Rang: The Colours of Life.

The White Rann of Kutch.

2012-01-25T17:44:00.004+05:30

Salt.

As far as your eyes can see.

At dusk where the earth and sky seem to meet.

White Rann of Kutch is a 16,000 sq.km of saline wetland which floods up with water during the monsoon. Around the month of October the expanse starts to dry up leaving behind white crystals of salt.

A white salt desert.

Few frames shot during sunset at the Rann.

Used my earrings and shawl as props to add contrast to a stark white salt flat desert background:-)

Kutch everywhere...

2012-01-20T08:55:00.007+05:30

It's been almost 3 weeks since we got back from Kutch, but the mind just refuses to let go of the memories of the mystical land.

Mystical it is.

Something one feels through the pores of the skin, the goosebumps that surface while listening to Kabir's rendition by the local sufi singers under the cold starry night, the smoky smell that gets trapped in the coarse fabric of my shawl from the bonfire. The same smell lingers on the surface of the milky chai I had at the bhunga of a Meghwal family.

No amount of eloquent phrases or photographs using wide angle lenses can convey the happiness of strolling in the streets of Bhuj watching the Rabari women glide through the day wearing the veil of night, the hospitality that is so evident even in the most humble households, a glass of water or tea is offered with a warm smile, if you wonder at the source of water and refuse, they cycle up to the local provision store to buy you a bottle of bisleri. Yes, I am talking about the Banni hospitality.

The intense sweetness of thick hot condensed milk khova that melts in your mouth at a roadside shop at Bhirandiyara. The wind burnt face of that little girl with a star motif tattoo on her left cheek. The crunch of hard jaggery that unleashes the pungent flavour of dry ginger in your mouth at a local sweetshop.

Mystical it is.

That it spills on to my blogs and Facebook pages uncontrollably in the form of jpegs sprinkled with magical gold dust.

Please pardon me if I continue to roll in this magical dust for a little while longer.

(Chronologically is what my head said but my heart thinks otherwise;-) Will post about the Mutwa embroidery soon)

The Mutwas| Dhordo Village, Kutch.

2012-01-10T08:41:00.006+05:30

Flashback:

Weeks before our scheduled trip to Kutch, travel books were devoured, online friends contacted, gave Tripadvisor.com maximum number of daily hits, spoke on the phone for hours.....

....and then suddenly we stopped.

People travel for different reasons, different interests, different purposes.

What was our purpose?

We wanted to experience the land; the dry, harsh, unyielding land of Kutch.

The people; the strong people who looked at natural disasters in the eye, who boldly faced the fury of nature and yet remain warm; hospitable.

The craftsmanship; the needle & thread combination creating magic along with twinkling mirrors.

The history; the past.

So we re-drew our plan. Re-plotted the destinations on the map.

Last week of December, 2011:

Fueling ourselves with hi-octane enthusiasm, a heavy Lowepro bag and a tube of sunscreen we set out with Akil our driver from Bhuj into the villages.

The Mutwas, a Muslim Community who hail from Sindh in Pakistan, inhabit the Banni area in Kutch. They are known for their extremely intricate embroidery using tiny mirrors. We decided to visit one such community in Dhordo village.

We reached the doorsteps of the very hospitable Miyabhai Hussein Mutwa. The Mutwa embroidery is done by the women of the community and according to their customs outside men aren't allowed inside.

So while Mr. Husband spoke to the men in the outer room, I & the daughter were led into a open courtyard of a traditional Bhunga complex.

Within a matter of few minutes I had shook hands with a dozen smiling women and children, made to sit on a soft quilt covered charpouy and examined by twelve pairs of inquisitive eyes.

They asked me about my life in the city. I inquired about their work, their life there in the village.

Suddenly Shabnam, one of the Mutwa women came to me with her needle & thread, pulled the edge of my mirrorwork shawl and started working on it. Within a minute she had made an intricate eyelet around one of the mirrors.

I didn't need to see any of their work after that.

Before she weaved the magic around the mirror...

After the magic...

A priceless souvenir that will remind me of the Mutwa craftsmanship and hospitality....and of Shabnam.

Will share photographs of Mutwa embroidery work in my next post:-)

Lucky Tea Stall, Old City Ahmedabad

2012-01-09T12:55:00.004+05:30

Diagonally opposite the House of MG in Ahmedabad, across the busy road is Lucky Tea Stall.

Gujaratis take their cup of tea quite seriously and their saucers too.

We observed that even the hole-in-the-wall tea stalls served their tea in a cup & saucer. Piping hot tea would be poured into saucer, blown, made into a drinkable temperature and then sipped.

Lucky Tea Stall too served their tea in floral-print cup and saucer.

This popular tea stall was apparently the favourite haunt of eminent painter M.F. Hussain.

The speciality here is the masala tea & maska (butter) bun jam.

We opted for marie biscuits to dunk in our tea...

We sat on a table next to two beautifully decorated Muslim tombs inside the stall enjoying the camaraderie of past and present lovers of chai:-)

a handful of bokul phool for you Ma!

