My wish list

I wish for.......
-- A dslr camera. I've been saving up for one and it has replaced my wish for a diamond bracelet. Dont know about diamonds, but photographs are forever.

-- The ability to have chocolates whenever, wherever, howmuchever. Without worrying about calories, costs or social etiquette (sometimes you just gotta lick your fingers)

-- Being able to connect with anybody, anytime. Sure, technology has made it possible, but our egoes have not.

-- And last, but not the least - world peace ..............no, really.

The year of the famine......

The birds soar high

in the cloud dotted sky

a gust of wind comes by

and blows the clouds dry

The Earth stays parched

The farmers have arched

backwards in despair

this is their worst nightmare

The worst is yet to come

It can't be undone

Its going to be a long year

What we need now is prayer

Finally, just when hope was lost......

Heaven took notice of a little boy

who sat deep in meditation

he was free from all temptation

it is his prayer that brought redemption

It showered like never before that year

beautiful droplets falling, bringing cheer

for everyone else the year was finally over

For the little boy, he was free forever

The Kashmiri have it good - Houseboats, Pashmina, Saffron, and.......Kahwa!

I'd been introduced to Kahwa (Kashmiri Green Tea) a few years ago by a Kashmiri friend in the U.S. I've hunted high and low for this exotic tea in India ever since. The other day I find it, oh so casually, at The Bombay Store. Since then no weekend has gone by without its consumption.

It not only tastes really smooth, but also has a medicinal value. Its a great drink to have when you have a sore throat or a cold and is said to aid digestion. Works like magic everytime. It is made traditionally in a Kashmiri Samovar kettle, a large decorated urn with burning coals underneath. A pan on a cooking range works just as well!

A teaspoon of this potent tea yields around 4 cups worth of brew.

Procedure:

~Boil 4 cups of water, add sugar per taste, and a pinch of each - cinnamon powder and cardamom (i personally like less of cinnamon and more of cardamon).

~Add a teaspoon of Kahwa leaves and let the mixture brew on lower flame for an additional 10 minutes.

~Strain the drink and then garnish it with almonds slivers. (As a variation, you could also add a strand or two of Saffron, and garnish with Pistachios).

~Serve piping hot and enjoy!!!

A nice variation to the usual tea/coffee social offering, dont you think?!!

I have a ceramic fixation...

Everytime I go anywhere, I seek another item made of ceramic to add to my burgeoning collection (hubby just doesnt get it! It occupies too much space.....It costs too much....Why do we need it?....You dont even use the ones you already have....blah....blah....).

It is not the fine china that i seek. Give me the most colorful/almost kitschy/the cheaper the better/the one with the unusual shape - kind to add to my collection.

If you can mix and match them, their value goes even higher for me! If they come with a lid, thats exceptional value!!

Most of my prized possesions come from the local bazaars. For Pune, this would mean Tulsibaug and the likes.

Check out these priceless masterpieces....

Who let the pigs out?

Last few days have been spent marooned at home owing to the swine flu threat. This gave me an opportunity to indulge in a few things that I wouldnt have otherwise....

- Taught the kids how to play chess. Dint know what I was getting into.... now my son wants me to play chess with him all the time. Taught him to play it with himself as his own opponent. And guess what....... now he wins everytime!!

- Actually took the books out of the shelf and curled up with them.

- Baked a cake or two.

- Broke a glass or two.

- Spent an entire day in pajamas, with oil in my hair!! Even dared to open the main door in this attire. Felt very liberated after that!! (yes, this is what it has come to)

- Started with spring/divali cleaning

- Watched some really old movies, including Khoon Bhari Maang. Hadnt realized what a cheesy movie this one was the first time around in the eighties. I actually thought Rekha looked better before her transformation!

My vegetables have been growing rapidly.
Here's the Methi (fenugreek). Dont know if that clover leaf is a weed or not.


The Karela (bitter gourd) has been growing too fast for its own good...

Tomatoes and Eggplant. Will deserve a bigger container once they've proved their growth oriented ability.....(gosh, my corporate world experiences just came gushing out!!)

Monsoon is here, or is it?

गीली नहीं ज़मीन
पीली पड़ गयी अर्जी
बारिश की तो इस बार
ढीली पड़ गयी मर्जी
(The Earth aint wet
the requests have turned yellow (as in old paper eventually turning yellow)
the rains have, this time
lost their will to shower)

The elusive Monsoon has played truant this year. It started on a promising note, only to dry up, to show a late start, only to dry up again. Here are a few pictures I managed to click when it did rain like it usually does this time of the year......




My garden, a continuous work in progress.... The plants just love this season. They seem so much happier, in a state of celebration.

It has been one looooong break....

Well, I did a lot of things these last few months..... everything except for blogging. One of the highlights during this sabbatical was our Goa trip. Gorgeous beaches, wonderful Goan architecture, loads of greenery and tropical flavors. Check out some of these pics from my trip.....

Our trip started with some pakodas and chai on Amboli ghat. One of the best eating experience I've encountered on my travels. Beautiful scenery with the valley and hills all around, and lots of monkeys vying for food thrown their way by eager passersby.
And the most delicious pakodas I've ever had. All for Rs.5.00 per plate!!!!

Goa is dotted with beautiful churches....

Goan architecture is something else. A blend of European and South American flavors. Well, the Portugese left behind some beautiful influences. I saw some bold use of bright colors like canary green, sunset yellow, peacock blue, etc. Here's one interesting building with a beautiful shade of blue...

Pan anyone? This pan-wala had the most colorful assortment of condiments. Very attractive looking, even for the local flies!!

Flowerlady outside the Mangeshi Temple...

And ofcourse, the beaches!!!!!..........who needs footwear in Goa?!!
Sigh! I'm the designated caretaker :-(

Oh yes, a Kingfisher bottle cap, IS a part of nature in Goa ;-)
So long Goa.... gonna leave my beach slippers behind until next time...