When is the right time to take tea by Puneet Rajhans

When is the right time to take tea

When is the right time to take tea. Well, there is no direct evidence to suggest tea taken at a particular time of the day is beneficial vis-a-vis tea not taken the rest of the day. What is to be kept in mind is to avoid taking tea sprinkled with ginger late in the night as it leads to acidity and gas formation. And these twin challenges are felt the next morning and there is no easy way out. If you hadn't had good sleep, the urge to take tea may flow from a splitting headache or you may prefer to skip the tea altogether if the situation does not warrant the same. Some take tea high with tea leaves, little milk and no sugar; some do with moderate quantity of tea leaves, milk and sugar. And diehard milk aficionados take tea that calls for milk and milk alone and no water.   The decision to take tea is tantamount to a decision made to get active; skipping the same leads one to carry the tag of being inert and ineffective.

Morning hours
As for morning hours some take tea before walk, some post walk and post exercise. During walk and exercise they are exercised with the thought of what their tea would be, would they be served more than one cup and if so the quantity of milk and sweetener would be as alarming as the previous one. During exercise they exercise their mind on all such issues probably believing that a cup of tea would give them clues. When they start having tea they forget all that crossed their mind during exercise and now they are prise open to suggestion that tea the following hours would be of suitable size. Tea and tone of conversation have a lot in common; say some starting with subtle hint of anger and transporting to full blown anger has a lot to do with the tea they desired and not getting the same all those coming in the line of fire.

Visiting tourist locale
If you are visiting a tourist locale, the first sight that would greet you would be a tea vendor parked here or there,  the tea cart probability to appear now and then depending on the numbers of visitors who throng and take care. Around the tea carts who have gathered around them, the conversation veers to the town weather and the 24X7 whisper, setting the stage to let the cart owner come out in detail the places from where he procured milk, tea leaves and water. Tea cart owner makes it a point to sizeably display the glasses and cups to sizeably argue that he has been consistently meeting stiff targets and enamoured by the tea flavour some customers express desire to hand him a new cup/glass storing bucket. To boost tourism potential some are even taken to guided tea garden tours ; amidst tea gardens some plucking tea leaves and getting clicked and some disappearing on spotting tea wardens.

Tea breaks
As for those working in private or perennial sector, there are provisions for tea breaks. When working people enter offices in the morning, the office intentionally provides the morning cuppa to show solidarity that the tea at home was not up to their expectations. During lunch break they take meals that essentially make up of cake to set the stage later for a tea break. During tea break conversations veer around home rage and how most of them are on the same page leading to a least conventional debate on ensuring tranquility with a hike in wage. During working hours working people constantly look at the board that grandly declares "tea is served here, work fast to get in the right gear". The day the tea is not served, they get hurt and excessively blurt. Some even take tea break as an excuse to get out of office to try tea from nearby vendor with a clear desire that tea breaks alone can keep them away from getting tired. Officewallahs bring home the point that if ever the office desires to do away with tea break, the office files would be disposed in a lake.

Tea is here to stay howsoever fast you may grey. During debates/dissension tea can't be kept in suspended session. Quantum of tea being consumed has risen ever since the debate on who can take the top chair with no corrosion. Let the debate be on the quantum of sleep we get and quantum of heat we bet; the debate has to be on tea and those willing to provide for free.

Visit to Prasadam meal centre in Guruvayoor

Visit to Prasadam meal centre in Guruvayoor

Friday was second day of my stay in Guruvayoor coming amidst visits to Indian Coffee House, temple and the prasadam meal centre. By nine in the morning i had joined the temple queue with a rush that suggested the devotees had been queueing up since early morning. Coming out of sanctum sanctorum, i headed to the lodge with a surety that i would be joining the prasadam queue soon. When i left the temple for the lodge the queue spotted was thin and joining later it had grown by a fair margin. Perhaps the shade advantage that one gets by standing down helps to fight the heat. The point where tokens are issued and instructions for taking off the shirt handed this time round one gentleman was stopped from getting inside. His clothes were ordinary and looked to be tired. The objective should be to not stop anyone from taking the prasadam. As we ascended and stood waiting, some could be seen leaving the queue as they had trains to catch.

