Serendipity, Saunter and Faux paz

 The evening lights                                                        (Image created with picsart using a simple text prompt )   Some of our favourite stories that we asked Aji to repeat over and over again were of little Aji and her exploits with her siblings. And one of the stories I remember vividly is the one I narrate here.   To give you some context, there was a lone streetlamp at the end of our lane, by our gate. That was supposed to be enough for the six houses in our lane and unfortunately left dark stretches that one had to navigate. Often, this light would stop working and the electricity department would take a week or so to repair it and then the cycle repeated itself.   Residents from our lane kept the lights in their verandah on at least till around 8 pm making it easier for everyo...

Thinking of how seeds and peels were revered and always formed a part of our diets. The philosophy of food at our place would be encompassed by the lines of grace we said before the meal: Anna hey poorna Brahma – That food is the manifestation of the Absolute  It had to be respected, worshipped, honoured by enjoying it and never wasted! Our Aji would explain that food is supreme because it manages to please all the senses at the same time. Even as it is cooking, the aroma of the food wafts on the air, how it looks on the plate, the feel of the different textures while preparing the meal and when eating, appeasing titillated taste buds, the mild sounds of a slurp of curry or buttermilk, the softest crunch of the papads , and often the crackling of mustard surely heard while cooking but also the sizzle of hot oil poured on a bhakri or khichadi . And she said the sixth sense too because you are what you eat! This philosophy governed what was used for cooking and also how food was se...

  With all travel plans suddenly cancelled and ‘stay indoors’ being the mantra, virtual walks were a saving grace in 2020, especially as we were still trying to figure out ways to deal with our wanderlust. When Roobaroo walks started their virtual tours, I jumped at the opportunity for some virtual travel in the North of the country and started with Varanasi. Virtual Varanasi One of the most interesting tours I have attended – one interspersed with the sounds of Varanasi – prayers, boatmen’s songs, the local dialect of Hindi, the natter at an adda, About the weavers of the city and the delight of kachoris and tea. The intrigue of the oldest living city of the world enveloping the viewer in this audio-visual treat. All the talks were informative but having spent a few days in Varanasi earlier made this walk both nostalgic and entertaining.     Virtual Doon Valley From the Doon valley walk, I remember the hypnotic stories of ghosts that all good hill towns hav...

  I have a very special amaltas/kanni konna story! Over our main gate was an arch that was covered with the very charming Madhumalati creeper. It was a wrought iron gate, big enough for a car and a half and had two pillars on either side. On the left was a neem tree and on the right side a bougainvillea in a fabulous orange shade, that I have rarely come across later. Over the years the arch slowly became irreparable. The madhumalati shifted to a pergola inside the garden. Then Papa wanted a flowering tree in the front yard, near the gate, such that he could see it from the verandah! Our verandah provided a tiny sitting area with a swing and two garden chairs and was a favourite with everyone! The gul mohur was a bit further in and seen much better when one was outdoors. What a dilemma! I suggested the amaltas! I was always fond of the golden yellow flowers that looked like jhumkas, chandelier earrings that looked so pretty! So, we went to the local nursery and got a sapling! ...

  One of my favourite things to do as a child was listen to my Grandmother's stories about her childjhood and everyone she knew. And of course she had so many stories of my Papa when he was a kid! This is her narration of the first story in wrote - #rememberingPapa This is the first story Dad wrote when he was about 8 - as told by my Grandmother There was once a Fox. He lived in a cottage near the woods. One day he decided to explore the woods. He took some bhakri(flat bread) and chutney and tied them in a bundle. — Shefali Kulkarni (@Shefali__K)  June 17, 2019   He tied the  bundle to the  stick, swung it over his shoulder and set off. He walked a little bit, sat down, opened his bundle and ate some bhakri and chutney. Then he got up and walked a little. He felt hungry. He sat down and ate. — Shefali Kulkarni (@Shefali__K)  June 17, 2019 Then he came to the river. He sat down, opened his bundle and ate some bhakri and chutney. Then he wal...

It is my father's birthday today.  He was born in 1947. Among his many quirks, one that comes to mind is the preference for Bengali sweets to puran polis which were made at home. We had a repertoire of four desserts - shira, shevaya chi kheer, shrikhand and puranpoli, of which the puranpolis were made on most festival days and other desserts when there were people for lunch or dinner or shira for breakfast as well. The Bengali sweets on very, very rare occasions were store-bought. On occasion when no one else was around to, he would cook - he had his specialties. Tomato and green chutney sandwiches, egg fried rice, fluffy omelettes, kel phul and peanuts jeera rice and cabbage fried rice.  And was an impulsive traveller. Out of the blue he would say he was going someplace and would like company. And if you rose up to the occasion then generally you had rigorous rides in uncomfortable conditions. My most memorable are walking alongside the car, on the old Mumbai- Pun...

  This is one of the other blogs from when the blog bug bit years ago.   As you can see it was in 2007. That was interestingly the last year when work related travel was restricted to local train and cab travel within Kerala and I never got around to doing the local photo walks I had in mind for this blog!    Like other 'Ripples and Shuffles' blogventures this didn't go any place but is  a fond memory. Interestingly both the books I have mentioned, Under the Tuscan sun and An year in Provence have remained favourites and my own copies have the look of a well read and well loved book.   Interestingly, CC got me the 20th year special edition of 'Under the Tuscan sun' because I accidentally left my copy on a flight.   The kannikonna or amaltas or laburnum flowers bloom just before Vishu which is generally on the 14th of April each year.    No comments:    Monday, April 16, 2007 Happy New Year! Wish you all a very ...