Impressions

ZOOMING OUT

2008-09-22T16:51:00.000-07:00

Temple at Livermore, CA

KACHORI

2008-09-18T18:49:00.000-07:00

My earliest memory of Kachori dates back to my childhood. A great aunt, an expert cook, was visiting us one summer. One such lazy afternoon she decided to treat us to some kachoris. I had never even heard of kachoris before and imagined she was preparing something truly exotic.

I still faintly remember the scene; my great aunt seated on the kitchen floor, expertly filling the stuffing into the crust and then flattening them into neat little kachoris, all while maintaining a steady stream of tales from here and there. Although the kachori left such a strong memory, I don't remember having it again......

One of the reasons I enjoy cooking is for the sense of accomplishment that it provides. I go about with a smug smile on my face, after trying out a dish that is not regularly made or after attempting a recipe that requires skill. (of course if they turn out well) Praise from grandma is an added motivation.

Thus I embarked on a kachori making adventure this afternoon. My recipe, as always, was a mash-up of multiple recipes with my own little variations. I like this site because the recipes are accompanied by a video, always helpful when you are not sure about "what should be the consistency of the batter" or "how dry should the filling be", etc. Needless to say I peeped in here before I got down to making my kachoris.

My kachoris turned out tasty but slightly chewy...wonder why!...was it because the crust should have been thinner? or was it because the temperature of the oil while frying was not right? Any guesses?

I served my kachoris with some homemade tangy tamarind-date chutney.

BERKELEY KITE FESTIVAL

2008-08-20T16:49:00.000-07:00

There is something about the image (mental or real) of a colorful kite, cruising the sky, which always brings a smile to my face, and fills me with hope and positivism. Maybe it’s the bright colors or perhaps the bounce with which the kite moves in the sky. To me, a flying kite is a symbol of conviction and perseverance, virtues that we require to keep plowing through life, to achieve our goals and to turn our dreams into reality.

Kite flying is a popular sport in Northern India. I had only read about kites/kite-flying in books and seen the euphoric atmosphere surrounding Indian kite-flying festivities in the movies. So when I heard about the Berkeley Kite Festival, it wasn’t too surprising that I decided to go.

The festival was running through the weekend between 11 am – 2pm. We headed for Berkeley on Sunday after a quick brunch. Considering that it was summer and that the festival was in its 22^nd year, we were expecting a crowd, but weren’t really sure of the size. As we neared Berkeley, we were able to see the big kites suspended for display. A friend had warned us about traffic in the area and tipped us about his parking woes. Sensing that we too were destined to similar fate, we turned back and found a parking spot in town, maybe a mile or two away from the park where the festival was running.

Long traffic lines near the festival area

Throngs of people, of all ages, walked towards the kite arenas. A group of musicians jammed, as onlookers swayed and clapped. The sky looked glum with no patch of blue and we were glad to be bundled up in layers. The monotone of the sky was broken by the colorful kites, some suspended for display and some drifted in the sky, like paintbrushes sweeping across a blank canvas with colorful strokes. While many, like us seemed to be there just to enjoy the scene or hang-out with friends and families, there seemed to be many photo enthusiasts, armed with cameras, from the simple point and shoot, to SLRs. Families with little ones had their own kites. It was fun watching children fly kites, their expressions darting between curiosity, focus and excitement.

Kite festival area

Musicians jamming

Some kites that were on display

After touring the arena for all the interesting looking kites, we stopped near the main arena to watch the kite ballet and synchronized kite flying. The kite flyers precisely controlled their kites to make it seem that their kites were moving to the music playing. I was very impressed by this display. The next scheduled program was the Rokkaku kite battle. As we waited near the fight arena, Arnold invited us and a few others to join the fight. I was excited that V would get to fly a kite. But unsure of my kite flying skills, I tried to excuse myself, citing photography as an excuse. But Arnold made me abandon my camera and handed me the line and gloves with “Taking pictures is no fun, flying a kite is”. So I dumped my camera and put on the gloves as Arnold gave us the “kite flying 101”. I got a cute looking sky-blue kite with pink daisies – numbered 34. “Maybe I am the the Rokkaku champ waiting to be discovered”, my delusional mind suggested. You see, my house number is 34 and my home phone number used to end in 34.

Arnold giving lessons

Either it was my non-combative nature interfering, or simply the fact that I couldn’t steer my kite, I was far from trying to get at the neck of other kites in the fight. The commentator commented on chickened fighters (apparently I wasn’t the only one! ) and challenged them to be more aggressive. Finally somebody noticed that it was time to send me home, my cutie kite tumbled down to the ground and that ended my dreams of becoming a Rokkaku champ. Oh well, it was fun while it lasted.

Next in line was the candy drop event. I was curious to see how they would do it and also hoped to get some nice pictures of kids scrambling for candy. Kids had lined up for the candy drop, the youngest ones (3 yr olds I think) with their parents. A bag of candy would be hoisted up on the kite line, the kite line would then be cut loose and the bag opened. Kids of a specific age group would be called in and they would run around scouring the ground for candy. Volunteers with bags of candy would throw some more candy on the ground just to create a ruckus.

Children lined up for the candy drop

We then made our way to the food stalls to get our candy, oops! fries. We had seen all that there was to see and decided there wasn’t much left to do.

