The Wonders Of Childhood!

“People come from far-and-wide to see my father! You won’t believe how they queue up to take photos with him” boasted little Raju who was just back from Mumbai.

So what if his dad worked as the “Man-on-Stilts” at a neighborhood-mall, for Raju  he was nothing less than a super-man.

The wonders of childhood :)

Linking this to WT 55 on Friday as well as Day 4, 5 of WT write Fest. The task of the day is to write a link post(day 4) and Write a tip post. And this my friends is my tip of the day – if you seem to be stuck with a writer’s block, do drop in at WT and you’ll indeed a post that will  inspire you to write

                                                                                                 

Why is my daughter so strong?

Have you watched this inspiring TED talk  by Yousafzai -  Malala's dad -please do!

"Why is my daughter so strong?” Yousafzai asks. “Because I didn’t clip her wings." Indeed a lesson that many a people in this patriarchal society will do good to learn - just let your wife, sibling, daughter, friend be. A simple answer to a question that sadly hounds quite a few gals- ladies even today.

Linking this to WT fest of words day Day 2. The task for the day is "Answer a question".


PS: for those of you who love your books,  I will definitely recommend "I am Malala" the inspiring story of the father- daughter who Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban

Darkness to Light....

Today is a guest post by a dear friend. A friend who I associate with "Generosity" - after all my Kindle, favorite watch are courtesy him. It was in strange circumstances we became friends but am glad he remained my friend even when the "circumstance" ceased to be! He is a "ping" away at office - and on days when am down or downright bored - he is the man to go to :).  A man of few words(atleast when you met)  - he amazed me with his writings. Hidden deep somewhere is a philosopher - I wish he would write more.....

Over to him for his post on IWD....

It was a bright sunny day. A perfect day to spend time outdoor, the options are numerous, cricket?? football?? beach?? fishing?? long ride?? long drive??... the list goes on but something in my mind prompted me to go and experience the vastness, harshness & the calmness of the sea. The decision was indeed easy I decided to go with it..

Now I cannot just run into the vastness of the sea. First I packed some grub and loads of water. A bottle of sunscreen lotion, shades, cap and a fishing rod ...I think I am good to go. I rented a motorboat from the adventure club outlet near the beach and with their assistance I started my ride...er I set sail..

I was first amused then absorbed into the vastness of this giant creature we call an Ocean/Sea, gradually the beach and the people were becoming a distant memory. With every moving second the bright sunny day was turning into a cold windy and darker day. The next second I could feel myself lifted 500 ft and the following second a huge wave came crashing down my boat and the immediate second that followed was filled with emptiness.

The next moment was that of submergence. As I gradually went down and darkness set in, reminiscence of all things good made way into my empty & wet mind. This feeling of submergence was familiar, was not the first time ... I remember the helplessness of a newborn and the hand that pulled me to her warmth. I remember the helplessness of a boy and also the smile of an angel that pushed me through. I remember the struggle and helplessness of a young man and the soft shoulders that calmed me every day. Now I see another hand that is gradually pulling me and there I was in the arms of my sweet heart with coffee n toast beside me . She kissed me good morning and I woke to a wonderful day yet again.,, and indeed it was a good day,,, a sunny day,,,, time for outdoors., a walk by the beach with my sweet heart is all that is on my mind.

Every passing day and every passing moment, you have pulled me from darkness to light. You continue to inspire me to live another day another moment...

Do head over to his blog and tell him how beautifully he writes.....

Linking this to Day 7 of WT Fest ..... And with this comes to an end third edition of WT Fest of Words!I had an absolute whale of time during this fest.....

Of Cakes and Tees....

Day 3 of WT Fest and we are literally given a free reign ! "Free Write" it is- You could read more about it here...