There are two big halls; and at that time one seem to be working. Between one and one thirty we got inside. Prasadam comprising rice and vegetables and the number of people being served at one point makes the entire exercise gigantic and soothing. This i followed with a visit to Payasam centre. Here you can purchase a token for the contribution you want to make towards the needy and same token has to be deposited to a box which are in good numbers. Apart from butter i sought payasam which is handed in a plastic box with a cover, the size of the box determined by the quantity you want to have. As i returned to the lodge took payasam hoping it would reduce the body pain and fever. This time round i was not present in the temple in the late afternoon when more than three to four elephants take a round of sanctum sanctorum and station themselves in vicinity of payasam centre. They are part of a ceremony which happens perhaps every day.
 Late afternoon i picked luggage from the lodge and headed to the West Nada bus stand. Places i could not visit this time were the beach and elephant sanctuary.


In Guruvayoor

Nishant The Bookshop

Internet cafe @ Harikrishna (for writing paper, no internet activity this time)

Kairali Lucky Centre

Indian Coffee House East Nada Guruvayoor

Krishna Collections (for dhoti previously also from this shop)

As you walk from west nada little after flower college house either side is a picture of tranquility
Vijaya Bank in guruvayur has appu as a guard, helpful and alert.

The split in Bihar

The split in Bihar

The split in Bihar came at a time when the two parties, forming part of the alliance, found it hard to continue when till the recent past on a host of subjects they had a same view. The split was engineered neither by a stiff rise in power/water tariff nor a sea of humanity turning outside the govt premises seeking a new set of arrangement. Voluble threats of pulling apart had begun to come for the past three to four months with a rider that this parting could be halted if one alliance partner could abstain from employing a tool to declare its chief campaigner. Well the poll committee and the declaration to the same was seen by another alliance partner as an attempt to tame. Well the reading could have been miscalculation of sorts, the parting hasn't meant they have ended in knots.

THe day the split came
The day the split came and the day the debates emerged to underscore the significance of a split was a day when the tv was made to function right after morning tea tray continuing well past midnight when the advisory is to sleep tight. In the debates there were dissenters and developers demanding to know why they had been called to tv theatres to debate on a split as this exercise they undertook at home which showcased their 24 hour writ. It was a Sunday, a day before moving-to-office Monday when the policy of the government is to let those working in the govt and garden to take a break and stay at home as for the rest six days they rant and roam. Roam to places that are not offices and rant on those who never proposed.

Preponing lunch; not attaining adulthood
So the two alliance partners of Bihar found it fit to call a split on a Sunday when most would be glued to tv monitors in rooms and bathrooms where on occasions they croon. As news began to trickle that by two in the afternoon a split would be formidable and not fickle, some decided to prepone their lunch and some deciding to skip away from acts done with authority in a lounge. Those not invited to debates and watching the same from outside were eager to find out on split and the reigning sentiment. Speakers during debates were out with stats on who stands to gain from a split in Bihar and if by chance the split was stopped, would the two parties with same alacrity serve and shop. Well, all were talking about 17-year alliance that could not attain adulthood, and if ever parting has to happen it should have a teen shine and ton.

Literature on split
Party which was eager to part went to raj Bhawan to suggest they have numbers in Vidhan Sabha and to keep the independent members who shine with independent outlook on their side they had some surprise. A list of those supporting and willing to support handed to occupant of raj bhawan, the formidable two came to a press conference, seated on those chairs that could signify the significance of a split and sense. They spoke and handed a literature on reasons behind the split with a wish that journos won't be split on why the two parties split and still willing to splurge. After this press conference came another around of sense for another party not that eager to part to formidably assert during another conference largely covered by gents that they had paid their side of rent and were equally hurt.  After the two parties had spoken on the split and sentiment, the party cadres were feeling light with a view that if ever alliance has to happen it should be between parties with same height.

Journos not turning grey
After the two conferences that took place in Bihar, it was turn of the third party in a state called Delhi with its share of intezaar, to hold a press meet despite the prevailing heat. Three press conferences by three parties on a single day showed the prowess of journos who had not turned grey. Debates were happening simultaneously on these press briefings, with the anchors dropping enough hints on their ability to get the requisite water tankers. On that day the tv theatres were filled with creators and carpenters, courting the all-weather logic "debate nahin kiya toh kya kiya". As for the parties who split with a cut, the two would not have realised that their parting and posturing  would lead to a series of debates and dates. After debates got over and anchors returned to their respective homes, they were upbeat on what they said and whom they led. Most hit the bed with sleeping pills, the next morning storing its share of thrills. As for those who had watched these debates and spoken to their room mates, they gave this ringside view that the best part was the state was two-and-a- half year away from polls by the time the railways would have enough inventory on bed rolls.

