31: Eurotrip: 3 days of trying not to be on trip….

At 10.30 in the night, Sun had just gone home and the sky was dark reddish with hues of purple scattered all over… was it spectacular? You bet!!!

Beds were amazingly cozy and fluffy (I know cakes are called fluffy and not beds...!) … and the moment I jumped in it… I almost sank in it... Pullover supplied enough warmth that although temperatures were freaking low… I could sleep peacefully!!!

True colors of bed were visible; the morning thereafter… sinking deep in the bed whole night, my back ached like hell..!!! It asked for stability, for strength, for security… don’t laugh guys… sleeping on incorrect bed whole night can never give you pleasant experience!!!! Trust me!!

My Euro trip was not the real reason; I was visiting Brussels to appear for one of my entrance exams, for which my center was Brussels –Belgium. It gave me perfect setting to club it along with my Euro trip one which I was planning since January. My exam was on 5th June , Saturday and hence 3rd and 4th were the days which went mostly in showing off that yes I am studying… and roaming about in the local markets of Brussels… most important part of this exploration was tram no 81,84 that goes to Montgomery.

Cut out the studies part… let’s not talk on that…!!! Let me begin with my exploration…

On 3rd, we got up early in the morning at 11 and kept on blaming each other for waking up so early..!!! Btw... That means India time we got up at 2.30 pm… lolzzz… Eating through the thick oat porridge was almost making me to miss my office half-cooked poha all the more… (i.e. Because I hate THICK oat porridge…I like it thin and kheer-like). With tummies full we (me, my bhabi, and her sister) headed for morning jog… (There morning jogs can be taken anytime of the day…I loved their flexibility). Running through the dense greenery of Jubel Park was not only soothing but it also healed my back pain to some extent!!! We couldn’t keep up with the pace of other regular runners there, but we were decent… After almost half an hour of running and stretching we headed for home…this time taming the tram and plunging on the foot… but an Indian woman will always be a gharelu Indian woman, then she may stay in any part of this world!!! The moment she sees ‘market’ she will jump in with the force and swiftly walk around collecting her vegetables, yoghurt, beans, eggs, kiwis, strawberries… and what not!!! That’s my sweet bhabi for you!!! Bribe for bearing up with this shopping was a box full of strawberries (delicious and yummy) and freezing ice cream at a joint on the way back..!!! I had never tasted such yummlicious and beautilicious yellow colored vanilla ice cream ever!!!! Well, color yellow since originally Vanilla is a flavoring derived from orchids (if authentically made…) unlike what processed vanilla ice cream we get in India..!!!!

We came back by 2 in the afternoon, and realized that we haven’t had our lunch. Time for my bhabi to get panic…!!! After lot of struggle in the kitchen bhabi cooked delicious food and we finally ate , bathed and finished our morning chores by 5….rest of the time was spent mostly in TPing around.



After my bro was home we headed to THE GRAND'PLACE (Grote Market - Market Square) – place famous for all sorts of markets and eating joints and pizzerias…!!! We took tram from our place till Merode metro station and thereafter took metro till Gare centrale to reach the market square… it was a huge square with ancient historic buildings surrounding all around it…there is also bourse- the stock market of Brussels just round the corner, which keeps on buzzing with people at all the times… all n all it is one of the crowded place in Brussels that turns into this hep place for all youngsters, alcohol connoisseurs, fashion babes to strut their stuff post 6.30 pm !!!

 We had dinner at pizzeria that served Veg pizza called ‘fungi’ (not fungi as in fungus but fungi as in phungee) and its core ingredients were mushrooms..!!!! God I hate fungi….aaarghh mushrooms!!!! I had to make do with pizza vegetariana of which I removed almost all out of this world looking toppings and converted it into pizza maragerita… but nevertheless it was WOW!!! 