Content at having done something new and fun, we bade good-bye to the kites.

IN SEARCH OF THE PERFECT DM

2008-08-14T16:47:00.000-07:00

Certain dishes leave an indelible impression on you, so much so that you crave for the same experience, everytime you eat the dish. Some set on a pursuit to find a restaurant that can guarantee them that experience, while some, (like me) undertake the challenge of appeasing their taste buds by replicating the flavors on my own - in my very own kitchen.

I fell in love with 'Dal Makhani' (DM) ever since I had it at a restaurant last year. Now, DM has become comfort food for me. This week I finally got down to trying it on my own. I read many DM recipes on the Internet. I didn't follow any particular recipe to the dot, but picked up ideas from all over. Here is my version, which turned out to my liking, except that it was a tad too hot for me.

Pre-Prep:

Soak whole urad dal and rajma (red kidney beans) overnight. I measured the urad dal and then threw in some rajma.
Pressure cook the dals. I added salt while pressure cooking. I also dropped in a couple of bay leaves, a black cardamom, a cinnamon stick and a few cloves while pressure cooking, so that their flavors would be nicely absorbed by the dals.

For the puree:

Grind tomatoes-ginger-garlic-green chillies to a fine paste.

Procedure:

Heat oil for tadka. Add heeng, mustard seeds, jeera seeds when the oil is hot.
Saute finely chopped onions when the seeds start crackling.
Once the onions are done, add the puree and saute it till its cooked.
Add pepper powder, anardana powder, some turmeric powder and red chilli poowder (optional)
Add the dal and mash it slightly. Mix well.
Add water, salt (if necessary) and allow the mixture to simmer.
Add some milk and simmer for a bit.
Garnish with chopped coriander and a dollop of butter. I also used some chopped spring onions for the garnishing.

Tip:

Remove the whole masalas from the dal once it is cooked, else, their flavor can be over powering.
Be careful with the spice. I used 4 ingredients (green chillies, pepper powder, red chilli powder and cloves) and a bit too much of the pepper powder.

WE FLY HIGH

2008-07-30T18:23:00.000-07:00

I wish I were a kite that could fly high, high, high...

“Don't be afraid of opposition. Remember, a kite rises against, not with the wind.”
~ Hamilton Wright Mabie

What doesn't have wings but can fly?? - Kite (eesh that was baad). We had a good time at the Kite Festival in Berkeley this past weekend. If you are in the Bay Area and missed this one, fret not. Santa Cruz will be having a similar event in Sept. (13th, Saturday)

A detailed post about the BKF is here.

DRAGON

2008-07-29T11:44:00.000-07:00

I see a dragon. What do you see?

The eye sees only what the mind is prepared to comprehend.
~ Henri Bergson

Reality is what we take to be true.
What we take to be true is what we believe.
What we believe is based upon our perceptions.
What we perceive depends upon what we look for.
What we look for depends upon what we think.
What we think depends upon what we perceive.
What we perceive determines what we believe.
What we believe determines what we take to be true.
What we take to be true is our reality.
~ Gary Zukav

‘One new perception,
one fresh thought,
one act of surrender,
one change of heart,
one leap of faith,
can change your life forever.’
~ Robert Holden

What you see and hear depends a good deal on where you are standing; it also depends on what sort of person you are.
~ C. S. Lewis.

Men are disturbed not by things, but by the view which they take of them.
~Epictetus

The voyage of discovery is not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.
~ Marcel Proust.

People only see what they are prepared to see.
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

We don't see things as they are, we see things as we are.
~ Anais Nin

FORT BRAGG - III

2008-07-28T12:37:00.000-07:00

Monday, Day 3: I feel most tourist places in America are overrated. Most disappoint me upon arrival. But what I admire is their smart marketing attitude. I wish the Indian tourism industry learnt a thing or two and used it to promote all the wonderful places that are really worth the visit. Anyhoo, so I am always seeking travel experiences beyond the usual and much-touted. So it won’t be surprising that I decided to take the ride aboard the Skunk Train. I will give anything for opportunities that allow me to commune with nature and this promised to be one, I hoped. I had booked tickets in advance for the morning ride to Willits. As we lined to board the train for a 3 hour journey through the redwood forests, a train singer entertained us. The train had four compartments; two of them were regular compartments with seats, one of them was a pantry car, and the middle compartment was an open compartment (the best part about the train).

Skunk Train arrives

No sooner had the journey begun than people, especially those with kids started making way towards the open compartment. We hoped that the crowd’s enthusiasm would wane soon. We could then go to the compartment and enjoy the views with fewer people. But it was hard to sit inside and we soon headed out. The train moved along the winding tracks and took us deeper and deeper into the redwood forests away from civilization and any of its signs. It was cloudy and therefore slightly cold, but every once in a while the sun would come out and bathe the canvas before us in its glow.

People enjoying the open car

The lady in the uniform was our train conductor

We got down at Willits and while the engineers worked on attaching the engine to the other end of the train, people enjoyed their picnic lunches, kids danced to the train singer’s songs and I between taking pictures tried to take in as much of the quaint setting as possible. Technical glitches delayed our start back from Willits, but I don’t think anybody minded the delay. I would recommend highly recommend this ride if you are a nature lover – worth every penny!