2012-01-04T08:00:00.003+05:30

Having seen this intricately carved structure on the way to The House of MG, Ahmedabad, we decided to explore it later in the evening.

This is in the Hatheesing Jain Temple compound, a temple built in the 19th century dedicated to Dharamnath, the 15th Jain Tirthankara.

We got there as dusk set in bringing with it the ochre glow of ghee lamps in the temple.

Marveling at the ornate marble architecture, the peaceful atmosphere in the courtyard we sat on the warm stone corridor just to be in the moment. What a serene moment it was...

As we stepped out, my daughter came running to me with tiny pale white flowers that she had collected from under the tree in the courtyard.

Oh that mild fragrance! It is the bokul phool!

My mother's bokul phool. The flower that is so dear to my Ma.

She had told me stories of her growing years in Kolkata where trees of bokul phool that lined the streets would spread a carpet of these delicate flowers on the black tar roads. How she would run to gather them in the pallu of her half saree. String them together and adorn her long black plait with it.

With the fragrance came the memories of the stories that I had heard and vividly visualized. I passed on the story to my daughter, saw that twinkle in her eyes as she ran to collect some more...

So here is a handful of bokul phool for you Ma!

A very small gift for you on your special day. Happy Birthday Ma.

right now...

2011-11-20T17:36:00.002+05:30

van halen's 'right now' plays softly in the background...

Nice article about being a Locavore.

...another one here.

Eat local. Eat Seasonal.

Birds from my window...

2011-11-01T11:34:00.006+05:30

...and the antics they get upto by Ranjit Lal is a book I picked up for my daughter but haven't parted with it ever since.

I can't call myself a hard-core bird-watcher but like Ranjit Lal describes in this book, one can enjoy the antics of the birds even from a wide open window. I belong to the category of humans who marvel at the various birds with a big mug of hot chai in one hand and Salim Ali's book in the other trying to identify the bird.

Ever since we moved into our present home which has a terrace, we spend many hours gazing at the skyscapes at different hours of the day and the birds form an integral part of the routine.

I think I got deeply involved in bird-watching a few months back when a pair of Scaly-breasted Munia ( identified by Salim Ali's book) built their grass nest on our potted Ficus tree in the terrace. Watching the super active tiny birds flutter in and out of the nest in the morning and running up at dusk to see them return home became something of an unsaid ritual.

When I saw this book, it just seemed too familiar not to pick up.

The illustrations are by Prabha Mallya.

Looking at the dark clouds at a distance I wrap my bright Fuchsia shawl tightly around myself and settle down to read how the Magpie Robin who sang sweetly in the morning lost it's voice in the evening....

Enjoy your day!

we lingered...

2011-10-28T07:49:00.010+05:30

After a hectic festive Dusshera season we were looking at a quick getaway to recharge our tired selves (cells?)

Tripadvisor came in handy and off we went to Linger at Balur Estate, a serene plantation in the Mudigere District of Chikmagalur.

There is something very comforting about road trips, those excited high-pitched conversations, those stopovers for hot chai and breakfast, the super-saturated greens in paddy fields, the roadside mounds of just harvested golden corn, those "Please stop stop, I need to click" to Mr. Husband....

A good 6 hours later with two super quick stopovers, we reached Linger at Balur Estate tucked amidst deep green coffee plantations. The byline at the plantation says 'Just do nothing'.

Excited at the prospect of doing just nothing we entered this 150 year-old colonial bungalow with cool terracotta tiles under our feet.

Lovely huge windows that seem to be framing the beauty of the plantation and also an easy outlet for my daughter to sneak a few pieces of biscuits to the friendly estate dog~ Raja and his unnamed furry friend.

Raja waiting for biscuits under the window...

Beauty in what remains;-)

Bulbuls, barbets, drongos, swifts seem to be welcoming us with their musical chirps. It did take me a while to tone down my city-bread high frequency to a more nature inspired one, but I did get there soon:-)

A lovely cupboard filled with books...

We had the whole place to ourselves with Ratnamma, the hospitable lady cooking us simple home-ly meals, she could have been your ever smiling relative in your ancestral home with whom you would hang around in the kitchen helping her cut vegetables or learn the local recipes. Only here she spoke to me fluently in Kannada assuming I would reciprocate with enthusiastic Kannada jargons. Enthusiasm intact I struggled with my spoken Kannada, with few words of Telugu, Tamil, English thrown in and a good measure of sign language!

...and we communicated.

She made us cups and glasses of chai while we read, watched & dreamed...

The ever smiling caretaker Amza who is called Azma due to a spelling mistake. The Kannada speaking Nepali watchman Prem Bahadur, the dog, Raja who took the 'Just do nothing' byline of the estate too seriously. All of them played a part in making our stay at the estate an enjoyable one.

A few breath-taking frames from the 400-acres of the estate and what little we did at the estate...

Our morning plantation walk path...

There are many streams criss-crossing the estate...

Fresh green pepper vines...

Balur Estate Bungalow at a distance...

Glistening dew drop...

Coffee berries...

