So you think that Mumbai bloggers are a bunch of loud, obnoxious, care-a-damn-whos-around-we-wanna-party lot?
Well then you’re not far from wrong.
The first Open Bloggers Meet of the year held at Bandra’s “Soul Fry” (yes, hence the title of this post) turned out to be almost a bit more than hostesses Sakshi & Melody (moi!) could handle.
See this VERY terrible pic of us to tell how relaxed we were the entire party. It’s a shoo-in for Gaurav’s Post a Silly Photo contest:
We had chosen to have the meet at Soul Fry based on a recommendation from Satya at the last bloggy party. Satya of course, did not show up, but that’s a different story.
Saks & I had gone to the venue a week prior and had made necessary arrangements. Suffice to say, our arrangements weren’t enough.
Let me start at the beginning though. It all started fairly decently. Saket won the “I was there first” award twice in a row – he and Bombay Addict were already there when I arrived early to welcome everyone. Saks soon joined us.
Most things went haywire after that. Everyone turned up almost all together – my kudos to all the Mumbai Bloggers, whatever else, at least we’re punctual!
We did do a sort of introductory thingie at first – you know – My name is blah & I blog at blah.blogspot.com (yawn) but more and more people kept coming all the time.
Soon all the three tables we had reserved soon were overflowing with people and the volume of conversation just kept louder and louder.
Yes, Saks & I also got “warnings” from the Manager of the place that they would “throw us out”!!! Do they have ANY IDEA what negative flack they would get on the Indian blogosphere if they had???!
However to be fair to them, it’s not only that we were a huge lot - 28 of us to be exact - but also we were terribly undisciplined. Just short of food flying across the tables. And perhaps that happened too one of the million times I was out of the restaurant directing someone to the place.
After several (failed) attempts to sort out the scene, Saks & I decided to move the party to the outter section of the restaurant (we were earlier in the AC section).
That worked well - at least we didn’t have to “SHUUUSH” anyone anymore. People were generally moving around and talking to different people in groups, so I guess everyone’s versions of the party will be as different as the blind men’s version of the elephant. I definitely look forward to reading all accounts.
I also look forward to seeing all the million photographs we posed for on everyone’s cameras. (If anyone wants to, you may mail me -melodysvoice(at)gmail.com)
One kind soul – non-blogger Jan - sent me this group pic (as well as the terrible pic of Saks & me above) - Keep in mind though this group pic has only about half the lot who were there. More pics as and when anyone send them to me (and as is the done thing, I will link to everyone’s posts too).
(click to enlarge)
I will now give you the round up of who all came – I’m the only one with the “Attendance Sheet” and I know everyone’s waiting for this bit. Will add my two-paise comments on everyone, as I see fit.
PS: If your name is below, please don’t let anything I’ve said about you stop you from saying extremely nice things about me in your posts.
(Listed in the order it was written)
Sakshi Juneja – My friend, co-conspirer and fellow hostess. Came in with a headache. Think it got worse during, but overall she was all-smiles as ever throughout.
Melody – what can I say about myself that I haven’t already at this blog? Then again, I do not have my about page up yet. Darn, will move on quickly.
Saket - Volupturo in the flesh - and who, despite not being fed by his mommie in a month, looked quite, erm, healthy and had a very long and interesting conversation with Nandan, Peeyush & me about what women look for when choosing the men they marry. It was particularly interesting to me, the only woman, to hear what these men thought we want. And no, I didn’t agree with most of it. Then again, it was a rather silly, general discussion – not worth so many lines here.
Sumit – who took a long time to explain why he named his blog ‘Twisted Indifference’ so. Hmmm.
Vivek – Non Blogger, Sumit’s friend – but who does have his own Flickr Account.
Neha – was a Non Blogger too. “Damn these non-bloggers who are so prominent” said Saks of Neha, who was in the center of every picture despite her attempts to the contrary. Neha, for the record, is known to most of us & Saks wasn’t really damning the non-bloggers. I could point out other things here too, but I’m true to my word & won’t.
Amit – whose long locks tied in pony tail have given way to “ill-fitting toupee” and “bad wig” causing him to hear for the 1000th time that he is now India Cut. Ha Ha, said he each time, all the while snickering in his mind (I know these things) “SO original indeed”.