Picnic tables at Willits

We were really hungry by the time the train got us back to FB. We spotted a small Mexican restaurant and decided to try our luck. The lunch was excellent. With happy hearts and stomachs we bade farewell to FB. Traffic was unusually good and we were home in time for dinner.

A journey that will be fondly cherished

FORT BRAGG - II

2008-07-28T09:59:00.000-07:00

Sunday, Day 2: Mary had predicted that since the ocean water looked blue on Saturday, Sunday would be clear and sunny. How glad we were to see that her prediction was correct. After a good breakfast at our BnB we headed out. We are regular hikers and wanted to try something different this time. We were hoping to rent bikes and bike along the 10 mile trail. We walked to the bike rental shop in town and were surprised and also disappointed to find it closed. With tourists flocking the area for the long weekend who would have expected the shop to be closed!?

Tops of buildings in FB

Oh well, so we got into the car and headed to some nearby SPs. We hiked at Russian Gulch SP and Van Damme SP. Russian Gulch offered some nice views of the ocean. We stopped by Mendocino for lunch; I was really disappointed with it. I guess previous night’s dinner had got my expectations high.

Views from the SPs we visited

I was really excited about visiting the Glass Beach. The beach area was used as a dump ground for many years until authorities decided to stop that. Over the years, the pounding surf smoothened the glass trash dumped here. Visitors will find the beach sprinkled with smooth glass pebbles that glisten in the sun. I think years of visitors and lack of new glass trash has reduced the glass on the beach; at least I thought it wasn’t easy to spot. I combed the beach for the glass pebbles and got some home as souvenirs of this trip.

Glass at Glass Beach

I really wanted to do the 10 mile trail hike, but having hiked for the better part of the day and gotten good views of the Mendocino coast, I gave up on the hike. I doubt if it the views would have been too different than what we had seen during the day.

We walked along the Pudding Creek Trestle before returning to the comforts of our BnB.

Pudding Creek Trestle and views from the Trestle

I didn’t want to take any risk with my dinner, so we headed to good old Subway. I also wanted to try the local ice-cream (that seemed popular). We grabbed some ice-cream from the Cowlick’s store and rushed back to the Pudding Creek Trestle. We were just in time to see the sun go down. Overall a very satisfying and fun day.

Local popular ice-cream store

FORT BRAGG - I

2008-07-27T20:35:00.000-07:00

Most holidays in India celebrate festivals and so are synonymous to family get-togethers, celebration and the general hullabaloo and enthusiasm that is so quintessentially Indian. As immigrants living in a foreign country, holidays are best utilized, traveling. (if you ignore the rising gas prices that is).

Summer comes with its share of long weekends. We unlike others in this country are always a (?) step behind when it comes to planning trips. It is well-known that, planning in advance ensures that, you get good deals on flights, hotels, etc. But we are one of those people who are doomed to pay more while others seem to miraculously spot deals. We have discovered that procrastination comes with its share of joys. It tends to eliminate options automatically as economically nonviable. Thus, when it is time to make the decision, one is left with fewer choices and the final choice is an obvious one in most cases. As someone wise once said, 'Time is money'. By procrastinating, we like to believe that we save our most precious asset, time, and thus compensate for the extra money we pay for last minute bookings.

When we started thinking of traveling for the long weekend in May, we realized that all the cheap flights and hotel rooms were already taken. So, we decided to head to a place that was within 3-4 hr driving distance from home, and zeroed in on Mendocino. Our planning timeline automatically eliminated flight search from our task-list. However, we did need to find a place to stay. And so began the seemingly never-ending search for the same. We decided to stay in a bed-n-breakfast (BnB) kind of accommodation and grabbed the last available room at the Atrium BnB in Fort Bragg (FB). We felt there was more to do in FB than in the town of Mendocino (10 mi. south). It goes without saying that our lodging decision was aided by the fact that, the Mendocino hotels within our budget were all booked.

The BnB where we stayed

Saturday, Day 1: Rain showers and traffic delayed our journey. We took a slight detour and visited the Pt. Cabrillo light house before making it to FB. We would have liked to see the Fresnel lens there up close, but gave up on that since those tours are not scheduled regularly.

Pt. Cabrillo Lighthouse

Mary, our host at the BnB welcomed us warmly and showed us around. While we relaxed in the garden behind the house with some tea (did I mention the yummy chocolate chip cookies?), Mary offered us hotel recommendations and provided us with ample information about things to do. Later we headed out for dinner, to the highly recommended Nit’s Café which was indeed excellent. A walk after that hearty meal was much needed and we took a stroll around town.

FB is a sleepy town (wikipedia calls it a city) along the rugged coastline of Mendocino. It has a small town look about it which sometimes borders on being lackluster. I was relieved to not see any jazzy stores/malls and the lack of homogeneity that is a trademark of any US community. Our BnB housed a small DVD library. We borrowed some DVDs but soon called it a day, hoping the next day would be warm and sunny.

Nit's cafe for yumm dinner

AWAY FROM HOME

2008-05-28T14:21:00.001-07:00

Taken aboard the skunk train during a recent trip to Fort Bragg, CA.

If you miss the train I'm on, you will know that I am gone,
You can hear the whistle blow a hundred miles,
A hundred miles, a hundred miles, a hundred miles, a hundred miles,
You can hear the whistle blow a hundred miles.....

