TREATS TO BEAT SURTI SUMMER HEAT...............
The heat is on in Tapi town. It’s not only just polls and politics that are adding to it but also the Fibre to fabric fair that displayed hot and happening Surti products. Lalas braved the summer heat to proudly showcase Surti talent that none other can beat.
Even as Torrent power has promised not to torment; the Sun god seems in no mood to cool down for the moment. So, here are a few fun ways to beat the heat. Take your pick to cool down this week-

1. Leave for Saputara and spend a week within the clouds.

2. Sip lassi at Gokulam in Adarsh society or Raja lassi at Galemandi.

3. Join a swimming course at any of the private clubs or municipal schools.

4. Wear cotton tank tops, ganji, mulmul jhabhlas bought from Surti streets and make them look fashionable.

5. Those with permits drink chilled beer those without sip on Sosyo.

6. Spend your afternoons watching movies in cool multiplexes.

7. Eat chilled, cold gulkand filled paan at Parle Point or Citylight paan shops.

8. Put up natural fibre mats on your windows and splash them with water. [Even makes A.C.more effective]

9. Fill a tub with cool water, add gulab jal from Hakim Chichi, rose petals from Ambaji temple flower shop and relax.

10. Have a salad lunch at a suburban restaurant.

11. Buy baby powder or Hula Hula from stores around town and splash it on 4 times a day.

12. Read a book and sip iced tea through the afternoon in the T3 lounge at Taj.

13. Relish juicy succulent watermelon titbits under tents set up at Ghodod road, Chowpatty or Bhagal crossroads.

14. Visit the circus and enjoy ice skating within the A.C dome.

15. Go for a walk under the shady green tree tunnel at Police parade ground road.
16. Order in matkis of chilled Rosogullas and mishti doi from Muditas.
17. Apply a thin layer of Vicks vapour rub on face and neck [avoid eyes] splash off with cool water.
18. Nibble on kesar malai kulfis from Agra or Shiv Shakti sweets.
19. Buy a water spray from plastic ware shops in Chautapul and use it as an atomizer.
20. Shop for soft cotton from Hafiz brothers and Tata fabrics and design your own fancy yet comfy kurta –lungi-jammy nightwear.
21. Gorge on Surti sancha ice cream from Sampoorna in Divya Kanti or various Janta outlets.
22. Visit the river bank in the evening and hitch a ferry ride at dusk time.
23. Enjoy chuskis of ice goals from kiosks around town in multi flavours of kachi Keri and kala khatta.
24. Visit A.C. and refrigerator showrooms enjoy the chill [since they are already on] without feeling guilty of not being eco friendly.
25. Hydrate with Soda shiquanji, sherdi ras and mango milkshakes at roadside kiosks.
Think positive and take a chill pill, because, the hotter it gets, the sooner we will have Surti showers.
Tapi town tattle –What has Vijay Mallya nicknamed his most expensive IPL player? ‘Paisa vasool Pietersen.’

SUMMERTIME TREATS FOR TAPI TOWN TODDLERS.................
Hello mommies and daddies! Summer is here full swing and I bet you all have a hundred ideas up your sleeve for your little ones .There will be nineteen to the dozen activity classes available for your pre schoolers to attend.
Surti parents believe that their babies have the unbelievable power and capacity to learn any and everything before their age and time .Hence prenursery kids attend ‘tuition’ for learning stuff.
Truth is, the poor little rich kids are just looking for a place to be themselves. They are tired of nose wax moulding lessons from their maids, foul language classes from their drivers, amidst other creative activities .So; here are a few places that you can take your cherubic charmer around in our town, to improve their motor skills and spend moments of joy with your precious ones.
TRAFFIC PARK-Easily the safest place for your little love to safely ride a tricycle, bycycle with ease and learn a thing or two about traffic rules as well. With a cute little statue of a traffic policeman to welcome you, the cycles available there are nothing to write home about but the good news is that you are allowed to carry your own. Built like a little Noddy Toyland with bridges, bus stops, blinking traffic signals, amongst greenery, it is one place where toddlers and teens can enjoy the freedom of riding. A huge sign board displays and explains road traffic signs that we Surtis definitely need to learn.
SARTHANA ZOO-Alright before you twitch that nose, let me tell you the animals here are no less a visual treat than the ones at the Singapore zoo. We could do with a better bus to take us around and more shady places to relax in, but the friendly animals more than make up for the lack of facilities. Take a map from the office and do a jungle trail with your toddler. The otters here are the friendliest and put up a sweet show. The leopards, lions are majestic, the bears and birds a visual treat as are the deers and antelopes. While at the zoo, do make it a point to visit the butterfly park. Although we do not have many species in there yet, the cooling waterfall and beautiful, colourful foliage is worth a visit.
AQUAIRIUMS-Agreed we do not have one yet.But, there are shops that sell fishes and aquariums all around town.Piplod, Old Umra, Ghodod road, Chowk bazaar, all have a multicoloured collection of swishy delights .Let the young ones watch in wonder as they learn colours, movement and rhythm from their underwater freinds.Teach them about fish food and take a gold fish or two back home for them to care for.
Whether it’s the play pen at Iskcon mall, sand castles at Dumas opposite the Universal Mother statue, playing catch while watching squirrels at Udyaan, Chowpatty, take your toddler out in the sunshine this summer for freedom and fun under the Sun.
Tapi Town Tattle- Which song are all Netas singing for this election? ’Abhi toh mein jawaan hoon!’