An Aam Story

When I was just a little girl
Staying in a house in Vijayawada

I loved to eat mangoes sitting in the back yard
A skinny figure in a white slip frock

My dad and I would compete as to who could finish faster
And who was left with dirtier fingers/ face
And while you may find it hard to believe,
He always won the former and me the latter :-)

There was a little step there which led on to a garden patch
My mom had planted December flowers and  marigolds and even some spinach

One day I just decided to 'plant' the seeds of what I had eaten
I just shoved three seeds at intervals, a bit under the ground and soon forgot about them

Lo behold  after a few weeks, there was not one but three saplings sprouting
And to think they grew into  mini trees by the time we were leaving

My ex neighbours tell me one of them still bears yummy mangoes
Thinking of the little girl and the mango seeds she left behind, a long time ago.....

Linking it up to Tulika's mango stories

Rainbow Ice

Just had fun with the girls by making a multi coloured ice lolly with mango- blue Curacao- strawberry squash!! This was the inspiration.

Breakfast at MTR

Managed to go at breakfast time for breakfast to MTR near LalBagh. It does make you feel like you are in a Tirupathi queue. But it was worth the wait.

Went to a Subway outlet where a customer had managed to lean in and break the glass cover that protects the salad/ fillings etc- what a waste !!

Saw Gods must be Crazy with Anush and loved what all she noticed and asked.

*******
Me: Aditi! How did you pour water and make a mess baby?
Aditi: I managed amma!

DrumRoll

Aditi's first train journey led us to a great trip. We spent Christmas weekend at Hampi, Badami and Pattadkal with our close family friends. Aditi and her friend were very entertaining and Anush and her buddy were on great behaviour having fun only as little girls do and imbibing a bit of the culture.

We realised we could have included Bijapur maybe with slightly better planning. So for those of you who wish to do this, keep it in mind- 3 - 4 days and you can cover all the places, assuming you are willing to start early daily.

While most of what we saw in Hampi is covered in the earlier trip post, there is a new pin hole shadow in the Virupaksha temple and a new bell has been discovered and displayed in the Krishna temple. We caught the elephant bathing session, a road side mehendi, a lovely trinket- a 2 paise coin finger ring and also did the boat trip across the river this time.

There are buggies now in the Vittala area and the dust is really way too much if the kids are allergic. The musical pillars have been cordoned off to the public since the structure looks rather unstable and possibly due to some mindless people using sticks and stones on the pillars!

But somehow the old grandeur seems to have diminished or since it was the second time, was my memory larger than the real thing?

Badami was fabulous despite the crowds. The cave temples/ durbars were filled with stories. The smiling Harihara and the seated Vishnu on the serpent will stay with me forever. The lake nearby saw an indulgent lady let Aditi wash clothes with her.

Pattadkal is sheer poetry and while Aditi's nature call made me miss some of the guide's gyaan, just seeing all the structures left me wondering what great skill artists and masons possesed in the years gone by.

Apart from the Mango Tree ( still too crowded and poor service and great ambiance) Badami Court and the German cafe on the other side in Hampi are places worth eating at. Small and cosy eat was the Durga cafe by the Virupaksha. Apart from the usual suspects, Israeli and Tibetan food have joined the menu in most eateries.

We were in an adequate enough place called Padma Guesthouse. I was afraid of the large lizard that paid us a visit once ( almost like a chameleon) but otherwise it was comfortable with a homely feel.

What was saddening is the brewing issue of the proposed dislocation of the smaller shops/ vendors/ autos near the bazaar to render a pristine historic feel to the place. While there must be another side to the issue some locals mentioned it is the vested interest of the powers that be. Here is a piece on that if you are interested in knowing more.

Roti making - a demo

By Aditi

Step one: Behind scenes , beg your grandma/ ma for dough. Threaten to throw a tantrum if they do not give it to you immediately.

Enjoy the stress busting squishiness of the dough

Pat it and treat it with love

Use the rolling pin for what else- rolling

If the roti gets stuck call adult to rescue and dust "powder" on it

Meanwhile

Ask all to see,

pose for photo,

refuse to give pin- stone back

Give roti to be put on tava.

Then gracefully feed all in the family with the roti, but decide you will not risk eating it yourself

Earn a testimonial from paati and have a post done on it for your future reference.

Cuppy Cakes

Went to Cake wala and was delighted by the spread and the prices. Not as yummy as Merwans, Mumbai but getting there and a lovely display to actually watch the master baker/ cake artists in action.

Here is a blog that my Blore baker friends may find useful and others will find interesting.

And here are some reportedly awesome cupcake ladies.... apart from our own Sin-a-Mon who now retails out of Chai patty as well.