Off late I have been having a whale of time organizing  cakes, gifts for birthdays and small family gatherings. That instant smile, the unguarded, non -calculative reaction that pops up as soon as the lucky recipient (:-P) lay eyes on it is all the credit you'll ever need. And it's not as if you need a heavy wallet to do this - all you need is some creativity(nee, strike it out - Google zindabad!) and the inclination to do it! Here is what we have been up to last few weeks.....

My nephew is turning three this week and he is a big fan of spider-man. I got my favorite thaddikaaran to put together this pic for me.... The moment the little imp set his eyes on it, he literally went berserk kissing the laptop monitor :-D. Am planning to put this on a cake(a "picture cake") or print it on a Tee.... I cannot wait to see his reaction then :-D. Thank you Thaadikaaro... U absolutely rocked it!

I absolutely enjoyed putting together this cake for my sister's little fellas homecoming... beautiful rt :-D. The design idea was again courtesy Google. My sister's excitement when she saw this was the perfect reward.....

Now why kids alone, when I got this tee(the pic on it was clicked by him) for my peter-pan last year, he actually wondered aloud "How do you manage to do this every-time!". Now this coming from somebody who thinks gifts are his birth right was absolutely exhilarating :-D

That's enough of self-dabba(self praise) for one day no :)

PS: Nee am neither an event planner nor a baker. Am the perfect "Project Manager" - I can come up with "larger than life" ideas but will need people who can execute it :-P

PPS: Do hop onto Pixie's blog where I have done a guest post for her. While you're there, do read the extra-nice things she has to say about me  :-D

Am absolutely enjoying this season WT Fest of words......

Blog Love!

I have many a friends talking about "Social Responsibility", "Giving back to society"  but have seen very few who'll as much as lift their little finger to do anything about it(am guilty as charged!). And then, there are these social activists who'll look upon rest of the world as mere minions!

So imagine knowing somebody who in her 20s, chucked her well paying IT job and wholeheartedly embraced social activism. Even though she is neck deep into all this, she hasn't become a cynic or let it kill the joy in her.... she is somebody who'll slog with street children through the day but will not think it beneath her to catch up with you over a cup of coffee at the nearest CCD!  Indeed a rare gem I tell you....

Go on say a hello to her at The Song Of Life..... her posts not only talk of the the great work they do at YFS but is also generously peppered with all other good things in life......

Swathi, its been as pleasure knowing you sweetheart!

PS: Did I tell you, she was the first ever blogger I met in real life :-D

The theme for today's WT fest is "Blog Love" - show some love to another blog or blogs by showcasing them on yours.  Loved this one - am off now to explore other lovely blogs..... Jump the bandwagon, wont you?

Lalita's Guruvayoor

Lalita sat in the courtyard picking stones from rice when Nair saar walked in along with next-door Venu who was visibly seething in anger."Lalita Chechi, did you hear supreme court has decided to legalize live-in relationship! Am I glad I didn’t give into Geetha’s vain arguments and settle down in Guruvayoor before little Shalu started her high school. At least here she will be far far away from live-in and other urban maladies" Venu went on. Lalita smiled indulgently as she silently offered him a glass of kattan that brewed through the day in her kitchen – ready for Venu and many other young men who came in at all hours of the day to have a word with Nair Saar.

It was a visibly relaxed Venu who stepped out a few minutes later! As Lalita locked the gate after him, she saw Nair looking out with furtive glance. She knew exactly what Nair saar must be thinking now – a thought that had been troubling Lalita since this debate of legalizing live-in has erupted. Would this Venu and other minions in this temple town look up to Nair Saar if they ever knew that this octogenarian couple was never ever officially married!


Saar - In many parts of Kerala, "sir" is colloquially referred to as "saar"
Chechi - elder sister
Guruvayoor - A temple town in Kerala. Off late its been a haven for retired couples
Kattan - Black tea\coffee

This 9 sentence fiction is for Day 1 of WT fest of words 3

Dreams – Festival of Words – Day 7

Started from Memories – Festival of Words – Day 1
Contd from Here

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”  
                                                                                                                           ~~  Jackson Brown Jr.