P.S. - Hindi film music aficionados...did the song sound familiar? Try listening to this song from the movie Jurm.

AN EVENING TO REMEMBER

2008-04-18T08:26:00.001-07:00

...is what the evening of 1st June will be, given that the maestros are performing!

WILL CODE FOR FREE

2008-04-14T15:28:00.001-07:00

No false promises, hidden charges or anything in the fine print. For details click here.

I'd appreciate if you could spread the word :)

....the only thing that a man can do for eight hours a day, day after day, is work. You can't eat eight hours a day nor drink for eight hours a day nor make love for eight hours—all you can do for eight hours is work.....

—William Faulkner

POINT REYES WILDFLOWERS

2008-04-07T08:36:00.000-07:00

We went hiking at Point Reyes NP this Saturday and ended up doing the Woodward Valley Loop (~13mi./21km)! We hadn't planned on a particular trail and took up trails hoping to catch some wildflowers or seeing the ocean and thus ended up doing such a long hike. Bear Valley Trailhead was where we started our hike. The trail was wide and foresty with occasional meandering streams along the way. But what fun it is to hike on a level trail!? So we climbed up the Meadow Trail to Sky Trail. We continued to Woodward Valley and then went down to Coast Trail. As we traversed hills, the blue ocean views only got bigger and bigger. We took a break for lunch and then continued on our hike. We got back on the Bear Valley Trail on which we took another short break at Divine Meadows. We spotted a herd of deer at a distance. I was hoping they'd do some sprinting for us, but they were in no mood for that, since they did not budge. The hike wasn't too strenuous (no drastic elevation changes); of course we were exhausted after being out all day, but it was all worth the wildflowers, deer we spotted, the bird songs we heard and the clear views of the ocean.

I wish I had taken many more flower pictures, oh well...I need help identifying the 1st two flowers in this post. These we spotted on the Bear Valley Trail, two bright little things all by themselves. They were right next to each other and kind of similar yet so different....I'd appreciate if you could point me to their names....

Sky Lupine

Indian Paintbrush

Monkeyflower

Blue eyed Grass

Iris douglasiana (Douglas Iris)

P.S. - We avoided the restroom at Divine Meadows, hoping to use the ones outside the Visitor Center. But that was a bad idea, since the Visitor Center was closed and the restrooms locked by the time we got there! (6pm-ish)

WILDFLOWERS 101

2008-04-02T14:19:00.000-07:00

We were hiking at the Henry Coe State Park last Sunday. The drive to the park is beautiful. The surrounding mountains were green from the earlier rains and in patches dotted with yellow and orange wildflowers. The last part of the drive was along a narrow winding road that kept going up steadily and offered some lovely views.

Newspaper articles about the possible abundance of spring wildflowers this year had gotten me quite excited. So we chose trails that promised us wildflowers. My ideas of floral abundance were not quite met, but maybe we were too early for them. Our camera batteries conked off just a little after we started taking pictures. Anyways, here are a few that we managed to capture...

California poppy

Ookow

Miniature Lupine (?)

Mountain Violet

FRIED GREEN TOMATOES

2008-03-31T14:38:00.001-07:00

I had been craving for some tangy green tomato chutney for quite some time, but I never saw any green tomatoes at the local grocery stores. I had some nice, green tomato salsa at S's place and then I couldn't take it anymore. L suggested I look for Tomatillos in the stores. Last week I found the green tomatoes at the Indian grocery store. I asked the clerk there if they stocked any green tomatoes. He gladly took me to a box full of green tomatoes that he had stowed away fearing nobody would want them!!

Armed with the perfect, sour green tomatoes I turned them into this spicy-sweet n sour chutney.

The secret of life? The secret's in the sauce.

I am an absolute bum when it comes to writing down recipes. G, you asked for it ;)

RECIPE

Roast some sesame and cumin seeds.
Roast some garlic cloves and green chillies with just a little bit of oil.
Roast coarsely chopped chunks of green tomatoes till they soften. Optionally you can saute them in oil. In order to save my non-stick pan I added just a little bit of oil. You can also add onions if you wish.
Grind the ingredients together after adding salt and sugar as per taste.
For the tadka - Heat a little bit oil (may be like a tablespoon). Add asofoetida, mustard seeds. When the seeds begin to crackle, add methi seeds, curry leaves and dried chillies.
Pour this over the ground mixture.
Garnish with cilantro.

HOLI

2008-03-31T13:49:00.000-07:00

Holi is an important Indian festival celebrated enthusiastically almost all over the country. To most Indians, the word Holi conjures images of people spraying color and water on each other, but my Holi is always sans colors. Until a few years ago my family used to light the traditional Holi bonfire in our front yard. Neighbours would gather and we would enjoy the warmth of the fire along with multiple rounds of sweet, wet coconut as 'prasad'. Often we would toss potatoes and onions in the fire and later savor these roasted veggies. In our effort to be as green as possible, we no longer have the bonfire in our yard. Instead we go to the community bonfire in our society.

This year's Holi was away from home. I did miss the bonfire and the festive spirit, but I tried to ring in some cheer by making the traditional Holi fare - puranpoli. Here are some images of our Holi meal.

