The Weekend

I usually am quite planned with my meals, ensuring that I prepare them the day before but the weekend just calls for relaxation and meal-making ties you up into 2 hours of dedicated kitchen attachment which, I don't really like putting In. As a result my weekend meals get a little skewed and in all honesty, I try not to go too much overboard.

Friday:

Let me start the story with a prequel of what happened on Friday. I began my weekend like any other, choosing for a rather delayed awakening at 10 am followed by quick breakfast making. I usually indulge into the slightly taxing Oats Pancakes, but I was hungry and needed hunger to be killed fast, hence turning back to the otherwise work-day breakfast of Egg whites lightly fried first, then stuffed between Wholemeal bread slices and put into the grill till the outsides are nice and crispy and the insides are really soft. The result is shown below.

Fast broken and hunger quelled, I then proceed to do what I do best, which usually involves engaging couch potato mode. The Headquarters (to be henceforth used whenever I refer to my parents) buzz on Google Talk and I readily answer engaging into a long conversation over the tiny details of my newly rented house (which I haven't moved into yet). 

Time passes by and the room mate realizes its Friday Boot Camp Time (Heading to the Gym for Circuit Training), and off we trotter. What follows is an excruciating workout for 2 and a half hours, proceeding which it is decided that the next two hours are to be spent having a swim. The Roomie indulges himself into a few laps and I engage couch potato mode, only with an added underwater extension this time. This is followed by a quick trip home to shower and freshen up again followed by a totally forgetful trip to the Wafi Mall, where the only memorable discovery was the Rooftop Gardens (Good Place to take your date for a date, Dubai Lads!). We then head back to Discovery Gardens and decide to hit Saravana Bhojan Shaala for Dinner, where we quickly equate the calories we lost in the morning's workout. Saravana is always ok for average Indian comfort food. Sabji scooped up with visibly dry chapatis. Everything Hot. I for one, am ready to walk into the place at any given time of the day provided that the meal is followed by a cup of their extremely awesome filter coffee. 

Saturday:

Note: While I technically get the day off, I had to put in an extra day at work and decided to spend this sunny little day working, like the ones to follow.

The Roomie decides to drop me to work as he is headed the same way, and we skip the joys of home breakfast for something we both love; a Subway imitation sandwich at 'Bakeria', the small food counter inside any Emarat Petrol Station. Note that they are ONLY at Emarat petrol stations, not EPPCO ones. The Sandwich costs a fraction of what its counterpart at Subway would cost, is much less greasier, even though it has similar vegetable options. Both of us go for the Tuna Sandwich. Another fact that I love is how the sandwich here is grilled firstly, on the outside, and secondly, after it has been prepared. Something I would really love to see Subway imitate (or they're going to lose me completely to Bakeria). The sandwich is accompanied by machine made Americano (forgettable).

I am then dropped to work, where I immerse myselves in the realms of my awesome job till the first pang of hunger creeps up the phone lines from the stomach till the brain. I am left to myself today, being tiffin-less. I recollect wanting to order something from Abu Ali, the Arabic restaurant round the corner a few weeks back and ring for a Hummus with pine nuts and an Eggplant Kebab. 

The Hummus turns out to be a tad too creamy for my taste. Too much Tahineh, and quite less Chickpeas in my opinion. The Eggplant Kebabs are a little sweet and quite nicely done. A welcome break from the stereotypical non-vegetarian grills.

Meal is Eaten. Brian is Happy. Brian goes back to work, not before arming himself with a cup of Green Tea.

New Lodgings

Let me flick that cobweb out as I welcome you in to my blog yet again. Extremely irresponsible of me to promise and not deliver, with regards to the 'regular blogging'. Sigh. Some things just can't happen; but i'll try.

Anyhow, I was mighty excited for the whole month or so, because, NEW HOUSE! Yes, after the humble 'Roti' and 'Kapda' it was time for the 'Makaan'. I rented an Apartment at  Discovery Gardens itself, a 10 minute walk from where I currently live.