Aalamma couldn't help smiling at the bewildered expression on Nathan's face as she walked back to her room! But she knew, he would never believe her staggering-than-fiction story.....

How could she tell him that she was the one who had set off the the singing recitals in the cafe down the road or even the fact that she called this home stay her home a few decades ago! Would he empathize that the "pent house" he discouraged her from taking is where all her happy childhood memories with Nanny were preserved till date and that she would have paid any ridiculous amount for that  ancient copy of "Pride and Prejudice" cause the cover page carried here dearest Dada's writing.....

It was a winter afternoon like this that she moved far far away from her dearest Niligiris to Panchgani with dreams for her unborn little girl. Sigh! her little girl who has now flown away from cocoon to find her own space n this big big world..........

Today its forty four year since Aalina became Aalama to fulfill the dreams she had dreamt for herself and her little one........

Linking this to  Dreams – Festival of Words – Day 7

And thus we come to the end of story and the WT Festival of Words - what a journey its been!

People – Festival of Words – Day 6!

Started from Memories – Festival of Words – Day 1

 Contd from Here

“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.”
                                                                                                                              ― Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

Alina's heart wringed in grief  as the train slowly chugged away from her tiny hill station - a place she's never stepped out of all through her twenty years. She held her hand protectively over her now bulging tummy as if that would save her unborn child from this cruel world... how she wished she had somebody who could hold her hands and walk her through difficult times!

Sitting beside Alina was her Nanny - who at the grand the of eighty didn't think much about relocating half the way across the country just to give Alina another chance in life!  In all her wisdom, Nanny knew that making a clean fresh start miles away from home was the only hope for Alina and her unborn baby to move on with life. It still amazed Alina how her uneducated Nanny pulled strings with local parish and managed to get her a job as a music teacher in a prestigious residential school at Panchgani.

As she absentmindedly popped in the peanuts her Nanny handed her, Alina couldn't hep going back to the question that's been troubling her for past few months - who could be the father of her unborn Child? Could it be Jack the Jazz player at the cafe or Mike the art teacher at the local school or James the holidaying Irish gentleman or could it be the local Muthusaami or somebody else all together!

Aline rued how she let herself loose at the alcoholic binges that followed the musical recitals at the cafe!  When and how did it start including getting into bed with random people she wondered. All the good times ended with a bang a few weeks ago when she found she was pregnant.......

To Be Contd.....

Linking this to People – Festival of Words – Day 6

Travel – Festival of Words 2 – Day 5

Started from Memories – Festival of Words – Day 1

 Contd from Here
 
Not in a mood to do the touristy things when at Ooty? Worry not - how does a Winch ride across seventeen Kms of  undisturbed sholas and wildlife habitat sound? Or maybe spend the morning with the planters in the Tea Estates - from plucking the leaves to tasting the freshly brewed tea! Or how about spending the evening in company of the Local Toda Tribes - with a free lesson in the famous Thoda Shawl weaving thrown in and even sample their cuisine! Sounds very interesting right.....


 Nathan was impressed with himself for having come up with this interesting iternary for Aalamma. He had been for last couple of days to get her to do "Touristy Things" - sail down the ooty lake or a morning walk in the famous botanical garden. But everytime, she declined it with her characterestic shake of head. "Maybe she is too old to do these touristy things" thought Nathan and in a sudden brain wave came up with this innovative plan - it seemed to him that it would appeal to Aalamma at every level!

So Nathan was pretty heartbroken when Aalamma almost laughed out loud reading his plan before declining it with her now irritating head shake! He was at his wits end - she seemed to hang around the home-stay through the day and in the evening go to a hip-n-happening cafe frequented by the visiting foreign tourists! Aalamma seemed such a misfit in that surroundings that Nathan couldn't just wrap his head around the idea......After all how could a place overflowing with booze and loud music  interest a sedate Indian grandmother!