Corn Pakodas

Puranpoli and Katachi aamti

Potato bhaji

UNDER LOVE'S WRAP

2008-03-20T13:58:00.000-07:00

Spinach-grilled vegetables wrap and beetroot-tapioca cutlets

CILANTRO ROLLS

2008-03-18T07:42:00.001-07:00

I love cilantro rolls (pudachi wadi to me). The preparation is time consuming but this time I mustered the courage to make them.

Cilantro was cleaned and left to dry before chopping it finely. Green chilly-ginger-garlic paste was sauteed, after which I added some finely chopped onions. Once the onions were done, I added the cilantro. At the same time I also introduced salt and amchur powder. After sauteing the cilantro for a bit, I turned off the heat and added previously roasted sesame, poppy seeds and dry coconut to the mixutre.

The dough for the rolls is a combination of wheat flour and besan. A small portion of the dough is taken, rolled into a smallish round. One side of this rolled dough is coated with a mixture of garam masala in oil. Cilantro mixture is placed in the center on the same side. Edges are folded and sealed to form a roll.

The rolls are fried; guess what is the next step - chomp, chomp, chomp :)

SUGAR BUTTER FLOUR

2008-03-17T22:27:00.000-07:00

Cakes are synonymous with birthdays, aren't they? and the more the merrier... ;)

Chocolate never loses favor

My creation - Banana bread

FASTING OR FEASTING

2008-03-10T12:28:00.001-07:00

Last thursday was Mahashivratra and I decided to fast just so I could rid myself of the guilt for eating the special foods that are associated with fasts in Maharashta. Below are some pictures of the food that I made for the day. Going by the pictures, mine looks more of feasting than fasting... ;)

How do you fast?

Sabudana Khichadi

Grated sweet potato stir fry aka 'Ratalyacha kees'

Peanut-Jaggery laddoos

Sweet potato chips

WINGS OF IMAGINATION

2008-03-07T14:49:00.000-08:00

I look at the tree stump and see an eagle poised for flight. Do you?

SALAD BOWL

2008-03-05T11:05:00.001-08:00

I love salads.....I enjoy the process of creation even more than eating them because it gives me satisfaction of having created something cheery, colorful and healthy. I like my salads to be colorful and a mixture of different flavors and textures like this cabbage-carrot-tomatoes salad or imagine a corn-bell pepper salad or a cabbage-black grapes salad...a cucumber-tomato-carrot salad......

Will try to post more salad pictures as I make them..

ASK SEEK KNOCK

2008-03-04T16:50:00.001-08:00

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
~Bible

Go to your bosom: Knock there, and ask your heart what it doth know.
-William Shakespeare

RADISH LEAVES - TAPIOCA SABZI

2008-03-03T12:56:00.001-08:00

Radishes (aka Daikon aka Muli) don't find favor with many among us. I am not too fond of it either, but I like it in a salad that goes by the name 'mulyacha chatka'. I force myself to eat things that I don't like just so I don't miss out on the nutrients they provide.

I bought some white radishes a couple of days ago and made salad out of them. I was wondering how to cook the leaves. I don't like the way they are cooked traditionally - with besan flour, so I decided to experiment. I wanted to couple them with something that would add bulk but also minimize the strong flavor of the radish leaves hence I chose tapioca. Another option could have been potatoes or yams.

Here is how my muli leaves-tapioca sabzi (vegetable) looked. I garnished it with a little bit of sev to make a pretty picture.

CAMPBELL PARK

2008-02-29T09:14:00.000-08:00

THE LONE CYPRESS

2008-02-26T18:41:00.000-08:00

It is always & inevitably lonely out on the growing edge.

I never found a companion that was so companionable as solitude.

Its no good trying to get rid of your aloneness, you got to stick to it all life .
Only at times the gap will be filled in, at times!
But you have to wait for those times....

~Source Unknown

YEARNING FOR SPRING

2008-02-25T17:23:00.002-08:00

This tree, like me and probably many others who have had enough of winter, seems to be yearning for spring...

HAPPY FEET

2007-10-19T00:45:00.000-07:00

NAVARATRI

2007-10-19T00:28:00.000-07:00

Happy Navratri

GREEN ROOM

2007-10-19T00:24:00.000-07:00

GIFTS

2007-10-18T23:52:00.000-07:00

To give and then not feel that one has given is the very best of all ways of giving.

WALLS

2007-10-08T00:55:00.000-07:00

These walls have seen me grow......they have seen me toil and plough....they've been spectators to the celebrations.....to the trials and turmoils....to the melodrama that has unfolded within their bounds....as I leave this haven for far-away shores, these are the walls that I am going to miss the most....

GAURI POOJA

2007-09-19T10:45:00.001-07:00

GANAPATI BAPPA MORYA

2007-09-11T08:43:00.000-07:00

TROUSSEAU

2007-08-10T13:44:00.001-07:00

IT TAKES FAITH

2007-07-26T11:15:00.000-07:00

Every year multitudes of warkaris undertake the holy trek to Pandharpur to meet their Lord; Lord Vitthal. They brave rain and shine and travel on foot in groups called Dindis. On Ashadhi Ekadashi, these warkaris and other devotees gather at Pandharpur and immerse themselves in the sea of devotion and Love of their beloved Vithoba.

The sandals of Sant Dnyaneshwar and Sant Tukaram are also carried to Pandharpur from Pune. The chariot carrying the sandals is preceeded and followed by warkaris who have assembled in Pune to make the trek to Pandharpur. Some devotees esp. those residing in cities take up only a part of the trek. Others like my uncle, contribute by providing food or some other essential item to the warkaris.

