Tea bloom in my glass

Hand-tied green tea wrapped around orange lily petals and sweet jasmine flowers. Poured hot water onto this ball of tea and it blossomed in my glass as I sipped my tea. A totally different experience from a normal cup-a-tea. A calming taste!

After Tsunami

When the Tsunami struck Japan I was reminded of the earlier one which hit south India end- 2004. Very few including me had heard of the word Tsunami before ...

After 10 years in Chennai we'd just shifted to our new home near the beach and less than a month later, in the early morning of 26th Dec, felt a slight tremor while we were still asleep: as we'd had a late night .. bringing in AS's birthday. Around 6am the glass of water at IS's bedside shook, but we thought nothing more of it and dosed off again. Later around 8am I heard people outside scream in Tamil 'the Sea is coming! the Sea is coming!' in a panic tone and knew something was wrong. My first thought was the girls who were sleeping in their first floor bedroom. Ran up to check on them and went out on the terrace from where one could see the sea. The water had come into the lower-lying lane next to ours, with it bringing in some fishermen's boats! There was panic all around ... surely something was wrong.

IS went out of the gate to check and walked a 100 meters towards the beach, then came back running when he saw a big gush of water coming down our road ... the 2nd wave.

A few phone calls to some friends, my aunt who was in her beach-house close-by for the weekend said they were going back to their home in the city and we should also pack and leave. We could not get ourselves to leave as this was our home and we had no other home to go to. And what about the gardener and his family, where would they go? The two little pups who'd adopted us?

The power supply was cut, phone lines went dead (after the initial panic calls from friends and relatives asking us about our well-being), since we were near the sea. Till that time I assumed it was a tidal wave, till we heard later of the devastation this had caused all along the coast and thousands were homeless and how bodies had been washed away. In the coastal flat-lands nearer Pondicherry (used for salt-ponds, shrimp ponds), the water carried in for miles, whole fishing villages getting wiped out.

It was frightening to see disaster so closely and at the same time we were thankful that we were safe. Next day, a walk to the beach showed us a scary picture of the fury of the Sea. Compound walls washed away, cars washed away, the beach sand blackened. With the salt water coming in so far inland, the ground water aquifers got affected everywhere, and even in our belt which was blessed with drinkable ground-water, got salty for some months.

Another time I actually cried when a cyclone brought down the newly-built shed IS had put up for his seafood business. We had recently moved to Chennai and were still getting used to the city, but now the whole city was a mess, with up-rooted trees, fallen billboards ... very strange and upsetting. At that time also we went without power and phones for nearly ten days.

This kind of devastation by nature could happen anytime, any place ... not just near the sea, even people living inland are not spared from floods, drought, cyclones, earthquakes, forest fires, etc.

So we got a slight taste of similar situations up-close, but now the horrific news of the Tsunami in Japan where the term was coined that has killed thousands and taken away homes from those who survived. Japan has endured atom bomb explosions and is now trying to avoid a radioactive disaster due to the damaged nuclear reactors. Seeing visuals on TV, I feel some of their pain and can only respond with my prayers.

I don't think these catastrophic events are signs that our world is coming to an end, at least not yet, but I do believe these are signals to awaken us to take more care of our planet earth, otherwise we'll speed up that process!

I can only be thankful to God, who is the Creator and the Destroyer, for every single day we are alive and safe.


It still remains
'The land of the rising sun'
of cherry blossoms.
The earth moved
sending waves.
The sea
regurgitating
the debris.
Water engulfed
making lives
homeless,
and missing.
I feel sad
as I see visuals
of dry tears
on faces of devastation.
A disciplined, resilient people
helpless
as nature cursed.
Fighting radiation
a boon
now a bane.
Preserve nature
but in vain.

A silent prayer for all affected by the Tsunami.

Nostal Goa

Sunset from the cliff-top: at the Greek restaurant 'Thalassa', Vagator, North Goa.


Part of Fort Aguada, Goa .... now being used as the Jail.


