Of People and Places

When we were children, we had a godrej cupboard full of books - a real treasure trove filled with children's books, classics, travelogues, recipe books, books on architecture, ecology, sustainable living, history, politics, autobiographies, comics  - 'eclectic' is the word. We even had clippings of Tintin and Phantom, painstakingly cut out from newspapers by my father, classified according to date and bound into a book! Sadly, by the time we began to read through them, the termites had already chomped their way through, creating what they must have thought aesthetic shapes and patterns, much to our irritation. Browsing through all these books was a favourite past time. I enjoyed it thoroughly though I cannot say that I understood what they were all about ! The kinds of books that I liked most were those with paintings or photographs in them, of exotic places, people, animals, food, strange customs and traditions. So, I suppose that's when I really learned ...

Don't wear a mask like this gentleman here! The three ply mask is roomy enough to accommodate all kinds of noses. And really there is no point in wearing it if your entire mouth and nose are not covered! You'd be surprised at how many people I saw at the airport nonchalantly hanging their noses in the air - breathing in, breathing out like everything's normal. I was in Bhopal when the lock down was announced. And extended. Again, extended. And yet again, extended. But  I have no complaints. I was well taken care of, surrounded by friends who are like family, and plenty of good food. I became something of a culinary expert myself. But then again, who hasn't become one during the lock down? When all else fails, turn to food!Eat food, cook food, feed others. But the way back home was fraught with challenges. I have had flights cancelled five times and had to cancel three train tickets because of the confusion surrounding travel. Nervous, paranoid I stepped into...