To Be Contd...

Linking this to Travel – Festival of Words 2 – Day 5

Music – Festival of Words – Day 4

Started from Memories – Festival of Words – Day 1 
Contd from Here 

 

"I Swear"

I swear by the moon
and the stars in the sky
and I swear like the
shadow that's by your side........

Aalina sighed as she finished another rendition of this soulful song -   her Dad's favourite - to a room full of hooting crowd. She was thankful to her father whose love for music she had inherited. Also it was her only source of bread and butter after her parents tragic death in an air accident a few months ago. Soon she was swindled off her inheritance by "well-meaning" relatives. Thus at the ripe age of sixteen, Aalina had to fend for herself and her old Nanny.

A cafe down the road which was  favourite haunt with the backpacking foreigners offered to pay her a decent amount for evening musical recitals. It seemed a God sent opportunity then - she could do something she  loved and make some quick buck out of it! And the crowd loved her right back - what was not to love about a young chirpy girl whipping out their old favorites........

Haa those long soirees of never ending music and beer with audience joining in for impromptu jamming sessions were strangely liberating.....

Contd Here...

Linking this to  Music – Festival of Words – Day 4

Books – Festival of Words – Day 3

 Started from Memories – Festival of Words – Day 1
Contd From Here....


 It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his first entering a neighbourhood, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families, that he is considered the rightful property of some one or other of their daughters.

 Nathan looked up from his desk, as Aalamma all of a sudden started reading out lines from a random book(or so he thought) she picked from the adjoining book shelf. He was pretty sheepish, when earlier in the day he explained to her that contrary to what was in the brochure, this home-stay did not really have a library so to speak. It was just a random collections of some sleazy magazines that the customers randomly left behind and a few classics which seemed to be older than the home-stay itself!

Thus Nathan was pretty flummoxed when he saw Aalamma's eyes brighten up as he walked her to the partly hidden book aisle. Her eyes almost glossed over as she picked one of the books and started caressing the book as if it was some long lost lover!

Nathan didn't know what to make of it when she almost hugged the ancient copy of "Pride and Prejudice" to her heart and offered to pay him whatever price he quotes.....

Contd here...

Linking this to Books – Festival of Words – Day 3

Food – Festival of Words – Day 2

Started from Memories – Festival of Words – Day 1 

Contd From Here...

Aalina finished doodling the recipe of her fav snack in her school scrap book.This simple dish - her Nanny's specialty - has  been her favorite dessert from the time she could remember.  Even as a kindergartener, she couldn't help noticing the difference in their daily menus. The sambar, rasam and poriyal her nanny relished was frowned upon by her mom. Unfortunately for Aalina, the pork ribs, steaks, soups her parents seemed to prefer was definitely not her favourite.....

An only child, in this huge palatial bungalow tucked away in the tea estates of Niligiris - Aalina was home-schooled by her parents.They were stickler to conversing only in English even to her Nanny who was conversant only in the local dialect. Aalina wasn't even allowed to be chummy with children of local Tea Planters! The only solace she had were her books that Aalina obviously devoured! When the loneliness got onto her too much, she sneaked away into her Nanny's tiny room in the terrace where the simple yet hearty food warmed her soul. Evenings spent tucking into "Naadan Chicken Roast", sipping the hot pepper rasam as she flipped though her favorite book sitting in her Nanny's Veranda was her favorite childhood memory till date! The fact that it railed her mother, gave the teenage Aalina an extra "kick" to do it all the more

It was a while before Aalina realized that all all this was  a vain and desperate attempt by her parents to hold onto their British Lineage. She couldn't always help wondering how different her life would have been if her parents were alive a few more years......

Contd Here.....

This is part of Food, Food – Festival of Words – Day 2

PS: This doodle is courtesy the livewire of VaayadiPennu

Memories – Festival of Words – Day 1

Holiday and 'Memories' ought to be synonymous.....

