Omankuzal.

Well I think that's the most appropriate name for the snack I made this afternoon. It was a November rainy chilly day @ Boston..Acton to be precise. As I sat watching/listening to the pitter patter of the rain I suddenly felt a craving for those crispy pakoda or bajji...when chked the pantry, I saw the Omam water, so got a brainwave to make Omapodi for the snack time. That's an easy peasy stuff which I have made in a jiffy without much effort in the past, many times..but I was wrong ..this time..well, everything was fine up to the making of the dough..all set. Oil in the pan got heated nicely, and I filled the dough in the iron 'omapodi achu'..and pressed it holding it above the heated oil like many times before..ugh??..nothing happened..the dough never got squeezed out..oh..ok..may be it's too tight..I removed it, and added some more water to soften it.. filled it again, and pressss..Now what??..It started coming out from the top...unbelievable..never in my 30 yrs of cooking life such thing happened before..WHAT??..I chked the holes of the press, all neat..then I noticed it was too tiny..figured it out..this is beyond my physical power. You need to apply huge pressure to squeeze the dough out thru that tiny holes..the texture of the dough I first made was sure fine..well, now what??..quickly revised the situation and decided to change the shape..yes I changed the 'achu' to thenkozal, and then things were fine. Finished the whole stuff in less than an hr..so now I have beautifully fried, golden brown, omapodi tasting thenkozal :)
Hence I decided to name it omankozal..

Timeout @ Pothys.

One lazy afternoon I decided to spend my time at a designers boutique. Well, then I just happen to see this huge building next to Vani Mahal, and was told it is an extension of the Pothys Chennai. Havent done much shopping in that shop, mainly because of the humongous crowd that will be jostling even late in the night. I was curious to have a look at this not so congested showroom. It was a 6 or 7 storied building each floor exclusively dedicated to specific product. I frisked thru the ground floor, designers' collection of synthetic/semi silks sarees..Oh Boy!!!..they have such a varieties, from places of India which you may find  hard to locate in the map!!..and the price is such a surprise.The sales person in each counter was so polite and attentive, you feel bad if you dont make a purchase..when I declared I was visiting the shop for the first time and was keen in just taking a look at the stuff, they were too eager to show me around the place explaining in detail about the products exhibited. I was thoroughly embarrassed to go without making a purchase.. Then I decided to try some ready made suits. Gosh..it was more tough choosing one. Right from as low as Rs. 500/700 up to a few thousands , it was an ocean. Cotton/silk/silkcotton/chiffon/Georgette..long/short/..name it..they have it. Then I slowly climbed down to the first floor where another ocean of un-stitched material was spread. The girls here were more sweet and took me around explaining about each display. The mix & match piece, a pair of tops with single pant and dupatta, for such a price, sounded very attractive. The semi crepe sets were very practical in a price range you can only imagine in the small shops!!!. The visit was such a pleasant one, and I ended up buying a few sets. Kudos to the staffs who made it possible. I didnt have much time left after this, so I have to give a miss on the pure silks section. Will make it some day, later.

In pursuit of Gate B22

The touch down by LH 423  @ Frankfurt airport in the early morning of a cold Saturday was fairly smooth and I felt quite refreshed inspite of being awake throughout the flight time. As I collected my things and got ready to get down, I chked my boarding pass of my next flight and was delighted to see the gate number printed in it. Generally, I wait for 4 hrs to know the terminal/ gate number. Peace. Now all I have to do is to proceed towards gate B22. Easy peasy..la la la.I started walking briskly along with fellow passengers. After walking a 1/4 mile or so, the arrow mark showed a right turn. Good, I walked and walked and walked!!!..another 1/4 mile done. Now the pace a bit reduced, I looked up for the elusive B gate. The arrow pointed straight. Continued walking and came to the moving belt. After moving for a good 5 minutes in two lengths I proceeded with confidence, hoping to find the immigration lounge for B gates. No. Its just not there, and I was asked to proceed further, now slightly less than a 1/4 mile, the arrow now pointed upwards for a change. Took the escalator and without much emotion, I looked at the long fairly empty airport hallway/corridor whatever it is called. As I walked further, a group of Japanese tourists entered from a side gate and suddenly the corridors were lively and I felt better. All only for a short while for when they reached the gate Z they abruptly stopped and entered the lounge there. Pheww..without losing heart I walked as if my only goal in life that morning is to walk and find a gate which is just not seem to be there. I noticed I was walking alone now. I was slightly disturbed by the silence and the dark sky outside the glass. It has been a solid 25 minutes walk now. I got sudden doubt if I was proceeding in the correct direction. And I wondered what if I had to retrace the whole route. When paranoid the brain behaves stupidly I guess. 

