An inane sound, a chance comment and memories came cascading down my mind…This trip down memory lane started with what sounds really silly – the treadmill in the gym was squeaking and someone remarked “It sounds like one of those rides that we used to sit on when we were younger…”. Indeed the sound was like one of those rides. One memory led to another and soon the trickle of nostalgia turned into a torrent of remembrances of childhood. They came tumbling one after another, randomly, connected to each other and yet all seemingly disconnected, unrelated….

Suddenly, as clear as a picture, I could see those small merry-go-rounds and miniature versions of amusement park ferris wheels, which are generally found on the beach and outside gardens. Speaking of beaches, as a kid, having one’s picture taken was a really big deal – because one had to wait till the roll was completed and then wait some more till it could be developed. Quite unlike my daughter who, with the advent of the digital camera, is accustomed to seeing her pictures right after they are clicked. Imagine what a great thing it was for me to have a Polaroid photo clicked – around 20 years ago!!! We still have the photo – my parents and I standing on the beach, the breeze gently blowing our hair and clothes just a trifle astray. Of course, a visit to the beach was usually to the Juhu Chowpatty beach, with the stalls serving delicious ice golas, tangy bhelpuri and myriad assortment of tantalizing snacks. Plenty of thrilling rides for the kids made for an exciting excursion.

Very often, a coveted Sunday outing entailed a trip to Santacruz garden - the one with the model of an airplane, supposedly Air India, complete with the turbaned Maharajah, welcoming visitors in his glorious red nawaabi dress, playing on the variety of swings and slides. Invariably the trip ended with a ride on the merry-go-round and the ferris wheel, followed by an ice cream from the stall. My favorite used to be the raspberry dolly. While Kwality ice creams were easily available, choco bar being the most popular, the ice cream that got my mouth watering was the sandwich ice cream at Rustom’s at Churchgate. That used be quite an experience, traveling all the way from Juhu to Curchgate, always the excitement of seeing Haji Ali, Nehru Centre(we kids found the round building amazing – I still do).

Another cherished memory is of how fancy restaurant visits were limited to special occasions – birthdays and anniversaries. What an experience as a child to be treated like a royal guest, what with napkins, cutlery, fine bone china plates (always warmed…). In fact these warmed plates are still a joke with my brother and me – after the plates are placed, we still check to see if they have been warmed!!! Being able to eat with fork and knife was an achievement in itself. The first thing I ever ate in the most proper manner with a knife and fork was an omlette. This first skill of etiquette I learnt from my father, a seasoned traveler (thanks to his job), very much at home in the finest restaurants around the world.

While fancy restaurant visits were few and far between, visits to udipi restaurants were frequent. A favorite haunt used to be Rasraj restaurant in Vile Parle. I was a poor eater in childhood, so while my parents enjoyed the food, I used to have a Mangola – a drink which I still love. In fact, on a visit a couple of years ago, an old waiter recognized us and asked my mother, “Baby ke liye Mangola laaon?”(Shall I bring a Mangola for the kid) – This when I was all of 20 years!!! Not only did this place serve the most amazing Indian tandoori food (pure vegetarian, by the way), the speed of the service and the low cost was unbelievable. There have been times when we, a family of four have had a hearty meal – complete with roti-subzi and sweet, at that restaurant, in 45 minutes and in less than 100 rupees. Quite a difference from my recent takeaway pizza from pizza hut - the double cheese personal pan pizza set me back by a cool 90 bucks. While on food, Woodlands used to be another perennial favorite. As soon as we were seated, the waiter would bring a cushion for me to sit on, so that I could reach the table…the steaming hot idlis and dosas and the unlimited sambhar are still fresh in my memory. The sambhar was always served in a bowl shaped like Alladin’s lamp and a waiter would refill with yummy, piping hot sambhar as soon as the level in the bowl went down by even a centimeter.

Dinnertime at Woodlands was usually preceded by a trip to the nearby Narsee Monjee garden – this one again had the ubiquitous merry-go-rounds and ferris wheels.

There was even a rare visit to the circus, a thoroughly enjoyable one too, simply because in those days the circus was very entertaining for children and adults alike. This particular type of entertainment has all but vanished now.

Well, plenty of things have changed since then…now an outing for the kids entails a trip to the mall, for teens it is to the disco or pub. While I don’t believe in living in the past, there really is no harm in a small trip down memory lane, is there?