Day 24 - Petals of air

This was a fan in one of the suites at Mahindra Resort, Varca, Goa.

Day 23 - Tribal Art

This is a framed fabric painting at the Vivekananda Kendra at Kanyakumari. It said this is a tribal art form from one of the North East states of India.

Day 22 - Also life

Day 21 - Life

Day 20 - Vatta Kotai

This is the interior of a fort on route to Kanyakumari from Trivandrum. Its a circular structure, and stands on top of a cliff. Its called ' Vatta Kotai'.

Day 19 - Jammu

On the way up to Vaishno Devi

Day 18 - Tea Estate

Munnar is famous for tea... white tea, green tea and so many other varieties.

Dosa/Idli Chutney Powder

Yesterday I ran out of chutney powder while having my idli fr breakfast... and I searched in all my usual grocery stores, but there seemed to be a shortage of chutney powder. I went about again to some more stores today, but no luck. This made me do the most unusual deal ... I decided to make it at home. I knew it was simple, but had no clue what the ingredients were. So, as usual, I called up Amma and she told me the list of stuff needed and how to go about making it. I had everything required at home, so making it was no issue at all. 


Here are the list of ingredients

1. Arhar Dal - 1/4 cup
2. Moong Dal - 1/4 cup 
3. Urad Dal - 1/4 cup
4. Dry flat red chillies - 6/7
5. Garlic - 4
6. Asafoetida - 1 tsp or one small piece
7. Coriander seeds - 1 tsp
8. Curry leaves (optional)
9. Pepper powder - 1tsp
10. Oil - 1 tbsp

Method

1. Fry the asafoetida in the oil. 
2. When well done, add all the ingredients except the pepper powder. If you wish to use pepper corns, then fry that also.
3. Fry till all the lentils are well done and brown n colour. 
4. Remove from fire and mix the pepper powder and mix well.
5. Cool well and grind to a very fine powder.
6. Add salt after grinding and store. 

Day 17 - Idol

This is one of the biggest idols I have seen around in India.

Morphing

Here are some things which always come to my mind, but its nothing too important to deserve a post for themselves... so here goes the mixed bag!

After using 'n' number of conditioners to manage my mane and to give it that perfect bounce, I have decided the only thing that works for my hair is Livon. I use the one for normal hair, which has olive oil, and keeps my wavy/curly hair under control and with a shine. Finally... I have a hair product which I do like!

Puliogre is a great dish, tasty simple and the MTR puliogre mix is a great boon for quick meals. I have been using this for some time and the taste is phenomenal. Saying that, I need to start looking out for some daily recipes and try different things so that its interesting to cook dinner. I am starting by following some great cookery blogs, and also by following some shows on Travel & Living. 

I was under the impression that post marriage I shall get to wear quite a few sarees, but now it has come to the point that I do wear my sarees only when its an ocassion, or for some formal evening dinner. This is far below the level I had hoped for.. and I do not know what to do about it. I guess its just that we do not have such plans, where I can easily wear sarees, and be approriately dressed. Maybe I should get some simple sarees which might be worn more... what say?

I have 3 books which are to be read, and I just do not seem to get started. Shantaram, Three cups of tea and I still just ordered Life is what you make it. I hope to start one of them by tomorrow.

With regard to the pregnancy bit, one thing I do not have is any maternal feeling. I know I am to take care of the baby and he/she would need me the most, and I am willing to put in my very best. But, is there any love which I feel, I do not think so. Is it normal?

Another deal which I do not understand is how some moms seem to find time for themselves, especially in the first few months, and some are so sleep deprived and running around. I have seen both sides, and I know both cases do not have any household help, apart from parents/in laws staying with them, who just help in the running of the household. This makes me wonder how I am going to handle this whole bit come May...

Your thoughts on the above, please...

Day 16 - Contrast

I found the contrast in colours quite alluring...

