It's been almost 3 years that we moved to Delhi-NCR and finally, the lure of the Delhi winter is fading somewhat. Partly due to the fact that we've had the coldest winter in many decades this year (Gurgaon managed a cool zero degree minimum for 2 days running), partly because I'm getting older and not getting any exercise so when the cold wind blows, it hits me right...ooh....in the spine, radiating waves of pain up down and along the sides of my back.
So I posted my usual once-a-year fb update on how cold it was (we'd just had the coldest day in 44 years) and got the usual responses from people all over the globe. Why are you complaining? It's minus 5 here. You don't have to shovel snow. Come to Canada, its minus 15 here now.
Really, people. I don't naysay the many hardships of living in a truly cold country. But come to Delhi just for one winter. Stay in an apartment with really poor insulation, no hot running water unless you keep the geyser on all day, no central heating and non-carpet cold floors, and then tell me whether or not you're better off living in a centrally-heated and well-insulatedhome, having hot water on tap, wall-to-wall carpeting, and heated indoor public spaces.
There are days when being inside our flat is more miserable than being outside in the fresh air!
I was huddling near the room heater, wearing several woolly layers and talking to my parents on skype. They are currently in the east coast of the United States. My dad was in his shirt-sleeves and cheerfully told me - "It's minus 1 here today!"
Damn! :)
But - the silver lining. We will be moving to Bangalore in a few months. I'm still very conflicted about the decision. I love Delhi - it's food (beyond compare), it's shopping (umatched), it's history and monuments, it's parks - the list will go on and on. But Bangalore holds a very special place in my heart too. Plus I have lots of friends there, many more than in Delhi-NCR. Best of all, we will be so much closer to Chennai and the kids will get to visit with their grandparents so much more frequently. If that's not a silver lining, what is?
I haven't ever had the chance to see Delhi in winter, but would love to... some time. :) I totally get what you mean, though.
ReplyDeleteDamn! This post makes me miss winters at Ahmedabad. There's not much of a winter in Bangalore, this year none at all!
I remember your post about Delhi winters last year. I remember that made me miss Ahmedabad too. Maybe I should do a post too.... this has really set me thinking! :)
Welcome to Bangalore. Would love to meet up whenever possible. I faced a similar dilemma when I was to shift to Bangalore from Ahmedabad - I loved the food, culture, weather, shopping, everything about Ahmedabad and didn't want to leave. That said, I am equally in love with Bangalore now. I have learnt that you can fall in love with any place in the world, irrespective of how bitter or small or good it is. You just need to find your own place in it. Hopefully, you will rediscover Bangalore again, in a new and better light,and fall in love with it all over again. :)
My, this comment has almost turned into a mini-post. Sorry! Orey the pheelings! :)
Orey the feelings - LOL!! :)
DeleteOf course - will find my pwn space in bangalore and the city is easy to love :) The only thing that puts me off there is the traffic, nothing else. It definitely seems like a more vibrant and happening city now than in 2006 when I left.
Hey there.. came over from FB Blogger Marathon. I've not been in the North for over a decade now and have almost forgotten how debilitating cold can be. Hoping the warmth will be back for you soon. :-)
ReplyDeleteAh - last winter here - so clamping down on all negative thoughts and enjoying the outdoors is the way to go, I guess :)
DeleteNice one, I seem to love the cold and hate the heat. However Blore known for it's awesome weather hates me... I've been there twice and on both occasions it was as hot as hell
ReplyDeleteBangalore has become hotter over the last decade. Such a pity. Hope that the next time you visit, the weather is just right :)
DeleteAparna, Welcome. Nice to hear you are coming to Blore.I still have to face the Delhi cold after facing the Chicago one for 7 years.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sumana. Chicago is something else :)) I'm sure the Delhi cold would be like putty in ur hands! :)
Deleteyayay! so, you are finally moving :-))))
ReplyDeletehere's to more meets :-)
Of course uma...and relatively close to ur part of town...yayy!! :)
DeleteI hear you Aparna, it's easier in the cold countries because one has all the facilities!! Good luck on the move, how are the kids taking this news? Is this in any way an explanation for the white day? I can see a lot of happy bloggers too:) And agree, you can't compare two cities, just like two different people. Each is unique.
ReplyDeleteThanks chatty wren. Kids are phlegmatic as ever. Advaith has good friends in bangalore (they will be in the same class and school) so he is happy. Plus he will be closer to chennai - that's a big magnet for him.
DeleteHave been hearing of the extreme cold in North India this year... agree winters here feel colder because of lack of facilities to cope up with them in Indian homes. Reminds me of winters spent in Lucknow.
ReplyDeleteIn Mumbai, winters are the best time to be... the weather is very pleasant.. undoubtedly the best time of the year :)
I know...likewise in Chennai, so pleasant.
DeleteAm happy for you Aparna! I cannot even imagine being so cold. How do the kids manage?! How do they ever get out of warm blankets to get ready? God we really are spoiled here. Today it's going to be very cold at night and that is itself only 37F. If I turn up the heater above 64F I feel like it is burning at night when we are in bed. But like Calvin's dad says - it builds character - to experience some hardships! :)
ReplyDeleteI envy you for moving place to place within India. In my next birth, I will get to experience all of India! :)
I hope u do get to experience all of india, noon, this birth or the next :) Kids are managing. Its harder for advaith because he leaves for school at 7.30 and has to wait at the bus stop in the cold and fog. But then other kids are doing it too so it does not seem like a big deal. Waking them up is a challenge on school days of course!
DeleteWelcome! Welcome!
ReplyDeleteBangalore is quite nice I must say ..From whatever I have seen of it .. And that is a very BIG positive statement since it is coming from a hard core Chennai vasi who swears by her hometown even when people rightly point out the unbearably hot weather :)
Looking forward to meet you once you move in here :)
Bangalore is lovely..the traffic drives you mad but even that is a relatively recent phenomenon. I've lived there for 6 years, and happy to move back :)
DeleteBlogger's meet, my place! Welcome here! :-D
ReplyDeleteYep, it is cold, we were there in Delhi a day or so before that coldest day. Enjoyed the cold because we don't get to see that, would be tough to get up early, get to the bus stop et al in that!
Since we were on holiday, we blew smoke in Lodhi Gardens for an hour every day and went in to hot breakfasts and indoor climes!
Again, welcome back!
Thanks sangitha :) Looking forward to it.
DeleteYay nice to see the official announcement :). Will be good to see you in Bengaluru!
ReplyDeleteAnd about winters, I'm such a warm weather person that I dislike even Bangalore winters.. don't know how I survived in the winters of the north - I remember coming home tanned every December as I would have been standing in whichever pocket of sunshine i could find to combat the chill :).
I do the same, Aparna; and Y and I both get very tanned by february :)
DeleteHi Aparna - I discovered your blog yesterday and wanted to write to tell you how much I have enjoyed it. I am not a blogger or much of a 'blog follower", so I can't remember how I stumbled upon yours. But once I started, I couldn't stop -reading far into the night ! You have great sense of humor combined with common sense :), all combined with great writing style.
ReplyDeleteI live in the midwest right now, but we are moving back to Bangalore with 2 kids in the next few months.
Maybe, I loved your musings so much because of shared experiences , making me feel like a kindred spirit. Keep up the good work!
Priya
Thank you so much Priya, for the kind words :) And welcome here!
DeleteGood to know u guys have a move planned (so do we, to Bangalore as well), hope all goes well with that biggie. Take care.