Parting was painful for two sides, hoping against hope they would have in their arsenal some surprise. 90s to 2005, the state of Bihar with its share of avishkar, had a bumpy ride and hope in the years ahead it would thrive with no stress and strife. Those who have been thrown to the fringe for their role in unleashing upheaval and cringe won't see a comeback if the state has a sound agenda to back.

As for debates and database of that day when the two parties parted with a confidence that they won't grey, the viewers and volunteers had a tough time.  Watching three pree meets followed by a series of strikes and shrieks, some viewers had a splitting headache to counter which they had to apply ointment and take tablet cake. A split leading to a splitting headache should be avoided at all cost beginning with not reading right under tubelights and still making an attempt to spot a horse. One should sport a fabric soon after taking a bath, the exposure to the body can lead to a headache start.  Headaches may happen once in a while like taking a ride from Manali to Leh you have not taken water despite knowing fully well you are amidst some who serve as tutor. In mid-90s while standing in Tirumala queue, the splitting headache was all i can remember of that evening. Intake of saridon got me beaming. 

Payasam of Guruvayoor

Payasam of Guruvayoor

From hereon i proceed to Previnnya lodge. The room is spacious with an attached bath.
After taking a room in a lodge, i sought hot water in a jug which could enable me to undertake steam inhalation. For steam inhalation to be effective and the cold to cure, it is important to put vicks ointment in the hot water. Post steam inhalation i decided to proceed to the Guruvayoor railway station to seek a ticket for the next day.

With a ticket secured and a doctor visited (in east nada the doctor going by the name Mr N ) i returned to the lodge. Soon after i had two cups of horlicks from Indian Coffee House. Perhaps they have more than 50 outlets in the state of Kerala alone. Sometime between three and four i joined the Guruvayoor temple queue. There were display boards on the way that sought to stress the electronic devices like cameras, pagers and cell phones that are banned from being taken inside. As small iron railings that separate one queue from the other gets over, the upper half of the body of gents should sport no fabric and dhoti-wearing is a must. As you get inside you have to turn left and few metres away you need to take some steps and then get down. Before getting down you can see a huge collection of bananas lying opposite the sanctum sanctorum.

Glimpse of Guruvayoor Gained

Glimpse of Guruvayoor gained, any cash offering should be deposited in the boxes meant for this purpose. Sitting or standing for a longer duration is not permissible but just at the back of the sanctum sanctorum near the exit is a place where devotees lie down entirely to say a prayer or two. Here if lucky you can write your prayers too. You can also write prayers from the point where you go past big doors and on the left where some almirahs are there and some temple officials can be seen seated. Here there is a platform where you can write prayers while standing.

As you come out of sanctum sanctorum and go past the exit gate, you can see hordes of people taking a round of the structure which houses sanctum sanctorum. Mind you this is all within the temple. Few metres away from the exit point (not the main exit) which is very much in the temple complex on the left is a point from where one can purchase bananas, butter and payasam. Charges vary depending on the quantity. It is Payasam and the eagerness to have the same coming along with the sight of hot payasam being poured from one big utensil to another. Not on the first day i collected Payasam.

On the first day came out by six in the evening. The cold had not subsided and in effect made enquires about tomato soup from different eating outlets. Most expressed their inability.  Around eight i had tomato soup from Krishna Inn.   A bit steep but quality and quantity was comfortable. Since it is a major hotel with a restaurant, the price had to be on a higher side and with no outlets serving the soup, the best option was Krishna Inn. 

Low cost airports aa rahein hai

Low cost airports aa rahein hai

According to reports appearing in a section of press which resists the idea of sending their reps to debates and wants them to take the desired rest, 51 new low -cost airports are to be set up across country. This low-cost template would release benefits enduring in nature and help to arrest the all-prevailing rupture. To begin with, those entering the low cost airports would have low blood pressure, not exceedingly low to see a no movement but much away from high blood pressure which entails argumentative fear.

With low cost airports around, the roads leading to them would have petrol pumps that would see a sizeable lot with rotating bums parking themselves and paying a fuel cost that would be comparatively low and with a hope that if accretion ever takes place it would be slow. As for these airports and those engaged/enrolled to serve in various capacities would be paid low salaries with a reminder their outgo on home front should primarily be low calorie.    Eatables inside the airports would be priced fairly low and those coming in groups and wishing to display debate tools would be handed moisturiser free of cost with a reminder that they should not be lost  as one never knows at what point the debates can begin and some among those watching stop beaming.

