MONKey blabbering

So, it’s Saturday! Why does it feel like Friday? I guess because I've been working my ass off the entire week!

Oh well, here I am at Olypub again, sipping my favourite rum, but this time, it feels different.  Why? I guess it’s because it’s Saturday and I've always been to Olypub on Fridays (sounds silly right? Well, it kind of is!) The place is jam packed and the waiters are cocky, and here I am sitting alone wearing my favourite skull print bandanna, talking to my dear diary!

Let's talk about old monk today. Old monk, the cheap and magnificent drink! Cheap. Why? Because it's cheap silly! And yet it happens to me the most exported Indian rum. (Btw, the waiter ain't getting any tip today, I mean, talk about being arrogant!) Alright, so where was I? Ya, so what makes Old monk so special? Well, I would say its taste. It has a subtle vanilla essence in every sip which you would not find in any other rum. Paired with cranberry juice (or coke, which is the more popular choice), it makes a deadly, yet delicious combination! And yes, how can I forget the pirate shaped bottle it comes in (provided you get the full bottle, otherwise you will end up with a "Dettol shaped" bottle!)

Phew! Now after a lot of drinks (7 pegs down as I write this) I must say that I feel ecstatic. The fried chicken liver was better than last time. Way better! Guess they have a different chef on Saturdays, or maybe it’s a coincidence. Anyhow, love has no reasons and I love this place almost as much as I used to love Sam's cafe when I lived in Delhi. And I love old monk.

As they say...There are no old monk fans, just lovers!

Cheers!

An ode to Olypub

Every city has a place like Sam's cafe. For Kolkata, It's Olypub. I had heard so much about this place that my expectations were quite high. Although I had never thought that this place would be upscale, but hey, I had never imagined it to be what it really is! A watering hole in the true sense. Nevertheless, the last time that I visited this place was with Sayan da and it was truly delightful! The beef steak was exceptional. To be honest, I'd had chicken steaks before, but this was the first time that I tried a beef steak and I must say, it was as good as it looked. The steak was served with mashed potatoes, peas and mushrooms. On top of that, there were two eggs, sunny side up garnishing it. When it comes to food, I love to have a mouthful. A bit of meat, little yolk, a portion of mashed potatoes, some peas and a mushroom surely makes one sumptuous mouthful!

Another thing that I love about this place is the way they serve their drinks. They will bring the bottle of alcohol to your table, measure it in front of you and will pour it into your glass. I mean, this is one of the most unique things that I've ever seen in a pub! It definitely adds a personal touch. Moreover, when you ask for normal water (which is mineral water, but not bottled), they bring it to you in empty whiskey glass bottles, mostly 100 pipers. It may sound funny, but the entire setup has a certain rustic feel to it that no other place has.

"And now my bitter hands cradle broken glass...of what was everything" (Black by Pearl Jam playing on my iPod).

This place is not classy, not even close. But what this place has is legacy. Sure, if you look at this place infrastructure wise, it may not strike you as more than a dhaba in Delhi, but the air about this place oozes pride which is reflected in every waiter who walks by you.

"Psychic spies from China trying to steal your mind's elation. Little girl from Sweden dreams of silver screen quotations." (Californication by RHCP playing on my iPod).

We live in a time where everyone is trying their level best to sell what is "in" and here; we have this pub which stands out from the rest for being what it is...an age old rickety watering hole.

The waiter who served me was an old man, who looked as old as the pub. When I asked him his name, he proudly retorted "Sharma Ji". I was quite impressed with his attitude. As I said earlier, the legacy that this place prides upon has been passed on to the people who work here.

(I'm 5 pegs down now).

Rockstar by Nickelback playing on my iPod.

"'Cause we all just wanna be big rockstars
And live in hilltop houses driving fifteen cars
The girls come easy and the drugs come cheap
We'll all stay skinny 'cause we just won't eat
And we'll hang out in the coolest bars
In the VIP with the movie stars
Every good gold digger's gonna wind up there
Every Playboy Bunny with her bleached blond hair, and well
Hey hey I wanna be a rockstar"

"Oh well", I thought, "I don’t see that happening soon!"

The vixens in town

So I’m sitting in a pub, trying to chew on my grub,

The guy next to me is smoking up some herb.

I look in the mirror and I see me so shabby,

Reminds me of the old man, who used to be a cabbie.

In come Joanna, Shirley and Kitty,

Young boys in their arms, their fate I so pity.

One selfie, two selfie, three selfie, four,

Teeth sparkling, eyes twinkling, I could not keep score.

But the night had just started; it was liquor they craved,

Vixens they were, can the poor lads be saved?

The music was loud; there was smoke in the air,

She stared at his eyes; there was lust everywhere.

She pulled him to her as I looked on from here,

She chewed on his lips, and then gave me a glare.

She smiled at me once and then slipped me a wink,

I froze for a moment; then bought another drink.

The boys were quite sloshed now; it was time to go back,

They would feast on them soon; as they get to their shack.

They got up to leave as she brushed by my side,

“Call me” she whispered, “sure”, I lied.

Thus ended a night of mystery and delusion,

It all happened so fast; there was no certain conclusion!

Feminists, I wonder; they always want pity,

While vixens like these prey around the city.

And these women are on a prowl, they’re on to a mission,

Sex on their mind, they have a true vision!