Bombay Addict - Hey, any addict of my beloved Bombay is a friend of mine.
Puneet Bhambhani - who’s a girl fyi - (ridiculously) quiet and a self-confessed “baby blogger”. Incidentally, when I checked (because I’m a good blogger) this link seems to be wrong, but it’s exactly what she wrote. So there. Edit 7th Feb - She did give me wrong url (these baby bloggers, sigh) but managed to get the right one & now the link works fine.
Pragni Sanghvi- who though not, was also termed “baby blogger” by association since she huddled with Puneet the whole time they were there. Pragni also kept asking me to repeat everything everyone said.
Abhishek Chhabra - who was very interesting because he was not one of those in-your-face kinda guys but he was very naughty behind his seeming quiet façade.
Nandan - who thinks women want to marry for money (see para near Saket’s name for more details) and who seemed very upset that the rest of us wanted to chat rather than eat dinner.
Shiju - the saintly footballer who was wrong about one thing - there were lap-dances (one anyway) at this meet and (luckily?) Gaurav wasn’t giving them.
Unnamed friend of Shiju - who didn’t make too much noise, so we shall continue,
Vinu - who has a cloud of his own.
Vijay - the very talkative (false), talented (so true) genius in pyjamas (I’m not even kiddding). Yes, he does that for the same reason a superhero wears his underwear outside his pants.
Smita - Vijay’s very pretty non blogger friend who sometime later in the night demanded we all clap for her. Can’t (rather won’t) elaborate, but we all did readily oblige.
Ideasmith - who was looking fabulous as usual, was unusually loud (she was always demure from what I remember) and fluttering around like a pretty butterfly. She was also cracking jokes in languages I cannot understand, simple languages like Hindi and Gujarati - but in case any of you didn’t know, when it comes to language skills, I am Carol Gracious’ grandmother.
Peeyush. Ah, Peeyush. So much to say, so little time. He thinks women marry to “see the world”. He knows the price of every type of Porn CD - of course, he doesn’t buy them, it’s just in his job description to find out these things, you see. His ears popped up everytime the word “Lesbian” was mentioned (& it was mentioned a lot). He also shared years (and God only knows what else) with Shiju and Gaurav and is, in a nutshell, my Hero. awww.
Rishi - Have no idea who this guy is. Had his name here though, so am noting it down.
Edit 5th Feb: - Rishi is apparently Shiju’s friend (yes, another one!). Thx to Marielle Bigot-Quétard who mailed in to let me know!
K V Narayanan - friend of Peeyush’s. Took a long time to find the place. I know.
Jan (pronounced Yan) Stoklasa - Czechoslovakia origin, London staying, Bombay loving non-blogger, who as I previously mentioned reads my blog & sent the pics above.
Akshay Mahajan - The capital B for Brilliant photographer who didn’t say the lights were bad at my Christmas party (!) and who came along with,
Rohit, his non blogging friend in tow.
Pensive Lawyer also made it again. I unfortunately - again - did not get the chance to bond too much with him…
but did manage to make-out with his pretty girl friend (see gap between girl and friend) Hanisha - again - I am really beginning to think this may spoil my chances getting a good Catholic boy to marry me.
Tejus Caulagi (Pensive’s friend) was (is) the cute guy in the group pic on the extreme right. And Melody doesn’t go around calling men cute (ok fine she does) but she did tell this guy that he was.
Finally, would any Mumbai blog meet be complete without the “I am a used car salesman” Gaurav? Sure, he did turn up after everybody left - but he did get to chat with Jan, Peeyush, Ideasmith, Saks & I as we finished our din-dins & headed over to Amore Gelato. Jan got locked in there, but that’s another story.
I would be a very bad person indeed if I ended this post without thanking Amit and Saket for their ‘big daddy’ like instructions & help at a crucial moment of the meet. As I do Abhishek, Sumit & Vivek who chipped in to help clear the bill. And Peeyush, who paid for me din-dins. And my mother, who’s always an inspiration. And all of you, without whom I could not do this.
Heck, it was an honor just to be nominated.
.
AND WHAT THEY SAID (updated hourly, every hour. Or so):
Sakshi - Saturday Night Special : Blog Fry - With lotsa Pics!
