Of People and Places

  This is a gif, please wait a few seconds for the next slide to appear From the 6th floor of our apartment in Bangalore, we see a tree full of  rosy-ringed parakeets that sit there in bunches, cleverly camouflaged between the leaves. Just around sunset, they rouse themselves and fly away, sure of their destination, making as much noise as they can muster. They brighten up my days with their voices and their colors and the whole earth seems younger, brighter, happier with the light of their presence. This is just a little whimsy to share that experience with you...Pictures below in sequence :) 

A sketch of Taj-Ul-Masajid A portion of the Taj- Ul -Masajid seen from under the shade of an old old tree - a well spread out one in the vast courtyard, giving much needed respite from the 4 o clock sun. The facade seems to be made for sunsets, glowing a rosy pink and orange in the setting sun, while prayers take place inside. Thanksgiving and grace only seem natural in such a setting.   We do sit inside the main prayer hall just before people start milling in and it is magical. The silence and calm hangs undisturbed, the light filters through the windows and you are mesmerized.  The Taj -Ul- Masajid ( yes, spelled Masajid) is the largest mosque in India.  It is truly beautiful and I hope you get to experience it :) 

Illustration - Mango Mastani and Pineapple Ice Cream Sharbat at Samarth Juice Center If you've been to Nashik, you've probably tasted the delicious Pineapple Sharbat that's famous at Samarth Juice Center . My friend took me there on a sultry late afternoon ( Or prevening) after a heavy lunch, with no room at all for more food. But good things always find a way to reach you :D  We had the Mango Mastani, Rose Mastani and the Pineapple sharbat. All of it was delicious and I really recommend the pineapple sharbat - it is light, frothy and absolutely yummy! Sigh, cravings.  Other food related posts -  Paddy transplanting in Harlimatha  Prawn Ghee Roast in Kundapura  UtpaDhan - Farmer Producer Companies in Rural Karnataka Fayyaz, the fish seller Japanese Food in Bangalore

  A page from my sketchbook - Pigeons flying in the morning sky, Udaipur A morning walk in Udaipole,Udaipur just after a harrowing train ride from New Delhi. On the main road, children on push carts full of kites smiled at me. Later, they would sell them to the tourists gearing up for Makar Sankranti. Kite flying is looked forward to during the festival here. The sun was up and there was not a speck in the sky, until the roosting pigeons on the electricity poles and shop signs above, shook themselves up, cooed to each other and flew away.  All my blogposts of this visit to Rajasthan -  A folk musician in Udaipur The Kite Runners of Jaipur Inside Ajmer Dargah 

There are paddleboats that we could go on but they are uncovered and just too hot. We walk to the edge of the rafter bridge and peer into the water. We see glints of silver swirling in the waters. On a closer look, they are a swarm of little guppies so close together – if we cup our hands and plunge them into the water – at least twenty of them would sift through before plopping back into the river – that is how tiny they are. We can see the Vayalapra Park as we drive to it. About two metres or so from the road is the lake. The unique feature about the Vayalapra park is that it is built on the lake like a floating bridge – snaking a good way until it reaches another piece of land on the other side. Across narrow roads with the backwaters peeking in between, we see this little portion of the lake that makes us gasp and stop the van. A lake full of water lilies blooming  – It is like a studio ghibli background.These white water lilies mimic lotuses and I want to tell them,

A brook in Kathotiya forest, close to Bhopal. We catch a fantastic sunrise, have a packed breakfast of ( yes, you guessed it right!) poha and jalebi on the dry rocks near Kolar dam, the sweetish, slightly fishy whiff of algae giving it a different feel, spot many beautiful birds -  which my knowledgeable friend tells me are a hornbill, treepie ( I would say cutiepie),bee eater and Black Ibis. A family of wild boars tumble across the road from our bike. This is tiger country too. The last stretch that we visit is the most breathtaking of all. Wheat fields roll over the vast expanse and you get to see different shades of green with tiny shanties and homes that are too perfect for words! And in the backdrop , the mountains that are characteristic here, with sharp jagged edges, but flat tops. Thanks to my generous friends for including me in their plans :) It was really worth it. My only regret is that I missed the rock shelters and cave paintings famous in this area. I he

Kavvayi islands - Coconut island - watercolors & sea water :) If I close my eyes, I can smell the sea and see the clear line that separates the Arabian sea from the sky. My sister has skipped on ahead, rolling and tumbling and galloping in the sand with abandon. The local boys that came with us on the boat from the Payannur mainland eye us warily for a while. We three are the only women. I write about this place with hesitation. Because I know it will stop being the pristine spot that it is, the minute more people come to know of it. Because people just cannot refrain from throwing in a plastic bottle here, or a chips packet there - itching, itching to turn everything into their own dirty little dumping ground. So here's where you stop reading and stay home if you plan to litter, strew around beer bottles and act like a hooligan. And here's where you can read on, if you promise to respect the place and leave it untouched. The Kavvayyi backwaters make you un

Bylakuppe Diary - Part 1                                                               A face wreathed in smiles In the auto from Kushalnagar to Camp 4 in Arlikumari, there are elderly Tibetan women,with colorful banded aprons, clutching beads, walking briskly, ignoring the tourists and their noise. One of the rosy-cheeked ladies catches me looking at her and gives me a sweet smile.