chennai calling
the day was a busy one, especially given the slooow pace of life these days (indeed, i have diligently followed my zen resolve for january - of walking slowly like a cow, chewing cud). first, there was the rude awakening at the dentist's. after the extraction that was entirely a walk in the park, the two very miniscule fillings today killed me :). (so much for separation of body from mind :o.)
then there was beautiful dilli haat with mom and sis. 'tis only in this trip home that i have discovered the true joy of 'window'-shopping at dilli haat, which lies in simply appreciating the artwork that is sold there. there is so much and varied art to be found here, i'd recommend it over an art gallery any day. the humility of the artists leaves me moved each time, without fail. after partaking also of the sunshine and cool winter breeze, i moved on...
...to have lunch with a 1.5 year old friend i was meeting for the first time :). when i saw him, i wasn't sure it was him - it was one of those first meetings. most enjoyable though, really. he's apparently pursuing a phd in the intersection of economics, technology, and hindustani classical music! there was so much to learn in that little lunch meeting. of course, lunch too was an exquisite meal of a 'cottage cheese and pickled mushroom panini' with a minty mint tea.
that was before the 2.5 hr flight to chennai, the southern capital of india. it was a surreal feeling to read the name of the city far in the distance as the plane prepared to land. [apparently, the flight had on it all the senior officers from the central vigilance commission (for the conference which brought me here as well). "so much for risk management practices", one of the other comissioners said :).] we were escorted from the airport to hotel savera, where i had a lovely multi-cuisine buffet dinner at the piano, consisting of mushroom chow-mein, veg. white gravy, veg. chili fry, kaikari pulao, beans poriyal, and sambar all in one meal, with papaya and pineapple chunks for dessert. (papaya has seen a remarkable escalation in value for me in this trip - i might go so far as to call it my favorite fruit.)
our room is on the 6th floor, and the view is amazing (although this is chennai and not new york, admittedly). overall, the temperate climate (that i have always loved) has already worked its charm (in addition to turning me into a golliwog), and i can barely wait to breathe in the indian ocean. coming from the cold delhi winter, i did look forward much to the warm chennai air, but i'd forgotten that india has a penchant for turning the ac on full blast wherever possible :). there has been no need to remove the sweater thus far!
traveling in india, especially to the ends of the country, has always brought tremendous fulfillment. as though the heart yearns to be able to say - to every grain of indian sand - "india, i am yours". cheesy, yes, but heart-felt. friday will bring forth a full-fledged chennai darshan.
but the train to tirupati is at 6.30am tomorrow, so i shall turn in now. you are invited to telepathize your prayers to me so i may turn them over to safe hands at the darshan.
parkalam!
then there was beautiful dilli haat with mom and sis. 'tis only in this trip home that i have discovered the true joy of 'window'-shopping at dilli haat, which lies in simply appreciating the artwork that is sold there. there is so much and varied art to be found here, i'd recommend it over an art gallery any day. the humility of the artists leaves me moved each time, without fail. after partaking also of the sunshine and cool winter breeze, i moved on...
...to have lunch with a 1.5 year old friend i was meeting for the first time :). when i saw him, i wasn't sure it was him - it was one of those first meetings. most enjoyable though, really. he's apparently pursuing a phd in the intersection of economics, technology, and hindustani classical music! there was so much to learn in that little lunch meeting. of course, lunch too was an exquisite meal of a 'cottage cheese and pickled mushroom panini' with a minty mint tea.
that was before the 2.5 hr flight to chennai, the southern capital of india. it was a surreal feeling to read the name of the city far in the distance as the plane prepared to land. [apparently, the flight had on it all the senior officers from the central vigilance commission (for the conference which brought me here as well). "so much for risk management practices", one of the other comissioners said :).] we were escorted from the airport to hotel savera, where i had a lovely multi-cuisine buffet dinner at the piano, consisting of mushroom chow-mein, veg. white gravy, veg. chili fry, kaikari pulao, beans poriyal, and sambar all in one meal, with papaya and pineapple chunks for dessert. (papaya has seen a remarkable escalation in value for me in this trip - i might go so far as to call it my favorite fruit.)
our room is on the 6th floor, and the view is amazing (although this is chennai and not new york, admittedly). overall, the temperate climate (that i have always loved) has already worked its charm (in addition to turning me into a golliwog), and i can barely wait to breathe in the indian ocean. coming from the cold delhi winter, i did look forward much to the warm chennai air, but i'd forgotten that india has a penchant for turning the ac on full blast wherever possible :). there has been no need to remove the sweater thus far!
traveling in india, especially to the ends of the country, has always brought tremendous fulfillment. as though the heart yearns to be able to say - to every grain of indian sand - "india, i am yours". cheesy, yes, but heart-felt. friday will bring forth a full-fledged chennai darshan.
but the train to tirupati is at 6.30am tomorrow, so i shall turn in now. you are invited to telepathize your prayers to me so i may turn them over to safe hands at the darshan.
parkalam!
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