Deepavali, welcome and lit up

Wish you all a very Happy Deepavali... May the festival of lights bring new joy and prosperity to your lives! It's a time to be happy and to find new hope and new things to be thankful for...

1. Its Diwali... no other festival brings such a feeling of gaiety in everyone. All the houses are decked up and the evening makes us forget that there's no moon in the sky tonight.
2. We sit with huge needles and a roll of twine making garlands of marigold for the doors. Before its evening, all the doors are decked up for Laxmi, the Goddess of Wealth to enter our home. Also welcoming her is the colourful rangoli near the door, over which Jui and I broke our backs. There's no way she can ignore such a welcome!
3. The task of placing wicks in the little earthen diyas, filling them with oil and placing them along the balcony wall after lighting them falls to me... they look marvellous, twinkling with their warm light against the night.

Wow, pickled and little woman

1. I love it when people say "Wow! You drove all the way to Hyderabad?!"... of course, I remind them I didn't drive the whole distance alone, but the admiration still gives me an ego boost... the other day Natasha kept saying she's so proud of me!
2. Viju Atya tells me that she has again made pickle this season, so I can be sure of getting one more bottle of her home-made pickle when I next go to Nagpur.
3. Watching Dharana make rotis - she looks adorable... like a little kid doing grown-up things!

Saturday, rain and old friend

1. Reaching saturday after a long and exhausting week. I thought it'd never come. I sleep in till almost 11 a.m...
2. Sitting in the balcony with a hot mug of tea watching the rain... There's something strangely tranquil about watching rain... I wonder why
3. Meeting Shenoy... he's changed so much after marriage... but it is good to sit down and talk and gossip... and discover its still just as easy to talk to him even though I now don't see him for weeks at a stretch...

Blessed, for me and clean

1. I get to see one of God's stunning sunrises - I'm atop Lohgad, standing in the midst of drifting mists, getting chilled to the the bone by the cold wet breeze, but I can't move, the view in front of me is so magnificent. The sun barely comes out of the clouds, but makes its presence felt by the various spotlights it focusses on the valley below. There is an everchanging play of shadow and light and enchanting sunrise colours... I just stand there, feeling blessed.
2. While walking back, I'm the last person trudging along, and at one point of time, I plop down on a rock, because my legs just hurt too much. The others move on, and for a few minutes, I'm alone in my microcosm. Its a bright fresh morning, I'm the only person in the valley. The gentle breeze and the birdsongs are mine alone... (until someone pops right back in to check why I'm not moving, and I get up to resume my trudge)
3. Taking a long shower to wash off all the filth and then falling asleep almost immediately....

Weekend, drama in glass and GPS

1. Coming to the end of the week... this week has been kind of dull, work-wise. So I'm glad its over and the weekend's started.
2. The display of glass art at the Eretz Israel Museum in Tel Aviv. I literally gasp out aloud at some exhibits - they are so striking. There is a fluidity and delicateness in glass, which I suppose is near impossible to achieve with any other material. And despite the delicate nature, the structures can be so bold, so strong, so dramatic... I drag my feet out of the gallery at closing time, cursing myself for not coming a little earlier. And for not carrying my camera.
3. GPS - a largely unused technolgy in India. The cab driver manouvers his way from the museum to the hotel with no difficulty with the aid of the GPS... and I find myself wishing I'd had some sort of a GPS inside the museum. I had a map, but was still hopelessly lost, at least for the first few mins...

Market mania, sab kuchh milega, spring and buddy

1. Hitting Tel Aviv's streets on bicycles! Natasha and I pedal off to explore the markets... Its my first expedition to Carmel market here, nd its quite a revelation. Tel Aviv's shopping is not all about malls and boutiques and quaint little shops. There's this huge, bustling open market, where vendors display their wares on stalls, and there's plenty of yelling, and bargaining, not to mention, plenty of inexpensive stuff available... My yearning for shopping and that too with another shopping freak is quite satisfied.
2. Spring is in the air and the weather is just simply perfect. One can wear something light and roam around - tis neither too hot nor too cold. The gentle sun just offsets the cool breeze, and there's so much colour around - people have gotten out their summer clothes after a long and cold winter, and there are myriad varieties of flowers sitting in colourful buckets around every other corner. There are musicians on the streets displaying their talents as people lounge about. Every now and then, you come across an impromptu party that has broken out around one of these informal bands, and people have started dancing, carried away by the lively music. For the first time I fully understand why spring is so celebrated in books!
3. After a long and tedious hunt, we finally find 'Sab Kuchh Milega' - a hippie Indian restaurant which gives delicious Indian food quite cheap. Its as if my prayers have been answered... And finally after so many days, I get to eat rotis... sighhh... us desis will remain desis! Indian food rocks!
4. After a chilly walk on the beach after sunset, Natasha and I sit down at a road side cafe for a hot cup of cappuccino and apple pie. We've only met yesterday, but we're already getting along quite well. Its good to know that she's going to be here for the next two weeks as well... so I'll never be starved for company - this especially when the people I hd become friends with here over the last 3 weeks are all slated to leave before I do!

