Jet, set and a long way to go from Columbus ---> Atlanta -------> Doha -----> Bhubaneswar before I reach my final destination in the state of Odisha in India 🇮🇳. Leaving today on a 3 week trip to India which is going to be a long travel spanning across seven seas, 13 rivers spread across multiple continents in various time zones. Few hours left before I leave and miles to go before I reach.
This journey is going to be my 19th trip I have made so far to India from Coke Land in my 29 years of living in the United States, that means I am a frequent traveler to India on an average of once every 1.5 years. I am flying at a time when it is Spring in the United States whereas it is scorching summer in Odisha. I am fully equipped with the latest Covid shot and the paraphernalia of masks to cover my face in case I need to face this never ending menace. Covid is like that drunk uncle who you don't want to come to your family reunion, but shows its face nevertheless. Not planning to do a whole lot of traveling, restrict myself only to Bhubaneswar, the city I grew up with and like one's first love is always close to heart.
The choice to travel to India is rarely inadvertent, as such trips are planned months ahead, governed by several factors like getting time off from work, social & family occasions, children's school schedules, price of air tickets and of course the weather in India. Although the weather in India isn't exactly salubrious at this time of year, family and social occasion overrode all the above to chose this time to travel as it is my duty to do the "BARSIKIYA SHRADDHA" (the annual death ritual) of my mother who passed away last year. Apart from cricket it is arguably the weather which unites India at this time of the year. Barring a handful of hill stations, from Ahmedabad to Agartala, Chandigarh to Chennai it is invariably hot and muggy right now. Hoping the dog days of Indian summer won't put a spanner on the wheels of my trip.
In life the feeling of apprehensive curiosity in anticipation of an event is much more pleasant than the event itself. Right now I am having the same feeling. Excitement would be an understatement, I am so thrilled. As the migratory birds fly South on their perfunctory trips during the winter, NRIs (Non Resident Indian) flocks to their homeland. People usually go out of home on vacation. We Persons of Indian origin go home on vacation. My friends in America find it a bit odd that we visit our homes for vacation, when they travel away from home for the same. Yet there is so much fun homecoming when you are away from home.
Upon arriving in India, the initial days of jet lag and reverse cultural shock gives way to a lot of attention from friends and relatives, a la an infrequent guest is treated more cordially than a regular one. The shorter the trip, more the attention you get. Even if I try not to, I invariably eat like a Pig whatever comes my way, shit like a Bull and end up writing a lot of bullshit blogs. Time is short and finite, engagements are many - way too many things to do, so much food to sample.
Looking forward to this short and sweet trip which will challenge my sweet tooth as I intend on splurging on an array of my favorite Odia sweets which includes but not limited to, CHHENA JHILLI, CHHENA PODA, PAHALA RASAGOLA, RABIDI all very typical of Odisha. Luckily I don't have any sugar issues. The other stuff I love are Cuttack Mixture, freshly baked Naans, numerous Street foods, AVADA, the temple food and much more which I don't get here in the USA.
Summer would be in the air of Bhubaneswar. It's the season of mango, the King of Fruits in India. The mango tree next to our house there must be pregnant with fruits. It is said the hotter the summer is in India, the sweeter gets the mangoes. The Jackfruit tree in our backyard would be having its fruits protruding out of its trunks and branches like bellies of Japanese Sumo wrestlers. I am longing to eat fresh, raw Jackfruits from our backyard, loaded with vitamins and fiber, in form of Curry, Bhaja (fry) and part of Dalma, a popular Odia dish of Puri origin.
In life the feeling of apprehensive curiosity in anticipation of an event is much more pleasant than the event itself. Right now I am having the same feeling. Excitement would be an understatement, I am so thrilled. As the migratory birds fly South on their perfunctory trips during the winter, NRIs (Non Resident Indian) flocks to their homeland. People usually go out of home on vacation. We Persons of Indian origin go home on vacation. My friends in America find it a bit odd that we visit our homes for vacation, when they travel away from home for the same. Yet there is so much fun homecoming when you are away from home.
Upon arriving in India, the initial days of jet lag and reverse cultural shock gives way to a lot of attention from friends and relatives, a la an infrequent guest is treated more cordially than a regular one. The shorter the trip, more the attention you get. Even if I try not to, I invariably eat like a Pig whatever comes my way, shit like a Bull and end up writing a lot of bullshit blogs. Time is short and finite, engagements are many - way too many things to do, so much food to sample.
Looking forward to this short and sweet trip which will challenge my sweet tooth as I intend on splurging on an array of my favorite Odia sweets which includes but not limited to, CHHENA JHILLI, CHHENA PODA, PAHALA RASAGOLA, RABIDI all very typical of Odisha. Luckily I don't have any sugar issues. The other stuff I love are Cuttack Mixture, freshly baked Naans, numerous Street foods, AVADA, the temple food and much more which I don't get here in the USA.
I have made a solemn promise to myself not to touch any Pizza, KFC, Subway, visit Burger King or McDonalds. I prefer a 3 rupees freshly fried Street side Bara to a Rs.300 burger at a Mall. Having seen the two biggest Malls in America - the Mall of Minneapolis and King of Prussia Mall in Philadelphia I have no desire to visit Malls. I firmly believe in - Be Roman in Rome, eat Indian in India. I am keeping my fingers crossed, for a nuisance free 3 week trip. Dear Motherland, here I come.
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