I halted for a moment and looked around for an airport staff. Yes there was a girl sitting on a high stool, half asleep with a monitor in front. I tapped on the desk and showed my boarding pass, and asked 'B gate, is this the way??..'Yes pruceed this way' she waved her hand straight..ahh..I did 'pruceed' only to find another escalator, but this time to descend. There there..I was kinda getting anxious now. When I hopefully got in to the lounge, wait..it was a train terminal..Oh God. Got to take a transit train. All this journey to get in to this train!!!!..well, no worries as long as I get to the B gate. 5 minutes later I was again ascending and following arrow. B1-19. What??..where is the rest??.. I walked further, the hallway/corridor turned 90 degrees and I walked walked..hey presto..there it was. The immigration lounge. There wasnt much people around. Lane 6 please..yup. I removed my jacket, and as I was placing it in the tay, the officer asked if I had any 'lickwid' inside my box, and the 'leph ttuph' to be kept outside. Sure, I did the same and walked thru the metal detector, fully dressed, with shoes and socks on..Wow. Havent even removed my  wrist watch. Not bad. Atlast the gate B22 was in sight. The chairs were empty, and I could smell the freshly baked buns.breads from the nearby restaurant. I just sat down, took a deep breathe.As I turned around all my discomfort disappeared , when I saw the beautiful sun rising, as a pleasant orange ball, with its reflection on the airport glass, making it look like a double sunrise!!!!..and it indeed made things easier and I got ready for my long journey back home.

Solitude - Glorified Lonesomeness.

Lonesome..That is what came to my mind when I saw this house, (well to call it a house is a debatable query) at an elevation of 10,000 plus feet...I took this shot, when we were climbing down from Badrinath. I found it amidst a vast field, and there seemed to be no soul within a range of some few km!!..The first thought that came to my mind was, how the hell they got in there in the first place???..Soon I found the answer, a few meters away.. spotted a mud path that runs on the slope of the huge mountain, like a giant serpent. Think this house must be a shelter for the farmers during the season.The whole side of the mountain was under step farming and this was in the middle of a step.Whatever may be the purpose of this house/shelter, the people who may occupy this will suffer from loneliness I guess..or I may be wrong, for work by itself is a remedy for loneliness. Still, I couldnt support my argument on that for however much  engaged , one may get weary at the end of the day being lonely..But then, life is an awfully lonesome affair, for we were all born alone and die alone.What makes it lively is the bond we create and the love we exchange with the fellow loners!!! when we are living...
Wow..philosophical quotes just pours out just by looking at this lone house on a lonesome mountain..
Look what Friedrich Nietzsche says on lonesome...
We do not belong to those who only get their thought from books, or at the prompting of books, -- it is our custom to think in the open air, walking, leaping, climbing, or dancing on lonesome mountains by preference, or close to the sea, where even the paths become thoughtful.
Whatever said and done, I think the faceless ppl who may use that house are really unique. Making a living by living for others...for I am sure the crops raised here must be cash crops and exported.
Hey, are we all not lonesome in our own way, living in a community, in the middle of a crowded city, Lonesome together..:) 

At the land of Love.....

I was really surprised to see a beautiful countryside in less than 100 km from Chennai city. Last month end we visited a rural temple at Thennangur, for a wedding. the drive was close to two and a half an hr.Till Tambaram it was chaotic. Thanks to the metro rail project. Then when I was hoping for a comfortable drive, the traffic was thick, for that time of the day!!.What was more striking was, the vast lands on either side of the NH 45, neatly laid out and imaginary towns already formed in the form of plots. I guess these were agricultural lands. I cant visualize how anybody can build a house to live here, with no amenities, and public service available. I found no decent school, shops or hospitals in near vicinity of these layouts. But the price quoted was exorbitant. I bet these lands were procured from the poor farmers for peanuts, by these real estate sharks.
The temple complex at Thennangur is visible from the highway, as we approach the village. A very quite hamlet, highly spiritual and harmonious with the nature, Thennangur is a must visit for a city dweller. The temple itself is a magnificent feast to eyes. The blend of northern and southern architecture style makes it a unique one. Watching the Deity of Sri Panduranga and Rukhmayee inside is a bliss and has to be experienced in person. The temple has a tree which is a silent witness of the divine romance of The Lord Sri Krishna and Radha.It is believed that praying to the Lord here helps one to join with their beloved one. We can see many knots tied by the couples who has succeeded and also who wants to be united..