Therapy

The Retail kind

Went to Samarkand a few days back. Good kebabs, but most of the unique items such as Baklava were not available. Khyber in Mumbai and Kabab Factory at Chennai get my vote over this.

Mc flurry our favourite dessert on our tight budget Europe trip had come to India but is not as good as the memory.

Maiyas has opened a snack branch in Indira Nagar

Went and got some cool traditioal outfits for the kids and did I mention T To teens in Ulsoor. A good place to shop.

Anush made some lovely greeting cards for school from some stuff from etsy and her own ideas.

And Music Therapy

The Airforce Orchestra will perforn at Manekshaw grounds on 29th again.

Siddhi

The Artnavy and the N family set out to Chunchi falls. It got a bit difficult to lug the younger kids all the way and did not seem worth the effort since the fall was not a spectacular one.

But we found a small gurgling stream  and the children splashed and washed about and we generally had a ball.

We then headed to Mekedatu. The calm Arkavati and the rough Cauvery join here. We were thoroughly mesmerised by the power of the Kaveri in the gorgeous gorge and the lovely rock formations there. Specially how the water had polished the stones to a shine and the perfect holes and arches that the water had created over time.

And the coracle ride was finally done.

******

Went to ISKON Higher Taste finally and Loved the food. Wish they had some of the dishes one associates with Krishna like poha- jaggery and so on as well

******

Anushka wanted me to make Honey fried noodles ( darsaan) and I did.

It was a success and she wanted to carry it to school today as well!

Hear me out!

In our building we have a young girl who is hearing impaired.

She plays with the rest of kids. They speak in signs and smiles. Like Singing hands.
Everyone tries to include her without thinking too much about it.

It is often said that Kids can be brutal/ cruel even.

But kids are also really large hearted aren't they?


**********



It was the birthday of Anush's cousin, the inspiration for a book by an extended family member.
More on the book later.


We celebrated at the Indira Nagar Little Italy- AWESOME. Anush also made her own pizza from rolling it out to baking it ....

Of Boo, Bloggers, Benjarong and a Boy

We had a get together on Friday evening for Tinner ( as JLT thoughtfully coined) in honour of our visitor from Switzerland- Boo and her adorable daughters. She was one of the first mommy blogs I read before embarking on blogging.

The do was held at my place and a lot of lovely ladies ( Mamma mia Abha, JLT, Monika, Poppin's Mom, Aryan's mom, Starry, Collection of stars, Artsy Craftsy Shruti, P, A, and Boo of course) and lovelier kids turned up. Lots of banter, craft courtesy Shruti, eats and fun happened.

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Our wedding anniversary on Thursday, was marked by a yummy- rich dinner from Amma with both my SILs joing us as well and the girls having a ball with the cousins.

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The poonal ceremony of Navy's young nephew was interesting and I was amazed at his involvement with the rituals and even allowing his head to be tonsured. S, really awesome! Anush is enjoying Blore a lot more due to the multiple family dos and therefore her proximity with her cousins/ second cousins galore.

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We went to Benjarong last night with my maternal aunt from Delhi. A must do even in Bangalore. ( had only frequented this place in Chennai so far)

21 and more

Aditi turned 21 months on Saturday. We celebrated Father's day at her play school and found she had really settled in well despite the agonising wails that continue, as we drop and pick her up daily. Anush joined in on the fun as a BIG sister.

I had a whirlwind trip to Mumbai on Friday and managed a visit to Andheri for lunch feasting on street side eats. Also went to Merwans! Took some of those treats to the playschool.

It was my folk's wedding anniversary on Sunday. Anush made a lovely card for them using gemstones. We enjoyed dinner at a not so known restaurant called Pink Popaddam, a part of Ishta hotel at Ulsoor. The girls both wore pink to the place and for once their mom was okay with that :-)

Very innovative, different and surprisingly yummy food- sample this- a paan- gulkand- vanilla shot!! Go there if you haven't already. Even if it is just to enjoy the best/ most informed service I have ever experienced.

Mysore beckoned

Went to Mysore for the weekend.

Met up with old friends and folks- Navy had done his college there.

Ate at the Olive Graden/ Tree where we had been a decade ago. Watched CSK win the IPL and must admit was thrilled though I should support the Blore team now.

Enjoyed the zoo thoroughly and wondered how the name Mysore coud be mispronounced - My sore and how foreigners may find it amusing .

Fruits of the season

While we have always gone berserk over mangoes, Aditi follows suit.

My mom recently found these fruits in Jaynagar.

The light green ones taste like 'rose' water almost - panneer soda for those who are familiar- very polarising response- Navy loves them-they are also filled with nostalgia for him.

The middle pink ones are light green in Mumbai and are a watery fruit- I love it but no one else eats them at home.

