The new year started when I met two of my school-time buddies (Atul S. and Amit P.), and we caught up on old-times at Zosse. Amit, who has been putting up in the US with some media-buying company, was particularly amused on how India, and his small town - Faridabad has changed. “Do you get McCain Fries here ? Wow ! you have Mojito on the menu !”. But India has changed for good and it was time to catch up with other “developed” peer-nations.

Firangs or people whom we generally “look-up” to, come here and spend loads of money to enjoy that camp-fire or tented accomodation in the jungle. Something, which is natural and routine for the locals. I am glad that Europe and US are taking note of India’s getting fat-rich, and we have a “culture” which put luxury to a new level.

Read a very nice article on how tourism is booming and how people flock here to spend nights at palatial remains of an old fort and find it hard to locate available rooms to experience that grandeur of a “Maharaja” lifestyle.

Here it is : http://www.luxurytravelmagazine.co.uk/DestinationReports/Article/777784/land-plenty/

Enjoy Life “King” Style.

Sonzy.

Ranthambhore, deemed as the best place to spot the Wildest of cats, is indeed amazing. We chose to be there on this New Year’s eve and luckily got a room. Some people place Ranthambhore much above Corbett and if you go by the hotel industry, it appears to be true. Oberoi and Aman resorts both have their resorts here, and boasting of the most expensive room-tariffs. Oberoi’s Vanyavilas sells for Rs. 41,000 per room night in the season. Aman-i-khas sells for even more. The other good resorts that I liked are Sher Bagh, which matches Aman-i-khas in luxury but quotes less than half of its price. Khem-villas, the property by Fateh Singh Rathore, Welcomheritage’s Ranthambhore Forest Resort, where we stayed. Nahargarh Fort (by Alsisar) and RTDC’s Jhoomar Baori is very good in the heritage category.

We started from Faridabad and thanks to Yahoo maps, I could chart my street-map from Faridabad to Sawai Madhopur through the Bharatpur-Dausa-Lalsot route. Not many people know that this route does not have “broken” roads and can be shorter than the “Via-Jaipur” one. If you take the jaipur route, please note that the road after Tonk to Sawai Madhopur is bad. Anyways, we reached our destination in exactly 8 hours by road. Taking a train is sensible. Golden Temple Mail from Delhi takes about 6 hour.

Ipshita, the Zila Collector’s wife was very courteous to have us and I must give her credit for the unmatched hospitality. On 31st Dec 2007, we started our afternoon Safari into the Jungle. Just briefly into Zone 3 with a Guru-of-the-Jungle driver, Yoginder ji, we spotted two cubs lazing in the sun. This “lucky” sighting of  black stripes on the yellow coat was a treat. It looked as if a thirsty person has just quenched himself in the heat of Arizona.

A little further and deep into the Jungle, we found another one sitting quietly for his prey, the sambars and deers nearby. It got up slowly and moved. We all hushed ourselves not to disturb him, for he is the king of the moment. Treading slowly across the gypsy-path, it moved to the other side and latched on to the deers. Sambar gave a call and everyone scattered for their lives. Made my day. Really. Before this day, I never thought that watching or spotting this heavy-top-cat can be amusing. But now I believe it is, and the people who come from around the world, get their money’s worth only when they spot the tiger. Sadly, not on their first safari, but mostly on 2nd or 3rd trips.

We spent our eve at the Bonfire setting done by Nahargarh fort and welcomed the 2008 with fireworks. It was fun, for sure.
Next time, we plan to stay at the Sher-Bagh in a tented accomodation.

- Sonzy.

One of the few movies for which I had an urge to see the First Day First Show. I managed to get the tickets. Yes, I respect Mr. Bijli and Mr. Khan for what they do, and the way they have expanded their business entities. No doubt, Aamir Khan is a near-perfectionist. For this movie, chosing the main lead of the kid-wonder “Ishaan Awasthy” was critical. And I am glad that Aamir “I-wonder-how” found Darsheel to fit the job. And he has given him good respect by not “Introducing” him in the credits. Also, Darsheel’s name is put before Aamir’s which again is fair. (Aamir, is ofcourse, not like Anil Kapoor who wants to highlight his seniority by fighting over the order of credits-roll)

Barely, 5 minutes into the movie and Darsheel shows his marvel-bit by detailing the way emotions should be enacted. Someone bullies him and he mixes “retaliation with helplessness”. Perfect. The “Dad” enters and that disappoints me. Somehow whoever has done the “Papa’s” role should have done it better. His character appears cartoon-y. And the Dad hams also in some portions. 15 minutes past, my eyes are moist with the Song “Duniya ka naara, Date Raho…. Inki to Baat hai nirali….”

