John Abraham came into my focus after I caught Jism, on TV, one night. He intrigued me with his acting prowess. He broke my heart with his pathos. For a newcomer, he was great. Also the fact that he had proved himself in spite of being a rank outsider, I had to give him Brownie points for that.

Discussing him at the next editorial meeting, I learnt he was a Mamma�s Boy, loved home-cooked food, was a cool dude who loved hot wheels, preferably two. All of which made him the perfect UpperCrust candidate. And then there were women just dying to know more about this hunk. So we met him. On the one day he returned to Bombay from Colombo where he was shooting for Mira Nair, and before going to Goa for the next full month, where he would be shooting for Yashraj Films� Dhoom. It�s always a pleasure to meet down-to-earth, happy-go-lucky, no problems, no complexes people, and John�s one of them, you�ll find out. As I did, when I pillion-rode his 1,300 cc Suzuki Hayabusa down Bombay�s Carter Road much to the envy of John�s teeny fans!

Summers in the Southern Hemisphere are between December to March, you do know that. Well that�s where I was recently � in New Zealand, basking in glorious sunshine. Drinking great wines, visiting vineyards, prancing in orchards, meeting new people, shooting sheep, observing Gannets. And, of course, indulging in gastronomic delights. I recommend to all those wondering where to go this New Year, head �Downer Under�.

It takes a special ability to indulge in a hobby as time consuming and delicate as creating masterpieces from egg shells. The works of Mani Cooper leave you flabbergasted. With all kinds of instruments, paints, and other paraphernalia, and with a high degree of skill, Mani cuts and carves shapes into eggs and jazzes them up with glitter into looking like the Faberge Eggs. Hers are real though, and belong to all kinds of birds. As large as an Ostrich to as small as a Quail. Surat is our Gourmet Destination this quarter. We know much about Undhiyu and Ponk and Surti Farsaans and Ghari but there is also a Surti Biryani made of Mutton, what else, thanks to the Muslim influence of the Nawabs of Surat. And Dumas, the family entertainment place, blew my mind away. Check it out.

I like going to Bangkok for two reasons. They are the same two reasons the whole world heads there, getting massages at spas and eating great Thai food. Of late, I have been thinking of going there and undertaking a study course in both. For my own pleasure. So I asked Chandler Burr, a food writer with the prestigious American magazine Bon Appetit, to go check out some cookery courses that I could pursue. His findings are on Page 34. When I source good Thai Massage Classes, I shall let you know.

In the meanwhile, enjoy the end of the Indian Summer, go Goa, and get an outdoor massage. The sun in your eyes and the tan comes free.

Farzana Contractor