Day 15 - Cinnamon

A favourite - Cinnamon Roll

Black Swan - Movie Review

After a very long time, I have seen a great movie which has totally hit me hard. Black Swan is a very artistic depiction of how you can play games with a weak mind, especially if your overall confidence level is low. 


The story is of a ballerina, who lives with her mother, and is pushed by her mom ( a former ballerina) to achieve the best. But, she does not seem to have the confidence as she has always lived a sheltered life, and this does not prevent her from doing something very out of character, as she very badly wants to play the lead in the opening season performance. The piece is called Swan lake, where there is a beautiful girl trapped as a white swan, and the spell will be broken only when a prince falls in love with her. There is the black swan which depicts evil, which seduces the prince and makes him fall in love with it, resulting in the white swan being betrayed and killing herself. The director of the piece strongly believes that she completely embodies the white swan, but he is not confident of her capability to portray the black swan convincingly. Through the story we see how the white and black swan personalities are seen on Natalie Portman, as she herself seems to transform from the white to the black swan.


Lovely music, dance and the undercurrent of the mind playing games makes it an engrossing watch.

Day 14 - Shapes

Hedges along Gulf Street, Kuwait

Day 13 - Coconut Trees

Here is a picture of something which is synonymous with Kerala.... Coconut Trees swaying along the backwaters :)

Day 12 - Colour

After many failed gardening attempts, and killing a few plants, I have successfully managed to grow some. I think the major change has been the soil. I got some good garden soil from Lalbagh which I believe did the trick. My recent addition has been the Red Christmas Plant or the Poinsettia.


When I see such images, I am so sure I need to find time and go and buy that new Canon which I have been eyeing for since ages!

Day 11 - Valentine Special

Here is a small part of my surprise Valentine's Day dinner! 

Day 10 - Snack Time

I am a huge fan of pakodas, and with the minimal effort with which one gets mouth watering delicacies also adds to the reason why I love making them. Previously I used to think they take time, and hence preferred to get them from a take away place. But, now that I have started making them at home... I think these are home to stay! 


Here are some yummy palak pakodas ( spinach fritters) which I made! 

Day 9 - Wall painting

This is a pattern which was on the canvas wall of our tent at the Jungle Lodges resort at Banerghatta. It was bright, cheering up and very in line with the environment around. 

Love and Other Drugs - Movie Review

Cast: Anne Hathaway and Jake Gyllenhaal


Something which I came across by sheer chance through IMDB, but a good watch. The plot is about a persistent sales person who is attracted to a young woman with Parkinson's disease. He is not aware of the disease alot, and does not take it too seriously, but with time when some symtoms start to show up, he starts questioning himself whether he is upto such a relationship, and will it stand in the way of his huge career plans. She on the other hand, is completely mean and believes in having no relationships, as she understands her condition and does not want any pity and consideration from anyone, even if the person does it out of love and not pity. 


The story moves fast, the dialogues are funny, its not too serious, in spite of dealing with a non curable disease. In short, a good watch for a friday night stay with ordered in pizza. :) Thats how I did it ;)

Day 8 - Royal

Our trip to Banerghatta was the first time I have been so close to a peacock. I always assumed them to be very coy and shy birds, but this one seemed to totally enjoy the spotlight!

Day 7 - Blue

A simple vase which I liked quite a bit at the place we stayed at in Goa.

Day 6 - A Bath

This is a picture which I clicked while at the Maurya lobby at Delhi. They have the setting shown outdoors, and we being there in the early hours of the day, had the pleasure of seeing pigeons performing their morning ablutions!

I think...

....I feel older and mature.


In the past few months, I have learnt to be more careful, more understanding and also more receptive to others needs. And through all this, I have also tried not to let go of what I want to do, and do not want to do. There is still a fair bit of the me, where I just do what I want, but I guess the difference being that I am priotitizing. This is a huge difference in me, as I have always had the problem in saying that I do not want to do something, especially when someone requests something of me. I guess being responsible for more than one person, has given me the reason to think of myself and my needs more deeply than in the previous let it flow attitude. 


