Early morning notes from back home series-2

• Back from a trip to Delhi-Agra-Fatehpur Sikri-Jaipur, the gory details of which are logged here- thanks to Seren.

• A family trip does wonders to the age old ties that bind ....(and gag?) .

• Kachori, lassi and paratha cravings have been fully satiated, thanks to aforementioned trip.

• Rajasthani thaali is a novel change....once or twice in a lifetime. All other times its besan overload.
  

• Seren and I had to be dragged out, heels kicking, confiscating purses to get us out of the self inflicted, much enjoyable shopping spree at Karol Bagh, by the parents.

• Note to self : Are day trips to Delhi with an all-day shopping pass at Karol Bagh feasible in all future trips to desh?

• Favorite spots on this trip - Qutub Minar, Taj Mahal(of course!), Fatehpur Sikri and Amber fort, Jaipur.

• Akshardham in Delhi is a marble marvel, really worth visiting.

• The serene that envelops one at Raj Ghat, right in the middle of a bustling capital city is memorable.

• From one nation's capital to another, there are remarkable striking similarities.

• And Seren forgot to add in her post, I made an interesting observation. I cut my finger nails before leaving for the trip. And thanks to guzzling multiple matkas of lassi and digging into matka kulfis, I swear my nails have grown A LOT in 4 days!!Really, I do swear!Must be something in the milk, no?

• Nope, coffee aint the same out there. But tea, OMG- its outta the world!

• Its amazing how we went from 2 Airlines(Apna desh ka Air India and Indian airlines) to some 30 domestic carriers in a span of 10 years.

• Some noteworthy signs on trucks and such other vehicles on this road trip :
  

"Dont tech me"
"Manglikmarriages.com, where mangliks marry mangliks"
"Important advice : NO smoking"
"Touriests leave chappals here"
"Homoeo clinic"

I leave you with some samples from what my lens captured..





























Footnote : Glad to be back in good ole namma bengaluru. NK oota is next on the list. Anyone care to join me?

Early morning notes from back home series-1

• Awake at ungodly hours staring blankly at monitor

• Trying to read an otherwise interesting novel while ruminating over the thought that one really ought to be in bed.

• If staying awake at ungodly hours is really a good way to be on a vacation.

• If coming back home in eager anticipation of eating the eats doesn't hold the same fancy anymore

• Looking at one's own blog and debating if its really worth owning a piece of cyber space.

• Kicking oneself for not lugging the camera and missing a priceless picture of a humongous cow that decided to rest in front of a posh Reliance showroom, blocking their centerpiece display, calmly watching the passers-by with an air of nonchalance.

• Awe-struck at the sight of a beggar buying biscuits for a rupee to feed the stray dogs, in front of the Shiva temple.

• Scared AND disturbed at the number of stray dogs on the street.

• Curling up for a siesta.

• Darshini vade-sambar, masala dosa and filter kaapi.

• Same old street, all new stores.

• Same old street, same old, older store owners.

• Tap dancing routine while crossing roads. Traffic never seemed this scary before. One feels like emerging from a cave-man existence and thrust with the harrowing task of crossing a busy street.

• Running fingers over old family pictures and getting nostalgic of all that was, and all that turned out so many years hence.

• Bank and office visits for paperwork, the slow and relaxed pace of government machinery, the pillar to post routine, the passing of the proverbial buck.

• Familiar poking of kid sister's limbs at random intervals during the night.

• Hitting "Publish Post" while draining out the dregs of a 'tumbler' of hot, strong, flavorful morning cuppa of freshly brewed coffee.

Frozen in time

Koi atka hua hai pal shaayad
Waqt mein padh gaya hai bal shaayad

Aa rahi hai jo chhaap kadmon ki
khil rahe hai kahi kamal shaayad

Dil agar hai toh dard bhi hoga
Is ka koi nahin hai hal shaayad

Raakh ko bhi khuredkar dekho
abhi jalta ho koi pal shaayad
Written by : Gulzar
Sung by Ghulam Ali, from the Album Visaal

Footnote : I realized rather than fretting over not going anywhere to "see" fall colors, I could just open my eyes and capture nature's brilliance that I get to see everyday right in front of my doorstep.

Dawnzer lee light*

* as referred to by Ramona in Ramona the Pest, by Beverly Cleary.

**********"Why dont you turn on the 'dawnzer'" she asked, proud of her new word.

Beezus looked up from her book. "What are you talking about?" she asked Ramona, "What's a dawnzer?".

Ramona was scornful. "Silly. Everyone knows what a dawnzer is."

"I dont." said Mr Quimby, who had been reading the evening paper. "What is a dawnzer?".

"A lamp." said Ramona, "its gives a lee light. We sing about it every morning in kindergarten."

A puzzled silence fell over the room..........************

Excerpt from Ramona the Pest, by Beverly Cleary.