Wild ferns...

I am not much into nature or macro photography but the place was so beautiful my camera seemed to gravitate towards these treasures of nature :-)

My daughter with a beautiful flower...

With cold hilly stream caressing our bare feet we decided to return to the estate soon....

taste of madurai...

2011-09-23T12:49:00.003+05:30

Madurai, entices your senses with it's multi-hued palette of colours, smells and taste....

Food is God, Madurai is heaven. A medley of cuisines are served up in this city starting from the wee hours of the morning to late into the night.

At dusk the street food eateries come alive...

Heavy duty 'Parotta'

Inquisitive foodies like me and my husband read up on the various restaurants and eateries, made lists, compared notes, struck some off and pursued some like our life depended on it:-)

Here are some places we ate, drank, saw and clicked...

Anna Meenakshi Hotel comes highly recommended for evening snacks...

...and Filter kaapi.

Simple vegetarian meals are served on banana leaves at The Modern Restaurant. Very delicious I must add:-)

Our morning breakfast at Heritage Madurai had to be idlis with chutnies and sambar...

...and paper thin masala dosas!

We came across an interesting drink called Bovonto by Kalimark that is very popular in Madurai.

Filter Coffee is very popular in Madurai and as we walked past the various streets leading to the Meenakshi Temple, we got a whiff of roasting coffee beans and sure there was this coffee store with a delightful mascot:-)

Mr Narayana?

The one drink that really caught our attention was a sweet concoction called 'Jil Jil Jigarthada' which means 'cool cool heart cooler';-)

The drink is made using Milk, China grass, Nannari Syrup (Sarsaparila) and Vanilla Ice Cream.

Nannari Syrup sold in glass bottles near the Meenakshi Temple.

The Nannari Syrup is mixed with water too and served as a refreshing drink. Do give it a shot if you are in Madurai...

(Images by Arch)

madurai malligai...

2011-09-15T10:06:00.003+05:30

From aqua blues of the Andamans to fragrant 'mogras' of Madurai. Pardon me if I keep oscillating between a couple of destinations that we travelled to while away from my blog.

Madurai is famous for it's big, fragrant variety of 'Malligai' or Mogra

Fragrant 'Malligai' on well-oiled hair is a common sight in southern India and especially in Madurai

Adorn and sell.

The 'Malligai' buds being woven into a neat garland.

Freshly woven garlands wait for customers in the evening.

“Plants that wake when others sleep. Timid jasmine buds that keep their fragrance to themselves all day, but when the sunlight dies away let the delicious secret out to every breeze that roams about.”

~Thomas Moore

Elephant Beach, Havelock Islands...

2011-09-07T10:29:00.003+05:30

During our stay at the resort, Barefoot Scuba had organized a snorkeling trip for us in the aqua waters near the Elephant Beach. What we saw and experienced was something out of the world.

Never, never seen blue like that before, either in the water or the sky.

Not having carried my camera during that trip, we decided to do some exploring on our own. From the Havelock port there are many privately operated motorboats & speed boats to the Elephant Beach.

We decided to take one such motorboat to the Elephant Beach...

Gorgeous shades of blue and loved the weather beaten anchor...

Intertwined Cross and pendant of Goddess Kali dangling in the boat...

Elephant Beach...

Collected shells on my husband's slippers....

During the Tsunami that hit Andamans, loads of trees got uprooted...

These photographs don't do justice to the beauty that we were engulfed in....

Do visit Andamans at least once in your life. It's worth it!

Beach No.7, Havelock Islands...

2011-09-06T15:24:00.002+05:30

Apart from Barefoot at Havelock, the eco-friendly resort where we stayed, the beach itself is pristine and well maintained.

Sitting there watching the play of light on the sky and in the water was a meditative experience. Sharing some frames...

(images by Arch)

To the islands...

2011-09-05T08:35:00.002+05:30

We travelled in a car, an aeroplane & a ferry all in one day...yes one memorable trip to the Andaman Islands.

Barefoot at Havelock at Beach No.7 was our destination for our summer vacation, you can read about it here on Rang Decor.

We took a two and half hours flight from Chennai to Port Blair most of which was over the aqua blue waters of the Bay of Bengal. From Port Blair, 'Bambooka' our ferry took us to Havelock Islands.

The Port...

Loved the round windows inside the 'Bambooka'...

Cerulean Blue waters...

The spray of water on our faces as we stood on the deck enjoying the late afternoon light was what you read in exotic travelogues...

The friendly crew in their orange work clothes...

We crossed the 'Makruzz' a super fast ferry coming from Havelock to Port Blair...

The water seem to suddenly change colour from Cerulean to Aqua blue as we approached Havlock.

We were in Havelock Islands!

I need another post to share the beauty of these stunning islands on the Bay of Bengal. So drop by again:-)

(images by Arch)

Psst...

2011-09-04T19:42:00.004+05:30

Is anyone around?

Just realized I haven't posted anything here for the last 6 months!

Have loads to share but never got around to posting.

There was travel, food, people and lots of 'Rang-een' photography:-)

See you soon!