Wanderlust, tailor-made and warm

1. Shenoy takes out some time and helps me plan the Karnataka trip. As the plan unfolds, it looks more and more exciting. We'll go from Pune to Gokarna, Murudeshwar, Maravante, Karkal, Kaup beach, Udupi, Mangalore and then back. All of this in 3 1/2 days! Whew!
2. I find a tailor who'll hopefully stitch my salwar kameezes well. As I talk to him about the patterns and he takes measurements, I have this feeling that this man knows his business, and I'm satisfied. And I'll have two new dresses next thursday!
3. Coming to a warm and cozy home from a bitingly cold night, and then taking a hot shower... warmth slowly fills me up and makes me drowsy

Morning air, good at his job and chocolatey

1. Going to office early. There's a chill in the air still, and the sun is still very soft... But the best part is that the traffic is still not heavy and the heavy dust and pollution have not yet risen. So driving is a pleasure.
2. Attending a training session where the trainer knows his stuff inside out. Not once do I feel bored. And this has nothing to with the fact that the trainer is handsome.
3. Chocolate sandwich. The guy at the sandwich corner makes the most delicious chocolate sandwiches - there's cheese and butter and a very rich chocolate paste in it, which just makes it too heavenly to resist...

Lemony inspiration, hilarious, sunset and voice

1. There's no milk, so I make black tea. And then, as a last minute inspiration, I squeeze a few drops of lemon in my cup... ummmmm...
2. Watching Loins of Punjab presents. Its hilarious. No one is spared. An hour and a half is spent in absolute mirth.
3. A most gorgeous sunset. We go on a long drive to Mulshi lake and meet the setting sun on our way there... the sky is breathtaking
4. A phone call and a voice ensures I sleep well.

Lacework, chronicles and passionflower

1. The lacework of shadows on the road made by the late morning sun light filtering through the leaves of the tress by the side of the road.
2. Reading An Indian Summer - the journey of a young American woman in India. She chronicles her stay her with candour, and in what I feel is a very balanced style. She praises what she likes freely and raises questions about things she doesn't agree with. Free from bias, she writes about stuff the way she experiences it, and at times when there are things happening around her that she does not fully understand, she openly says so. Manjiri sent me the link to her blog, and I must admit that I spent the better part of the afternoon reading her posts, and with pleasure.
3. After a prolonged and dusty bus ride back home, a hot shower using the Passionflower shower gel makes me feel human again...

Granny, stolen moments and reward for no sleep

1. Meeting Granny. She's tired, and doesn't keep all that well, but she won't let me go without eating something! It's good catching up.
2. The train's 4 hours late. The few extra hours at home are precious...
3. I'm not able to sleep soundly in the train, and happen to wake up at 6 in the morning. As I look out of the window, I realise that the sun is just rising, and I'm lucky enough to have a window that's facing eastward. A serene dawn greets me - there's a mist clinging to the ground and the delicate sun rays colour it a pretty pink at places. The air is sharp and cool.

Cool n fresh, unexpected appreciation and misty weekend

1. After being cooped up inside the house all day, the clean, cold evening air feels good on my face and in my lungs...
2. Dharana tells me she likes my blog. I'm flattered - she usually never likes any reading I recommend!
3. Looking forward to the weekend at Mahabaleshwar. The resort looks promising... and the weather's just perfect for this kind of a trip - some leisure, some sight seeing... I'm so looking forward to the jacuzzi at the resort, and also to the legendary mist that's supposed to be so thick in this season that one can't look beyond one's nose (that would be good, I'm thinking. I know a lot of people who don't need a mist to do that, and they generally look pretty happy with themselves!)
   

Veil removed, callers in the night and camaraderie of sloth

1. Just as I turn to look out of the window, I see a wisp of cloud passing over an almost full moon. Its an enchanted moment.
2. Tanmoy and Pallu land up after dinner and we sit talking about various things late into the night.
3. Everyone in office seems to agree, that of all days, it was especially difficult to get out of bed today morning. Everyone's late to office and everyone seems lost and half asleep... Smiles are exchanged everytime someone yawns...

