Julie & Julia.

After many weekends here at Hyd, this Sunday my alarm went off at 6.15 in the morning. It was to be a rare Sunday when I would wake up early and go for a long walk. Surprisingly when I went to awake my room mates this morning, they all actually woke up and got ready to leave just in time. After a long walk which lasted till lunch, I got home to rest. That is when I saw this incredibly delightful movie- 'Julie & Julia'. It draws parallels from two true stories and I had a great afternoon just by myself, smiling at the my laptop screen. I started the movie loving Meryl Streep and finished it loving Julia Child.

I don't want to review it. Simply put, this movie will not disappoint those who liked 'Sleepless in Seattle' and ' You've got mail'. I posting this because this movie made me think a minute about my life. Both the women in the movie have a job. Julia after learning to make hats and playing bridge, decided that she would join a French cooking class. Her reasoning was very simple. Her husband had been transferred to Paris for a four year assignment. While he is busy with his work, she asks him one day "But what should I do?" He asks her about what she absolutely loves doing. Without batting an eye she says "Oh, I love to eat". That very honest acceptance lead to cooking classes and then writing the famous cook book "Mastering the art of French cooking".

Julie, the other protagonist is a self proclaimed failed author. She has a job that makes her cringe, has a husband who is always loving and a tiny home above a pizzeria that is always noisy. Her life has nothing to make her happy. She decides one day to give herself something to keep her occupied and make her happy at the same time. She will cook 524 of Julia Child's recipes in 365 days and blog about it. Why cook you may ask? Only because, when she has had a horrible day, she feels blissful cooking mushroom with butter, cheese and pork.

Though not generally unhappy, these two not-so-young-anymore women aren’t exactly sure what a satisfying life might be, but they know this ain’t it. Both Julie and Julia choose to do something that they got laughed at for. But it brought them and those that they cared for a lot of happiness, simple pleasures of life. Having been a vegetarian all my life, I couldn't help thinking to myself just how delicious would that Beef Bourguignon have tasted? I could smell that heavenly aroma of melted cheese and mayonnaise!

I asked to myself "what should I do?" That led to some more confused questions. Since a week now, I have realized that whatever it is that I should be doing, it certainly is not how I am leading my life currently. Yes, I have some great friends to share my laughter and tears, a job that pays me and a comfortable house. But, there is still this dissatisfied girl in me. I may be asking for too much maybe, but i want my happiness. I want to love each day when i wake up to do something I absolutely love! I don't want to work and crib, I want to do something that comes naturally to me and be thankful.

Now, that I did realize it, I am going to take some time off just to be with those thoughts and figure out which path I want to lead my life to. When I grow older and sip chai in that little house by the lake in Ladakh, I want to look back at the choices I made and not regret any of them. Not because now there is money, or fame, or any such trivialities, but simply because that is a new smile!

I am going to make those choices soon. Choices which will not be questioned by me, choices that will take my passion and convert it to joy. Choices I will take independently, intelligently to make those dreams come to life!

Some day, some way.

Before I start, the movie ‘Bucketlist’ had nothing to do with this. If you knew me well, you would have listened to it before. I may have made many grammatical errors as well while writing this..but for the first time…I don’t care!

We all have things we want to do. Buy that car, own that dress, earn that moolah. I want to experience these places. They have been on my mind forever and putting them down on paper just had to happen one day. In no particular order, I will go see them one day.

Greece- The birthplace of the Olympics, the ancient city where Zeus was king. The fascinating stories of Sparta, Athens and Corinth. The stories of Alexander and his horse, Narcissist and Echo, the Trojan war. Greece, where the sand is so white and fine, it almost seems pure.

The Pyramids- Just how strong and clever were the people of this civilization? How did they learn and patiently lay every stone which left man baffled ever since? The legend of the Sphinx. The aroma of sheesha in the crowded alleys. The pharaohs and the ancient myths. There’s this poem I remember from school- ‘Ozymandias’. I would picture standing by the pyramids when I read those lines.

The African Safari- I have nothing much to say. It’s just one of those things I must do!! Africa is an experience! Then go see Nelson Mandela’s cell!

Italy- The smell of vineyards, the aroma of freshly baked bread dipped in olive oil! The first time this place caught my eye was when I read Mario Puzzo’s claim to fame from Hell’s kitchen- ‘The Godfather’. I could picture the words Michael Corleone used to describe the little village in Sicily. I just have to see this paradise! Florence and Venice. The gondola rides and the masked performers!

Rome and The Vatican- Every city has its history. This just leaves me in awe! Rome is Caesar, Brutus and Marc Anthony. Rome is sipping coffee by the Spanish steps, the Colosseum where gladiators defended their pride. Vatican- that city is like walking through a dream! Of Galileo, Michaelanglo and Bernini. The St. Peter’s square and the Basicila, the thousands of small churches each with their own little story! Sigh!!

The Louvre- It doesn’t need more explanation . To walk the longest hallway and be surrounded by works of the masters! Sigh! The chapel of Notre Dame and climbing up the highest level of the Eiffel tower.

Scotland- A few years ago, there came a movie about William Wallace where Mel Gibson played the brave Scot. The lush green meadows where the air is so pure that you learn to breathe right! Scotland for drowning my happiness with a Scotch and watch the dancing men with bagpipes and their kilts.

The Alps- I think my first memory of them was that incredible movie ‘Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge’! Thank you Yash Raj for featuring that beautiful place. Zurich, Bern, Mt. Titlus and gettinh lost in The Alps. Switzerland is where I will actually meet that cow I refer to as ‘Isabel’!

The Taj- Can a man really love his wife as much as the story of The Taj!! How beautiful will it actually be when I see it in person? Will I like those million visitors admire it with awe and click pictures on that bench? I can’t wait to find out!

The Andamans- I can’t swim. Perhaps, this place will make me want to learn it and get over my fear of drowning! The clear blue ocean, the sand beneath, snorkeling and staying far far away from any kind of hustle bustle!

Leh, Ladakh – My most personal of all the place I want to see. There is something about Leh that fascinates me to no end. I cant seem to iunderstand what it is and neither do I know if I would survive there. But my house by that little lake will one day be my reality! I will be so far away that nothing could pollute my very own jannat!