 4th was the day of almost no outing, since it was the day prior to my exam and at least I needed to show on my face that-‘yes exam matters to me more than Euro trip’…!!! Spoke to my mom and dad over VoIP and god for the first time in life I actually felt that, I was indeed very far away from them….!!! Taking blessings from them for the exam, I retired for that day on the same sinking bed with the hope that I write exam the next day properly.

It was dawn of 5th… clock showed 6 am and there stood my bhabi a.l.a my dad style who wakes me up every day at home and shouting-‘get up girl…else u gonna miss your exam…the thing u r here for!!!’ I was supposed to go to International school of Brussels which was good 40 minutes away from the house. Again, we changed from tram to train to bus and then on foot to reach at it..!!!! Didn’t I tell u that going from one place to another; you at least need to change 3 modes of transport minimum..!!!! School was extremely scenic and beautiful… situated on a hillock it had everything necessary for the development of the child’s overall growth!! It had swimming pool, athletics track, martial arts section, gymnasium, football ground, tennis courts, basketball courts, theatre, play area, etc and much more!!! Above all it catered to children of 3 till 16..!!! It was my seen till date, most complete and accomplished school!!! Benches were cozy and comfortable … birds chirping around made atmosphere pleasant!!! And for the first time in my life, on exam day, I actually felt most relaxed!!!

Exams got over like a whiff and the actual Euro trip was about to begin..!!! :D

I was extremely anxious as to what lay next from here… one goal down… only next goal in sight was ‘Grottes caves at Aywaille…!’

Felt like 3 days went like wind…and I hardly had chance to stop breath it... feel it… experience. Topic on the dinner table was quite obviously … how was my exam? Mom asked over phone ‘how was your exam?’ friends tweeted and inquired on FB how was my exam?? Frankly I was frustrated and tired of answering everyone hence let me take this opportunity to declare that, “Exam was good...!!! Don’t ask me to predict marks now… coz my predictions are as good as MET department of Mumbai! PERIOD.”

That’s the way... aha aha…!!!

30: Incredible Win-bledon!!!!!

Wimbledon has a special place in my heart. Ever since I have heard the word ‘tennis’, Wimbledon is all I admire and respect amongst all the Gran Slams!!! From the time when cable networks were still far away from Indian shores, all DD national could afford was telecasting Wimbledon every year, and we used to go berserk shouting and pitching in for our favorite players.

Back then, Steffi Graf, Monica Seles, Mary Pierce were few names that were rooted for, in my abode, while Sampras and Ivanosevic, were few of the male players supported. Best part of the match from then till now has always been the final set, one without the tie breaker …. All players needed to do were to go on playing till the difference of 2 games is maintained which converts into their win..!!!

In the recent decade of tennis, players like Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer proved that player fitness and finesse alone can get you close to winning tournaments. Both Federer and Nadal have proved time and again what arch rivalry means. This year too classic player like Federer and iron pumped Nadal… are the obvious competitors for the numero Uno spot in ATP rankings!!! Each one with equally good first serves and equally sharp mind and body are the probable’s to win the coveted title this year. But the hunger to strike back, to survive, to proceed ahead and make each single game count is something that this year Wimbledon witnessed in John Isner of United States and Nicolas Mahut of France on day 2.

A game, which hardly had any spectators being a no super player show, gained unprecedented popularity. The play which began on June 22nd 2010 was still on when the clock struck June 23rd 2010 9.10 pm…. and after almost 6 hours of play each day … this match stood the longest ever played ATP match that ran into +12 hours category. Now that is something!!! That is the hell of limit..!!!! Isn’t it???

The kind of physical strength and stamina these champs displayed has been astonishing..!!! Giving eye for an eye… making every single point, every single serve, and every single ace count is not a joke!!! Apart from this, fighting against fatigue and extreme wear tear of the body makes these young champs’ true winners in their own stride!!!

Isner and Mahut eclipsed every record in the book in the first-round match which ended when the light faded at 9:09 pm on Jun 22. The pair locked up 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (9-7), 6-7 (3-7), 59-59 in the first round on Court 18. The final set that lasted more than seven hours was alone longer than the longest match in grand slam history.

