My drink was Hibiscus green tea. Everything in the restaurant is farm produce freshly procured. I have never had such a healthy restaurant meal in the US so far. The dessert was tapioca one for me which was not bad. I had to settle for vegan choices as I had to avoid egg content. Otherwise the desserts such as brownies looked droolworthy! Sadly I had to miss even some bread selections for the egg presence. Even so, I had my plateful! The buffet was more than sumptuous. We paid only $66 dollars for four of us and the baby of the family was not billed. The men had good portions of chicken. I wish I had discovered Sweet Tomatoes a lot earlier. Food is a big issue for me given my vegetarian bearings. Even in breads and deserts I have to avoid those with egg as ingredient. I am a fussy eater. So Sweet Tomatoes came like a blessing. Truly a godsend! I am a huge fan of American coffee already. Had my fill as usual. I like their roasts with hazel nuts and macadamia nuts. Highly recommended chain of restaurants in the US. Worth the wait for your table and more than worth the bill. Healthiest. Love my Buddha bowl always with yum salads and Italian seasonings even in India. Light on your stomach. But Sweet Tomatoes will be the best salad restaurant I have eaten at to this date in my life.

Buffet restaurants are always known for their signature starter salads. Sweet Tomatoes was no exception. Even if the main course that followed was equally a vast spread, the salads won hands down. You have to go here for the array of salads. The meat eaters rejoiced over the shrimps. The drinks were non alcoholic and non carbonated herbal teas with infusions of floral and fruity flavours.

Would as well use this space to record my displeasure at the way the Absolute Barbeque in Chennai has deteriorated. Been here nearly half a dozen times. Our Indian grills can be somewhat unhealthy. As a vegetarian, here too my choice is limited. But recently, was shocked to see the crowds cramped in their restaurant space jostling for a foothold as the business house has grown greediest to take in more orders/bookings than they can afford to. No respect to time-slots. For 12 to 2 noon booking, we got our table by 1.30. The place is no more hygienic and is devoid of any ambience. If its Doha, Absolute Barbeque will be sealed for good, never given licence ever to open again. Food safety inspectors do a great job here. Tables have to have decent gap between them ensuring at least a minimal privacy for diners. Its chaos in AB and we regretted having chosen this place for a party celebration. The waiters are overworked. Avoid at all costs. Buffets to me have lost their lustre these days.

Sweet tomatoes appeared like an apparition really! Its changing the way I think about buffets. In India, buffets mean fries and grills mostly. Slick with oil and can be even unappetizing! Just forget the calory count! Over-priced in gaudy restaurants. Not much to say about ambience in Sweet tomatoes and not at all for romantic candle-lit dinners or cozy birthday parties, but can appreciate their purpose and efforts.

Posted in Science Engineering Technology

Airport Showcasing: Building strong, Basement weak!

Posted on by veeskitchen

Airports need to be utility oriented, user friendly, serving the purpose. Nothing more nothing less. Airports are not a nation’s showcase.

Always wanted to record this about airports. We are having upgrades even in India. Chennai domestic and international got a facelift just recently. Far more efficient now and spacious. Quicker services. Apart from that I don’t look forward to aesthetics in airports. If something mild and extra is there conspicuously, its fine. Let us remember that airports need not have to be a statement. The promise lies outside the airport.

As I take my connecting flights all around Middle east, I get bedazzled by the expansion and luxury of the airports at Muscat, Abu Dhabi, Dubai etc. One word that comes to my mind is: unnecessary. Airports need to be functional basically that’s all. You don’t have to showcase your airports to world connoisseurs so forcefully trying to market your country. The green Changi airport at Singapore etc., are fine. May be the smaller nations with just a single or double airports feel the need to identify themselves to the world. With nearly 500 airports, a nation like India can hardly afford that.

