P.S.
Here are some of my favourites (sourced from various sites), which of course, we saw in person. :-)
Krishna- the calm diplomat
The orchestra
Lady from the upper class giving alms to a poor boy
Mother and child
Rama conquers Varuna (or was it Indra?)
Super Weekend
It's the first time since leaving Mumbai that I've had the best Mysore Masala Dosa. Dosas in Chennai taste every different and I've tried out all the possible places hoping to find that familiar mouthwatering taste. Well, Mysore is where I found it at last. Delicious, great looking udipi dosas. Mmmmmm!
The difference? Well, dosas in Chennai aren't as crisp. And it's more 'khatta' than the udipi kind. It's all that I ate in Mysore. Right from the chutney to the potato bhaji and sambar, the taste was a perfect balance of sweet and tangy. No one flavour was dominating. Red, rich, filling portions (and I'm salivating again :-p)
Of course, talking about Mysore without mentioning the main Wodeyar palace is like speaking about Mumbai without acknowledging the Taj. Featured in movies like Mehbooba, the public 'durbar' and the magnificent outer facade are a stunning sight. I wish the womens' quarters were maintained just as well. After the majesty of the main palace, one does not expect to see bare walls, cracks and leaks. I couldn't help feeling a little sad for their lives. It's a small, dark 'mahal' with uncomfortably low ceilings, too many 'jaalis' and a small central courtyard. I don't think I'd like to live there. Especially after sundown. It's almost spooky.
Walking around the palace, I almost heard 'aami je tomar' in the background. *eep*
The architecture merges Indian, Islamic and European styles quite well. Though at times it feels a little out of place. It was fun to imagine balconies full of dignitaries, royal guests and royal women in all their finery, the horse drawn carriages, portly kings, the golden bejwelled throne with seven steps that lead up to the high seat...how grand it must have looked in its heydays! :-) Though I do think the interiors of Tipu's Summer Palace looked far more ornate. Mughal architecture and design with all its intricate details, colours and beauty outshines every other structure.
We also visited the Chamundi temple- she being the presiding deity of the royal family and Mysore city- and had a very satisfying darshan of the Devi. ;-)
The biggest disappointment, however, was the over-hyped Brindavan Gardens. I seriously didn't see what the big fuss was all about. Even with the lights on, I thoroughly disliked it. The sea of people was frightening. The garden, drab with lack of maintenance. But we had to tick that off on our list of touristy things to do.
It was also the day of the annular solar eclipse. But I couldn't view it since I didn't have the necessary precautions. Caught the reflection on my phone screen. We snacked at the Garden Cafe at Royal Orchids Hotel in the Gardens. THAT was the only high point there.
Check out my yummiest pictures from the trip :-)
Quick Update
I shouldn't take so long between posts.
Not much to say except for fleeting ideas. Have been doing little things to amuse myself- made a decorative box, and came up with New Year gifts called Cheer Cards. No pictures as I've gifted them to office mates. So the blog has to wait until the next batch is ready (and given the sweet response, they should be ready soon).
In a dull-cum-blah mood since yesterday. Let's see how productive I can get. Though today I hope to get back to my acrylic on canvas. Also plan to make mood boards just for fun.
My New Year
The latest addition to my desk :-) Surprised to think I could actually have room for needlework in my life.
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There's simply too much I want to do. And I have this strange nagging feeling that I'm running out of time. What's worse is that I really am and the fear keeps me from trying to get out there and achieve my goals. It makes me immobile. I hate that. So this year I promise myself that I'm going to step out more often and do things that make me happy. I'm going to be selfish (without the guilt. Well, I'll try), I'm going to let myself experience new things with or without company.
Taking stock of the past year, or two, I wonder if I've lived up to expectations. Mine and others. And the answer still evades me. Have I been responsible enough? Tactful, smart, wise, creative, confident? (No...)
There are a few things however that I have managed to figured out:
1. I've burned out. Mentally. For some odd reason. I feel saturated. I can't focus on writing alone. And the lack of time to do anything more is proving to be a real bitch!
2. I want to paint. And I don't want to paint metaphors. I want to paint fun, pretty stuff. I want to paint walls, canvases, furniture, crockery. I want to fill up my room with vibrant colours. Yes, even fuschia!
3. I want to stitch. After spending all of my school years passing on my needlework to my mother and other women in my neighbourhood, I actually want to sit with a piece of white cloth, thread, paint and sequins and let my imagination run loose.
5. I have no imagination. Not the way I think imagination should be. I've spent years learning how to do things the 'right' way. As a result I've forgotten how incredibly cool, smart, and fun it is to be a child. And this comes from a person who has been told she can never grow up :-)
In 2010 there's a lot that I need to work out for myself, and the people around me. I hope to snap out of life the way it is. But for now, I'm going to end this year of anxiousness, mopiness and confusion with a picture of what I want to year ahead to be like.
25th December 2009, Gujrat Festival, Dakshin Chitra, Chennai