The small green ones are hog plums(?) meant for pickles.

My Day !

I was flooded with gifts- flowers, sunglasses, a new cassette - CD- DVD- radio player, DVDs, clothes and cards, cake- cookies and wishes on FB, on the blog and in person/ over phone. Just when I thought it could not get better- we went for dinner to NH 8 - highly recco for veg Rajasthani food barring rotis all was stuff good.

Anush is attending Summer Fun at Swingers and is really having a ball!

Went to Kobe's sizzlers a few days back. Am note sure I like sizzlers anymore( barring the brownie one of course) though teh place and stuff was nice enough.

And here is an Anushism that left us in splits- we were attending a family do on Monday
Anush to her thaatha- " Thaathu, you are looking so smart! " Thaatu was in a gorgeous white kurta- pyjama.

Enter Navy in a white shirt and a mismatched off white dhoti. " Appa thaathu is looking so smart and you are looking so funny....." Navy will never forget to wear a contrast shirt now on with his dhoti.

Rosy lips, teeth without

Anush was so excited to lose her first tooth. "I am very happy- now I will have a new tooth Amma!" she exclaimed.

By chance found some fab stuff for the kids at the Wilson garden Tirupur garments sale.



Explored an idly place called Madurai Idly stall and found the pongal great.


Ate bajjis in the rain, in what seems to be a mini VV puram food street in Wilson garden


Had the first Yummy mango of the season.


All in all a great weekend spent visiting family and friends and eating of course.


And the dress up was like Kate the princess who got "kalyanam".

Here is the Queen (great grandmother) with her great & grand princesses

Food and friends

Had cousins over for the weekend and what a blast we had.

Also went to Cream Centre and to Ente Keralam on various occasions and loved both.

Missed mentioning this Davangere Butter dosa place off Gandhi Bazaar- really a yummy bfast place.

Anush has just begun an Intro to Keyboard classes and the keyboard gifted by her grandfolks a long while back is being put to good use!

Indian Sugarcraft

We are so in awe of the sugar craft done on cakes. But our own sweets can be tricky and tedious to make as well.

The above is a pic of the mould ( a set of 4 wooden blocks bound by rubber bands) that Navy and his mom used to make sugar dolls for Anushka and her cousins on Sankranthi.



Check this video out if you want to know more.

Pune

Think Pune and I think of Shrewsberry biscuits. I am not too fond of Bhakarwadi( Chitle bandhu)

A charming fellow blogger got me these awesome biscuits and Lonavala Choco-Walnut fudge ( A1 and Cooper rule)  and some interesting dry fruit jelly-candy - halwa kind of sweet. Thanks Uma.

I wonder if you get any of those in Blore/ Chennai. I think you do get a version called Badamika at Anand sweets which is a bit like the Shrewsberry biscuit.

This was certainly a trip down memory lane. I still address my paati as Poona paati since that is where she lived when  I began to speak as a baby. She left Pune but the name stuck on.

Birds of a feather

Had a wonderful trip to Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary. We went with my SIL and family- in itself guaranteed fun all the way.

Saw a lot of birds- pied kingfishers, egrets, painted storks, spoonbills, cormorants, herons, ibis, some others that I do not recall, a few mean looking but sleepy crocs and countless bats. Anush was in wonder though a bit tired. She also wanted to see a croc with its mouth open wide!!

We were told more birds visit in March- April including the flamingos which evaded us at Pulicat a few years ago but which are fresh in my memory from Nallasarovar ten years ago!

Will possibly do another trip in April.

We passed by sugar city Mandya, the Maddur vada town, Ramnagar- the Sholay location and of course the obligatory stop at Chennapatna. Photos were taken by my able nephew and will come in later.

Also visited the temple at Srirangapatna and was dazed by the crowds. Way too much to feel comfortable with a baby and a by now tired kid. Did a quick darshan and stepped out to enjoy the architecture and air.

Ate at Adigas- very good and Kamats- not so good. Missed thatte idlis in Bidadi. That too maybe for next time.

Clowning around

We went to the Great Bombay circus with Anush and her buddy and were completely mesmerised. They had a mix of Russian, Indian, Chinese and African acrobats/ performers.

A tad too lengthy on the whole, but each individual act was crisp and awesome.

Not too many animals so that made us feel comfy what with animal rights being such a concern nowadays. Anush's friend was bored mid way but Anush wanted to go again the next day!!


Instead, the next day, we visited Egg factory for an English breakfast and alos saw a Tamil movie- Man Madan Ambu which was fairly entertaining and given that I adore Madhavan and Kamal uses him well in comic roles- it was great!

We also visited a friend off Mysore road and it reminded me so much of Hiranandani Powai crossed with Kotturpuram!