New Girl In The City

Na jaane mere dil ko kya
Ho gaya
Abhi toh yahin
Tha abhi
Kho gaya

~ Anand Baksi
~~ Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge


I think I've have visited my blog after ages today! And I choose this song from Shahrukh's iconic movie, simply because it started playing as soon I hit'New Post'. Even this online radio channel knows I am kinda mad about him. Well, a lot has happened since i last blogged. I've moved to Singapore from Hyderabad and as my friends can't stop reminding me, have acquired the much envied "NRI status". It's funny how in India we are still crazy about our NRI cousins and all the goodies they bring back on their annual visit home. I mean, we even get Oreo's in India now and I have seen some stores selling MnMs too. But it's just this awe of living abroad that fascinates us. And of course, unfortunately it's true that India has a long way to go to catch up with living standards and lifestyles of those abroad. So yea, I moved to Singapore. And I did think of blogging in my first week and even thought I would name my post "New Girl in the City". For those of you who are new to my blog, I am as Bollywood as it can get and "New Girl In The City"is what Konkana Sen Sharma called her article in Wake Up Sid. But I didn't care about all this plagiarism stuff and wanted to name my post that. Well, time has passed and I've been here for 5 months now and I can't really call myself "new girl" anymore.

The move was tough for many reasons. I was more scared thank excited frankly. 5 years in Hyderabad and i was in love with that city. If there is one place in India, I'd like to settle down in, it will be Hyderabad. I cherish each and every moment I spent there. And I love all the friends I made. I know these friendships are for life. Leaving a comfortable life behind and taking up something absolutely new was challenging. The work of course would sort itself out. But do have the same kind of life with friends would be tough, if not impossible. Life in Singapore has been good so far. It;s an easy city to get adjusted to. Except the terrible weather. But even that you get used to after a few weeks. The beauty is, it's not too far from home. You can book yourself a flight and fly home, without a second thought. Literally. That said, it's still not home. When people ask me what i miss most about india - my first answer is "friends" and the second, is "Chaos". Even though you grow up hating it, by the time you are 25, you are so accustomed to the perennial chaos around you, that it's super tough to live without it. I find life here too routine. But again, you get used to it in some time.

My joy of course knew no bounds when I signed up for Sony, Set Max and Zee Cinema! The ever-growing India population in Singapore makes you feel at home in some way. A trip to Little India and you will see folks carrying covers will Tamil on it and you are immediately transported to India. So you don't really crave for India, because you can still see colors, Indians and more importantly good, cheap and authentic Indian food! I think I have had better butter chicken here in Singapore than I've had in Hyderabad. There are movie theaters that play Bollywood movies, so your love for Bollywood is alive and kicking. After a point you find yourself chatting away with Singapore's extremely talkative taxi drivers and call them 'Uncle.'

Life in Singapore is way more easier than the constant everyday struggle in India. Things from public transport to services like electricity, water & internet are fast and reliable. My biggest relief is I don't have to worry about a bus mowing me down while crossing the road. The house is great and I have a lovely roommate. Life is good. Radio Mirchi on Gaana.com  and City 101.6 FM makes me feel at home with radio. Sometimes, when I am walking down the road, and sun is shining, not too bright, but just enough, I look up and smile and send a silent prayer to God.

Food is great in Singapore. There's so much to choose from. I am averse to trying out new cuisines. But even I have gone out and tried a few things and loved it. Though we mostly cook at home, there are great options to choose from and my one source for food places in Singapore has to be : Lady Iron Chef. It's a beautiful food blog/site in Singapore and the reviews have been spot on for all of the places that I've been to. There's no dearth of ingredients to bake with. And one of the first things I did was to buy an Oven ASAP so I could start baking again. I bake and try out new recipes at least once a week if not twice. As a result, we have cupcakes in our house almost all the time! Which is extremely awesome for midnight hunger pangs! My new project is start checking out the Thai food places in Singapore. In my trip to Sydney, I found myself ONLY going to Thai places. And I believe, Sydney is definitely one the best cities when it comes to Thai food. The Aussies down under love their Thai! I've created a community : Thai Food in Singapore on Google+ and plan to try out all Thai places in Singapore and post pictures and reviews! If you are a Thai food fan, do join! My favorite Thai place in Sydney has to be Spice I am . Singapore also has a very popular food court culture and their food courts are very traditional and have a "Street Market" feel. My favorite has to be Lau Pat Sat! Okay I am stopping with the food now!

So, yea. That's my life so far in Singapore. I plan to travel. A LOT. There's so many fantastic destinations you can go to! I think Trip Advisor must have received about 50,00 hits only from me since I've moved to Singapore. I have a lovely spreadsheet titled "Holidays" and every cheap ( and not cheap) exotic island/city/town/village in Asia Pacific and South East Asia is on that list! Can not wait to start exploring! Just need to see some $ in that bank account. I can't do back packing travel, I need my luxury (or whatever little of it I can afford!)

So here's to 2013, and more travel, music and the good life, Lah!

Ho gaya hai tujhko
Toh pyaar sajna
Lakh karle tu inkaar Sajna
Yeh hain Pyaar Sajna
Dildaar Sajna
Hain yeh pyaar Sajna....