Travelogue 15

15 Feb

One by two. This is one of the most nice discoveries by man(and woman kind) while eating at a restaurant. It helps poor eaters like me to share my meal. And if one wants to experiment with the menu, it is nice to order only one portion, and let everybody have a taste of it. If the taste buds are unhappy you don’t feel guilty of wasting food and money. I am fondly reminded of all those times when I have had a 1/2 juice, lassi, a soup or a Chinese rice with my friends. Pam and I have kept up this tradition alive here. The portions here are too large for us to finish.(though Aparna tells be they are larger in the US). While the people here gobble up everything in no time, we often find ourselves struggling to finish what’s on our plate. Last year when we had come to Hamburg, we went with a friend of ours called Andreas, for dinner at ‘Le Meridian’ which overlooks the beautiful Alster. I was already feeling quite full from my lunch of 3 boiled potatoes with a creamy mushroom sauce and a half a kilo of red cabbage salad, which I shamelessly left almost untouched. I was just not game for a full seven course meal. So guess what, we did a most unusual thing. We split the entire seven course meal between the three of us. The waiter was kind enough to allow us do that and what’s more he actually made smaller portions of the whole course and served it individually to us on separate plates, complete with garnishes and all. So it was like a custom made meal. Ever since, Pam, Anoushka and I have often shared our meals and it is a ‘ful-filling’ experience in the true sense.

The only thing that we manage to eat without sharing, are the Donner Kebabs, which are huge. We have had falafel ones quite a few times now. They overflow with a 3 fistfuls of mixed salad and yoghurt dressing and of course the falafels, and we are yet to master the art of- first opening our jaws to fit that thing, and then eating it with dropping the content. Most of the times more falls out than inside the mouth and we look extremely clumsy. I look in awe like a small child at people who have mastered this art. Since this is one of the most available tasty vegetarian options, I have less choice. And I am determined to practise, until one day I manage to write a book called .- ‘How to eat a Donner without dropping a morsel’. By the way some things that are on the menu here are beyond my understanding! Spare Ribs- which animal will spare ribs willingly for us to devour? Buffalo Wings- 33 years chi zalyay me. Mhashila shiga astat that I know, pan wings suddha astat he mhaeetach navhta!

T.V cannot have a more complicated name than what it is called here. For more than a month now I have been watching Deutche T.V.( Fenseherapparat, that’s what they call a it). The programs are quite uninteresting. Except for the language and the actors, they are the usual…Many of them are dubbed ones, including all the cartoon shows on a channel called KiKa. I wonder if any cartoon characters are natives of Germany. Besides the usual teleshopping network and gaming shows, they have a show on gardening and farming just like our good old Aamchi Mati Aamchi Mansa, there is Kaun Banega Europati, Song and dance shows, Big Brother, minus the original Rakhi Saawant but instead her look and behaviour – alike, cookery shows, run off the mill daily soaps, but certainly not inspired by E. Kapoor because here ‘phamily only is not there, then where is the question of joint phamily melodrama?’ Perhaps the late night edition is the only unusual thing for me - who you will agree is the embodiment of sainthood and innocence, simplicity and decency. I’ve grown up watching two flowers coming together in Hindi movies or the camera suddenly shifting its focus to the blue clouds, and no more…..
T. V. does not seem too popular, as people here are outdoor types. You would see a lot of people jogging , cycling and running in temperatures as low as -13. But Bollywood actors and actrsses are extremely popular. It is amazing to see these people buy Hindi movie DVD’S and CD’s. Just last week, when we were at a bus stop, we heard a ‘nakti chapti looking girl’ talking over the phone in Deutsche and mentioning Ranbir Kapoor over and over again. Kay attraction asta na filmi lokancha!

Back home, the ‘T’ gang made news once again. One man said, I am Uddhav. Uddhav Thackrey. The other replied,“ My name is Khan”. While Mumbai was all ears for the verbal war that followed Khan’s so-called objectionable statements, it was soon put to rest, thanks to the State Government and Khan’s fans who flocked in huge numbers to watch his latest flick. It also premiered big time here in Berlin with all the actors in attendance. Rajdeep Sardesai had written an open letter to Uddhav Thackrey. (available on IBN.com). I agree with most of what he has to say, but want Khan to for once stand up and speak in favour of our the country and stop making politically correct statements at the mention of Pakistan. Look at what he said after 26/11 attacks. It enraged a lot of people including me, to see him take a neutral stand when everybody else was fuming at Pakistan’s involvement.

Me Mahan, maza Desh Mahan….

Hamburg is known to have small people and by small, I mean slim n fit. The girls’ here are beautiful - with their flawless skins and sharp features. Pam falls in love with many faces everyday. Unfortunately I can’t say the same about the men. Not much eye candy for me here. But what puts you off is that, behind these pretty faces there is often bad breath. Kai mhait evadhya thandit roz aanghol tari kartat ka nahi?? Hya lokanna hath dhuvaycha suddha mahit nahi!! Tech tech haat saglikade lavtat! Shemdi lahan mula road varcha snow khatat, kheltat, and then tyach hatani kadak pav khatat…. Amhi, India maddhe suddha sanitiser waperto ho!!! Chaintanya and I could picture what Vashu maushi would do if she came here. Padaracha tok nakawar theoon….giving a disgusted look… Haha ha….