Blatant Blabber

Lovin' Lonavala

2011-09-02T16:21:00.007+05:30

Courtesy: Kota

2011-09-02T16:12:00.000+05:30

Look what I cooked!

2011-08-11T15:32:00.001+05:30

Thick and yummy Payesh!

Home is where colours speak :-p

2011-08-11T15:30:00.001+05:30

Once a bachelor pad, this space now serves as a first home for a newly wed couple. A fully furnished rented space. Unpainted for the past few years. Pale walls and boring furniture that cannot be chucked as it belongs to the owner.

Here are my little touches to make this dull room (with barely any light) a little more friendly.

Colourful cloth dolls that brighten up a dark corner. And show off the cultural confluence in this house.

The Christmas tree has come to me all the way from the Black Forest. Thanks to a dear friend.

The lounge (at least that's what I like to call it)

I love these cushion covers!!

A little colour adds life to a barren doorway.

I have flipped over these coasters! :D

If you're looking to include quirky stuff like these in your home, visit Either Or.

Vrooooooom :D

2011-05-31T23:02:00.004+05:30

My occupation, until I find a job :-)

And another

2011-05-31T23:00:00.001+05:30

Lingam

2011-05-31T22:58:00.001+05:30

Amma :-)

2011-05-31T22:56:00.002+05:30

I was overcome with a mad fit of painting after ages. It has been quite a while since I picked up the brush and I could feel my rusty fingers creaking with every stroke. Nonetheless, it felt great!! I'm still figuring out how to upload all the pics at the same time through Picasa. Until then, enjoy the individual posts above. Linking it to 'Weekend Wrap Up' at Colours Dekor

Going Back to My First Love

2011-04-18T11:50:00.001+05:30

Blogactivity

2011-04-10T11:02:00.005+05:30

Until I regain my lost creative glory, stop by http://journalofo.blogspot.com/ to stay in touch with my daily rants. Cheers!

This too!

2010-10-09T20:52:00.001+05:30

And this!

2010-10-09T20:46:00.003+05:30

My latest obsession. Excellent stress buster. Highly recommended.

Also found this!

2010-10-09T20:45:00.002+05:30

I spent the morning cooking one of my favourite dessert dishes- Sholehzard- a Persian rice pudding sweet dish that an Iranian friend taught me. Parisa, really miss you and the yummy Sholehzard you would make for me. Attempted it for the first time today. It doesn't taste exactly like yours but is close enough.

Lots of love dear!

Here's the recipe (Got it off the net. Variations in proportion depends upon intended serves. This one is for 6 to 8 servings).

Ingredients:

1 cup rice
6 cups water, divided 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
2 cups granulated sugar
1⁄2 cup butter
1⁄4cup slivered almonds
1⁄4teaspoon ground saffron dissolved in 2 tablespoon waters or use just the saffron
1 teaspoon ground cardamom
1⁄2cup rose water
For garnish: cinnamon and pistachios

Preparation:

1. Wash the rice several times with warm water.
2. Combine the rice with 4 cups of water and salt in a large pot and bring to a boil, skimming the foam as it rises.

3. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes over low heat until the rice is soft.
4. Add 2 remaining cups of warm water and sugar, cook for 30 minutes longer, stirring occasionally.
5. Add the butter, almonds (if you wish now), saffron, cardamom, and rose water and mix well.
6. Cover and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes.
7. Uncover and simmer for another 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally until mixture has thickened to a pudding.
8. Spoon the pudding into individual servings and garnish with cinnamon and slivered pistachios (or the almonds).

Not bad for the first time eh? ;-)

Oh, and Mum's looking for the recipe of eggless Tiramisu. Please don't be stingy with the recipe if you have it ;-)

Rummaging

2010-10-09T20:33:00.003+05:30

Look what I found! Courtesy: The lovely weather in Ooty and Coonoor ;-)

P.S.

2010-01-17T20:41:00.010+05:30

*Slap* I missed out the real high point of the trip. Saw ORIGINAL Raja Ravi Varma paintings. Finally beginning to understand what makes him such a celebrated artist. Previously I thought that the sudden hoo-ha in the media about his works was only a passing fad (us Indians are rather inclined to such things). My sentiments stand changed.

Ahead of its time in India, his work shows an evolved mind that imbibes its realistic style from the west and depicts situations that are rooted in Indianess. Each one of them has a hypnotic quality; showcasing a society rich in traditions and culture; proud of its history; reveling in mythology; celebrating sensuosity.

His women, buxom, beautiful, with a unique blend of modesty and boldness portray the Indian woman in her full glory. Tall, curvaceous, graceful, they are at once divine and real.An interesting thing about them is that none of his women look fragile. The softness comes through in their posture at the most. But none of them shy away from making eye contact, the weight is equally distributed on both feet and their height almost equal the men. My favourite is the mother and child (below). It's not hard to guess what made him such a controversial artist of the time. I suppose it depends on how you choose to look at it. It's not that hard to be perverse. But when you see things what it really is, you begin to realise the beauty of it.

His men on the other hand appear disinterested, lacking in passion or a willingness to go on. The only one which comes close to being likable, is that of Rama and Krishna. And even then, they don't appear half as charismatic as his women.

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

Raja Harishchandra

Malabar Lady

Rama conquers Varuna (or was it Indra?)

Sunday

2010-01-17T20:29:00.004+05:30

Kashmiri Dum Aloo

Healthy-fried hollow potatoes

stuffed with cashews, raisins and condensed milk
and cooked in curds, elaichi and cloves
(without the red chilli powder)

Super Weekend

2010-01-17T18:50:00.004+05:30

Spent a breezy weekend in Mysore with the family. Everything from the train journey to the food was perfect. The weather was a very pleasant change from Chennai- chilly, windy, comfortable. And the people (Surprise! Surprise! Hindi is acceptable) are very friendly too. But the best thing (well, one among the best things) were the DOSAS!!!

