Awesome Saturday Part II

'3 Idiots' has been making waves back home. And having just finished a couple of years in a place that made me feel like an idiot more often than not, I could relate to the idea a lot. Also, this was going to be my first desi movie in ages. With such awesome friends to boot, a great afternoon was in store.

I liked the movie for the scene following the examination, the crazy bathroom dance sequence, the beautiful locales of Leh and Laddakh (I still suspect some of the scence were shot outside India, but I am pretty sure I am wrong, the hills of India are a treat to the eyes) and for some well timed humour. However, I was expecting a classic Raju Hirani comic product but came out a tad disappointed. The movie was light hearted and did make for a nice outing. But it was too predictable, some jokes were stale, and the ending was just out of the Great Cook Book of Bollywood. As our post-movie dissection concluded, we also agreed that a lot of issues, deeds and attitudes were projected unrealistically. I can't see how a totally vella dude can top all the exams. I was vella yes.. and no, I never topped the exams (far from it, ahem! ... but that's got be another story). Nice one overall, but I still can't understand the super duper hit status that it has been awarded back home.

The icing on my awesome Saturday was the potluck following the movie. Masala dosa, Sambhar, dal, rotis, cake and gooseberry pie, with ice cream made for a mouthwatering feast. Strangers became friends over food and by the end of countless rounds of mafia, everyone seemed to have known everyone else for ages.

The desi gang in Oak tree is getting closer with each bite!

Lunching out

Any other Saturday would have meant a few extra hours of sleep, a hassle-free morning, a long nap after a sumptuous lunch and the day zipping by. But today was different. The morning flowed in a rhythm, and as the sun shone brightly, things looked cheerful. I guess it was, apart from other things, the fruits and milk breakfast that did it. Too many days of cereal probably warranted a change.

However, I suspect it was more so because of what lay ahead. A lunch with my friends Amanda, Rajeev bhaiya, Aswini, Sharanya and Vivek. We meet at least once a week and to get together and breathe! But today, we decided to take our tummies out for some exercise at Swagat, an Indian restaurant in Madison (Swagat is Hindi for Welcome).

Indian buffets in Madison are pretty much the same regardless of the restaurant. Starters include moong dal and rasam as soups! Snacks include dahi vada, samosa, bhel puri, cutlets etc. Typical veggie dishes are bhindi masala, dum aalo, chhole; while the carnivores can hog on fish fry, chicken tikka masala, etc. All this with plain rice, veg. and chicken biryani, naan, bhature and masala dosa as breads. Desserts have also become mundane with rasgulla, mango ice cream, caramel custard, rasmalai and semiya payasam. And, I forgot to add mango lassi, which also seems to be a big hit here (I have never had mango lassi in India).

All this made for a stuffed tummy, a series of yawns and a sound sleep for the rest of the day! But we had other plans for the post-lunch session, which I shall write about tomorow.