Get pampered, long due and hidden treasure...

1. Getting a facial done. Its just so luxurious and so relaxing... All I have to do is lie with my eyes closed and shut down thought. Deft hands massage my face, neck and shoulders. It's pure pleasure...
2. Sharma brings the package that mom has sent. In it, arrives a saree which I'm to wear to Anish's wedding tomorrow... It's one of those I'd bought in prepartion for something else, months ago, but never had a chance to wear. I'm glad I can finally wear it.
3. Tanmoy and I go on a long drive, and he takes me to a quiet nd secluded place that he'd discovered while in college. We park the bike and walk a little and unexpectedly (for me) there's a peaceful little lake lying hidden there. For more than an hour, we sit there on rocks, sometimes talking, at other times watching the play of the clouds and the stars and the ever so gentle ripples on the water. The breeze is cool. There's something brilliant and exciting about suddenly going to a place that you never dreamed existed...

Donkey, just what I wanted and day justified

1. Donkey. Tanmoy gets a Happy Meal at MacDonalds, just so I can have the toy Donkey. Donkey creates a riot in office today (he now proudly occupies a place on my desk). with his 'Are we there yet?' when his tail is pulled! He's adorable...
2. In Mumbai, George goes all the way to Dharavi, after battling a huge traffic monster, and buys me a maroon (not red, he rues) wallet that I had requested him to get for me, since I was unable to find one I liked, here in Pune. He assures me, the notes won't get folded when I put them in it :-)... just like I wanted.. Thanks dude!
3. Sunsets. Just watching one makes a day worth living, and I want the next day to come fast, just so that it speeds by and it's time yet again for a sunset... I'm overwhelmed each day by the hither to unrevealed beauty that each evening's sky offers me...

Justice, say cheese and jive

1. An extremely cheeky, rude and annoying person gets a taste of his own medicine. For once, he's at a loss for words and appears flustered. That shuts him up for sometime.
2. It rains. There's thunder and lightning for accompaniment. I remember the old joke about smiling when there's lightning - "Say cheese! God's taking your picture.."
3. Dancing in office. I show Dharana some jive that I had learnt while in college. I'm quite surprised that when I try to, I can recollect quite a few steps in spite of not having jived in years...

Rain, gup-shup and will-it-won't-it?

1. Watching the rain. Post-lunch, when every one's drowsy and silent, someone suddenly exclaims 'its raining' and we all rush to the window. Not satisfied with the view the window offers, a few of us go downstairs and watch the rain from the porch. There's sunlight too, so we scan the sky for traces of any rainbows that might be lurking around the corners . We don't find any, but the rain brings life to our drowsy and dull afternoon...
2. Gossipping over coffee. Today both, Dipti and I are in a talkative mood and we have an extended coffee break simply talking about things and laughing.
3. Tanmoy's excited about a multi-level marketing scheme. Will it work? I don't know. But he's excited and is trying real hard to sell it and his enthusiasm is definitely contagious. Maybe it'll work?

Click away, unnecessary celebration and healing

1. We go on a looooong drive. There are plenty of opportunities to do some photograpy and I get some awesome frames. The light is perfect and its good to be outdoors.
2. Champagne! There's something very sexy about champagne...
3. At the end of the day, I feel tired, but healed... as if something inside that had been ailing for long, has finally found something that can cure it and nurture it back to health.

Blue, colourless and black

1. As I drive out of the basement parking lot up the ramp that leads me to the road, the blue sky opens for me. It is the bluest of blues and its dotted with cotton candy clouds.
2. Whenever there's isn't much of a crowd (and sometimes even when there is), I dwadle in the shower after gym. The hot water flowing down my body seems to somehow ease things and make it easier for me to face the remainder of the day.
3. Sitting on a sheilded stone bench in the lawn downstairs, late in the evening. There's the most heavenly breeze blowing. It's just right - not too strong, not too cool, just perfect. And from my vantage point, I can see everyone who enters from the gate or walks about the courtyard, but I can remain hidden in my spot and no one will see me unless they really try.

Multi tasking, bride and photography

Checkout my new blog Trigger Happy. I'm going to upload my attempts at photography here. No blah blah. Will let the pictures speak for themselves.

1. Gulmohur. Everywhere I go, I see the flaming red of the gulmohur. The entire city seems to have donned a bridal veil.
2. A weekend spent with friends talking, laughing, eating, partying, drinking, teasing, and generally having fun. This is the kind of multi tasking I like!
3. Manjiri's photograpy. Again and again, I look at the pictures she has taken, and her eye for detail, symmetry and lighting, and her talent for creating frames continue to amaze me.