Iron drums at Kochi beach front

i walk by, wondering, thinking, wondering… approach, almost touch, peep into the holes on the sides, get shocked by the garbage, step back, almost touch again, step back. [hmmm] what are these two iron drums i say to myself? not wanting to leave, i wait there. maybe it’ll strike me? before minutes turn into hours, a man walks up to them. he looks, smiles knowingly, then … Continue reading Iron drums at Kochi beach front

Karnataka – Of long holidays, bad colds and homesickness!

The last few months have been a world wind of activity and most of it in my head, I must tell you. But there have been new things to do, new territories ventured into and of course, old jobs, worries and all of the usual things that fall under the “living” category! But the best part of the first half of 2014 was spending 10 days in … Continue reading Karnataka – Of long holidays, bad colds and homesickness!

nagpur – the breakfast story

yesterday we traversed through fort kochi but today let me zip you away to nagpur. if you want a continuous story.. errr… wrong place. i am fickle in all kinds of ways. and today i feel like telling you about this brilliant place we ‘discovered’ in nagpur. yeah, i can see you shaking your head at the word ‘discovered’. it is such an over-used and hazar-abused … Continue reading nagpur – the breakfast story

fort kochi & why i love it

Fort Kochi sits in the middle of the state of Kerala, in south-west of India. Kerala is ‘God’s Own Country’ as the marketing campaign has been shouting for years. That’s true. You go to Kerala to learn that there are more greens than just bottle green and olive-green. But no, Fort Kochi doesn’t succumb to the rest-of-Kerala’s diktat. Kerala is all about the backwaters? errr… you hardly experience that … Continue reading fort kochi & why i love it

a quick update and other things

I’ve been away. not from my home but from this blog for around a month. it’s embarrassing to move from regular blogger to irregular blogger to a non-blogger. and that’s whats happened over the last few months. i don’t have any excuses, yes i’ve been busy but i managed to find time before. well, anyway, i’m back. and plan to get a lot of stuff online … Continue reading a quick update and other things

first of firsts – two articles published on the same day

two articles were published today on two different e-zines (is that what you call them?) one of them is on my favourite topic – graffiti; but with interpretations or musings… tell me what you think. where did the wall graffiti at fort kochi come from though i prefer my title – “kochi – art or wallpaper?” and the other, a first for me. a poem, … Continue reading first of firsts – two articles published on the same day

Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum, Mumbai – main exhibits!

An honest confession, I haven’t seen too many museums in India. And the few I have seen are mostly archaeological museums. I enjoy them, but after a point I get a little bored. I’m an interested but not a passionate museum visitor and I need more variety. A line of statues belonging to the same period, are great, but I am unable to see the differences. Imagine if … Continue reading Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum, Mumbai – main exhibits!

5 things that will make you STOP at Fort Kochi

There is a lot of quaintness rolled into the package that is Fort Kochi. Let me tell you about 5 really interesting stops you should make while discovering this old port.   1. Large Rusted Drums These two tall, rusted drums are now quasi garbage bins by the disrespectful passerby. They were once boilers on a ship. They stand harmlessly at one end of the Kochi Beach, rather quietly … Continue reading 5 things that will make you STOP at Fort Kochi

And I’m printed!

Some things just creep up on you. And realisation dawns slowly, but then the joy blooms. Editor: “Can I run some of your pieces that have already appeared in an online magazine?” Me: “Ok, that’ll be great.” A pause and then a second email followed… Me: “Will they pay?” Editor: “No, we cannot… sorry.” Me: “Ok, fine…It’s good exposure” (And in my head, Damn DAMN DAMNNN… But … Continue reading And I’m printed!

top places to eat vegetarian fare at fort kochi

“you’re a vegetarian? oh…ok, yeah there are nice places for that too…” the homestay owner said in a rather disinterested voice… i understand. after years of being a vegetarian traveller, i know when people are flustered. and a vegetarian in kerala is always looked at as a weirdo. why come here and eat if you can’t eat the fish & etc… that’s the feeling. for all you vegetarians out … Continue reading top places to eat vegetarian fare at fort kochi