March into a new season....

2011-03-03T08:02:00.004+05:30

As much as I love words...

Today I'll let the images do the talking...

Lines from my daughter's book

'...In the spring it gets light earlier in the morning.

It stays light later in the evening'

New Year. New Post.

2011-01-09T18:57:00.007+05:30

Happy New Year!

Some orange and turquoise love...

Same combination shot a couple for summers back...

Stop & look down.

2010-10-27T07:48:00.011+05:30

This post is not an advertisement for Crocs or Dr. Scholls' sandals.

It is also not an attempt to show my 'not so beautiful feet'.

at Universal Studio...

Animal pugmarks at Universal Studio...

It is just a small dedication to the act of walking!

While holidaying in Singapore, we covered lot of area on foot. We did a lot of walking and enjoyed it. We came across some amazing scenes, graphics and patterns.

Beautiful flowers at the mid-autumn festival at Bugis Village...

At the underwater world...

Sunlight patterns through a tree at Jurong Bird Park...

Singapore: Through the eyes of a foodie...

2010-10-20T08:56:00.009+05:30

This year while planning our Dusshera vacations, we decided we would not do our usual offbeat vacation, but holiday like true blue tourists in a foreign land.

We zeroed in on Singapore. A bustling country with multicultural population and modern economy. With a diverse population consisting of Chinese, Malays, Indians and many more, there was a medley of food for me to view and capture.

Here are some frames of various edibles captured during our holiday.

Let's start with Starbucks' Cafe Latte. In the absence of a good mug of Masala Chai, we had to make do with this;-)

Our very own Ananda Bhavan's Filter Kaapi in Little India wasn't bad either...

Savouries at Ananda Bhavan...

Cookies beautiful displayed at Little India, Singapore.

We tried some traditional Chinese dessert at China Town...

A delicious dessert made out of shaved Mango icecream served with fresh mangoes...

Colourful, exotic tropical fruits...

Melons, kiwi fruits, apples, coconuts...

...and dragon fruit too!

Baked goodies in abundance...

Fruit tarts, custard tarts...

At the end of every day we would pickup a small bag of fruits from the vendor near our hotel to taste some of the exotic fruits.

One day we saw this gigantic Guava at the fruit shop. I being a die-hard guava fan had to try it out. We learnt that it was a hybrid guava, the next day there was an article in the paper about the demands for such hybrid varieties in Singapore.

We did eat it, but I would stick to our home-grown local variety of guava , that might be small but full of taste:-)

...and then they bloomed.

2010-10-17T21:02:00.004+05:30

One of the most delightful things about a garden is the anticipation it provides.

~W.E. Johns

We have mostly perennials in our terrace, but this year we decided we would have few pots aside for seasonal flowers that would paint our little terrace garden with their vibrant colours every season.

We picked up some Zinnia seeds from the Lalbagh Flower Show in August this year and were thrilled with the prospect of having bright Zinnias blooming as the first of the seasonal flowers...

Every morning, with a chai mug in my hand, I would step out to inspect the pots for some activity and would be super excited to find a new leaf or a new bud.

We didn't have a clue what colour palette the Zinnias had in store for us...

Seems like they read my mind....:-)

a blushing palette of pinks, magentas, purples, mauves and peach.

I wish you life...

2010-09-27T07:59:00.006+05:30

"Observe the wonders as they occur around you.

Don't claim them.

Feel the artistry moving through and be silent."

~ Rumi

I discovered Rumi a few years ago and ever since my heart hasn't been the same...

yes, the artistry....

the mynas' have returned. I can hear their oh-so-uplifting chirps.

i offer them my balcony to build their nests again.

i see my aloe vera plants multiplying and i help them propagate.

the satisfying joy of trying something new~ Granola

patience is not a great word when the zinnias are just a few days away from blooming.

a haunting tune that is playing on repeat in my mind.

a jug of water with whole lemons submerged in it.

dreaming of baking artisan breads everyday. (yeah dreaming;-)

life is sublime.

i wish you all life today.

through my rose-tinted glasses...

2010-09-22T17:28:00.006+05:30

...come see a season in transition...

Warm pink seems to be my 'fall' colour:-)

A mus(t)seenagudi...

2010-08-29T18:53:00.013+05:30

Last weekend we, along with friends decided to drive down to Masinagudi, nestled amidst the verdant foothills of the Nilgiris in Tamilnadu.

It was a pleasant break that involved...

* driving through the lush Bandipur and Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary.

* spotting some spotted deer.

* watching the cotton like clouds descend on the mountains.

* sleeping to the sound of steady rain outside.

* eating fresh ripe guava before the Malabar giant squirrel gets to it.

* exploring the wilderness hand in hand.

* finding a gurgling hill stream.

* picking up some pebbles for my succulents back home;-)

* becoming kids again when we saw a wild hare hop right before us and straight into the darkness.

* suddenly becoming quiet when we saw the bulbuls chirping in the morning on the evergreen tree.