Besides, after seeing the US airports stripped to the basics, I am all admiration for their business mind. There is NOT a single piece of art in them! No posh Chanel and Estee Lauder and other customs duty free shops. May be one or two maximum in rare few. Only the cafes and washrooms tucked back to back after every gate. The American airports handle heavy traffic flow compared to rest of the world. I like their connectivity within airport terminals using airlinks such as shuttle buses/trains. The shuttles give you an idea of the size of the airports and the volume of trade handled by them. One thing about them: noway you are made to climb stairs lugging your cabin bag. All the growth stories of America lie outside the airports. They leave it to you to find about their glory by yourselves than try trusting their supremacy on you right in the airport. There is no gloating commercial in the American airlines flights either telling you where to shop and how to relax on holiday in the city you are disembarking. MOST IMPORTANTLY NO RELIGIOUS PRAYER. I like even their short snacks of pretzels, biscuits and cranberry/apple juice with water/beer for shorter flights. Nothing fancy. I am reminded of the operational efficacy on shoestring budgets cutting costs when things are kept bare minimum. Sprawling airports with multiple terminals seeing a thousand flights take off and land with million footfalls every single day. Immigrations. Security. All handled quietly and efficiently.

Airports need not have to be swanky at all. They need to be super functional that’s all. They need to cater to the transit passengers with seamless efficiency. Airports need not have to become advertisement for your home country. AIRPORTS ARE NOT A COUNTRY’S IDENTITY. Let the world discover you. I must say I enjoy the comforts of the transit airports. I fly a little around. My flying years may be drawing to a close slowly. But I am not the one to judge a country looking at their airport. The covid brought to end the on-plane marketing of luxury brands including those such as Swiss watches and Bvlgari etc., advertised in glossy inflight magazines that used to be so common until very recently. I really loved those mags and miss them! I noticed something else: gone are the days of butter and cheese going with bread! Governments can spend on their airline food instead of splurging on their airports.

I look forward to excellent washroom facilities in airport, charging points and if possible lounges, nothing more in airports. Once was stuck in Dxb (Dubai) airport for 12 hours. I was lucky it was Dubai airport as I could survive within airport and afford opting out of a night’s stay in a five star hotel at the expense of the airline. In last couple of years, using the lounges that I find are able to keep me less tired. One of the reasons for travel tiredness as I realize is that, eating less by way of airline food. I have a good appetite. So the lounge food completes my platter by supplementing to the airline food that is meagre. I have also made it a point these days to keep myself well hydrated during my travel times be it train or air travel. I therefore have regained strength on landing that I used to miss in the earlier years because I used to keep my fluid intake minimum. I used to hold my bladder. No more I do that. I have plenty of fluids, don’t shy about using the washrooms at regular intervals, eat sumptuously including at the lounge and eat again on landing on way home (if its Doha). That practically restores my energy levels. I recover fast from the flying sickness or tiredness, typical with many of us. More fluids most importantly. No holding bladder skipping fluids.

Another thing about the rated five star airports is that, sometimes the aprons are not ready in them when flights land early/later than scheduled time. They make you board their shuttles lugging your cabin bags climbing down steel stairs on foot from the planes after a long tiring journey. Once someone who wanted a wheelchair even questioned the cabin staff about the inconvenience. The steward then offered to carry their bags down the steel staircase to the waiting shuttle bus. The aero bridges are the most convenient way to alight from a flight for tired passengers. It is a must for wheelchair users. In what way are these so-called five star airports disabled-friend when you make senior passengers exit from flight down steel stairs carrying their bags. Then what is the point in boasting of world class airports. At the end of the day, passengers are left in the lurch when you don’t have ready aprons for incoming flights. Airports have to simply build as many aprons that’s all. If you are a rated airport, that is the least passengers may expect of you. I don’t know how airports get rated. But I can imagine, it is not a fair or free method.

Chennai International may be moving to somewhere 70 km away within next ten years. Looking forward to dedicated expressways like they have in Hyderabad – like a bubble – dedicated totally to airport traffic. All these years we had the luxury of flying out of the city from the heart of the city. In our senior years, we will have to travel a bit to board a flight out of Chennai. But its okay, the city is expanding beyond our imagination. Energy (from solar power) and services efficient: this is what I want from new Chennai international. Not chandeliers and duty free shopping.

In Tamil we say, துடைப்பக்கட்டைக்கு பட்டுகுஞ்சலம். Really gaudy airports with uncalled for luxury remind me of this! Just be travel efficient, that is enough. Airports are not our national museums. Or our barometer to measure culture and economy. Airports are just airports. May our airports be slick and efficient handling business and air travel business alone. The rest of the paraphernalia can stay away.