Yes, its true. While some like to relax in their sun/morning rooms with a soothing cup of tea or coffee, while some like to lay on the couch trying to catch the early morning weeekend news, while some prefer to snuggle back into a half-conscious state, this Saturday morning, I woke up with an uncontrollable urge to visit my books. Thus another cloudy morning rolled by the eastern shores, there was comfort in my zone of books, to touch and feel them, to put them in order, to dust them lightly, to find some forgotten treasures, to revisit some of the old buddies, to resynch with the silken words, to wistfully dream of Cornwall in my favorite book-The Frenchman's creek...yes its a small heaven right at home.

And then there is my favorite painting of Winslow Homer, right where the books are.

Ok, I cant hold it in any longer. I HAVE to go back to this curiosity of mine about nails and nail growth. So a quarterly update about my toe nail : it only recently dawned upon me, that the toe nail isnt going to grow out of the recesses. The exposed skin turns rough and hard and eventually "becomes" a nail!!!!!!! For some weeks now I've been expecting nail growth from the sides. And just last night I realised, I already have half a nail, NOT from the sides but the skin itself hardening into...........a nail!
Alight, alright, silly Eureka moment, but Eureka no less!

* donning an Archimedes halo*(Ahem, no no, I wasnt in the birthday suit nor was I in the bathtub, when this realization dawned. Sheesh, you dirty minds!).

I'm sure all of us have heard that one needs to talk to the plants. I firmly believe one needs to talk to books as well. I sincerely believe my books are feeling much better and reassured. Hence I will move on to other important chores for the weekend...aka laundry(ugh!).

On such a mundane note, I will bid adieu to my ardent fan following, avid readers and loyal supporters. Have a great weekend all!

Fleeting fall

Each year, I usually make plans to go see fall colors. Sometimes its a flight out to New England, sometimes its a couple of hours drive to another state, sometimes its a local state park, sometimes its a fall picnic to the nearest lake shore. This year, December seems just around the corner and fall seems to have come and gone. I hear Christmas songs in malls already, the stores are decked up and its not even Thanksgiving yet.

I dont know if its the weather or the short stint of fall, I dont have one picture to show, nor one memory of fall colors to prove that we had fall this year. And for the first time in this many years that I have lived in the north-eastern coast of US, that I havent noticed the wonderful hues of glorious autumn. Very soon, I will come back to cold, dreary winters and get ready to don the boots and scarves, gloves and layers to face the snow. It will be 3 months before one can step out to the warmth of the sun in a tee and jeans. And I miss the transition time, a short bridge to cold days- that which we all have come to know as fall.

Next year, there will definitely be big plans, plans to go watch the splendour of fall at some place special.

Till then, bye bye fall and welcome winter!

Footnote : My soup recipe bookmarks are growing. No better time to indulge in loads of warm, colorful soup.

Nettle mettle- The morning drive

6:30 am Monday : Alarm goes off

Headnote : N for neutral, P(forward) for positive and R(reverse) for negative mental gears.

N : Sigh, Monday, AGAIN!

P : Well its been a fun weekend- 3 days of partying and binging on Diwali snacks.

N : Hm, Monday morning gym class, fun!

R : Curl up and go back to bed. Its cold and wet outside, its only 6:30. You can tuck in 2 solid hours of snooze.

P : You have only one week left for the vacation. No better reason to pack in 4 gym days this week. And if you go this morning, you have the entire evening to yourself. You're up already, just get going........

N : Alright alright, lets go.

15 mins later, submit all gears and oneself to Patty's program at 7am. Her class is aptly named 'Target- ( that which most women dont like to talk about-which I shall refrain from spelling, to avoid those "googlers" that will definitely land upon my harmless post) and thighs'. In that one hour's span Patty comes across as a taskmaster rivalling the Nazi brutes.

8:15 am : Back home.

P : Phew, thats a relief to be over and done with for today. 3 more days to go.

N and R share a grin as the hands load up a plate of this combo :

4 thatte/nipattu
2 chakli
2 badam-pista burfi
1 besan laddu.

N : Lets skip the coffee, in lieu of "the diet"

The End.

Modal magic

For some time until now, I used to love the feel of fleece. There is something warm, soft and soothing about fleece, which is why most adults(mainly adults that refuse to grow up) like stuffed toys. And then I chanced upon tees from a certain popular brand. And I have fallen in love with this material. The feel is smooth, sheer, figure hugging and I could live in this garment for days together and not feel like changing. So I look at the tag from a couple of these tees and it says 95% modal.

And of course, ever-helpful Wiki says this :

"Modal is a bio-based fiber made by spinning reconstituted cellulose from beech trees. It is about 50% more hygroscopic, or water-absorbent, per unit volume than cotton is. It is designed to dye just like cotton, and is color-fast when washed in warm water. Modal is essentially a variety of rayon.

Textiles made from Modal do not fibrillate, or pill, like cotton does, and are resistant to shrinkage and fading. They are smooth and soft, more so than even mercerized cotton, to the point where mineral deposits from hard water, such as lime, do not stick to the fabric surface. Like pure cotton, modal should ideally be ironed after washing."

I haven't gotten out of a new tee I got meself last evening. And no, it wasn't designed to be sleepwear. I believe I posted earlier about comfort wear,that's right, them modal tees have taken over now.

Perfect end to a colorful, snack-binging Diwali weekend, what say?

Diwali- Festival of lights

Bang! Bang! Whoooosh!