Ideasmith - Highlights of the first 2007 bloggers meet
Abhishek - Soul Fry @ Bandra(Da-meet)
Pensive Lawyer - Melody zindabad!
Saket - First Mumbai Bloggers’ Meet In 2007 - With lotsa Pics!
Bombay Diaries - “Please blog, please please blog”
Pragni - The Fried Souls of bloggers
Peeyush - First timers’ impressions - Open Bloggers Meet
Amit Varmaji - “I want to be eaten now”
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February 4th, 2007 at 9:25 pm
Wonderful pic, I must say. I thought you were just gonna inhale all the food.
Looks like I missed a real wild party. Pity. Next time, perhaps… if I ever make it to Bombay.
February 4th, 2007 at 9:54 pm
Mel - Thanks a ton for the pic. Now I know what a real good friend you are.
February 4th, 2007 at 11:01 pm
wow!!
]
Among the most awaited posts finally arrives..
Gee!!
Itwas Fun meeting up the great Gang… and meet was great fun!!( and finally) managed.. courtesy u and
HH SakshiJee[
It was great meeting up
will rite more..soon.. though flashed some thots at my life blog
February 4th, 2007 at 11:17 pm
Kewl pic Mel
looks like u had lot of fun !!
February 5th, 2007 at 1:04 am
@ Saks: I didn’t take the pic & trust me, if anyone’s looking doofy in the pic, it’s not you!!
PS: Did I hear a lil birdie saying you’re Related to Sanjay Dutt ???!!!
@ Abhishek: Hope the wait was worth it
Nice to have met you too. And it’s WASN’T 5, liar, liar.
@ Reshma: Thx
More crazy pics @ Sakshi’s. And yes, we had a ball.
February 5th, 2007 at 4:30 am
You look like your choking on something.
February 5th, 2007 at 10:26 am
A job well done Mel. Congratulations!
In doing so, you have been given the role of honorary organised for all furture blog meets (by popular consensus)…lol.
Was good to see ya again.
tc.
February 5th, 2007 at 10:37 am
Gaaah….damned if I talk, damned if I don’t…patee gayoo!
Actually I was researching the way people react to different behaviour types. I didn’t account for the absolute madness of being a blogger though (let alone being a HUGGGGE party of bloggers!) Great party, Melo and thanks for taking the initiative to organize it!
February 5th, 2007 at 12:05 pm
I did talk this time.
And this was funner than the old bloggers’ meets. Thanks for organising, inviting, and tolerating my presence.
February 5th, 2007 at 3:30 pm
Hey Mel,
I would have explained the inspiration behind twisted indifference sooner if certain people didn’t keep interrupting me to tell about their fabulous blog stalker. Then I believe another blogger wanted to interrupt with a she ‘luurrvs’ him. General chaos ensued soon after and I joined in. Rest is history. There is a reason for my blog being called that, sift through the first few entries, it is there somewhere.
Thanks, for a great event. Had a blast. Next one definitely should be in Pune. I know enough restaurants here and their managers and/or owners to not get thrown out. Regardless of how much noise we make.
February 5th, 2007 at 3:39 pm
You forgot to mention the amount of waiters you mistook for bloggers and welcomed anyway.
February 5th, 2007 at 4:24 pm
and that people walking in where telling you table for two please!
Cheers!
February 5th, 2007 at 5:40 pm
Mel,
Are you sure the huge crowd was only bloggers? What about the bikers you had waved down?
February 5th, 2007 at 6:27 pm
i swear some people were singing lady in red at the junction..
February 5th, 2007 at 7:25 pm
[…]When we entered the classroom, Melody Teacher greeted us. She then took our attendance, introduced us to all and placed us in our seats […]
February 5th, 2007 at 7:25 pm
Thanks so much…was a great party. As promised, I blogged it.
February 5th, 2007 at 7:26 pm
pants on fire!! I dint ask you to repeat everything… and I dint huddle any at all!!
February 6th, 2007 at 12:02 am
Meeting lots of people whom you have met through the internet only must be great fun.
February 6th, 2007 at 1:15 am
This seemed like a really pleasant evening. You guys sure had a lot of fun. Aargh, I didn’t make it!