Excerpt from oneIndia.com- "Nothing like this will ever happen again - ever," panted John Isner after the 10-hour duel. "It's just amazing. Everyone wanted to see the end of the match but we have to come back tomorrow." the American added on Wednesday, Jun 23. The players, who have surprised and shocked the world with the great physical ability and skill, are in awe of each other. "He's just a champion and we were just fighting like we never fought before," Mahut said while his American opponent said, "He was serving fantastically and I was serving fantastically, that was about it."

"Seriously... doesn`t anyone have to pee? Umpires included?" Andy Roddick tweeted during the final set. This match can surely send shivers down Roger and Rafa’s spine..!!! Rafa was till date regarded as the best athlete with enormous stamina to pull off absolutely anything... but these guys proved their mettle and boy… what style!!! With betterment of technique and game these guys can mean lethal!!!!

Now whoever actually wins this match… both are the winners in this historic and epic match and the new record holders for the longest played ATP match in history!!! Its treat watching these two play..!!! Today when they start the game on 3rd day... people can only hope that it ends at least today!!! All the very best to both…

29: Onset of Eurotrip...!!!!

The day was fixed 1st June 2010.... I was to visit my brother in Brussels, Belgium and take euro trip (ahem...not like movie ‘eurotrip’ ... but family vacation) with my bro, bhabi and her sister. A day before that I was getting all nervous because it was going to be 12 hours of flight journey... my first ever foreign trip...plus I was doing it solo.... it was too much of ‘first times’ that it made me uneasy and anxious both at the same time..!!!!

My nervousness eased out with nice and buzzing Mumbai airport that made me to temporarily forget the first flight stomach cramps!!!! Unlike whatever I had heard about the stomach crunching when aircraft makes a takeoff...I suffered nothing..!!!! Disappointed??? Well to certain extent yes... the thrill part of my journey wasn’t thrilling at all..!!! Sigh...!!! But, Swiss Airlines made sure I had a gala time in the flight with hordes of movies, games; TV series at my disposal throughout the journey. Food though, wasn’t all tasty but it was ok!!! After almost 8 hours of journey I had reached Zurich...the beautiful city in Switzerland that left my mouth wide open!!! With a chilling 9 degrees Celsius it was not only windy but it was raining cats n dogs there and the whole of Zurich looked totally mesmerising and chic!!! It reminded me of Shahrukh-Kajol’s DDLJ and the uber cool Swiss panorama in the background!!! Sigh ... I couldn’t stay there longer since I had my connecting flight in 2 hours to Brussels -the European Union Capital and home to my brother.

My first impression of Brussels was - that it is too fussy with so many trams, metros, trains that you need to change while going from one destination to other. But, on the contrary it seemed cake walk as days went by and soon became part of my life there. Crossing roads only at zebra crossing, walking only on the footpath was something that appealed me instantly and I was glad to see everyone following this unlike in Mumbai!!!! (Comparing it with India was not intentional... but it happened inadvertently)

Burners gave way to hot-plates, Rotis to freezed chapatis from supermarket; tap water to toilet papers...Europe was different in so many ways...

Two things about bro’s apartment amazed me...first that it had 2 main doors one with password and the other with special key which was distributed to each tenant and the other thing that the apartment had no fans!!! What the hell!!! No fans...???? Yes... hence no constant sound of fan overhead and silence to its height that made clock ticking sound almost like an era is changing...!!!!

Getting out of house at 11 in the night one can easily expect a nice dark night with only ice cream parlours operating to make few extra moolahs from people who are out for after- dinner stroll. But, in Brussels picture was slightly different. Ice cream parlours were same and after-dinner strolls were also there but the thing that stood out was that at 11 in the night, Brussels was all lit up with evening sky with sun just starting to make its descend . JubelPark of Brussels looked stunning at that time and we just couldn’t stop ourselves from taking pictures of us with its background...

First day in Europe went down with lot of surprises and shocks and I was all ready to face a new day in Europe.