The Apartment by itself is great. A view of the desert enhanced by a prime location just behind the bus stop. Everything I love grabbed together and squeezed into 500 odd square feet of gorgeousness. An apartment, at this stage, is quite a big deal for me, you should understand. Majorly, metaphorical, it signifies my introduction as an earning member of the society, like an epaulette on my shoulder, a medal around my neck, a cufflink on my cuff (You get it by now, I'm sure).

In fact, I was the happiest yesterday as I set out to collect my tenancy contract, set up my Du home services and take a handover from Better Homes. It's the little things folks.

So, this post was just a result of excitement more than anything else. Thanks everyone who helped me get to this point in my life. It is an extremely important level-up for me.

PS: I might be shifting the focus of the blog in the future from largely personal aspects to food. As I presume that could get me more interested in blogging again. Please let me know if you still read this, or if you would rather see my Instagram food pictures put up here.

Deo Borem Korum!

What I learnt while/from Winning A Car.

So anyone on my Facebook and Twitter friend/follower list must definitely know the topic of rage that has consumed my timeline lately. I have won a car at the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF). The last time I was this lucky was when being brand conscious with the choice of my pampers won my parents Gold in Oman.

I could very well go on about how awesome it is to have the honor of winning something, but to avoid being hated and jealousy is a green-eyed monster (says someone who gets jealous at the drop of a hat), let me bring it to you in the form of Tips. Rather, what I learnt in the whole experience winning a car at the DSF.

1. Use the Metro.
My entire winning scenario was wrapped around the efficacious use of the Dubai Metro. I woke up that morning firstly, late and secondly, feeling particularly groggy and almost decided to take a cab to work. In hindsight, as is always I'm glad I didn't. The Dubai Metro really is an awesome way to get around. It has its limitations regarding connectivity but is known to save quite a bit of time.

2. Use the Convenience Store.
The Zoom store where I got my Raffle Ticket is a very nice concept. Small stores at almost every metro station in Dubai. Prices are certainly up by a dirham or two, but the convenience of grabbing anything from a Newspaper to a packet of biscuits to a drink really wins you over. In my case, the Zoom store at the Noor Islamic Metro Station is located remotely and not along the exit path as it happens in other metro stations in Dubai.

3. Drink Green Tea.
Given my Diet choices from the past 4 months, the only things I went to get from the store were a packet of Green tea bags by Alokozay and a pack of sugarfree mints, the latter being something i have only found at the Zoom Stores. Green Tea really is an awesome beverage and is my go-to drink after a heavy meal or problems with digestion. Shout out to the boss, Mr. Asim Amin, for promoting a Green Tea friendly environment in the office.

4. Always write your full name.
There was a particular time frame in school where I used to write my name on all communication as Brian K. C. I hated people misspelling and making fun of my middle and last name and did this to cut out the chances of that happening. In college, I learnt to be proud of my whole name, its uniqueness, and how much it added to my character. So when I got that raffle ticket the first thing I did was to write down my whole name. Look how it paid off.

5. Pick up unknown numbers.
I know a lot of people who dislike picking up unknown number. Of course, they have their reasons. Now the call letting me know I had won was made closer to 11 pm in the night. I had just returned from the Gym and was preparing my food for the night.

6. Pray.
Once I got done with the call and a hug to celebrate with my room mate, I then proceeded to pray. Thank God for all he's given you and whatever he adds unto your name. For it is he who handles the grand scheme of things. Always.

7. Call your Parents.
My Dad falls asleep quickly on weekdays and my Mom was travelling that night. I made our neighbour in Salalah, Seby Uncle, wake Dad up just because I wanted to share the news with him. It had to be done. Thanks Uncle! I left a message for my Mom on Whatsapp that night and the next morning I placed a call to her to explain everything. Love You Dada and Mama!

8. Thank the people who played their part in your win.
Since I was sketching the same route via the metro again the next morning, I decided to pay a trip to the Zoom store again. The Ladies there treated me like a celebrity and took a lot of photographs. Never before have I felt so honored. I thanked them and indicated that a bit of their luck rubbed on to my lottery ticket as well.