Those long walks in midst of tea estates, sprawling around your own 'private' waterfall, walking hand in hand with your sweetheart as the light mist caresses you, trekking up to the hill top for the sunset, curling up with your favorite book at the nook-corners of the gardens , Cold beers to warm you on the crispy cold nights and the delicious local cuisine which spoils you with choice!  Life doesn't get better than this .. does it?

  Thus read the brochure of 'Memories'. Despite the tall promises in the brochure -  the place was  in reality a rundown home-stay tucked away in the heart of Niligiris. Nathan, the manager had his hands full during the weekends when this place was crowded with backpacking youngsters on a shoestring budget. Nathan looked up as yet another tourist walked into the reception door - for a moment he was nonplussed to see a middle class Indian lady in her 60s travelling solo ! He was all the more dumbfounded when the lady requested for the "Pent House" - Nathan rushed to explain that this was located right next to their open-air disc that was open until wee hours of the night and may not be the best of the choices. He even tried coaxing the lady to book into the next door "Murugan Guest House" which he assured her was a better choice for err... a senior citizen!

But all Nathan could do was shrug and complete the check-in formalities for Aalamma, as she was very firm in her choice of room! As she walked up the creaking stairs, Nathan couldn't help wondering why this old lady was so insistent on choosing this rundown home-stay and that too a room on the terrace when he had given her a choice of much more comfy room on the ground floor.....

Contd Here....

This is submitted as a part of Memories – Festival of Words – Day 1

Free Write - Amms in Bangalore!

"Free Write" was the  prompt for the week at WT.

What is a free write? It is essentially writing without conscious thought.
Most free writes go like this: You write down whatever comes into your mind for 15 straight minutes either as a word purge (no topic at all) or on a prompt. You could read more about it here

Now writing without a prompt would have been disastrous for somebody as fickle-minded as me! So while I was clear I would be writing about my niece, I let the words flow. Here is the final draft with not much of editing. Tell me how you liked it!

 --------------------------------------------

 Last week was dedicated to my little niece who was here on a short vacation. Through her, I lived my dream of  a complete family - “Ma, Pa N the little One”! Just drove home the fact that am more than ready to start a family ~~ Hoping it’s a day soon!

Another facet that her visit reaffirmed is my love fo weaving stories and I couldn’t have asked for a better audience than the little one. We spent a day each at Thar Desert, Ooty and even experienced the bitter Chicago winters. We woke up to morn yoga on Goa beaches, had a nice continental breakfast, sunbathed with Mr & Mrs. Adam before flying down to London to meet the queen ;).  And when all this traveling was getting to us, we had a career makeover and became a fisherman and farmer in turns :-D. Her incessant question of “So where\What are we today” even when she wakes up in the middle of the night is all the ego boost I needed :-D.

A Day in Thar!

Today after she’s left, I miss the daily thirty mins late night session in the park – just her and me swinging gently, weaving these stories and getting lost in far far away lands … bliss!!

Now for all that she enjoys this story telling sessions, I wonder why she hasn’t yet taken to reading - this when her house is filled with Amar Chitra Kathas and many others. Is it cause nobody has taken the pain to read it to her? Maybe she should have started with something simpler – something she enjoys and then slowly upgraded the reading standards! Her frustration when I insisted that she reads “Charlie and Chocolate Factory was obvious – does she feel reading is a chore and so doesn’t really enjoy it?

Amms, I miss you darling… muah!

What happened at Midnight? ** Day 7 - Festival Of Words **

"Write Tribe" the amazing write club am a part of  is hosting its first festival of words from 1-7 Sep on the theme "Seven". You could get more details about it here....

Am choosing to write of the seven loves of my life....
 
