Hot and Happening- Hyderabad!

We spent the weekend at Hyderabad and covered a lot more than expected:

Footprints left at
Ramoji Film City
Falaknuma Palace, where we also had lunch
Golconda Fort and Qutb Shahi Tombs
Salar Jung Museum
Chowmahalla Palace
Paigah Tombs
Birla Mandir
Jain Temple and the Shiva temple in Kolanupaka village (also called as Kulpak)
Lumbini Park and Hussain sagar lake

Photo ops
Charminar, Mecca Masjid
Spanish Mosque in Begumpet
Bangles at the bazaar

Food
Ate at Falaknuma Palace, Chutney, Abhiruchi, Dwarka, Taj Mahal, Paradise, Hyderabad House
Enjoyed some punugulu from a street stall
Saw but did not buy anything at Karachi Bakery and Pullareddy

Friends
Met blogger friends- Laks, Ro and Utbt
Met old Blore neighbours who had shifted to Hbad last year

More on each of the above over the next few days.

Down and Out(ing)

Missed meeting M from Chennai who was visiting Blore since all at home have been rather unwell.

But met two good friends ( both from our alma mater) who dropped by at home. Great to see the kids bond as always.

I went to take a quick peek at the Strand sale and forgot to buy the book I most wanted- one by Sabuda!!

We went to Kala Madhyam at Chitra Kala Parishat . Picked up a variation of Warli called Chittara. Most of the stuff is made up of the regular suspects but some of it was enchanting.

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

Me: Aditi! You love Amma ?

Aditi: Yes

Me:How much?

Aditi: Too much!!

Got to go!!

Went to the Hundred Hands collective and got some lovely stuff from NIMHANS, a Gond artist and even some yummy eats ...last year we had picked up Sanchi paper cutting work.

Managed a quick trip to Book Fair which was not as grand or crowded as last year.

Do visit ST for my recent review of an interesting book- Island's end

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 .

What she did this summer...

Well technically she is still doing since summer is still on...

• Sai Visharam, a beach resort in Karnataka
• Chinatmani ( to be with indulgent grand folks)
• Cubbon Park, Lal Bagh, Ulsoor lake
• Stanley ka Dabba at the theatre
• Green pocket ( at last)
• A dentist visit
• Some family dos

Need to go to Bangalore Palace sometime soon-  I have not been able to take her for this.

Summer surely has been with a capital S

• Swimming - not been able to do much of late since the pool is in repair
• Summer camp at Kids Kouch which included  key board, dance, story telling , craft and cooking
• Swingers Dance workshop- which she thoroughly enjoys

Much to her disappointment, skating did not happen.

At home

• (Cr)Art: Kolam from grandmas and Felt work with me
• Hindi script by herself
• Abacus - a bit reluctantly!!
• Reading and being read stories
• Globe hopping- using a globe/ atlas
• India hopping- through dress up and discussion
• Making cards for birthdays galore and writing notes
• Helping in the kitchen- peeling veggies, juice making
• Chilling out with her sister and generally being a kid- the BEST part

Oh yes, we paid off our house loan on flat no 2. Yipee to us. (Though we have a soft loan to pay off still to my dad :-) )
Time to  invest in Blore.

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!

Things to do

Reading The Englishman's Cameo - pretty gripping so far.

There is a new play by Feroze Khan in case you are able to make it. I loved his Tumhari Amrita and Saalgirah. Will have to wait for next time for this one.

And the Book Fair is coming to town.

Tulika is launching their Panchatantra, with Mother Earth mechandise and there is a story session by Jeeva on the 13th.

I had got this series along with some other gems during my last Tulika visit a couple weeks ago. Review will be up soon .

The Chennai Chronicles- IV- The land of Filter Coffee

When I say Chennai- if you think heat, conservative, heavy weight politicians, Rajnikanth, idlis, dosas, Tamil...in no particular order of course... you probabaly are right but you are also very very inadequate in your description.


You are surely not a Chennaite and not even a Madrasi( as most North Indians and West Indians call all those in the South).

Agreed, it is not bindaas Bombay. The only other city I can claim to know. But, it takes a few years of living here to know how rich and forward, how willing to experiment and yet how grounded this city is. A really nice city to live in.

