Yeh Pagdandi aur Yeh Raasta

Shimla has a special place in our collective hearts, always a chance revisit to many old beautiful memories and an opportunity to create some more. It is almost like an “annual pilgrimage” as some of my friends like to call my trip to Shimla.
Last Oct we had stayed at the beautiful Koti Resort and this time too unanimously voted for the same. Our 11 year old loves to trek and is totally enamored by the word “pagdandi” (Hindi for narrow foot trails). On asking for trek options, someone from the resort told us that the trek upto the state owned “Apple Institute” as the Regional Horticultural Research Institute is popularly called, is worth it not only for its educational value but also for the panoramic view of the mountains. On checking how far would it be and if it is a easy walk we were told “15 mins”.
Post a hearty breakfast we packed our backpack with bottles of water, took the wooden cane to shoo off the monkeys just in case, tied those shoe laces tight and off we went. Initially we were very excited and posed for pictures at every spot, raved about the pine trees, stopped for the valley views and generally sang along. Soon though we were gasping, panting city dwellers with lazy and unexercised bones. A couple of locals passed by effortlessly and obviously much faster and definitely without the gear we were lugging around. At that time we felt like solar powered Reva racing against the Ferraris that zip past. On checking with a local guy “bhaiya kitni door?” we were told “bus ji yeh raha, paanch minute.” That worked like a balm on our frayed jangled nerves. We rebooted and started the climb up again with “jai mata di” motivational chants.
10 minutes – 15 minutes the lad kept looking at the watch and repeating “Mommy bhaiya ne paanch minute kaha tha…kab ayegaa?” and I was like huff puff “aa gya bus jai mata di”. A grueling 10 more minutes we finally reached the destination Apple Insititute. Yayyyy we did it!!!

Lesson Learnt: The “pahari” locals are really like mountain goats and the terrain that comes effortlessly to them is quite a task for us lazy bums!
The trek was really worth it, the apple trees were laden with unripe fruit hanging in bunches and looking as tempting as they would have to Adam and Eve. Flowers were in full bloom and in profusion of colors, a small green house had a variety of flowers that are so typical of colder climes. A small museum showcases the historical perspective and pictures of some of the wide varieties of apples that were planted here along with their characteristics and provides for a quick and interesting read. The first floor museum also preserves some of the specimens of butterflies found in the region as also the pests that plague the plantations at times.

Fortunately the trek back was easy as it was all downhill. When we reached the resort the husband cheekily took out his pedometer and announced that we had done 7kms trek. I fainted!! You would too if you knew that I drive up to the park for my evening walk (yeah I do).

Baagon Main Bahar Hai

On the recent trip to Koti Resort a little ahead of Shimla, captured these beautiful butterfly angels busy with their business of living and spreading cheer. 

Surajkund Mela

Post dair se hai magar durust hai

So well if I try to think of a reason for the delay in the post I have none but sheer laziness. Anyways had been planning and planning since past couple of melas to go and visit but for the lack of company, scare of parking and thronging crowds could not gather enough gumption for the get up and go. However this year it was very high on the bucket list and idea became reality when a friend encouragingly said “chalo chalo”. The wisest thing we did was to start early and I mean like really early at 10.00 am. It was another thing that we had to return by 2pm to pick up kids from school. We got a great parking, shorter queues at the counter and better views inside. By the time it was time for us to leave we were tired but panting for more. However we had to leave …kids at school remember!! Note to Self: Next time Again Definitely.

There isn’t much to write about in this post but loads to see around. The burst of colours everywhere, the sun kist glory of spring and the breaking into a jig every now and then by the traditional artists….the mela has something for everyone. Though I wont recommend going with small children. On our way out we faced a sea of humanity and the crowds had swelled up beyond expectations. We did a good job though, a shooter friend (and I don’t mean just shooting with the camera she’s a real national level shooter ahem ahem!! collars up) was trigger happy and amongst the two of us we have thousands of vignettes to share. So here goes:

Chariot from Hampi replicated

Craftsman at work

dhokra art

                                                            

Studious Ganapati

If you are still hungry for more colours and drama click here to view more photographs

Like a kid in a toy store: Hamley’s Tour

 

OK so Hamley’s have opened in India and they are promoting it with noticeably full page spreads in your newspaper cant miss it kind of advertisements. The brouhaha on the fb pages is unmistakable too. We didn’t remain untouched, how could we? Post lunch at the Big Chill, Dlf Saket Mall, we a couple of mommies decided to visit the store to check bhai after all maazra kya hai? Aisi bhi kya baat hai?

The moment we were facing the façade of the store spread on two floors we were floored too (sorry for the pj but couldn’t resist). Anyhow out came the arsenal (in this case a camera) and the shooting started.

Once inside we were squealing like young kids with many oohs and aahs thrown in. Gosh were these guys sleeping when we were kids? Teddy bears, angry birds, Tom and Jerry and many other soft toys in all shapes and sizes all around us on the shelves at the counters and almost everywhere. While the ground floor was stuffed with stuff toys (again I think it’s a good day for pjs), the first level was full of educational toys right from Lego to Meccano to Hot Wheels to Frank, you name it they have it. We were actually a confused lot of mommies who didn’t know where to look and actually devising strategies as to where to lead the kids when they accompany us. It seemed that husbands will be left much poorer after our shopping trip there.