Structures to these airports

Structures in a radius of 50-odd kms to these airports would be raised with a low budget coming with fewer electronic gadgets. Even the roads that lead to these airports and beyond would come up with sizeably low budget and if ever the contractor building them wishes to secure a hike all he would be left with is a bike. Coming back to airports those with low-and-not-to-grow height would be entertained as the battle since the 80s has been on height and hint. Even those who are wheatish and whimsical would secure a grand entry; those looking outright fair would be asked to fill a questionnaire on whether in the past they worked in a pantry.

Conversations in these airports

Conversations inside these airports would be less voluble coming with the advantage of having innumerable tubewells. These structures would be raised in places where groundwater is in plenty with a hope that it does not dip to a level where after every attempt to secure it one has to take bath with a soap. Since these would be low cost airports, lower would be the air tariff and low would be the heights at which the aircrafts are in the air and with each passenger looking to those in their vicinity with extra care. Tea would come for free leading to conversations that puts in circulation a sentiment heavy with glee. As for the taxis that take passengers to the airport, they too would be low fuel guzzlers. Shared taxi would be the reigning sentiment giving the advantage to those who share them to share their thoughts on who have been their bosses and who among them have been fabric short. In these shared taxis the gloom descending on the corporate sector would be dwelt at length hoping against hope that if salaries are cut across board, they would be able to spot who is a woman and who is a gent.

 Low cost housing and no bed tossing

Once these low cost airports would come, this would lead to a low cost housing and a freedom to those who are not able to secure the same during night from bed tossing. Sleep deprivation is because of the prevailing high cost and fewer assimilation. Low cost airports would lead to low cost ports, roads and clothes. LOw would be the power tariff and a close scrutiny of books would suggest that if power companies are able to shed operational/running weight, consumers would get a bill that can thrill.  THe excuse that you are purchasing expensive power is bunkum. Power can easily be sourced from other sources and mind you the reality is there is effective power generation perhaps more than the demand in lot of places and still you want to pass the high cost to the consumer. Natural gas prices which are set to jump from $ 4.2 mbtu to $8.4 mbtu would be decision on which the govt would have to do a rethink, failing to do so would add to their scam zing.

Dollar Ka Darr hat sakta hai

Well not only the quantity even the quality of scams have improved in the present phase underscored by the need to seek new alignments and remain part of the chase. With the coming up of these airports, everything would be low and every attempt made to make indian companies invest at home thereby  defeating their attempt to invest abroad and take away the dollar gold. Rupee could have easily been in the range of 41-43 to a dollar, if attempts had been made then and seen as bold. THere are enough oil wells that have not been explored, a success on this front should be tried at all cost so that we abstain from paying this dollar as never-ending rent. Even oil companies books need to be closely scrutinised so that a better picture would emerge and each one of us would get the right advice.

Oil rationing

Oil rationing is not a bad idea; begin with households having these many cars/vehicles and this much oil to be given. A fair account of oil given to each individual/household and factory/administration in a month. In the income tax return there should be a column on the quantity of fuel purchased yearly and oil to be given to those who file return clearly. There should be a bar on how much a household/individual can get oil, going past would lead to imposition of a cess. A household/individual can get oil from two selected pumps and if he or she seeks oil from other pumps, they should be outright discouraged with a rider this exception is once in a season. This is all possible if a data is maintained. More importantly, there should be oil rationing across country beginning with govt departments/ministries. Once the govt makes the move, the private sector would have to fall in line and spending less on whine.

Low cost elections

Close on the heels of low cost airports would be low cost of elections. A candidate with a taint of serious nature would have to deposit a minimum 25 to 40 lakh rs before he or she seeks elections. How to define the taint and its seriousness depends how serious those in the house are to desist from treating politics as business.  And for every year completed in lower house or vidhan sabha, he would have to deposit the same sum. Say if a house has completed two years and dissolved, he or she has had to pay 80 lakh besides 40 lakh that had to be deposited before seeking elections.  Similarly if one intends to contest from the same seat for a third time a deposit of 40 lakh would be fine. Mind you this won't be refunded perhaps with a rider of expressing the desire to not get fainted. Once low cost polls are a reality low would be the chorus of those who don't believe in creativity.