I was drawn at the opportunity to experience the atmosphere of the wari this year around. The experience was beyond words - Emotional, philosophical and energizing. We were stationed at a spot before Saswad and for the 4-5 hrs that we were there, the flow of the warkaris seemed to never end. Their walk had a rhythm. Most of them sang bhajans as they made their way ahead while the rest just kept moving to an internal soulful rhythm. Amongst the traditionally clad men and women, I spotted the jeans clad youth and also noticed the occasional urban warkaris; sneakers-backpacks-sunglasses et.al!

While I had discounted this sect so far, the experience led me to see them in a new light. Here were men and women with an undying faith and a sole mission; to meet their Vithoba. Every true warkari abstains from meat, liquor and other vices. Moreover, in this world of insatiable wants, restlessness and insecurity...they came across as happy people, totally at peace with life...

I fall short of words to express my feelings for the day..and I am only too glad to have taken time off for experiencing the wari atmosphere..I think the warkaris rubbed off some of their faith, belief and peace into me...

Here are some snapshots taken during the day..

The chariot carrying St. Dnyaneshwar's paduka (sandals)

A Dindi making its way

Catch 'em early...catch them young!

Everyone wanted to be in my picture frame!

This Warkari sure likes to stay connected

NEW BEGINNINGS

2007-06-21T11:29:00.000-07:00

WAH TAJ

2007-06-14T09:20:00.000-07:00

Think the Taj deserves to be among the wonders of our world? Vote here.

BON APPETIT

2007-04-25T10:04:00.000-07:00

I was browsing Mridula's blog where I learnt about 'The 5 Hilarious Travel Photos Contest'....As I saw Mridula's posts for the contest, I was reminded of all the funny/weird pictures that never see the light of the day. The contest sounded like a lot of fun and although I knew I was way past the deadline I thought, "why not??"....So here I am looping through my digital photo collection, trying to find the right pictures...turns out I have way too many funny pictures of myself rather than pictures that would be funny minus me...I found some interesting pictures during my search that I thought would make a better post than hilarious pictures of the self...Oh well, guess this preamble is good enough..

I spotted this shack on my hike to Lohagad ...it seemed to have sprung up in the middle of nowhere just to cater to the hikers w/ a multi-cuisine appetite...the location of the shack and also the hoarding left me amused...

This picture has been taken during a trip to Rishikesh last summer....We were roaming around in the market when this man, face painted and sitting outside the resturant caught my eye...what an interesting way to attract foodies to the restaurant I thought...

Although I was amused by the places and the people running them...I think I am impressed more than amused.....I think there is a lot that one can learn from these people....Being passionate about one's work, faith, hardwork, creativity, ingenuity, understanding and providing for customer's needs, to name a few...What say??

May these joints have all the customers that they can serve!

FLUX

2007-04-20T10:15:00.000-07:00

Life is flux....yet, once in a while there are these moments of tranquil and utter bliss...and there are signs that seem to be saying "this is the way to go"....moments such as these, seem to shoo away all the failures, the uncertainities and the pain...and are often harbingers of positive new beginnings...

Here is a track for such moments...

GUDHI PADWA

2007-03-19T06:51:00.000-07:00

Rangoli depicting the Gudhi

Today is Gudhi Padwa, new year as per the Maharashtrian calendar. The day is celebrated in Maharashtrian households by erecting the Gudhi; a symbol of victory and happiness and greeting near and dear ones. The colorful Gudhis atop every household make a delightful sight amidst the spring blooms.

Heres wishing you all health and happiness in the year to come.

BEYOND IMPERFECTIONS

2007-02-11T00:57:00.000-08:00

Practice loving people. It is true that this requires effort and continued practice, for some are not very lovable, or so it “seems”. Every person has lovable qualities when you really learn to know him. - Norman Vincent Peale

After all the Lord created all of us on the same loom w/ the same spool right?.....Here is a song that talks about overcoming the imperfections...

THE HAPPY MAN

2007-02-10T08:52:00.000-08:00

If only this happy man's shirt could help those ailing from unhappiness...Here are some of my favorite quotes about happiness....

If we only wanted to be happy, it would be easy. But we want to be happier than other people...and that's the hitch.
People are just about as happy as they make up their minds to be.
Now and then, its a good idea to stop in our pursuit of happiness, and just be happy.
There is no way to happiness...happiness is the way.

SPRING

2007-01-30T09:13:00.000-08:00

Ohiopyle State Park, PA

Winter has made a silent exit….the days are slowly getting longer and warmer….the mornings and evenings are pleasant....music and love seems to be in the air...with birds chirping and flowers blooming.....there is a vibrant energy and enthusiasm all around that doesn't fail to rub on you....Yippee Springs here! Do I need to waste words when Kalidasa has put it so well...

Trees put forth flowers, waters abound in lotuses, women’s thoughts turn to love, the air is sweetly scented; mornings are pleasant and days delightful; all things are more alluring in springtime, my love.

Here is some music for the season...

