Month: April 2008

While she was away…

Published by Anita

Warning: Post filled with reference to cats and cat photos 🙂 So let me tell you my story. The owner of this blog decided to leave me with a shipful of cats and a dog while she was away traipsing all over the place. Actually, it was her annual home visit, but I was excluded from the trip. Not that I mind. Airplanes give me a headache and my heart can’t handle the pressure. So there I was surrounded by cats (or so they claim to be) of different shades and hues. Of course, none of them were as cool as me. I am after all the ultimate cat. Polly And then they expected me to socialize with these so called cats. I refused. Kit Kit does not socialize with common cats. Besides for a long time, I had the impression that I was the only cat in the world. I can make peace with the fact that I’m not, but how can she possibly expect me to socialize with these… common things?

One weekend in Singapore

Published by Anita

After a hectic week at home, it was time for a flying visit to Singapore. I’d had a stop over at the island years and years ago, so I didn’t have too many ideas about the place. All I knew was that it was a smallish island very close to Malaysia and Indonesia. And some pictures I’ve seen in magazines and television. Firstly, I must say, what particularly surprised (and distressed me at the same time) is that the women in Singapore are extremely… thin! And I must say that I did notice that several of these thin young women tucking in many delicacies. And yet, they were as thin as a needle. How do you do this, I asked a nice Singaporean girl, who surprised me by admitting that she had had 3 kids already and still looked like she was still in her twenties. Of course she wouldn’t divulge the real reason – she was hardly about to make it easy for me! Anyway, apart from this alarming trend, what really surprised me …

A time to eat… and eat some more

Published by Anita

Rongali Bihu is a fun time for us Assamese people. Luckily for me, I landed in the thick of action. The second day itself I was whisked off for a Bihu gathering by my dad. Apparently it’s a tradition for his group of friends (going way back to 1957!) to meet during Bihu and spend some time together. So a group of his friends was there along with their better halves in some cases, making it a motley collection of about 20 odd 60+ year folks recollecting their school days and still bonding so many years later. It was a rather nice sight to see.

Quick life update on a slow dial-up connection

Published by Anita

So, here I am at home with the parents in Guwahati. The phone, not surprisingly, has been out of order for a while. Finally today, I hear a shrill noise that shocks me out of my reverie. Apparently, it’s the phone ringing. Once I’ve confirmed the instrument is actually working, I log on to the net and lo and behold I actually manage to get myself online. Which brings me to the story about how I got here. On my last fleeting visit with friends in tow, I had received a threat (and not a veiled one either) that I was on the verge of being ex-communicated from the family due to utter insensivity. Which in plain terms means that I haven’t spent any time in the last few years and I should get myself here before I am completely erased from all the family albums. So this year, one of my resolutions was to keep aside a few days of my holiday to come and visit the folks.

I want to break free

Published by Anita

Post dedicated to the lovely Aqua I first understood what it meant never to know one’s country when I met Aqua. Her parents are exiled Tibetans living in Darjeeling, who will never go back to their country again as long as it remains a Chinese territory. And the same goes for Aqua, who is Tibetan, but who might never get to see Tibet. I want to break free For me, this was a difficult concept to come to terms with. I go back to my home state when I want, I live in my own country wherever I choose to (at least as of now!) and travel where I please. Imagine not having this basic right. Imagine leaving the country one day and not being able to go back. Lighting of the lamps: A glimmer of hope Tibetans today are settled in large numbers in the North – Darjeeling, Dharamasala and in the South in Bylakuppe. One young man who has been fighting for Tibet’s freedom is Tenzing Tsundue. I knew of him only from …