These low cost airports would bring more benefits. A large number of students scoring high are not able to secure admission in institutions like DU. A student from Sec 12 RKP School in Delhi scored above 94 per cent and all he could get was admission in Rajdhani College. Well you need to not only increase the number of seats for different courses but create more DU colleges on the outskirts of national capital calling Extended DU which would be as good as having colleges in north campus. Instead of handing land for diplomatic enclave or private educational institutions, it should be set aside for Extended DU. SEc 12 mein RKP ho, RMP ho, CMP ho EMP ho yah kisi ne bhi pee rakhi roh sab difficult hai. Let us not make things difficult by lapping Sec 12 results and remnants.

With low cost airports on the way those wishing to join the north campus fray would be less and less strenuous would be their years hoping against hope life does not turn fierce. After low cost airports even if stock market reaches lowest low or dollar begins to lose lustre and glow, the two acts looking to be formidably impossible in one stroke can still happen and one should not treat it as a joke. If dollar would begin to lose its way, then debates would see the anchor say with sincerity "you can come in here, don't have any fear, time is on my side, interest/atm are two sides of the same kite".

Let us hope we don't get tied by dollar rope. Dollar may have dinner every day, rupee could still be winner in some way. Once imports are curbed, travels abroad are discouraged, perhaps sanity would return by more than average. Let low cost airports come, let us spot the 7 gems and prayer goes out for all those who keep their budget low and in effect retain their glow.  Low cost airports to low cost elections may in a way keep the mandate from getting fractured and even if it is two year tenure, the sanctity to govern would be clean and pure. 

How policemen have been torturing us for the past five years. How they in plainclothes torture us, spit on us and create reign of terror for the past five years. 

Does shirt collection intrigue you

It is not an issue that for how many days you can wear a shirt. Or for that matter the number of days you can keep it unwashed. As long as the shirt you put on does not put away the people or leaves the body in a least state of comfort, the shirt you put on and the strings you pull along are acceptable.

Shirts as old as 14 years
The number of shirts you have in your almirah, some as old as 14 years, though you may not have worn for the past eight to nine years, may throw up a collection that is not timid and tasteless. Shirt numbers can vary between a dozen to 20-odd if you take into account those procured way back in the 90s to those gained recently and adding to 2010s kitty. Shirts you wear and shirts that are subjected to wear and tear defines the person who tries them and activities which he or she would have pursued and now prefers to not stick to them.

Travelling in a public transport
Those travelling in a public transport which does not bring with its share of dust and hailstorm may see the passenger wearing the shirt if not for days together for at least two days. Against this if there is a transport that calls for jugglery and jostling for space or sense and a bout of dust that does not mind getting pasted on the fabric you sport, a change of the shirt is the least you can do on days you get on that transport.

The collection of shirts may not look like something of a collective responsibility but the collection over the months/years may give a range of colour to the collection coercing you to maintain a continuity.  Shirts collected over a period of time may not necessarily tempt you to flaunt them but colour advantage need not colour your judgement. Sporting this colour with that collar may drop a hint or two on the person who puts on, possibly airing  an assumption that may be way off track. Shirt Colour coating may be nothing to define a person, it is the colourful life or colourless thrive, both achieved with equal degree of collusion that helps reach a judgement.

Fabric colour you sport
You may have shut yourself to the outside world yet the colour you sport may bring spring to your steps on which you need not pay a cess. Say you sport a colour and you step out the chances of discolouring depends on the level of dust that fabric pulls coming close on the heels of decisions that make you go shirtless/colourless which also calls for an equal degree of collusion. Holding someone by collar may not seek a specific colour to sport, but holding for long may call for a return journey by a boat.

Apart from colour of shirts, the shirts put on a hanger is something desisted and disliked. Hanger hunger is unpalatable yet people hang the shirts on hanger believing that it gives an aura of creativity. Hanger not only takes away whatever little space you have in your almirah, it also makes the task of searching more strenuous. Let us do away with hanger and lift pants/shirts rightaway from almirah. Hanger hunt is leading us to nowhere, leading us to  swim against anger gear.

Let shirts be worn for a period it can run, washing and drying may be done once a week and different shirts worn different time may be to do with the prevailing heat. Colour and consensus may be hard to reach, light in the late evening/night is something that anyone can showcase as a feat. Colour on a train or a bus may not suggest you are under stress but shirts/pants carried on a hanger is something you need to address. Let colour and collection of shirts remain pompous as ever, much made possible by a collection over a decade and keeping up with different forms of weather.
As for places like Kanniyakumari, Ahmednagar and Madurai different range of shirts one can try. One can associate in these places with the weather if shirts have nothing to with leather. As for places like Udhagamandalam, all colour would do, the unfolding night would give you a weather clue.