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 :-)

Grub at the Garden

At the Chamundi Temple

Mysore Morning

Wodeyar Palace

Yellow

2009-12-28T23:57:00.003+05:30

Today!

Colourful Weekend

2009-12-28T15:00:00.007+05:30

I've had quite a productive weekend. Picked up my brushes after a long time thanks to inspiration from interior decorating ideas. And the result has been very satisfying. For me.

I've ditched the pen for the brush after ages. And it felt good. After all, it's the first thing I've ever loved. Much before my parents tried to inculcate the habit of reading. Much before I learnt to choose my artistic orientation. But perhaps I've made a mistake. By stooping to choose.

I have realised now that I need to balance and better both- writing and painting. I have a colourful bucket full of bright ideas. I am goign to give each of them a shot.

For now, here's me picking up from where I'd left.

1. Pink woman

2. A black box

My Bucket List

2009-08-31T23:39:00.003+05:30

It's never too late to have one. Some of these I think are more of resulotions than a to-do-list. Anyway, here it is in random order.

1. Learn to play the guitar.
2. Learn to Salsa.
3. Learn a new language- Spanish perhaps?
4. Travel to Austria, Sun city, Dubai, New York, P.E. Islands and Greece.
5. Design and sell pencils.
6. Own a cafe.
7. Write a book.
8. Be and promote the Satvik Hippie :-P
9. Design shoes or slippers.
10. Paint a wall.
11. Become an Art of Living teacher.
12. Get lots of scarves and stoles.
13. Collect innocuous yet interesting little things in a box or bag.

14. Have a collection of boxes of various colours, sizes and material.

15. See a place where a cliff overlooks the sea.
16. Start a magazine.
17. Take more photographs.

18. Watch one new movie every week.

Picture Perfect- Amethyst in Chennai

2009-08-31T21:37:00.006+05:30

I took this pic yesterday around noontime at Amethyst- one of those pakka artsy cafes that are thankfully not too common in any city.

It's a pleasant eating house that's more than the usual cup of frappe and sandwiches. With a bakery, flower shop, furniture store, lots of open space, plaster peeling off the walls, a gift cum clothes cum jewellery cum home store packed into the inner rooms of this colonial house, Amethyst is the kind of place any avid reader, aspiring author, self proclaimed and self involved thinker, critic, genuine artiste, expat, couple or a homemaker on lunch with her gal pals would love to visit.

Of course, for those who fit into none of the above, you can always sit around and gaze into nothing, eavesdrop on other people's conversations, or simply let your lungs take in the fresh air and your eyes feast on the lush foliage. Even when you're not doing anything, this place wields the power to make a relaxed hour seem as long as a lazy day or a long laid back day seem unfairly short. Pick up a magazine, flip, sip and just chill.

I love their juices of the day. It's always fresh, delicious and the taste is just right. Especially the rejuvenating Sugarcane juice. It's perfect for the hot Chennai weather, second only to the sweet nimbu paani.

I've tasted the Paneer Tandoori Tikkas here too and though it's a dish I can never get enough of, I wouldn't recommend you try it out at Amethyst. Given the high number of firangs and the well-off urban crowd here, the taste of the food is, what one might call, sober. It's like an Audrey or Angela trying to transform into a Mrs. Uma Fernandes or a Kamaladevi Dasgupta- appears to be making the transition, has enough scope for adjustment, is ambitious but not eager, tasteful; not over the top and with a distinct character of its own. It's understandable considering the variety of cultures that seem to converge here. The food is right for every palette, in spite of a fraction of a slip here and there, which would have added more charm to the place had it not been so lavishly priced (let's face it, you got to save up for sometime before you can afford a comfortable meal here). Clearly junior level office staff aren't exactly their target. Though if you do wear a wrinkled, faded kurta with frayed jeans, a tired expression, tousled hair and (if you're a man) sport a beard, with the mandatory Kolhapuri chappals, dirty toenails and Camus, you could still pay for just a chai and be considered 'cool' enough to linger (never mind, you've not gone beyond the first paragraph, Camus and chappals are an accessory to flash).

Given all of this, I still love going back. It's an Angela metamorphosed into the genial, warm Uma Fernandes with her P's and Q's in place; an Audrey turned into the astute, incisive, artistic Kamaladevi Dasgupta.

For all her little frailties, Amethyst is a restaurant that could just as well have been a portrait come alive. A full bodied, live person inviting you home for the Governor General's party :-), she isn't just a house. She is, in a way, memory of our collective imagination.

As long as your conversation or meal lasts, you're part of an elegant setting reminiscent of a decadent time that whisks you away from the daily modern grind. With or without company, every inch of Amethyst is worth savouring and while there might be others trying to replicate its charm, this colonial mansion stands as an undisputed landmark in Chennai.

Hello!

2009-08-31T12:25:00.003+05:30

I'm kind of tired of my emotional outbursts, aimless rants and incessant cribbing interjected with spurts of wisdom and sprinkles of utter 'blahness', packed together in a congested manner on all my blogs. And I pity you folks who put up with that and thank you all the same.

But now, in an attempt to reorganise my life, I thought it would be best to start by organising my space on the worldwide web.

Chatteratti continues to exist. It shall always serve as a space to mull over things that are close to my heart. But I do need to dedicate a place for my utter randomness and let the dormant hippe in me have a vent every now and then.

And so back with a flash of pink, is Blatant Blabber. Shamelessly girlie and a flagpost of everything around me that catches my fancy. Few thigns might overlap between the two blogs sometimes but let's hope this attempt at rediscovering myself and perhaps, coming into my own, at last/once again, works well.

With love.