* identifying the birds and the bees( oops, the moths)

* tasting some delicious locally grown gooseberry, jamun, bilberry jams

* devouring some sinfully delicious desserts.

* drinking cups of chai.

*taking in the colour green.

* enjoying every moment of the day.

* re-living those simple but beautiful moments through this post:-)

my friends' little daughter...

silver oak leaf...

gurgling stream...

The beautiful place where we stayed...

our charming cottage...

morning after the rains...

our wildlife and nature enthusiast friend helping us identify a bird...

sitting pretty on our window...

breakfast time was divine...

(images by Arch)

devouring cookbooks...

2010-08-17T07:44:00.007+05:30

I am a voracious cookbook reader.

I love cookbooks.

Not only do I love trying out recipes from them but also love collecting them.

Some for their rustic food photography, some for their authentic regional cuisine, some for their simplicity, some for stories from bakeries of far away lands...

Nowadays I am leaning more towards recipes using wholesome and natural ingredients.

I would try anything that suggests using fresh locally or home grown vegetables and fruits. So when I saw Jamie Oliver's cookbook recently, I just knew I had to pick it up.

The rustic food photography...

Enjoy your cookbooks:-)

Crunchy himachal apples...

2010-08-10T14:41:00.005+05:30

...have been flooding the markets and inspiring me to shoot some and to

...sink my teeth into some.

I have tried some interesting apple recipes like Apple Cobbler, Apple Cinnamon No-Fuss Cake, but strangely the husband and the daughter have some reservations about cooked apple.

So today I tried a very Indian recipe~ Apple Kheer

from our very own Sanjeev Kapoor's Khana Khaz

ana Channel.

The video is in Marathi, love that language:-) but they have English subtitles.

Now let me see how this fares here at home:-)

( I used Chironji instead of Almonds)

Lalbagh Flower Show...

2010-08-10T07:31:00.007+05:30

It was a weekend and the thought of strolling down rows of exotic flowers in Lalbagh with the Mr Sun shining his golden grace on us was too appealing to pass.

As we entered there were vibrant flowers displayed all over...

...but what really had my full attention were the healthy vegetables grown in pots.

It brought back loads of memories from our childhood where we lived in houses with large backyards where our mothers along with the 'Maalis' would put the soil to test by planting corn, tomatoes, herbs, brinjals, okra, you name it...*sigh*

Anyway here are some pics from the show...

The daughter with her lil point & shoot...

Loved the illustrations on the packets of seeds for sale!

Do visit the show, it is on till 15th August, 2010.

(images Arch & Mallika)

season of the rainbirds...

2010-07-16T10:20:00.008+05:30

quite literally...

I have expressed myself quite a few times in this space, about the effect Mr. Sun has on me, how I like to bask in the glorious sunlight and how my spirits soar on seeing that sliver of sunlight shining through one of the gaps in between the door.

....but nowadays I have started appreciating one of the other elements of nature as well, The Rain.

I like how the scene in front of me seems like a photograph, where the saturation of the green colour has been increased.

I like how the fragrance of chameli welcomes me when I reach the right corner of my terrace.

I like how drinking hot tea in the evenings on the weather-beaten table is so addictive.

I like how I am gravitating towards the smell of lemon-grass these days. The tea, the incense-sticks and even the floor cleaner(!)

I like how the sun rays are so bright before being suddenly covered by thick dark clouds.

I like how the clothes dance on the clothes line to the tune of the wind.

I like how one little bird sits on the corner of the roof and chirps exactly for 3 mins.

I like how Nadeem Aslam writes so poetically, I let out a sigh every other page...

Pg 29 from Season of the Rainbirds

"Mr. Kasmi's had been the first bicycle in town, and the sight of his gangling frame riding in through the gate the first morning had caused a sensation. The wheels left behind two wavy lines in the mud, like the path of two butterflies chasing each other in early March."

Pg 34

"The sun was climbing fast. The patch of sunlight which was on the floor when Mr.Kasmi arrived had crept on to the desktop, illuminating the crescents of dried tea left by cups and saucers."

*Sigh*

I like the fact that I am going to be offline for a while indulging in simple pleasures of reading, baking with natural organic ingredients, solving some crossword puzzles and catching up on my list of to-do chores that I have been postponing for a while.

Enjoy your weekend!

Appreciation

2010-07-14T08:33:00.002+05:30

“Life becomes precious and more special to us when we look for the little everyday miracles and get excited about the privileges of simply being human”

~Tim Hansel

I agree:-)

these days...

2010-06-29T11:16:00.008+05:30

I have been spending a lot of time in my sun-soaked terrace...the summer solstice which was a couple of days back has been blessing us with some long bright days~

With balmy weather in Bangalore, here are some season's treasures and morning photographs that I clicked with a cup of chai in one hand...

Frangipanis pose and lure me with their intoxicating fragrance...

The hose-pipe coils itself around my feet...

Tulsi ( Holy Basil) seeds that have been hiding under the soil suddenly sprout green leaves after the rains...

...so does the Ficus.

Chameli ( A very fragrant Jasmine) is in season.

Some collected here for offering to the Gods in my pooja shrine.

