Hungry in Mumbai: Carter Road, Bandra

As per the latest unofficial survey of the few people who were tortured by this blog, I should be hauled over coals, again. Apart from the usual travesties inflicted, my friends complain that I have failed to do justice to my home town of Bombay. After being adopted by Bangalore I seem to have forgotten my roots and sworn my allegiance to Vada Sambar over Vada Pav. To this I say, my home is where I charge my laptop.

My dull Republic day holiday evening was rescued by the Agnel College gang consisting of 2 other neo-Bangaloreans like me. For them there is only 1 place to hang out, the hang out to beat all hang outs in Mumbai - Bandra, which I unfortunately had done very less of hanging out.

So after much jostling for parking space we hit Carter's Blue for the awesome succulent shawarma, chiken tikka and paneer rolls. This is rolls the right way. I think this is the best I have ever had and I have had a lot. The Shawarma here is much better than the authentic Mediterranean wraps I had in california. I shall come again.

Dont get distracted by the aston martins, harleys and the lowly BMWs while you finish your friends rolls after you done yours. Next up, dosas. After suffering Bangalore's dosas - yes suffering cause face it after sometime what you eat everyday gets pedestrian, we wanted the Bombay version. Cheesed up and crisped out, non jain varieties and made by the trademarked bushy mustached fat Tamilian Anna plated up some Mysore Masala, more like Mumbai Masala. Good stuff.

OK now for some Momos. Dear stomach, I am gonna punish you today. We were disappointed with the poor attendance of celebrities. Anyways as a consolation we snapped up Dance India Dance judge Terence. If you dont recognize him dont fret, neither did Ankit who's expression was priceless.



Ok now what, frozen yoghurt. Seems to be all the rage with one shop crammed to max and a line snaking out into the road. I don't have homicidal tendencies, usually, but after standing in line for a frozen version of 'Shrikhand' if I have to wait behind girls who probably apply make up with a mop wondering what toppings they want only after reaching the counter, getting it piled and then asking them to make it again as the yoghurt wasn't Non Fat. Urge to kill rising...

Note to self, skip the frozen yoghurt stick to Kulfi.

11.30 and the streets were full of people having a good time, something I feel Bangalore lost out a few years ago. We head to Cafe Mocha, another college hang out and we proceed to order another cache of desserts. Time to loosen the belt one notch. Wonderful Apple Cinnamon Tea complimented the ungodly size of cake and Oreo Chocolate chip shake. All this while there was a DJ spinning tracks and happily taking requests.

In this particular visit I came to Mumbai with a pouring cloud on head. This city sure knows how to turn a frown upside down.

Yercaud: Poor Man's Ooty

What does one really want from a vacation. Usually a change from the routine. Some people like to 'chill'. But given that people working in IT are susceptible to lapsing into a coma given the super sedentary lifestyle, it would be nice if one can go stretch out ones limbs.

So we decided to chill some more by going to Yercaud lake in Tamil Nadu.

A wonderfully pleasant 4 hour drive away from Bangalore on Tamil Nadus silky smooth roads, you pass through Steel City Salem as you head upwards into Yercaud. There is nothing much to do here and frankly the poor man's Ooty moniker is deserved given well there isnt anything proper you would get to eat or dine upon unless you would want to splurge in the British era style resorts like the Grand Palace or the Regent Hill Side - which by the way has an opulent buffet.

So this is what you do - you go to the lake do some boating, shoot some arrows at everything apart from the targets, go to the points and vistas and you come back to your hotel room and not get drunk with some bad food, cause you dont get proper booze in this town. Not that I drink. But the best thing is there isnt the same maddening crowd as you could find in Ooty. For me thats good enough.

But as far as the whole chilling thing goes mission accomplished! And make sure on your way to and back, you have some proper South Indian style lunch in some of the nice restaurants on the way.

Would I go back here? Bike ride to Yercaud anyone?