When it gets chilly in an otherwise not-so-cold Hyderabad, it needs a lot to stay focussed and motivated. Opening our weather apps, we were dismayed to see a 17° reading — not to mention the ‘unhealthy air for sensitive groups’ statement. So while the everyday person trudges off to their 9-to-5 after a taxing inner-debate with their quilt, we have to ask ‘what on earth is everyone else doing?’
If you’re out and about at a live gig in the evenings, you’ll most likely see Shitabh Pillai ardently clicking away. He’s known for standing on stools in the most excited of crowds to get the best pictures, and we can imagine the heat in these venues.
Party down
That’s not to say he isn’t a bit of a homebody when this weather calls for it, adding, “Since photography has come along, I’ve loved nothing more than snuggling in a warm quilt and have my laptop propped up and edit pictures from my shows and events while sipping a cold beer along the side. I end up coming home between 12 and 12:30 am and sit till 2pm and sort my photos out. It’s so hard to wake up in the morning but I wake up by 7:30am so that I finish my work, send the pictures by noon and take the rest of the day off.”
Shitabh adds that evening shows are the best during the winter, adding “Open air venues like Tabula Rasa host these intimate indie gigs that are a joy to shoot. The cold air hitting my sweat-glistened face, almost feels like a refreshing drink in the madness of it all.” But don’t let the winter bites affect your photo game; Shitabh says, “Winters usually have really wonderful golden hours since the light is at its softest. It’s the perfect time to shoot landscape or cityscape pictures. The hues and colours are fantastic and almost dream-like.”
Get zen
With Shitabh at one end of the winter-morning routine spectrum, Hyatt Gachibowli The Spa manager Vishal Sukhatankar has a bit more of a detoxed start. “I try to alternate my mornings with yoga and just chill time with a cup of tea,” he comments, “They both help me in a way to just be there for myself and feel the pause in our hectic lives. Cold weather is usually associated with being lazy or grey and dull, somewhere for me this weather brings lots of joy and happiness and you can breathe!”
According to DoYouYoga.Com, doing Surya namaskar, Kapalabhati and practising heat inversions are largely helpful in keeping warm during the winter. Vishal, who’s definitely all about deep breaths, continues, “An evening stroll with family or friends to a chai point and enjoying the sulaimani chai is how I wind down. The best part of this weather is you can even keep your car windows down and enjoy the natural air conditioning for an evening drive.”
Mist and moods
Apart from the Monday motivation videos on various social media platforms, photos shared on social media also show the gloomy sky, the haze and #mood. None of them adds upto the #mondaymorningmotivation. An RJ on the FM channel on radio shares a trivia on polar bears: ‘They are apparently left-handed.’ The RJ who is also a stand up comedian adds, “I am left-handed as well. And considering the fact that it is cold, minus the ice and snow, I am a polar bear as well.”
That might be an exaggeration, but yes, Hyderabad experienced a really cool morning on Monday. The overcast sky with a bit of a breeze is enough to send Hyderabadis scampering indoors. So while driving to work, I saw two-wheeler drivers dressed in woollen clothes, faux leather jackets, ear mufflers. Pillion riders on the other hand were dressed in faux fur jackets with hoodie, down jackets ideal for minus degrees temperature and woollen overcoats. People just seem to be making the best use of the slight change in the temperature to pull out their warm clothes which they probably bought on an impulse during a sale.
What about the mood of those staying at home? “I intend to be in bed today feeding myself adequately to feel happy,” says freelance photographer Sanjay Borra, conveying his good wishes to those who need to go to work and cannot enjoy the day like him.
Considering the weather and the fact that Sunita Simon returned from a joyous trip, the senior manager, corporate communications with a telecom company decided to work for home. She says, “December is the best time to work from home. Work, chill, shop, do Christmas chores in between non-stop work-related phone calls. When at home and sorting work, I have a Netflix on my parallel screen. I get my work done and also make the most of the time at home. Today’s weather is good to make many others jealous.”
No Monday morning motivation was enough to make some crawl out of bed and make their way to the gym. “Cold is a rare phenomenon in Hyderabad, I’d rather be in bed on a rare day like this, than sweat it out in the gym. Eating a low calorie meal is how I intend to compensate for my absence from the gym,” says Sukanya Ghosh an entrepreneur. #KhabarLive