In my garden there is a large place for sentiment.

My garden of flowers is also my garden of thoughts and dreams.

The thoughts grow as freely as the flowers, and the dreams are as beautiful.

~Abram L. Urban

Enjoy your day~

inscribed on my heart...

2010-06-28T11:16:00.008+05:30

Once more my mind wanders off to Ladakh, probably because these tibetian chants have been playing on my laptop all day long...

While in Ladakh apart from the sublime fluttering flags seen everywhere, we came across some inscriptions on smooth round rocks and stones. We learnt that these are 'Mani stones' on which 'Om Mani Padme Hum'~ the universal mantra of Avalokiteshvara is inscribed.

These stones are regarded very sacred.

What a beautiful way of remembering Him.

Have a great day!

the humble roti...

2010-06-15T08:17:00.004+05:30

...and the various Indian breads like paratha, puri, chappati styled so beautifully in this Elle Decor feature~ Feb-March, 2010 issue.
Bajra roti with a dollop of pure white butter served in a 'Kansa' thali...Love the use of traditional vessels. ( Here is a post about my love for traditional Indian containers;-)

So mundane, so everyday thing...but so special.

As...

2010-06-07T08:58:00.005+05:30

...the magical dust settles down on another summer vacation, I move the memories of beautiful days spent in the lap of nature in Ladakh to that little corner of my heart, where I will return again and again to take a peek.

Meanwhile the slow rhythm of everyday life picks up. The daily routine, the mundane(ness) infuses me with a certain calm.

Trying to see beauty in everyday life brings a certain sense of gratitude towards the One.

live today.

my heart goes..Lha~Ri~Sa

2010-05-23T10:10:00.011+05:30

Tucked away in one of the by-lanes of Leh, Ladakh is a beautiful Ladakhi family owned boutique resort ~ Lha~Ri~Sa.

Stepping into the property, I was completely taken in by the stunning beauty of the tall poplar trees trying to reach the deep blue heavens.Heaven indeed it was...

Apricot trees were in full bloom...We were welcomed by the very warm and friendly Mr Tashi Motup Kau, who owns and manages Lha-Ri-Sa Resorts and a great steaming cup of ginger tea.

Anything you need to know in Ladakh, about the places to visit, the best trekking options, which monasteries, what to buy, where to buy...

You answer is Mr Tashi Motup.

Lha~ Ri~ Sa has retained the traditional Ladakhi architecture, at the same time blended the convenience and luxury of contemporary design. Huge glass windows allow bright sunlight to warm & brighten every corner of the lovely reception lobby.

One of my favorite spots in the lobby.

The view from our room was amazing. The snow-covered Zanskar mountain range.

We had a great time at the tree house in the property. Chai in the shadow of willow trees was something to remember.

The view of Zanskar range again...*Sigh*

We came back with memories of fresh white mountain air, green willow trees, deep blue skies and the throat warming fragrance of 'Sulemani Chai'...a special concoction to sip in the evenings while discussing the interesting events of the day.

( images by Arch)

snowed-in near Khardung La...

2010-05-19T09:07:00.009+05:30

To reach Nubra Valley, Ladakh one has to drive all the way up to Khardung La pass (the highest motorable road in the region) and then slide down to the valley.

When we set out in the morning from Leh, the sun was shining bright and we had clear blue skies, but as we started our climb to Khardung La, we were welcomed by a huge expanse of beautiful white snow-covered brown mountains!

Yes, the excitement on Mallika's face clearly reflected on mine and my husband's too.

After pushing our faces outside the vehicle and enjoying the light cold snow, we were told by our driver that we would have to wait. Wait for what?

Apparently when it snows, the vehicles on the narrow mountain roads take their own time to drive up. Some are prepared for the slippery roads with iron chains draped over the tyres, while others slip, wait, stop, wait and wait...

So while we waited...

We compared notes on our turquoise stone ornaments that we picked up from the Leh market.

( It's tough to identity an original turquoise stone, but there are various varieties for various price ranges so do bargain hard:-)

...and marveled at the fact that how man and nature live so harmoniously in a remote corner of the world.

When nature says stop. Man stops.

Nothing was lost, we moved at a slow pace and finally reached our beautiful destination~Nubra Valley.

The journey was as interesting as the destination;-)

for home...

2010-05-17T09:09:00.002+05:30

dried apple slices and a packet of herbal tea from Leh.

Apple blossoms and Nubra Valley...

2010-05-16T08:42:00.006+05:30

Nubra Valley has been described as a little piece of heaven nestled in the harsh landscape of Ladakh. We had to cross Khardung La Pass,(more on that later) the highest motorable road in Ladakh region to reach the quiet valley of Nubra filled with lush Poplar trees, grazing yaks and traditional Ladakhi houses.We chose a guesthouse called Snow Leopard, Hunder which could easily pass of as any traditional Ladakhi house with narrow gurgling streams, freshly sowed radish patches and apple trees...