Tisca, Darsheel, Aamir, Aamir’s colleague, and a couple of those teaching clowns have done a good act. I didn’t like the Dad and the principal somehow. Shankar, Ehsaan, Loy have done justice to the score. Both the music and lyrics are powerful. I admire Prasoon Ji for what he does with every film.

I guess, Aamir has ensured himself a hit. Why because :

a) We were either “serious, hard-working” or “bad, naughty” in school. Bad and Naughty guys would immediately connect.  And those who were serious would pity the naughty one in Darsheel.
b) The parents who do not mind their children being naughty would learn how to tackle such kids.
c) The parents who do not like the child being  naughty and poor in studies, would actually start thinking on whether they should tackle their child in a different way.

Hence, everybody relates to it and hence, it is an instant-hit. My dad, dozed off to sleep in the first half and could not comprehend the second one because he didn’t track the first. He found it boring and draggy in the first 30 minutes. He nudged me and questioned “Why is he a nuisance ?” - Probably because he didn’t knew that Darsheel was Dyslexic, while going in the movie. I guess thats something which has to be pointed out. Ofcourse Aamir has given hints on it, from the beginning - but I guess, some people need you to elaborate a bit more…

Overall, a brilliant effort - thought wouldn’t buy a DVD for my collection.

Gobala, the guy who got me blogging has put up his own Christmas giveaway. The first gift on his list is really cool - The “Yoda Plush Backpack”. You can see the promotion here.

The other gifts are also nice. See if that interests you. Let me see if I can get this one. I don’t ride a bike but still would want Yoda carry my things

Merry X’mas and a Happy New Year…

Sonzy.

Long ago, a visitor on my site asked me the following - “Growing up in Calcutta sometimes when people would come from Bangladesh
they would bring a big slab of Bangladeshi Cheese that was hard and very
porous (lots of holes in ‘em) and very very salty but delicious in small
doses. It is white in color and I hear is the main and possibly only
popular cheese made there.

My question is is there any place here in the US or Western world where
this might be made commerically for sale to American homes (I live in Wa
state). Or alternative, maybe if I can find a home-kitchen-recipe for it
to make for myself at home?”

Answer : I thought I should republish it here for some interesting reading….

Your question made me search the Internet and I found that the Bangladeshi
cheese is called PONIR instead of paneer. You may be able to find Paneer/Ponir in Indian grocery shops.

PONIR is a semi-hard ripened cheese. Its body is white an sows gas holes.
Its texture is waxy and it has a slightly salty to salty taste. PONIR has
a round shape and its weight is 1-2 kg.

Milk is heated to 65-70oC for 30 minutes; 0.5-1 litre of mesophilic
culture (Lactobacillus and Streptococcus) is added per 100 litre of milk
as starter. Coagulation, obtained with 20-30 ml of liquid rennet per 100
litres, takes 1 hour. After coagulation, the coagulum is ladled in layers
in a bamboo frame lined with a cheese cloth. Then, curd is pressed for 2
hours under a pressure of 2 kg of curd. After taking it out of the cloth,
the cheese cake is cut in 10 to 12 cm side cubes and dipped in chilled
water to firm the curd. Subsequently, salt is spread on the curd pieces at
room temperature. Cheese is kept in bamboo made pots covered with a
polyethylene film. It is ripened for 4 to 6 weeks at room temperature and
can be stored for 6 months.

How to make “Paneer” as they know it in the Northern part of India :

Ingredients
Milk - 1 litre
Citric Acid or Lemon (juice) - 1/2 tsp
Water - 2 tbsp
Method
Dissolve the citric acid in water.
Bring milk to boil, stirring continuously.
Add the acid solution gradually, while stirring.
When the milk curdles fully, switch off the gas.
Cover for 3-4 minutes.
Drain into a muslin cloth.
Hold pouch under running water.
Press out excess water.
Shape and place cloth under heavy weight required (stone slab) for 2-3 hours before using as required.
Hope this helps,

Sonzy.

Amla, or the Indian Gooseberry is one of the richest sources of Vitamin C and a great immuno-modulator. You should buy this in lots during the winter season. And here’s something you can do with it to preserve. Its called Amla Murabba or “The Indian Gooseberry Conserve”

Ingredients:
1 kg. fresh big firm amlas (Indian Gooseberries)
1-1/4 kg. sugar
4 gms. Citric acid
1/2 tsp. alum (for each usage)

Method:
Wash and prick amlas all over with a fork.
Dissolve alum in 2 litres water.
Soak amlas in this water for 24 hours.
Wash again with alum water.
Put amlas in boiling water and boil for 2 minutes.
Remove keep aside.
Prepare sugar syrup with 3/4 litre water.
Syrup should be just stick enough when touch between finger and thumb.
Put amlas in syrup for 24 hours.
Remove amlas from syrup.
Boil the syrup to original consistency.
Add citric acid and strain.
Put amlas back in syrup. Keep aide for 24 hours.
Repeat this process :Remove amla, boil syrup, add amla for 4 days.
By now amla will stop oozing water, and making liquid thinner.
Preserve cooled murabba in a clean tight jar.