Raga Basant
Raga Basant Bahar

IN SEARCH

2007-01-30T08:42:00.000-08:00

रहने दे आसमान, जमीन की तलाश कर..
सब कुछ यहीं हैं, ना कहीं और तलाश कर...
हर आरझू पूरी हो, तो जीने का क्या मझा....
जीने के लिए बस एक वजह की तलाश कर...

The idea in the couplet is sort of stated here.

HEART OF GOLD

2006-12-29T10:42:00.000-08:00

San Juan Islands, WA

Songs seem to have their days....somedays you wake up w/ a song....or sometimes you run into them; just like running into an old friend in the market or someplace.....at times the songs linger on....and other times they are gone no sooner than they came.....on somedays its just one of them running in repeat mode in your head, while on others, its more like a random song playlist......a song has been playing in my head since yesterday.....don't know why!.....here it is for you....

Heart of Gold

LIFES LIKE THAT

2006-12-26T07:57:00.000-08:00

Friday Harbor, WA

Life is interesting......Sometimes it leaves you w/ no choice and frustrates you and some other times, teases you w/ choices and confuses you.....at such times, every option seems like the right thing and one is tormented w/ trying to find the best out of all these rights......life, they say, is the result of the choices that one makes and so the process of making the right choice stresses you out........hasty decisions work best at times whereas at times the problem itself seems to disappear if one continues to sit on it......Slow is fast and fast is slow...what to do.....lifes like that!

CONTEMPLATE

2006-12-26T07:23:00.000-08:00

Beach, Friday Harbor, WA

2006 is almost over. Overall its been a good year...mostly good things have happened....the bad things have been stumblers that I have been able to recover from and have taught me a lesson or two.....as the year draws to a close, I yearn for some time and peace, to sit back and contemplate about the past year and also plan for the coming year....

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

2006-12-24T19:50:00.000-08:00

Nature's Artists - Diveagar Beach, (Konkan, Maharashtra, India)

Merry X'mas and best wishes for the coming year. Herez wishing that the new year rings in new cheer, happiness, health and peace into our worlds.

Stay warm, take care and haffun!

Cheers!

SUCCESS IS GOOD FUN

2006-12-09T21:46:00.000-08:00

Diveagar beach - Konkan, Maharashtra

Dear M,

"Success is good fun"...announced a hoarding on my way home..."Sure," I thought in my mind and smiled....Its funny I had never noticed the line or the hoaridng before..maybe it was the reflection-effect...your perspective/attitude decides the way things appear to you....the world seems like paradise to a person in love..everything seems yellow to the jaundiced eye...types.. you know..

I have learnt from you that success is as much a function of hard-work, practice, excellence as of mental positivity, the belief that "I can win"...about the unyielding faith in the self and the fire that doesn't allow you to give up...

I hope that I remember these lessons and apply them to other aspects of life as well....I am not too worried about forgetting..because even if I do...I know that you will be in the lines egging me on till the finish line...

Cheers to us :)

With Love!

CHILDRENS DAY

2006-11-14T10:00:00.000-08:00

14th of November is celebrated as Children's Day all over India.....Let us try to make this world a better place for all these tiny tots ....and help them enjoy the carefree days of childhood....Herez a track by the band MLTR that I like - Sleeping Child

WEAR SUNSCREEN

2006-11-12T04:15:00.000-08:00

Nooksack Falls, WA

Unfortunately I do not know much about sunscreen...but, I have learnt, albeit the hard way that, money is like the water coming down this waterfall....hard to keep track of when you have it coming in, easy to let go unnoticed when you are not in need....worse still, you realise its value when its gone and often that is exactly when you need it the most....and so you better keep an eye on where its coming from and where its going...'coz you never know when you'll need it....... :) ......pl. be careful w/ your money pals.....

If that did not seem like interesting advice watch this......Wear Sunscreen

PERSEVERANCE

2006-11-12T03:49:00.000-08:00

I may not be there yet, but I'm closer than I was yesterday.
~Author Unknown

Difficult things take a long time, impossible things a little longer.
~Author Unknown

Don't let the fear of the time it will take to accomplish something stand in the way of your doing it. The time will pass anyway; we might just as well put that passing time to the best possible use.
~Earl Nightingale

WINTER

2006-11-11T09:08:00.000-08:00

View from Science Museum at St. Paul, MN

Winter is slowly creeping in here.....the hot dry days of Oct. are over.....the mornings and evenings are crispy cool.....and the urge to snooze the morning alarm and snuggle in my soft blanket is on the rise with every passing day.....WINTER.....bouts of allergic cold....the joy of sipping ginger flavored tea.....the itchy feeling of crackling skin.....soft smelling moisturizer lotions.....the sun bathing in the garden reading a book and watching the chirpy birds go about their chores.....the campfires and all the yapping done sitting around it...thats my winter......Although I am glad to be away from the snowy wintry places.....I guess I will miss the anticipation and the sight of the 1st snowfall and will surely miss the joy that early Spring sunshine brings.....

Whats your winter like?

WHEN ITS TIME

2006-10-29T04:26:00.000-08:00

Himalayan Peaks as seen from Kausani, India

Rain clouds gather and the temperature drops.....there is an excited anticipation in the air.....earth, men, birds, animals; all are eagerly awaiting for the water to succumb to gravity.....will it rain??....it will, but only, WHEN ITS TIME.....if it is NOT, a gentle breeze will be sufficient to carry the rain clouds far far away.....and WHEN ITS TIME the rain clouds will be summoned from their abode even on a hot sunny day and rain it will, even though you least expected it....so keep in mind this 'lil mantra..."WHEN ITS TIME".. :)....and then you will realise that denials are just delays...

