Finally after a gap of more than 2 years, I finally landed in Mumbai. The return flight started eventfully. I had taken so many chocolates that my luggage was over the limit and then I had to dump all those chocolates back there in Amsterdam. Imagine almost 5-6 Kgs of chocolates lying in a bin on the Schipol Airport in Amsterdam. I should have checked the weight of the baggage before leaving.
The whole time I spent in Amsterdam airport dumping chocolates. Finally when I boarded the plane, I was totally frustrated. The plane to Zurich was again a bumpy ride. If you are traveling through Zurich and need to take a connecting flight to an International destination, a piece of advice for them. Do not carry too much weight on your shoulders. It hurts. The transition from Amsterdam to Zurich flight to Zurich to Mumbai flight goes through a lot of winding roads. By the time I checked in for the Mumbai flight, my shoulders were soar from carrying the laptop.
My seat in the plane to Mumbai again had problem with not able to recline back. The good thing was they were showing “Breakfast at Tiffany”, a movie I have been waiting for a long time to see and was searching desperately.
I had told mom that I was coming on the 8th December. She gets tensed when I become a little late. Also it would have been a nice little surprise for her. The only person who knew that I was coming was Sandeep and he took over the responsibility of dropping me home. Imagine my frustration when I did not find him there. I called up a couple of friends only to learn that he was late. I almost thought that he would forget. He should thank god that he did not!
While riding back to my home, I felt a pang of hunger. It was already past midnight and I was wondering what to do. Then I realized that I was in Mumbai, the city that never sleeps. I am sure that I would find something to eat and I did. I had masala dosa packed. I had Masala dosa after more than two years and even though it was not crispy and the best, it was still good.
When we reached near my house, I was surprised about the changes the area had gone or maybe I had stopped remembering everything that it appeared to have changed a lot. The surprise and the smile on Mom’s face was worth the efforts taken to keep the return date a secret. Everything appeared so changed and so different that I am still trying to come in terms with it.
The next day when I came out in the balcony to see vendors and people walking near the building, it was a signal that I really was in India. Back in Amsterdam, the streets are quite and of course no vendors in the street. But here the roads are bustling with activity, the city seems alive. The heat thankfully is not that intense like in summers but its still more than Amsterdam. It will take some time to adjust.
The moment I walked out of the Airport, the heat hits me on my face. After two years I am sweating just standing around. I had arrived in Mumbai!
Yesterday was at home for most of the day. At lunch had Bhakri chutney, a staple diet in Maharahstra. Bhakri is a kind of bread like roti but harder and thick and made of Nachni (i don’t know the English name). Chutney is grinded mixture of coconut, green chilies and garlic. Having hot bhakri and hot chutney is what I call heaven. I cannot make bhakri in Amsterdam because I cannot get the flour there.
Today I plan to go to office and start my process for going back, already. Two years have changed a lot of things here and a lot of me too. I am catching up with lot of old friends and acquaintance and still trying to get a grip of being in India.
Another good thing is Mom is happy and the menu now is according to my wish! Sahi!
Today’s menu, fish!
hi …
Have a nice stay …
take care …
Hi Punds,
Amsterdam is lovely:-)…..I am seeing it by night, I leave tomorrow to Delhi then to Hyd, my home town…I will be here in may next year for yet another conference, and if you are still there, we should definitely meet.
Have fun.
Meera
abbbe saale ghar jaake to band kar likhna
Punds,
What a pity about the chocolates 😦
Hey, did you like Breakfast at Tiffany’s??? Did you know it is one of my favourite films? Isn’t Audrey great in that one? Well, she was wonderful in all her films.
What a nice surprise that must have been for your mother. It must have been such a relief for her not having to wait for you. How thoughtful of you!
Have a smashing time, Punds.
Interesting Punds,
Chal Khaa-le achcha khana…hum log ko jealous karne ka irada hai kya???
Have fun hon!
I am going to keep an online journal of my vacation to India next month 🙂
vi
Hey Punds! Nice to hear about your return to India 🙂 Enjoy the wada-paav as well as the omlette paav 🙂
So how was the fish?? me dying to reach back and eat all this 😦
havent read the second para… but this “Imagine almost 5-6 Kgs of chocolates lying in a bin on the Schipol Airport in Amsterdam” noooooooooo :((((((((((((((( what a waste! really??? am so so so depressed to hear this…
welcome back home! make the most of your trip…. spend lots of time with your mum
🙂
Punds,
Have fun in Mumbai, with food and friends and family. Homecoming is such a wonderful thing!
Priya.
Punds welcome to mumbai 🙂 arey 5-6 kilo chocolates…DUMPED 😦 i can imagine the frustration 😀 well anyways good to see u enjoyin chutny bhakri and enjoy ur fish… well and yea hoope u remember ur promise 🙂
Welcome!!! mouth-watering post !! par yeh kya!! chocolates in bin…koii aur option nahiin tha kya .. 😦 verryyyyy bad
Enjoy vacation .
welcome back and have fun!
OMG!!!! Mere mooh se paani aaana shuru hogaya Punds…Bhakri…every Sunday we had the menu of either Zhunka-Bhakri, or Pithla-Bhakri or Penpala-Bhakri or Mudda bhaaji-Bhakri…I sure Misss home food…yummmmyyyyy
Now all that mention of bhakri and fish is making me hungry.
Two years is such a looong time, I go home (ulhasnagar) after two weeks and my parents do such a huge welcomeback song and dance so I can imagine how happy your aaee must be 😀
Er, do you still have any of those chocolates? Saare dump kar diye? Waste hai phir tera aana 😛
I somehow don’t see what’s so great about bfast at tiffany’s, bakwaas movie hai.
Have a good vacation 😀
Wow … meeting mother after 2 years, getting to eat the lovely Bhakri & Fish that she has cooked for you, travelling with her to Delhi & other wonderful places …. nothing else can be as good as this.
Dumping 5-6 Kgs of chocolates at the Schipol airport, lugging the laptop around the Zurich airport, the heat & humidity of Mumbai after so many months … … all this is nothing compared to what you are enjoying now.
Enjoy … have fun. Only whenever you get time, post a couple of lines … not more … enjoy your stay there to the maximum … the blog can be a little slow till you get back to Holland 🙂
And, if & when you can, do check out my chota-sa blog 🙂
hey ! Just saw your blog and came to know that you are in India… great ! when are you back in Mumbai. Call me .. one of the e-mails I sent has my no.
hey … this one is for you. the inspiration to put down my “Travel Travails” post came partly from your post on “Touch down in Mumbai”. let me know what you think 🙂