As I start my last trimester, do I feel any more like a mom? No, I do not. I am not sure whether I am supposed to. As I see mothers with their new borns, I think it happens only when you are put in charge of the being, and asked to care for it, giving up a lot of things which you would else do of your own free will. I think thats when you feel like a mom. Right now I just feel pregnant.


The last trip to Krishangarh has been the last in a long time to come. I am not allowed to travel too much now, and post the baby, I am not too sure how I shall be adept to handle travel and baby needs, without making a mess of either. In spite of all that, in my mind, even now, I know, come what may, I want to go somehwhere for my anniversary, every year, and that would mean even  with a less than year old baby. Maybe the things we do will be different, but then the sheer fun of getting out of the house and the same ol' surrounding, has a calming and great effect on me ( and I hope on the baby too!).


All the weight I have lost, I have currently gained back, and I have been informed by mothers that that the last trimester, I will certainly put on a minimum of 5 kgs, so that would send me back to my max allowed weight limit. And then, I hope that I shall be able to shed a major chunk of it post delivery! In fact, that is the situation which is kind of scaring me. As I see it, there will certainly be a dearth of time, and I really want to keep a maid around, so that I can squeeze in a swim etc when the nap time is around. I understand the first three months will be a whirlwind, but I do not want to let the weight settle in over a period of one year. I need to start working it off, and I hope to start that by the 5th month after. Plans... plans... wonder how much will work out!

Day 5 - Shots

This is one of my favourite pics. This is a series of shots which we, three close friends, had, long time back sitting at Turquoise Cottage in Gurgaon.

Day 4 - Tungabadra

This is a shot from Hampi, as we stand at the banks, to cross over to our small hotel across the Tungabadra in the month of January 2010.

Day 3 - A clock

The water clock at Sharq Market, Kuwait

Day 2 - Black

I like the beauty of black in this picture

Day 1 - Cochin Backwaters

After visiting so many bloggers who have taken up the Project 365 challenge, I decided this is something I have always wanted to do. Once, I had thought of starting a photo blog too, but then that never materialized; but this looks like a step in that direction. 


I do not think I will have a photo to post which is clicked that same very day, but I shall try to post one photo from my vast collection of 7 years, everyday.


Today's photo is a view of the backwaters from my parent's place at Cochin.

A wedding to remember

It is really nice to be part of your very close friend's wedding..and that means not just attend the wedding function, but to also be there to share all the festivities and your friend being the bride, all the bridal anxieties surrounding the wedding too. I recently attended an extremely close friend's wedding and this is one wedding I would not have missed for anything. The fun and laughter of dressing up, the feeling of being there when she needed her friends the most… I had two of my closest friends for my wedding, and I think that truly made a huge difference for me to keep my sanity through everything.

Her wedding was at Krishangarh which is a 100kms from Jaipur on the Jaipur- Ajmer route. So we got to Ajmer from Delhi by the Ajmer Shatabdi and then off to Krishangarh on road. We did have some train issues initially with our initially planned train reservations facing issues, as the train was over 8 hours delayed due to some unforseen bridge collapse. Anyhow, we got to the venue on time, and now about the venue of the wedding - Krishangarh. 

Krishangarh is famous for marble and a lot of stuff made with marble too, like pooja setups, decorative items, planters etc. The things being heavy was the main constraint for me to get anything from there, though I must add they were available at very reasonable prices. The Ajmer railway station where we reached from New Delhi had some interesting pieces of architecture just outside the exit and we spend a good 10 mins looking around while waiting for our ride to Krishangarh to arrive. 

The wedding was with its fair share of running around, fun and frolic.… and here are some great pictures of the various festivities, from my friend getting ready for the mehendi to all the way to walking up to the podium to exchange garlands.