Making time: process take a little time for each of 5 days.
Makes: 2 kg. amla with syrup
Shelflife: 3 months

Outlook recently featured a story on Steel-baron, Mr. LN Mittal and as I discussed it with my dad, we just talked about how many of these are there in this world ? How many people have actually become trillionnaires from scratch - no land, no money, just a motivation to see “big”. Correct me if I am wrong, but most of the chiefs of India’s top 10 businesses are not self-made. They either had lots of land-realty to fall back upon or utilize OR they just took over from their family.

And then Dad, narrated to me his own struggle. Its good to keep yourselves reminded of your own hardships. Keeps you focussed and your attitude, in balance. I have come a long way, started from trading Software CDs (buying from nehru place and reselling them to concerned parents in Faridabad), to selling webspace and Linux servers, and made a huge shift in the supplements business. Today, I enjoy what I do and fortunate to have tasted my little success online, selling supplements, and books. Dad has been with me throughout. Could never have inched forward without him.

Just came back from Tirupati on 12th December. Had a lovely “Khulle” darshan. Never expected that I would make it the same day I flew. Flew on the 10th December, reached Bangalore at 10 AM, took a cab and reached Tirupati at 5.30 PM, with the help of the kind-bank-manager, I luckily got the Evening Tickets of Deepalankarini Seva. Took us around 1 hour to reach the Temple. God allowed us to stand there for 10 minutes, came out and took a ride back to our hotel in Tirupati. All in a day’s ride. Isn’t that a “Wow” trip ?

Some firsts for me : I have been visiting the Tirumala shrine every year for 6 years now - This time, I got the Angavastram - Thank you God. I could stand in front of god for 10 minutes - Thank you God. I was blessed with a Semolina and Jaggery Halwa in Prasadam which is quite uncommon.

Came back to Bangalore - had a good time again. Discovered a new hotel in the Koramangla (Empire International) with clean rooms, and close proximity to the FORUM Mall. Had our dinner at “The Legend of Sikandar” which was not bad. Next day, I enjoyed the buffet lunch at Indijoe’s and a big “Death by Chocolate” at Corner House in Indiranagar.

Today is Friday and I return back to my round of duties.

Aajkal, somehow they spend more on creating eye-candy movie trailers , than on the actual movie itself. It has happened twice now this year, with GOAL and AAJA NACHLE. The trailer of Goal had more “football” than the actual movie. It was a complete disappointment.

Today I saw Aaja Nachle. And MF Hussain was right. Had it not been for Madhuri, the film is again a complete dud. Whatever excitement is there in the first half, it eventually dies down in the second half. Yes, Madhuri is back, but with a wrong start to his come-back. Yes, Madhuri rules when she dances - everybody knows that. You do not need a full movie to prove it.

Aaja Nachle fails when you call it a dance movie, for the Dance sequences do not fill even 10% of the movie-time. Movie has used so many talented stars - Vinay Pathak, Irfan Khan, Akshaye Khanna, Ranvir Shorey, Kunal and Konkona, Mungeri Lal (Raghubir Yadav) but the director has wasted them all. The only ones who shine through is the lead actress - Madhuri and her daughter.

It could have been a real thriller, with more dances, more training shots, more workout-bits, more goof-ups in the workouts and so on… but none of that happened….. Anyway, its a good timepass. See it for Madhuri.  Mr. Nene ofcourse is lucky. Madhuri is, too.

- Sonzy

World, I was hooked on to the Internet in 1993 when there was no ISP in India. We used to log on to the Bulletin Board Systems (BBS) operating in Delhi. Those were golden days for me. 1995, Internet comes to India and we started with Shell accounts. A lot has happened ever since. Have been trying to start a blog since 2002. But never managed to. But now that Search engines prefer blogs over conventional sites, it was high time I did.

So here it is. My blog. My window to the world. This is my hub to connect to all my things, my websites, my successful and not-so-successful, disastrous and “did-i-actually-do-that” ventures. I aim to make it a starting point for people who wish to know about me, our customers who have trusted me and my organisation with the things that they have bought from us.

Sonzy is my nickname. One of my cousins calls me Sonzy. I think it sounds cool and I have preferred that everyone did call me like that. Some people even call me “Sonzy Bhai” but I guess more than Bhai=Brother, “Bhai” has been notoriously known for other things. So I prefer simply, SONZY. An exception to that rule, if you purchase any of the stuff I sell - then, you can call me anything.

Welcome again, and I hope we remain hooked to each other.

Sonzy. (aka Puneet Aggarwal)