The slow pace of life, the subtle fragrance of apple blossoms, the chirping sparrows, that hopping fat red-breasted robin and sipping hot masala chai in the company of interesting people, puts things back in perspective on life.

I believe that travel is an extremely important part of one's life and everyone needs to undertake a journey for themselves.

fluttering prayers...

2010-05-12T19:36:00.010+05:30

Considering my current state of my mind is a mish-mash of tibetian chants, lucid dream-like imageries and the physical body still feels the cold rugged mountain air, I am happy that I have one post that I just have to write.

Prayer Flags~

A prayer flag is a small piece of cloth which has Buddhist prayers printed on them and are mostly in a set of 5 colours symbolising the 5 elements of nature.

The whole concept of having prayer flags on rooftops, street corners, near mani walls, on top of gompas or just about in the middle of no-where as silent reminders that 'you are not alone' and with each flutter the prayers are carried with the wind to spread peace and good will...just took my breath away:-)

Here are some photographs of these magical prayer flags spreading the prayers into the wind...

Against the Alchi village skyscape

Prayers flags at Alchi village, Ladakh

Will be back soon after sorting out what next to share with all of you:-)

Enjoy your day!

I'll be posting more from our Ladakh trip here~ Archana Srinivas Photography

Ladakh~ Nature's mega blockbuster...

2010-05-11T09:34:00.002+05:30

We have just returned from our trip to Ladakh, where nature completely cast a spell on us.

Will need sometime to unwind before I can share all those little stories from this land so rugged, so stark, so magical!

Memories of the sands & the desert...

2010-04-29T10:05:00.008+05:30

Before we head out for our summer vacation let me quickly post about our last destination during our winter break to Rajasthan.

After Mandawa in Shekawati and Gajner Palace in Bikaner, we reached our final destination Jaisalmer.

We decided on a very simple accommodation called Garh Jaisal which is actually a small haveli in the Fort converted into a hotel. What drew us to this place was that we were literally perched on the Jaisalmer fort and our room had a view to die for!

We could see the whole sand coloured Jaisalmer city from our room!

The sleepy city at dawn:-)

The major highlight of Garh Jaisal was the amazing hospitality of the owners and the superb rooftop terraces, where you can just sit, soak up the winter sun while watching the friendly pigeons, or drink loads of hot ginger chai while enjoying the view of the city or do absolutely nothing!

Hope you all have a great summer vacation:-) Will see you soon!

(images by Arch)

days gone by...

2010-04-25T10:57:00.008+05:30

A visual essay of moments captured to be enjoyed, to be cherished and to be stored in that lovely corner of my heart called April of 2010:-)

beautiful skyscapes...

rain drenched balcony plants...

enjoying the rain...

Mr Bean...

loads of curd rice with Aeroplane brand lemon pickle:-)

roads are interesting...so are the pavements

after the rains

touching the touch-me-not
gulmohar flowers are blooming

shiny nail paints and happy days...

2010-04-15T13:33:00.006+05:30

Summer vacations is the time to

~ splash around in the swimming pool.

~ tanning in the sun.

~ sip tall glasses of fresh fruit juices.

~ open the refrigerator door again and again till you hear the mother scream in the background.

~ paint shiny nail paints on little tips & toes.

~ short hair cuts.

~ devour cool custards and strawberry jellies.

~ read loads of magical books.

~ spend hours lazing around doing nothing.

~ keep the windows wide open.

~ watch the busy mynas build their nest.

~ water-melons, musk melons.

~ wink after eating fresh raw mangoes with salt and chilli powder.

~ drink rooh afza! ( I love it in cold milk)

also a time for a break from the internet:-)

Will see you later. Have a great summer.

( My daughter, my model;-)

what we've been reading...

2010-04-05T08:01:00.004+05:30

A friend of mine suggested Shel Silverstein's The Missing Piece for my daughter. It is a simple work but beautifully profound:-)

Recently we have been hooked on to Roald Dahl's children books. He is so charmingly disgusting;-) We love him.

...and not to forget the amazing Enid Blyton's The Magic Faraway Tree.

I am guessing during the summer holidays I would be reading more of children's books:-)

~ summer light ~

2010-03-19T09:04:00.003+05:30

Summer Light -Thru the Trees

Summer Light - Spotted Me

Summer Light - Palest Gold

Summer Light - Bright and Bold

I Saw Summer Light Descend

Summer Light, Made Shadows Bend

Summer Light, On An Emerald Pond

I Reached Out… It Touched My Palm

Summer Light, It Fell Like Powder

Or a Floating Incandescent Feather

Came Down, Like A Sheer, White Swan

Summer Light – Lifted Wing-Like Arms

So Sunrays Slanted – Shone-Misty

Summer Light-Beams, Embraced Me

Warm, Wonderful Summer Light

Touch Me Tender, Solar- Might

Summer Light, When I Was Lost

Summer Light, Found Me Before Frost

Summer Light - None Else Looked For Me…

Summer Light Said, “I Always See…”

I Love Summer Light

~Moonbee Canady

summer moments...

2010-03-17T13:03:00.004+05:30

~ A little angel comes home.