Herez a song that says just this....To Everything Turn Turn Turn

Njoy!! :)

BE OPEN

2006-10-28T00:11:00.000-07:00

"If the doors of perception were cleansed, every thing would appear to man as it is: infinite." - 18th century artist and poet William Blake

MOUNTAIN QUEEN

2006-10-24T05:36:00.000-07:00

This was taken at a pit stop on our way to Kausani, Uttaranchal....The lady's costume and jewellery got me interested....we got talking.....she took out a beedi (cigarette) and started smoking as we were speaking.....I loved her look then....sitting erect, chatting and smoking a beedi nonchalantly....thats the image I wanted to capture...oh, well.....heres what I got....I am glad that it captures the details of her jewellery and attire....I also like the look on her boy's face.....a lost, dreamy look...(I offered him candy and thats what he is chewing on)

CELEBRATE

2006-10-24T05:21:00.000-07:00

You are probably thinking...."Whats so great about this pic?"....I see a dancer in this dead tree; standing erect w/ arms outstretched, ready to take a twirl.....nature teaches us so many things if we care to observe and ponder....the lesson I learnt from this tree is 'celebrate life'.....another line that comes to mind when I look at this picture is.."Don't cry because its over, smile because it happened".....

Anyhoo....herez wishing you a very Happy Diwali!

Cheers! :)

MISS YOU

2006-10-22T09:52:00.000-07:00

Mountains surrounding Logan, UT

A new place and the start of a new race....bewildering yet exciting....a perfect setting to take me tumbling down....but these mountains made me home at once...their constant towering presence; like the watchful eyes of mom...like the friend who is always there to listen...like dad's smile that says.."ain't no mountain high enough"....O lovely Mountains, I miss you!!

A LIFE OF HARDSHIP

2006-10-14T00:30:00.000-07:00

This picture was taken during a trip to Konkan (coastal Maharashtra) early this year...What drew me towards these ladies was their walk...a steady rhythmic pace and peculiar crossing of the feet; like models walking the ramp....and I thought in my mind "boy, they could give the catwalk gals a run for their money!"....Some smiled shyly as I clicked their pictures...while some, like the duo in this picture seemed be saying......"this is the life of some!...while you pleasure cruise miles in your SUVs....we walk miles just to earn our daily meals.....this is our life; a life of hardship!".....I salute their will and hope life gets better for them...

SAIL AWAY

2006-09-22T10:50:00.000-07:00

Fort of Murud-Janjeera - Maharashtra, India

When do you know its time to sail; when a distant shore beckons you?...when the sea is calm and the winds are smooth?....when you have moored at a harbor long enough?...or when there are omens around that say 'its-now-or-never'....

GAMES PEOPLE PLAY

2006-07-25T10:31:00.000-07:00

Edited version of the original below. Courtesy Shyam

In this temple of God…some pray….for health…for wealth…for mental peace…some fool themselves by pretending to pray…..some decide to quit and just lie here…cursing fate or whatever…..while some heal each other by unloading their burdens off of each others shoulders……

NO SHY-GUY

2006-07-25T10:21:00.000-07:00

A girl w/ a camera and wearing jeans is still a rare sight around there….kids giggle curiously and tag behind me…. some even ask my uncle who accompanies me if this is the girl they saw on TV! ;)….some who are shy watch silently from a distance, whispering something amongst each other…..but this kid is different…..he looks at me in the eye and is bold enough to ask questions…..

THIS USED TO BE MY PLAYGROUND

2006-07-25T10:12:00.000-07:00

Visiting a place that was once home…now seems like meeting a stranger…..everything I knew; people, places… seem to have aged…....the new images fail to appease me and my eyes ache for the place in its past glory…….. a wave of sadness engulfs me, but all I can do is sigh……

GUDDI

2006-07-23T04:03:00.000-07:00

I wanted my cousin to pose for a couple of pictures, but somehow I was not able to get pictures the way I wanted. Suddenly Guddi came on the scene...she smiled shyly and stood there just the way I wanted w/ the right expressions....I hurriedly clicked some shots....and liked the way they turned out, esp. the B&W ones...here they are for you....Looking forward to your comments...

RETURN TO INNOCENCE

2006-06-17T10:00:00.000-07:00

Kumaoni kids....aren't they chweet? :)

WHEN TIME STOOD STILL

2006-06-17T09:07:00.000-07:00

Naini Lake - Nainitaal, India

View of Trishul peak - as seen from a temple, during a hike in Kausani, India

KICK-OFF

2006-06-10T11:08:00.000-07:00

Its a new day...

Presenting the first picture on my photo blog…tat-a-da…ta- ta- ta- ta- tat-a-da

This was taken during a recent trip to my native place; sunrise on a day in late January. I love the way the sky is aglow…Sunrise to me is synonymous with hope….

I hope that my snapshots continue to regale the viewers of this blog….

WORK IN PROGRESS

2006-06-10T05:44:00.000-07:00

Hello and welcome to my photoblog! :)

I am currently working on getting its look and feel right...so pl. do check back at a later time for some real posts...

Thanks for stopping by...