February 6th, 2007 at 1:15 am
satya got swayed by a night full of blues and beautiful women !
melody knows he won’t ever ditch her under normal circumstances !
February 6th, 2007 at 12:44 pm
Now that I have scanned your post with my edit-eye I have this to say:
It’s genius, not genuis (genuis is actually a small pink planet at the other edge of the galaxy. eight-armed vegetarian hippo-like creatures live there.)
It’s pajama not pyjama. I go by the British way.
And if only you knew why superheroes wear underwear outside pants… If only…
February 6th, 2007 at 2:05 pm
Hey Melody - great meeting up with you. Thanks for linking up to my post and a BIG thanks for organising the event. It was a blast and I’m waiting for the next time.
February 6th, 2007 at 2:47 pm
@ Mario: Well, thx for the, erm, concern, I wasn’t.
@ Pensive Lawyer: lol, was talking to Saks this morning & she was saying the same thing… I am now the new head of organising blog meets.
Next time we really should have a conversation though!
@ IdeaSmith: “patee gayoo!”??? Don’t start again, you know my Hindi woman!! And it was a crazy party wasn’t it?!
@ Vijay: Yes, you did talk… thought most of the time to the pretty Smitha? Hmmm
And glad you had a funner time than last time!!
@ Sumit: Your comment is one of the longest here, like the explaination
You should try host a blog meet in Pune yourself. Alternatively, if I’m around Pune, will inform you.
February 6th, 2007 at 2:48 pm
@ Nandan: Okey, will check it out then
@ Pragni: Did too! But I didn’t mind. So spake the teacher.
@ Jo: Well really I already know a lot of them offline through other meets and through one and other. We Bombay bloggers are really a sociable lot!
@ Roaming Panda: Yes a pity. Another time perhaps!
@ inexile: Darn. I had hoped that Satya wouldn’t ditch me in ANY circumstance… but will be grateful for whatever he hands out…
PS: Have I won my bet yet???
@ Vijay: Ok genIUs, have made the necessary corrections. Will not change the spelling of pyjamas though - have linked to the spelling you use, but will write the spelling I use. So there.
@ Bombay Addict: Yes, and all that when you still refuse to blogroll me
Will def. see you next time!
February 6th, 2007 at 4:05 pm
My compliments for yr gr8 organising skills. Well, I’ve been stalking it right since your invite went aroundand hv been reading the reports too.
Btw, I’m a newbie blogger(started out 4 months back) and I write on Money & Business. Maybe they r serious stuff, but I can’t help that at my age which is 39!
I wanted to be out there but shuddered at the thought of being the only “Big Daddy” around. Let’s see if I find the courage next time.
February 7th, 2007 at 12:12 am
PS: Even though you’re stalking me, an official welcome to TVIMH!
February 7th, 2007 at 2:06 am
Sounds great!! Yopu guys really had fun!!!
Sadly..am not in mumbai these days…
and when i was..melody was not there to organise this!!
February 7th, 2007 at 1:34 pm
February 7th, 2007 at 3:06 pm
no madame you haven’t won the bet yet !
February 7th, 2007 at 5:55 pm
February 7th, 2007 at 10:31 pm
Pappa is convinced. Even though I didn’t tell ya that I’m a mighty introvert too, I’ll be there!
RP
February 10th, 2007 at 10:09 pm
Mel, that was a nice meet.
And, i do blog at blogspot, which is rather a private thing.
Vijay though has introduced me to wordpress, so I guess I will start there (especially for the benefit of Sakshi).
So for now the link is zmita at wordpress.
And just to correct,it’s Smita minus the ‘H’.
Hope to meet you at the next bloggers meet,
or may be (even) before that.
February 11th, 2007 at 10:42 pm
gee!!
Mel.. I said it was debatable!!
but we can count!!
LOl
having fun in Goa eh!!
enjoy!!
February 26th, 2007 at 2:53 am
This sounds really cool - how does one get to know if/when bloggers are meeting up again in Bombay? Is there a mailing list?
February 27th, 2007 at 11:17 am
@ Smita: Hey lady, nice to know you do blog! Will correct spelling in post now!
@ Abhishek: Glad you enjoyed. Goa was divine as usual.
@ Raccoon: Stay tuned to this blog. I make all blog party announcements!