Today on the last day of the write Fest, I bring you a piece of fiction simply cause it was at WT that I realised I can write fiction(!). Today I enjoy it so much, that every time I "people-observe", my mind goes into a overdrive trying to weave a story around them :)

**********************************

Mukundan - the SI of Kulmee rural police station - has been hiding amidst the bushes for last three nights. There has been a spate of serial murders in the village for last few weeks and everytime the police  had fished out the body from the lake on the village outskirts.

 It was the middle of the night - The entire village was fast asleep. Mukundan struggled to keep his eyes open when he suddenly heard a rustle. As he looked up, he saw a young man stealthily  moving about like a ninja with a bandanna tied across his head. Mukundan ducked deeper into the bush and kept him within his sights As he looked on, the young man looked furtively around and carefully took out a wrapped package. Just as he was about to throw it into the lake, Mukundan pounced on him and ........

The next morning, police woke up to the news of yet another dead body found in the lake.... the police divers went deep into the water and bought to the shore the body of a man  with a bandanna around the head.....

Happiness is..... ** Day 6 - Festival Of Words **

"Write Tribe" the amazing write club am a part of  is hosting its first festival of words from 1-7 Sep on the theme "Seven". You could get more details about it here....

Am choosing to write of the seven loves of my life....

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•  I wake up in a evil mood and try pulling a fast one on a friend! For the heck of it I predict that she will be "Engaged" over the weekend! N guess what happens - thou now am ruing the fact now cause  somebody is so busy day dreaming n doesn't have time for mere mortals :-/
• I have sent up prayers hoping for a strangers marriage to break up soon! Don look flabbergasted... It so happens that a friend of mine realized wee bit late that she is in love with him and v conveniently that fellas marriage is on the verge of divorce ;)
• A little gal all of 6 years saves a cupcake from her share, just to give it to her 'favorite aunty' :-P
• A friend who will come all the way over just to meet you
• Friends who will play the fool, who will willingly give u a shoulder to cry, who tempt  you so much with their their menu until you decide to move your lazy bum ;)

But well you may say this is what friends are for! Just that you do not know that they are all 'virtual' except a few I have met here and there.....

I have been blogging for a while but what I wasn't a part of is the commodore of fellow bloggers! But well all that changed with WriteTribe - I found not one but several bloggers there with similar wavelength and what a boisterous time ensued!!  Today most of them are way beyond 'virtual' friends and are what I consider close friends :)  Funny, no-nonsense, drama queens, book words, movie aficionados, foodies - they come in all flavours and ensure that there is hardly a dull moment online or offline!!

Corinne - Thank You for bringing all the nuts together under one roof and opening up this new world to me :).

As for the nuts, well you know who you are dont you :-D - Thank you for being a part of my life and believe me you, just your presence has seen me through some tough days........

As somebody shared on my my FB timeline yesterday....

A Bangalore Getaway ** Day 5 - Festival Of Words **

"Write Tribe" the amazing write club am a part of  is hosting its first festival of words from 1-7 Sep on the theme "Seven". You could get more details about it here....

Am choosing to write of the seven loves of my life....

 A weekend getaway once in 3 months and a big bang holiday once a year is my idea to refresh the body and soul ;). But there are days, when I want to get away from the daily trudges of city life even if its just for a couple of hours....

Thus one Sunday, we went on a trip to this quiet and peaceful lake called Thattekere which is an offbeat picnic spot in Bangalore part of the Bannerghatta National Park.  The lake was supposed to be a haven for bird sighting  sighting but all we could see were painted storks and few other birds. But err I wasn't complaining - Imagine we were the only souls around - surrounded by pristine, literally untouched nature and a large waterbody to gaze n introspect on life!

But an hour or so later, a few forest officials came marching and chased us away - supposedly this spot requires forest permit for access! They even threatened to seize our cameras. :-P.

Though let me tell you the short time we spent there cleared away so many cobwebs from my mind :)

All I need is a book in Hand......