You think a toy and they have it. It’s a beautifully done up store though I wish that the Lego stand that jutts out was removed, it hurt when one of us unknowingly walked into it. They have set the bar high. Though I get discounts from my neighborhood toy store I think once in a while I will forego that just for experience sake and that says a lot since I am very typically Dilliwali “bhaiya ji kuch toh theek laga lo” mentality. Sigh!!

Art Shart at the India Art Fair 2013

 

Art means many things to many people and why should it not? After all art is a dialogue between self and the art. I do not ascribe to the notion that art only adorns the wall or vacant spaces, it can be the way you apply your bindi, drape the sari or place the vase on your coffee table. It is what you think it is. Art is for everyone and everyone is for art is my mantra. You have the eye the world provides you with a perspective.

I had heard and read a lot about the previous 4 editions of the art fair, so when I got a chance to visit this year I jumped at the offer. Organised at the NSIC Exhibition grounds in Okhla it is just about 15 minutes drive from home. Spread over 3 spacious halls, the art fair saw participation from 105 art galleries from 24 countries. The fair had something for everyone; right from the art critic to the collectors and for those like me that had visited purely for visual sensory pleasure. Once inside, my situation was well like the Alice in Wonderland surrounded by 1000s of paintings, sculptures and installation and digital art. At times I could not make up my mind if this is better than that and if I should look here or there!!

 

 

An installation by Hardik Dikshit called Arise is one that I found intriguingly interesting. Lamenting the loss of Gandhi’s ideals to commercialism his visiting card depicted a Rs500 bill featuring Dandi march without Gandhi and a sculpture rising above a mound of sea salt.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Delhi 7 trunk installation by Paresh Maity a major crowd puller depicted seven cities of Delhi.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Among the usual suspects like M.F.Husain, Jamini Roy, SH Raza, Souza, Satish Gujral, B.Prabha, Manjit Bawa, Subodh Gupta,Paresh Maity were also new emerging artists promoted by galleries. Mostly awe inspiring art, some by its sheer beauty others by magnitude and scale. There were some really enigmatic kind of art that I could not understand, maybe more trips down the years and knowledge of the artist would enlighten me, who knows. It was a gainful experience and totally worth it.

Well as usual I clicked many pictures and leave it to you to decide what is your definition of art. Click here for a tour of the fair.

Balle Balle ..Davis Cup

 

Leander Paes in Action

A chance sighting of the poster on distribution of tickets for the Davis Cup match inspired me into picking up tickets for my, much interested and being coached for tennis, son. He is coaching for tennis and displays a natural flair for the game. On the appointed day (2nd February 2013) jostling major jams and son’s increasing with each traffic light anxiety, we finally made it to the venue R.K.Khanna Stadium in Delhi. Another challenge was to look for a parking spot which as in most parts of the city is at premium.

Once inside the venue the atmosphere was electric and son was ecstatic to see Leander Paes in action. (We had gone for men’s double, India Vs Korea.) In between the winning shots by team India the crowds there was boisterous play of the dhol and the bhangra. Also giving dhol company were gongs, chants of “jeetaega bhai jeetaega India jeetaega”, a DJ belting out Chak De India song from the popular SRK starrer and tri color being waved by the audiences. And yes, while there we spotted Shotgun too.

 

Though I don’t understand too much of the game the energy was infectious and the fact that we were winning was in itself a big high. My son thoroughly enjoyed one of his fav sportsperson game and we all came out with hoarse throats and a lifetime of memories. I dutifully clicked many pictures to share on my blog, so just click here for more.

Poetry in Sang-e-marmar–Taj Mahal

 

There was a song that I remember the lyrics of which went by “jeevan mein ek baar aana Singapore” but truly if you ask me I will sing it like “jeevan mein ek baar aana Taj Mahal”. Reams have been written extolling the architectural marvel and the undying love of an emperor for his begum; but nothing compares to the moment when you see it for yourself. It is on the map of every foreign tourist worth his/her salt to India and on the list of Indians alike. It is crowded yet stands apart and despite the jostling each and every visitor has a unique dialogue with the awesomeness that is Taj. Myths and lore that abound adds to its mystery.

One foggy wintry day we too decided to make that 1 day trip to Agra, the motivation being the nephew from sadda Canada. Though still in grade four he is fascinated with buildings and architectural details and is our in-house Lego master. So obviously Taj was on his radar when he came to India and his sole request to his grandparents who were willing to indulge in every possible way. Though it is said that the Yamuna expressway is quicker we were travelling from west Delhi so didn’t take it. It took many hours on the road to reach Taj and we didn’t get time to do or see anything else; no not even the neighboring fort and reached back home post midnight but well it was all worth the effort.

From the parking we took camel cart to reach the Taj Mahal. Kids were super excited and loved every minute of it, the detail that they noted was the diaper the camel wore, ripples of laughter set the tone for the day. From getting various “smart angle” photographs done to “wow”ing at each and every detail right from the floor pattern to the chandelier given by Lord Curzon to the char bagh patterned gardens and the dream of a black Taj harbored by the emperor as also mulling over the absence of Yamuna river to the increase in pollution levels we did it all.

It was a good trip is to say the least, I wish we had more time to explore the other monuments including the Akbar ka makbara (tomb) in the suburbs, but like my bro said “Taj is Taj”.

For more pics click here

Did You Know: The entire Taj Mahal is perfectly symmetrical and at the central axis lies the grave of Mumtaz Mahal, however, the irony is that the only element out of symmetry is the grave of the emperor himself!!