~ Reading Nadeem Aslam's 'The Season of the Rainbirds' and One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

~ The papery beauty of pressed bougainvillea flowers.

~ Ripe fragrance of summer fruits.

~ Spurt of growth and blooms in my hibiscus & alamanda plants.

~ Melon, Banana & Honey milkshakes.

~ Chai with leftover cupcakes.

~ Afternoon siestas;-)

What are your summer moments like?

creative world of books...

2010-03-03T07:19:00.011+05:30

As a mother of a 7 year old I am always on look out for good books that will enrich, educate, nurture & fuel the imagination of my girl.

In this world of fast food, in-your-face commercials, barbie-mania & pre-teen sitcoms...it becomes increasingly difficult to expose them to the beautiful world of books. The world where we grew up!

The world of Enid Blytons, of those Russian fairytales where Vasilisa was oh! so beautiful, of Amar Chitra Kathas where the illustrations by Uncle Pai always had me enthralled.

I am happy that my daughter shares my love for books and is intrigued when I narrate small incidents from my childhood about books & stories.

Recently I came across some lovely books, thanks to the amazing world of blogging & some helpful friends~

'Pampasutra' by Arshia Sattar with mind-blowing illustrations by young Shilo Shiv Sulema n.

It's a beautifully illustrated story of the river Pampa as narrated by herself as she flows through the rich Vijayanagara Empire.

'The Fried Frog and other funny freaky foodie feisty poems' by Sampurna Chattarji

Here is a small excerpt from her book

"I am sick of learning Lochinvar,

I'm sick of Robert Frost,

Kept stopping by those snowy woods-

Why didn't he go get lost?

And daffodils and babbling brooks,

I don't care if they're pretty,

I'd rather read a wicked poem

About living in my city."

I quite liked Sampurna's style & here's something for me too;-)

My daughter strangely identified with her style of writing. She also narrated a poem from the book at her school recitation event:-)

Dinaben and the Lions of Gir by Meera Sriram and Praba Ram.

Though not for my daughter's age group, but a beautiful bilingual book for 4+ readers that captures how Man and Lions co-exist in the forests of Gir in Gujarat.

Meera & Praba are part of Saffron Tree ~ a website that brings to you reviews, recommendations, pointers to great children's books from India & the U.S.

This is their first book and has been published by Tulika and I wish them great success:-)

Holi Hai!

2010-02-28T08:11:00.006+05:30

Check list before playing with colours.

* well oiled hair (tick)

* wear old clothes ( tick)

* non-toxic colours (tick)

* pitchkari (tick)

Have a Rangeen Holi! The spring festival of colours!

Some colours from last year:-)

my mugs, cups & jars...

2010-02-19T08:51:00.005+05:30

Kitchen plants in orange canisters...

Love the motif on the mug.

Traditional ceramic pickle jars, also known as 'Marthabans.'

Checkered love...

Rust & Blue combination...

I am always on look out for lovely mugs at Crafts Fairs...

The 'singles' club;-)

Latest buys...

Dollar store finds are perfect for my little succulents:-)

Treasure your ceramics...I surely do;-)

from the earth...

2010-02-16T04:42:00.010+05:30

I just love ceramic containers.

Regulars at my blog probably know that:-) Here is a post where I confessed my love for these earthern beauties...

Okay, let me waste no time and share with you some eye-candy...

Tea set and mugs from Mantra Handmade Pottery ( Auroville)

Unique creamers from Andretta Pottery in Himachal Pradesh

Look at these beauties by Puneet Brar of Wind Glaze Pottery

Now for some international beauties...
Simple vase by Dahlhaus Ceramics
Handcrafted stoneware bowl by my all-time favorite ceramic artist Diana Fayt
Small Tuck Pot by Pigeon Toe Ceramic
Look at this tea cup by BROOKLYNrehab
Gorgeous details on the dishes by Cynthia Vardhan

Petit Dejeuner Juicer from Anthropologie

Upsy Daisy Mug from Anthropologie

The Pedestrian Series from Fishs Eddy

Hope you enjoyed this post:-) Will post some of my latest ceramic acquisitions in the next blog entry...

Happy Valentine's Day!

2010-02-14T10:21:00.003+05:30

I believe that you don't need a specific day to tell people you love them, but if there is such a day, then why not!

Happy Valentine's Day Everyone!

My all-time favourite romantic movie is 'Gone With The Wind' and in recent times P.S. I love you. was quite nice.

What is your favourite romantic flick?

sand-scapes...

2010-02-03T16:47:00.007+05:30

Waiting for the sun-set.

Using my jewellery as props;-)

At Jaisalmer. Sam Village, Sand Dunes.

From the sun-kissed sands of Rajasthan....

2010-01-31T21:35:00.005+05:30

Let me leave you with this folk song that was so part of our beautiful experience in this colourful & vibrant state of Rajasthan.

Promise to comeback soon...

Meanwhile do check out Rang Decor, india & i, rolling in sugar dust..., A Cup of Chai... & Mallika: My Princess where loads of Rajasthan is happening;-)