Europe 2010

It was an early arrival in Paris on 15th Sep thro Delhi. Had talked to a few of the fellow delegates over phone…knew none of them. But by the time we arrived in our hotel at Verona, Italy before noon that day, the coagulation had taken place. Four of us, Prasanth from Kolkota, Nikhil from Delhi. Deepak, a budding Architect from Pune (nicknamed ‘Italliano Penisotto’ during the tour – in jest!!!) and I formed our team. We all felt that we had known each other for years.

My dreams of sleeping off the Jet Lag were turned down and off the four of us set off to Simione, a dream island near Verona. It was worth it, and the Italian lunch at the local restaurant was fast/big and great. The chef – a Punjabi youth settled and well integrated there.

Prasanth’s knowledge of Italy was commendable – but then he is a frequent visitor there-and some command over the language came in very handy. (he sells, apart from other stuff, bowling alleys made in Italy). This combined with in depth knowledge of the hospitality industry, wine and food which came bundled with Nikhil (he has been on wine tours in Italy before) made us Italians overnight. Deepak provided the variety entertainments, all youth fun and BINDAAS…he was the fun guy around…except his constant departures whereby we had to literally take turns ensuring that he was around (wouldn’t be far, clicking off with a camera almost as big as he was, though much more complicated-the camera). Even the ever pleasant faces of Prasanth and Nikhil showed cracks once in a while…but nobody wanted to lose Deepak to the Italians.

I pause here, to thank Vandana and Rahul Mehrotra, the organizers of the tour (LEMS VeronaFIERE-India) who ensured our comfort and safety, though they were quite strict on our attendance at the venues…as they ought to be…thanks again, I suppose, from the whole group.

Furniture/furnishings/lighting the whole day, the evenings at peace in the lanes and squares of Verona, Visit to Juliet’s home and a photograph of the famous balcony, not to mention the photo op of caressing Juliet’s bronze B – a ritual there, for both the male and female visitor. The naked right breast polished from the caressing…the other veiled and aging. Of course, a visit to the night clubs and the amateur drama and music shows going on in various public venues, seated on card board stools. Some drinking GAPPA, the others on beer/ wine and colas.

Topped off by a visit to Venice (only Nikhil and I). He showed me the famous bar where the ‘Belloni’??? was invented – a wine based cocktail – Harry’s bar, was it??? or was that Paris?

Leaving the group behind was saddening, but off went Nikhil and I to Paris, he onwards to London. Paris, in solitaire, for two days…walking tour of the Right Bank, ably escorted by Alex, a Parisian. A bar near the stock exchange where the beer prices soared up and down depending on all sorts of international economic indexes. The Harry’s bar there – where the Bloody Mary was invented for Earnest Hemmingway. Seems his wife Mary did not take to his drinking. Told the bar man he wanted a drink which his wife would not take for alcohol – the resultant mix fooled the wife. Hemmingway came in the next day and told the bar man “Fooled her – the Bloody Mary” and a legend of a cocktail was born. The Ritz, the first classified hotel in the world- albeit with attached toilets and a family restaurant (previously, the women ate in private). The bar – called “The Hemmingway”- though he never stayed there, too expensive. Diane did, just before her untimely death.

Once more a glance of I M Pei’s glass pyramid at the Louvre. Walk down the Champs de Elysee, on to the Arch D’Troimphe”. Avoided Gustav Eiffel’s tower, spent two days there last time, attempting to sketch thro the haze of unlimited alcohol. A dry run of sorts this time.

22nd September 2010-breakfast in Paris and lunch in Amsterdam. I Amsterdam, too private to blog. But did go to IHS in Rotterdam and to the Dutch countryside, fishing villages and cheese farms. And being more advanced and liberal than most other nations---life was a breeze there; constant travels to the far skies and beyond…

Back to Delhi via Paris, almost missed my flight out of Europe, and in Delhi, a lost luggage. But there was an army of Air France officials there handling lost baggage – it seemed that this was an everyday affair. Purchase at the duty free, credit card wouldn’t work because lines were faulty…but then we are a big country…Power cuts ET All – welcome back to India!!!

Back home on terra firma…….

Mox-Sep 2010

I AMsterdam

A couple of days in Northern Italy – Verona to be precise – Venice, an hour away…to attend the Abitare IL Tempo fair there – great show of interior products – 3 crores for a kitchen, 20 lakhs for a cot (cheaper options available). But what the heck? If one can afford a 200 lakh house, might as well sleep on a twenty lakh cot!!!

