Saturday 8 February 2014

A Perfect Day

A day stretched out on a sunny beach or a day hiking in crisp mountain air? A day at work, doing what you love the most, or maybe a day of doing absolutely nothing? A day which includes traveling, dancing, reading, helping someone out or playing with your kids? Or all of that? What would be a perfect day for you? And is there really such a thing as A Perfect Day?

All I know, is that I woke up this morning with a smile on my face thinking: Wow, that was a perfect day yesterday! And unbelievably enough, our day started with a visit to the FRRO office, an adventure I have described before. With two reluctant teenagers in the backseat ("do we really have to use (read: waste) a school-holiday on this?") we set out on The Mission to renew our visas.

Every time we have been to FRRO, there are some new rules. This time we were told by a brisk guard that we were not allowed to enter the building until 9.30. Oh well, I spent the time taking some pictures from the area, and at 9.20 we stormed the stairs armed with visitor badges (also a new rule), for the first line to get a number. Another new thing: in the waiting room we were welcomed by a smiling male employee: " Good morning and welcome!" What?! A pleasant contrast to the screaming No-person at the main gate. And we were in for another surprise. Learning from experience: we had prepared for the worse and brought with us supplies. Well, didn't need any! After only 2 hours we found ourselves at the main gate, all 4 of us with our bright and shiny renewed visas - so: one more year in India! Yey! PS: My theory is that The Greek's very insisting and helpful hand to our officer when he ran into some PC- trouble speed-ed up the process!
The FFRO office building...
...and a neighboring house.. (waiting for the FRRO gate to open:-)) 
By then, everyone's mood had improved considerably, including the teens', and encouraged by our success we decided to celebrate with a better lunch. We ended up at Britannia, an institution in Mumbai, known for delicious Parsi food, but one we had still yet to visit. We quickly overlooked the paint coming off the walls, when we were so warmly welcomed by the owner, the 92 year old Boman (only 1 of his 9 names though, one of the others being Batman:-) What a character! Almost worth the visit alone! He was patting my kid on the head instructing him: -  I am planning to be 114 years old, so you have to be at least 120, ok?! Well, the 14 year old didn't have much choice but to nod obediently - 120 years old huh? Ok, ok, no problem:-) 

So with the stories of Mr Boman, we sipped our Fresh lime soda and enjoyed their famous dish Chicken Berry Pulav - rice, chicken in sauce and topped of with barberries. D.E.L.I.C.I.O.U.S.

My favorite drink: fresh lime soda: and here with sweet on the side served in a water bottle:-) 
William and Kate overlooking us and waiters waiting to serve:-)
Note the sign " Please do not argue with management!" 
92 year old owner Boman - a well of interesting stories:-)  
Yummy Chicken Berry Pulav :-) Huge portions! 
What a fun day it turned out to be! We had planned for something else and there we were: talking, laughing, spending time together, then going for coffee, meeting interesting people and sharing good moments. And then in the evening, a bit spontaneously, we decided to head up to Breeze - for what became a wonderful evening - catching up with old friends and getting to know some new ones. 

You know, it was just one of those days, when life plays you a small trick! When the day turns out so different than what you had anticipated. Good talks with family and friends, lots of good-laughs and some moments that makes you smile when you think about them. And you just feel so well and so grateful. To me that is a good day, maybe even a perfect one? 

So, what would be a perfect day for you? And is there really such a thing as A Perfect Day?

Well, I hope you will have a perfect weekend dear reader! Enjoy the moments and take care:-)


    

30 comments:

  1. You really did have a perfect day dear Eli :) glad the visa work got done . Mr boman looks like such an interesting and resilient person.. Working at 92! Hats off to him :) have a great weekend !

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    1. Thank you dear Pallavi:-) Yes, it was a great day. Hope you had a wonderful weekend too:-) Hugs

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  2. Wow congrats...you all got your Visas :) a good day indeed! This place and Mr. Boman seem so interesting... thanks for a sneek-peek!

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    1. Thank you so much:-) Yes, very fascinating place:-) Best to you

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  3. What an uplifting post, Eli!

    In my current life, any time I can spend time with my far-flung family becomes the makings of a perfect day, but probably the highlights would be days when my daughters have visited me here in Norway.

    But spending a day at an amusement park riding roller coasters with them when they were younger is probably up there on the list too. :)

    So no specific perfect day springs out, but I sure enjoyed reading of *your* family's perfect one, especially as it involved family, successful renewal of visas, and great food and friends.

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words, and for sharing Cindi:-) I enjoy hearing about your days:-) Indeed... being with family and friends feels good! Wish you a good week in Norway:-) Warm thoughts:-)

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  4. Yay! Congrats Eli! Glad it went smooth sailing!
    xo

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  5. Happy to hear you got your visas and had such a lovely day!! Between your vivid descriptions and lovely pictures I felt as if I were right there with you. ♥

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  6. Great to hear your visas came through! And a perfect day can be anything, can't it? I think generally if it involves a lot of laughter and smiles, it is perfect no matter where you are!

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    1. Absolutely:-) Laughter and smiles - the hearth of a perfect day:-) Thanks for following:-)

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  7. Wow, it;s not every day you can have a good result (and a day as a result) of a visit to the visa office. Great stuff, lovely pictures and glad you had a lovely day!

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    1. So true! Thanks for your positive feedback, very appreciated:-) Best

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  8. I'm not sure if my previous comment came through. So re-commenting. Glad you had a perfect day and the "Visas" came through without too much of hassle.

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  9. The pulav looks yummy and Boman's energy levels are awesome. You surely enjoyed the visit with your teens.

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    1. Yes, I sure did - it was awesome! Thanks for commenting Kalpana- all the best to you:-)

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  10. Congrats on your visa renewal, dear Eli! Yay to another year of discovery and exploration! What a fun time you had, for me - I think a perfect day is when I am happy, truly happy when I can feel that joy in my heart. The cause of such happiness could be anything. I guess you had a similar feeling, they make for wonderful memories and always make us smile. :)

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    1. Thank you dear Arti! Yay to another year:-) Thanks for sharing your thoughts, and I agree: joy and happiness and making memories that make us smile thinking about them! Big hugs to you:-)

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  11. Such days truly are perfect. We expect the worst and the best happens. Loved this photographic journey of a perfect day with you Eli.

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    1. Exactly! We prepared for something else, but suddenly the day was .. "ours" . Thank you so much for your kind words:-) Best

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  12. Great post! Enjoyed reading it thoroughly!

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    1. Thank you dear Megha! So happy you enjoyed it! Best:-)

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  13. I understand what must be going through your head when planning a visit to the FRRO! But glad your day turned out perfect.

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    1. Yes, I am sure you have your experiences as well. But then bigger the joy than it went better than what we had thought:-) Big hugs to you Amelia:-)

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  14. Thanks so much for sharing this! It's great to know things at the FRRO are getting better all the time! I enjoy following with your writing.

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    1. Thank you so much Neil! Happy to see you here, and glad you enjoy following:-) All the best

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  15. You could not have asked for more!! :) Hope you have plenty more of such good days!!

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    1. So true! Thank you so much for your kind words. I so appreciate them:-) All the best to you as well:-)

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