Where Hindi may not be spoken but English, a more universal language, is definitely attempted

Where even the lower class enjoys a fairly decent lifestyle ( going by my small sample of maid, car driver, etc)

Where there are entertainment options to suit every interest ( including even mall shopping if you wish)

Where you can come home from work ( if you wish to) by 6pm and enjoy some family time daily

Where there is something for every taste and talent on earth...

If you compare the four main metros :
Chennai traffic is really easy. Yes the autos are bad but you can get places fast if you opt for the efficient and now attarctive AC buses or the local metro which is yet to have enough takers. And the roads are good by Indian standards.

You have a huge number of theatres and it is possible to get tickets to the movie of your choice 10 minutes before the show!!

I am an early bird, and life begins early in Chennai- by choice.
You have not one , but 2 really good beaches on offer
You can still think of large flats right in Chennai, no need to travel to satellite cities and so on.
As a visitor you can find hotel accommodation fairly easily.

If you like music, you will find you can enjoy, learn music of all genres- from western classical, chamber music, Kollywood gaanas, rock bands, Carnatic, Hindustani, instrumental, etc . Is it any wonder that both Illayaraja and Rahman hail from here?

It is the same with dance, art, films (and as an aside, apart from W Bengal, Tamil actresses have made it huge in Bollywood ) and books.

Ah! the Chennai book fair, the most innovative of Indian children's publishers- Tara, Tulika, Karadi, Chandamama earlier... you name it you have it. And wonderful book stores from Higginbothams to the pavement shops, from Odyssey to Landmark from Libraries such as Easwari to BookandBorrow and even Toyzdayout....

You have umpteen options in terms of eating out and let me state clearly that only a small fraction of Chennai is vegetarian, me included in that. Tamil non veg extends beyond Chettinad chicken and is considered delightful by many. Peek into any Military hotel or count the number of Thalapakattus on a street.

Cafes- Amethyst, Madras Terrace, Chamiers and many more with their unique character and of course the usual chains of Coffee Day and Barista and so on

Chennai is hospitable and warm and fills you up- like a cup of filter coffee- to use a cliche.

I shall recap in detail, subject wise, all the things that I love about Chennai.


Till then enjoy.....


This interview I conducted with an incredibly talented lady at Saffron Tree.

Every day is women's day- but for those who want to have a gala time in Chennai - there is a car rally, some random exhibitions, a soulful sounding concert by Bombay Jayashree and so many movies and even adventure sports to pick out from. So go ahead and use the excuse to celebrate being God's gift to mankind.

Gemanastics

Anushka's mother is extremely fond of viewing gymnastics on TV or live if possible.

When she came up on the ad for Trapezia at the Citi centre she decided that Anush had to go and see it. Paati took Anush and boy, were they mesmerised.

" Amma they did so much gemanastics. One aunty and uncle went up and down a curtain and turned- like this and like this ... like they were flying in air...then one uncle or aunty in a skirt went round and round and danced so long... round and round ....i enjoyed myself amma!! ..... you kept any surprise ready for me at home??...."


I have seen Tanura the Egyptian dance which leaves u in a trance like state but not the rest from Hungary and Belgium. The latter reminds me a lot of the our desi mallakamba and rope yoga .
If you are a Chennaite, do catch it.

Anush has promised to take me to it later when Aditi grows up.... in a few days!
I forgot to give a camera to my mom and Anush. Next outing of theirs I will remedy that.


Pics courtesy google and Thehindubeta

Blog Action Day

I have been blogging for 2 yrs now and with about 430 posts done, I felt that I should participate in this cause.

Blog Action Day is about mass participation and anyone is free to join in. There is no limit on the number of posts, the type of posts or the direction of thoughts and opinions.
In 2008 the aim is to focus the blogging community’s energies and passions on the mammoth issue of global poverty.

My post is focussed on the efforts of Kaakkum Karangal which does not even have a website as I know. They are a Chennai based NGO, which supports orphans, the aged and ill treated women.

They accept donations - nothing is too small- you can donate in kind and in cash.
They value your time as well - you could choose to spend it with the old or the young.

Annually we make a contribution to them on Anushka's bday. We receive hand written letters of thank you from the child whose education and care the money funds.

I know this is not enough but it is a start, a small step from us.

And another thought, most of us in India have maids ( who are often unreliable) let us not cringe to increase their pay annually. It need not be based on the market rate. After all we enjoy our annual increment as well don't we? And in most cases their salary is what we would spend on one dinner at a good restaurant. And if we feel the money will not be put to good use, let us educate their child- pay for their books or school term fees , anything to help.