The team at the Zoom Store, Noor Islamic Metro station who treated me like a Celebrity. 

9. Never Go Alone to a Presentation Ceremony.
Prior to Thursday, i did not know where Global Village, Dubai was. I consulted my colleagues at work and got a kind of idea regarding the same. At the Ceremony, the kind gentlemen asked me if I had a friend with a camera. I didn't. Both my Room mates were unavailable. In hindsight, I could have called and asked anyone else to come along, but I didn't. Real bad on my part. You need that one person atleast there because any momentous occasion really sucks if you don't share it with some one else. I missed my Dad, Mum and sister that day the most of all. (Thankfully, my virtual presence on social media gave me significant support. Glad to see that a lot of people have my back.)

The Side View of the stage I went up on.

A Kind Emirati Teenager in the Audience obliged to take my photograph in front of the stage.

10. Enjoy your 5 minutes of Fame.
I got on stage and on Live TV at the same time. 5 minutes of fame. Maybe Lesser, but thoroughly enjoyable. I picked up my chit. It was a Nissan Micra.

The Chits come in balls of uniform sizes. 

11. Miracles Happen.
6 months back, I was unhappy, dissatisfied with my life and did not know why I was in Dubai. I couldn't spot my purpose. 6 months ahead, it seems clear. I have a job which I like very much, I have lost a considerable amount of weight for the first time with my own effort and I feel like I have gotten closer to my parents and I appreciate them more now. To add to it all, I won a car! From a probability figure that would send folks into a tizzy, from entries across the wide city of Dubai, my name was picked. God is really great.

Its really been a ball, these past few days. Absolutely Enjoyable moments all along. Thank you guys for all the praise and support. I am lucky to have a prosperous ecosystem with my family and friends around the world who really come in and make good moments seem greater and make bad moments much better to bear.

Also, Dubai, I chide you too much. Thanks for everything.

Oh Blog, Why have I stopped posting?

Firstly, apologies to the minority readership acquired by this blog. Come on, Admit it! I did see analytics rise and fall in between so I know a few of you do come by every so often.

My posts have been erratic due to the main reason that I can't seem to figure out the direction I want to head in with regards to the blog. Now initially, as a school going child, I initiated the blog to talk about myself and the things that interested me. Through college, posts continued in similar fashion with a more than honest inclusion of posts related to the Bachelors of Mass Media course I was pursuing. Now having got through a phase where I essentially opted for blogging as a method to let people hear me out, the blog gathers cobwebs and I can't really get my self to post both regularly and also post with clarity.

A topic I see myself remotely hovering about is Food. Because well, it's food and people who know me well know how much the word dominates my personal space. It is extremely easy to enter this sphere of 'Food-blogging' as they call it, but challenging again to maintain variation and sustain interest. After all, who is going to listen to someone who:
1. Eats all his meals according to a schedule.
2. Eats Green Leafy Vegetables for 2 out of every 3 meals consumed.
3. Eats only Chicken and Fish from the plethora of meats out there to eat.
So the above has got me worried that I won't be able to combine my interests for food and my way with writing into something cumulatively interesting.

The second topic that hovers before me is a mix of current affairs and current technology. Essentially dishing out an opinion on everything that's happened within the past few days every time. An audience for such writing also seems lame considering that there are a lot of people out there doing the same and in much better fashion.

My fear is that after college, the touch of humor I was able to put into my writing has run out dry. Even my personal writing skills only see contribution for the company I work with, not at a personal level. That has got me worried.  I need a place to continuously talk about something and make sure that there is someone listening too for self gratification. Being eager for public appraisal is very much an Aries Trait and something I see the need for on a daily basis.

So this is not a resolution, but here's hoping I have an active blog for the year 2013 and seemingly beyond. Hope your festive season was top notch!

PS: Been reading my blog from some time and have a plan of action on the field I'll be good at writing about?  Contact me please. I'll reward you with some kind words of acknowledgement, if nothing else.