Namaskar and ‘Naya Saal Mubarak Ho’ to all readers of Indian Newslink.
After two weeks away travelling around India with KCM (brother), QM (mother), PM (project manager), the little princes (my sons), HRH (husband) and some other friends from Auckland, I am finally back in Mumbai.
The prodigal Queen has returned.
Mumbai and I are back together, like old friends reunited.
Food poisoning, lots of curry, bottles of champagne, more curry, Bollywood music, Taj Mahal for good measure, even more curry, too many mojito, late nights, family argument (did I say curry?) lot of bartering over tacky souvenirs for my mother, and you would get an idea of what I have just survived!
It was hilarious, if not completely exhausting.
I am shattered; I need a holiday from holiday!
At least the QM got to see the Taj Mahal in all its glory; that was worth it.
Seeing my mother realise one of her lifelong dreams was extra special.
New Year Resolutions
I have a few resolutions for the naya saal; to finally get those Hindi lessons I have been talking about, to eat 100% vegetarian all month (dubious on the likelihood of this one) and to exercise more.
All those butter rotis and stuffed parathas have begun to seem like a bad idea.
I guess it is true that you eat more when you are socialising.
I am hooked on to this place called ‘Punjab’s Sweet House’ in Pali Market. It has been there for 30 years and I always stop off for a sly serving of sevpuri when I do my shopping. The problem is it never stops with sevpuri. I order some aloo batata and that leads to aloo chaat and then panipuri.
I always end up eating a whole plate full!
I think I need to jump on a treadmill and not stop running for a week. If I am lucky, I might run fast enough and lose a few of my extra kilos in the dust!
Bollywood Stars
I bumped into my favourite Bollywood ‘A Lister’ Priyanka Chopra at Mumbai Airport on January 3 as she returned from her Christmas vacation in Thailand. She deserved a break after such a busy year in 2011.
Late that night, walking with my girl friends along the Bandstand Bandra, we saw Shahrukh Khan and Hritik Roshan on their way to Farhan Akhtar’s private birthday bash. The paparazzi were out in full force trying to snap the celebrities. We could hear the music pumping into the wee hours.
It seems the famous and most sought-after shoemaker Christian Louboutin has launched ‘Rani Pink’ stilettos with kitsch embellishments and decided to call them ‘Bollywoody Heels”.
I cannot wait to see Katrina Kaif step onto the red carpet wearing a pair, with her new man on the heels.
That is all for now. I am off to the ‘Table’ for dinner in Colaba. It won the ‘Best Restaurant in Mumbai’ Timeout Food Award on December 6, 2011 at the Taj Lands End Hotel.
To keep up with me regularly visit Queen of the Suburbs@blogspot.com
About the Queen Bee
Why is Bandra dubbed Mumbai’s Queen of the suburbs?
Leaving her familiar and more than comfortable previous life behind her, Queen Bee (she calls herself ‘Queenie’) endeavours to take Mumbai and all its offerings by storm. Her rollercoaster ride of experiences while being rather humorous soon displays some home truths.
But will Queen Bee be up for the lesson?
Time will tell!