On, alone to Paris, and then on to Amsterdam. It was fantastic…the only one to look after being myself…a problematic proposition…but then I can’t possibly leave me alone there.

And now back to India…lost luggage and power cuts…but has the liberty to address our politicians in any which way one wants, and which they normally deserve

Happy Onam

Mahabali – the erstwhile ruler of Kerala was considered the most just and noble among leaders. His goodness was so great that even the Devas up above started getting restless. Acute jealousy and fear must have set in for them to approach Lord Vishnu for help and assistance, who in turn donned the costume of Vamana and commenced his descent to our world at sharp noon IST. After the successful defeat of Mahabali by sheer cunning (Mahabali saw it coming, but rather preferred to stick to his words), Vamana (Vishnu) banished him to a further descent into the netherworld, limiting his freedom of surfacing to once a year – during Onam – a festival celebrated by many a Malayali to celebrate the victory of Cunning over that of Valor and Truth.

Long live – us, the Malayali’s!!!

Jingle bells...Jingle bells.......

'Twas the night before Christmas, and far out at sea
Our vessel was sailing, as smooth as could be

The stockings were hung from the balcony chairs
With hope that St. Nicholas soon would be there

The children were nestled all snug in their uppers
Having just settled down from a Christmas Eve supper

And ma and myself, we were covered in aloe
A bit too much sun, in a pool, warm and shallow

When up in the sky, there arose such a clatter
I leapt from my bed to see what was the matter

To the sliding glass door, I flew like a flash
Well, more like a saunter, and less like a dash

And what to my skeptical eyes should appear
But a great shiny sleigh, and eight flying reindeer

They circled our ship, from starboard to port
As the moon lit the driver, a jolly old sort

Who called to his team, in a happy retort
"Now Dasher, now Dancer," so on and so forth

We raced through our cabin and into the hall
To the very top deck, in time for us all

To be awed by the sight of Old Santa's sleigh
As he lightly touched down, by the midnight buffet

With a bundle of goodies thrown over his back
He rose in the air and dropped down the smokestack

Santa went straight to work, and later we learned
He found every child's cabin, from the bow to the stern

Insides and oceanviews, balconies and suites
Santa filled every stocking, with toys and with treats

Until all his deliveries had been handled with care
Then he noted he still had a minute to spare

So he surfed the wave rider, with nary a fall
While Dasher and Dancer scaled the rock-climbing wall

And Prancer, who had always been fond of the cold
Tried the ice-skating rink, a sight to behold

And then with a whistle, Santa summoned his team
And he bade us farewell, silent nights and sweet dreams

And I heard him exclaim, as he flew out of view
Merry Christmas to all, and to all, a good cruise.


Written by Alan Fox, with appreciation and apologies to Clement Clarke Moore, author of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas and courtesy Vacations ToGo.com

The Value of your values, and the value of your valuables.

The Mahatma was quizzed one day on how fitting his attire (or lack of it) was in front of the ‘Sahib’. It was regarding whether he would be put into a position of discomfiture when he met them in their suits and collars.

He said thus: “I Value your ‘Values’, not the Value of your Valuables”
Brings to mind situations where you like something which is alien, sometimes where you just accept it without prejudice. Raising a toast is a perfect example: more than once have I thought: Why am I doing this which is not part of my culture, not part of ‘I’…

The above clarifies this position in most cases where we are in a ‘fix’…Maybe it is just respect for their values, or is it something else…….

M Kalipurayath
Yet another Onam coming up - 2009

Fade and Etch

There was a quaint coastal village in Kerala which had a picturesque beach leading up to a majestic cliff wall. Here once lived Ramu and Raju, two village children who happened to be very thick pals. They were always found to be together.

One day, while playing on the beach, they had a fight – as children (and more often the older variants) are bound to do. As an immediate solution, Ramu hit Raju and told him that they would no more be friends. Raju, deeply hurt, went and sat on the sands of the beach, watching the waves. After some time, he wrote thus on the sand – “Today Ramu and I decided not to be friends anymore”.Ramu, on contemplation of events, started feeling lousy. After some time, he went up to Raju, and after hugging him, apologized profusely. On the turn of events thus, a very happy Raju walked up to the Rocks of the cliff and taking a sharp stone, carved and etched thus on to the rock – “Today Ramu and I continue to be the best friends we always were”.
Paste your bad memories where it can be washed away easily, the good ones – etch them onto you where it can never be taken away. M. Kalipurayath
The Monsoon, 2009

Hello again

Both - Rain Drops and my penning - got stuck somewhere. Planning a retake - shall in all probability start both ASAP