Food Stories ** Day 4 - Festival Of Words **

"Write Tribe" the amazing write club am a part of  is hosting its first festival of words from 1-7 Sep on the theme "Seven". You could get more details about it here....

Am choosing to write of the seven loves of my life.... 

If you been in this space for sometime you know that food is my one true love! But when somebody taking the effort to cook up a dish simply cause u like it - it speaks volumes of their love for you!  So every 3 months, Pheno's 87 year old Grandmother religiously sends across home made(by her!) "Idli Podi"(Locally called "Gun Powder" as it can be explosive to your taste buds :-D)  simply cause it's his favorite.

Off late, she's been bed ridden for few months due to a recent Gall bladder removal surgery that she had to undergo and is now barely on her foot! But when she heard that we have exhausted our stock of her "gun powder" absolutely nothing could deter her from dragging herself into the kitchen and hand roasting-pounding until her signature "podi" is ready exactly how her grandson loves it!! If this doesn't speak of her love for him I dono what does.....

Thou it ought to be a family "secret", I will be generous enough to share it with you ;)

1. Boiled rice           1 cup
2. Urad dal              A handful
3. Chana dal            as above
4. White til               one level table spoon
5. Hing                    half tea spoon
6. Whole pepper      1 teaspn
7. Red dry chilly       12  ( more according to taste)
8. Jeera  :                 half teaspoon
9. Salt                      2  teaspn(  or accrdng to taste) 

 Method:

Dry roast  items 1   to 6  except  hing  till  nicely  fried (Rice should  be  crisp). While frying red chilly use a little oil. Hing and salt can be added while grinding. You can also roast curry leaves and add to it. Allow it to cool. Grind coarsely. The powder should not be very fine. 

Day 3 - Let's Go!! **Festival Of Words***

"Write Tribe" the amazing write club am a part of  is hosting its first festival of words from 1-7 Sep on the theme "Seven". You could get more details about it here....

Am choosing to write of the seven loves of my life starting yest...

Phenomenon is one of those who believes journey is as important as the destination.... so "road trips" are a given in most of our hols! Today, five years down the line I have come to enjoy these long as much as him.... Its uncanny how all the biggest problems seem to fade away into inconsequential as miles tick away......

Here are a few pics from our recent road trips
clicked along the route....

Route Less Traveled...

Imaging driving thru a water fall :)

Half submerged temples on the way..

Coconut Trees swaying to the monsoons - Nostalgia re-lived!

Unexpected sightings like gives me a heart-attack cause the driver forgets he is driving!!

Driving thru Eucalyptus Groves....... A pleasure to city-tired eyes!

Mover over CCD - Nothing to beat the original Degree Kofi!

Book Review - Time Traveler’s wife ** Day 2 - Festival Of Words **

This is the extraordinary love story of Clare and Henry who met when Clare was six and Henry was

thirty six, and were married when Clare was twenty two and Henry thirty. Impossible but true, because Henry suffers from a rare condition where his genetic clock periodically  resets and he finds himself suddenly pulled into his past or future. In the face of this force they can neither prevent or control, Henry and Clare’s a struggle to lead normal lives is both intensely moving and entirely unforgettable.

Above extract is from the blurb of the book “Time Traveler’s wife” – Now honestly the concept of “Time Traveling” seemed more of a sci-fi to me and that’s a genre I am not v fond of. But considering the rave reviews the book received I decided to give it a shot. The initial pages as expected were a drag. But once I got my head around this idea of “Time Travelling” I was sucked into the story plot and what a whirlwind ride it was through and through.              Imagine me going back to a time when I was 5 or maybe going into a day of my life when am 60 – unimaginable!!

A book I enjoyed to a large extent! I will recommend this book simply because this idea is so unworldly that it deserves a shot….. 

"Write Tribe" the amazing write club am a part of  is hosting its first festival of words from 1-7 Sep on the theme "Seven". You could get more details about it here....

Am choosing to write of the seven loves of my life starting Sep 1...