The cleanliness and highly organized admin of the temple is a delightful change from the clumsy and dirty environment of our religious centers in general. Since we were there for a wedding and stayed just for a day, we could not dedicate much time in exploring the temple. The paintings and wall murals are done aesthetically in the Tanjore style art. The fiberglass mandap is something unique and very gorgeous. The Lord along with the Devi Rukhmayee is spectacular and no words to explain the peace you attain just looking at that magnificent figure. It was a great experience, and I need to go there again, again, again....and again I think...

Sri Panduranga & Rukhmayee

The temple complex with the north & south entrance.

After a good rest and sound sleep over the night, we took off from Pipalkote, to Joshimath. We were asked to report at the parking spot where our coach was left, precisely at 5.30 am. After a refreshing bath & hot coffee we boarded the bus which started immediately. I was hoping for a glorious mountain sunrise, as it was so early in the morning. But then as per Murphy's law, I was sitting exactly at the opposite side, plus the peaks of the mountains hardly revealed any rays of the rising sun. As I was looking out the window watching the beautiful mountain scenery that started slowly showing up like magic from the light of the dawn, I saw the setting moon smiling at me. Oh gosh!!..how did I miss it, in my greed to snap the sunrise, I totally failed to notice another beaut of the nature. Cursing myself for being so ignorant, I switched on the camera, and as I got ready to shoot the moon, the bus was taking a turn to the other side ( again Murphy's law).. still I managed to make a few clicks. But then, it is the crappiest shot ..So what..The place, The Himalayas, the time, morning 5.30, and the shot - from highly jerky bus that was ascending- makes this photo a Special.

Chronicle of a Trans Atlantic flight.

It was past 10pm when I walked in to the security chk at the Logans domestic terminal. Strange, because, I was flying to India via London and cannot comprehend why the flight was from that terminal. Anyway, that is not a big matter of concern. I am very much used to the, sometimes highly inappropriate rules and instructions slammed by the TSA authorities. I was lightly amused but greatly annoyed by the total body scan done . This is the first time I've undergone that. And I wonder even after that, why the passenger is frisked/groped by the officials. Now what is that they trust or dont trust is a big puzzle!!. All aboard, overhead cabins shut, doors closed. Ok, all fine. But the flight never took off, even 30 minutes past the scheduled departure time. And the crew never bothered to make any announcement regarding the delay.
I had a middle seat allotted and it wasnt very pleasant traveling with a farting bugger on one side and a smelly stinker on the other. The lady on my right was having a shawl around her, and whenever she opened it to adjust it, it was emancipating an odour that could bring out the breakfast you had 2 days ago. At around 2am food was served, which I declined, but my companions were duly served with what they asked, a meat in gravy, and beef curry or something. Oh boy!! the plight of people like me under such condition is pathetic. Think they must avoid allotting seats for pure vegetarians/vegans along with the general meat eating crowd!!!. That way you can be spared from the shock of having a plate of some Chicken dish, in the middle of night thrust in your hands while you are half asleep... Other than this it was a wonderful flight...
We are s'ppose to land at 10.30 local time London, but we made it only after 11am. Then again the ordeal of reaching the terminal 5 thru the transit claimed another 20 minutes. My flight to Chennai was at 1pm and I had literally no time to use even the rest room ..once the immigration at London was over, surprisingly, no frisking, not even the metal detector.. just a walk thru, I was a lil exasperated, when I saw the terminal for my flight. It was in the C , which again required a transit, this time the tube. Again the climb up/down, repeat at C..All done, reached the terminal C at 12 noon around. I precisely had 15 minutes before they call for boarding. The lobby was crowded, and I found an empty corner two gates away, to finish my packed lunch. Unlike the last time where I ended up with a soda, instead of water, ( mislead by the label that read, 'sparkling spring water'), I cautiously asked the counter girl to get me a bottle of water. She gave me a weird look and picked up the bottle for me. 'A pound and thirty for that'. 'Oh sure, here is my 2 dollar, I gave her the notes, for which she said 'I shall give you the balance in pound denominations only'. 'No probs' I smiled. Gave me a local daily as compliment. Not bad. The flight to Chennai was smooth, the food palatable (but the quantity served was ridiculously small!!) and drinks abundant. I can never understand the funda behind the idea of serving one teaspoon of curd/yogurt during lunch, and a big tub of yogurt at the early hrs, along with a pint of coffee!!! Most relieving thing was, the seat next to me was vacant..just that.