Such were the sounds one would hear, waking up at ungodly hours on Diwali day. It would probably be around 4 or 5 in the morning, the neighbourhood would already be bustling with over-enthusiastic children and their eager parents vying to be the first to start the day long firework display . After the morning rituals that would include the (ugh) oil bath, new clothes, a scrumptious breakfast, some early morning sweets and snacks- one would be declared ready to bring on the fireworks!

This many years later, nothing compares to the celebration that happens back home and any amount of parties and get-togethers can ever match being back home, in those good old days....
So saying, I decided to do all I could to reproduce the spirit of Diwali. My pictures should say it all.

Inspired by Usha's post I decided to make a rangoli. And then my favorite food bloggers Jai and Bee declared this month's click was all about 'showing your noodles'. Hence I offer this. Since this is a first for me- participating in a blog event, Jai and Bee, 'gustaakhi maaf', if I have not followed any rules.




















Camera : Canon Digital Rebel Xti
Title : Happiness is light


Happy Diwali!!













Clockwise from top right :
Mixture, besan laddu, pista-badam burfi and nippattu.
Enjoy!

'The feast of roses'

3am Saturday night : While all over the US, time reverted back from Daylight Savings to Standard, all I heard around me was the silence of the night, the glow from the reading lamp, ticking of a clock somewhere in the house and every few minutes the hurried turning of pages. And somewhere around 3:30 AM, I was all done.

'The Feast of Roses:- simply a superb piece of written work. I enjoyed the sequel twice as much more than the first one. If the first was a slow waltz that covered Nur Jahan's birth and culminated in Mehrunnisa finally marrying the Emperor, the sequel was a salsa number and covers a lot of how Nur Jahan took over the operation of an Empire, the political games, the chess moves being made on a daily basis and finally culminated in the death of the eternal couple. The times covered in this book are even more captivating to read since it covers the landing of the Sir Thomas Roe to establish the East India company, the squabbles between the existing Portuguese and the British, the trading ships that were taken hostage...such interesting times, each a mile marker in its own standing. Somewhere along the way, the lines between facts and fiction gets blurred and one feels like watching a live act of Mughal history.

Sigh! Its going to be a tough act to follow to find something just as interesting to read.

NN! Help!!

Tickled pickled pink!

'Spicy Pickle' - opening shortly said the signboard as we drove around looking for new lunch joints. Not knowing anything about the place, when we finally saw the flyers replete with Menu card, some weeks later- we decided to check it out. And how!

Now I will find any number of reasons to go back to this place. Why is that? you ask?

I love panini sandwiches. Specially the 'make your own' kind. I *love* the rosemary focaccia bread they use and I experiment with the filling. The ingredients range from lettuce/coleslaw/red-green-jalapeno peppers/red onion/sprouts/celery...etc etc with different combos of spreads from balsamic vinegar to plain EVOO, a variety of cheeses..................Yumm-O!

The foodie in me is appeased, always! I believe this is the fourth time in 2 weeks that I went back, craving for more.

And that, I conclude, is one of my quirks. I will get addicted to one type of food for weeks together till I am so stuffed that I will never crave for it again. NN will vouch for this, the one time she visited me, I was on a Nature Valley Fruit and Nut Granola bar addiction- for about 3 days - thats all we'd snack on- while she generously helped me move from Atlanta to VA. And then she got hooked. And hasnt stopped cursing me for it, since then. And so it goes...

Once I wear the addiction out, it goes back to an occasional meal, say maybe once in a couple of months or so. So, until THIS craving wears out...........Spicy Pickle it will be!

Halloween, Homecoming and Historical fiction

Halloween has come and gone and I witnessed a strange carnage of an innocent bowl of candies that I had left outside my door, while I went on my daily weekday gym class ritual. Having felt bad for the kids that would visit while I'd be gone, I left a pumpkin bowl, full of candies- let no kid go without some- was my surmise. And when I returned- I saw the said pumpkin bowl lying woefully in the driveway, the candies all swept and savored(I assume). All said and done, I did get to see some cute costumes- I even saw a neighbor dad dressed up as a monkey paired with his 4 yr old daughter's banana costume. Really endearing- their monkey and banana act.

My calendar reminder tells me that I have about 18 days before I go home. Yes, its been a fairly long time since I've gone home. This trip, like every trip, is going to be different, but a lot is probably going to be the same. Every time I go, I realize my hometown has changed quite a lot, still some things have never changed. This time I will be better prepared to deal with the dust allergy that invades my being and hampers all my plans of binging on street food, traveling- all and sundry. I cant believe I fall sick when I visit my own hometown. One of life's bigger ironies.

I am reading Indu Sundaresan's sequel to 'The twentieth wife'- 'The feast of roses'. And I am hooked, to say the least. It is getting very cumbersome to put aside the reading for mundane daily chores like sleep and gym and cooking and work. And this hasn't happened to me in a long time- this wish to endlessly curl up on the couch with a book. And a part of me wants to take it in small doses, to relish the moment and spread it longer. But I know me and I will finish it soon enough and complain about not having anything else to read- for the next couple of months!