Steps leading up to 'Mary Immaculate Conception Church', Panjim.


Basillica of Bom Jesus, old Goa.


Chapel of St. Francis Xavier, Old Goa.


Courtyard of the Basillica.


(Above and below) Tiracol Fort, now converted into a resort.



A fresh catch of Jumbo prawns being cooked in garlic butter, a special dinner at home.

Our friends in Goa who made it really special for us.


Our fourth visit to Goa in the first week of January this year was a trip full of nostalgia, bringing back memories of our various previous ones, with the children and close family, and most of all in 1982, the year we got married. This was again a truly relaxed trip and time well-spent with some very dear friends ... the above snapshots convey some of the glorious spots in Goa and the wonderful time we had.

On My Side-Board

This potted orchid was given by a cousin of I's on his birthday. This orchid has been sitting on my side-board for more than five months now. I have tended and watered it regularly. Besides giving it a few glances between sips of my early morning cup of tea I look at it a number of times during the rest of the day as well, and perhaps in response it has been quietly unravelling its beauty only to add to my joy.

I have never tried growing orchids but I really admire the blooms. Orchids have a personality of their own and emit a kind of beauty which seems eternal. The colours, forms and textures sets them apart from other flowers.

Last week the flowers started drying up and perishing one by one. I was helpless. I very much wanted them to last a little longer. Can beauty not last forever? No, and for that matter, nothing does. In short, I was reminded to enjoy everything beautiful. Take the time to stop and look, this does leave an impression on one's mind and its effect hopefully passes on in another form.

I have tried to capture the moods and beauty of this orchid through my ameteur shutter skills (which I hope to improve someday soon!).

To My Valentine

Red roses, hearts, and all the other mushy things that go with Valentine's Day, here's something interesting I came across ..... Ogden Nash relates it to so many things that one would consider highly unpleasant, yet in his light-hearted way he conveys true love.

A twisted version of a standard love poem.

More than a catbird hates a cat,
Or a criminal hates a clue,
Or the Axis hates the United States,
That's how much I love you.

I love you more than a duck can swim,
And more than a grapefruit squirts,
I love you more than a gin rummy is a bore,
And more than a toothache hurts.

As a shipwrecked sailor hates the sea,
Or a juggler hates a shove,
As a hostess detests unexpected guests,
That's how much you I love.

I love you more than a wasp can sting,
And more than the subway jerks,
I love you as much as a beggar needs a crutch,
And more than a hangnail irks.

I swear to you by the stars above,
And below, if such there be,
As the High Court loathes perjurious oathes,
That's how you're loved by me.

Nearly Thirty

I really can't imagine life without IS. Looking back at how far we have come, the number of years we have spent together doing all kinds of things, raising our two lovely children, having good times and not so good times. It has shaped our marriage, a marriage we made so many years ago is still evolving for the future to tell.

As one has aged we are definitely a different couple than what we were when we began. More relaxed and maybe more realistic with each other ... making us less romantic ..... more acceptance, less expectations.

As far as arguments are concerned they were always there, will continue to be there. Maybe less now, agree to disagree most times ... I freeze for many-a-days ..... then thaw ... and then back to normal. It continues with less ego clashes or takeovers. I think we belong to a generation where compromises were the norm of any relationship.

To keep your marriage brimming,
With love in the loving cup,
Whenever you're wrong, admit it;
Whenever you're right, shut up.

- Ogden Nash Quote

There is no real secret to a good marriage. It's a way of life, of being together, being open and truthful. We have still to work at our relationship to make it better so we are closer. Do I ask for a lot ... cause then it will be more difficult for us to part. But nevertheless I know I do have a friend who is sincere and trustworthy.

I wrote this small verse for our 25th anniversary (when he was in Dubai and I in Chennai) which I thought I'd share.

“I want to write a song
About our years twenty-five long.

No poetess, but I’ll try.

It was a dream-like beginning,
All set by fate;
That you be my mate.
Made for each other …….
With all the showered blessings
No tall promises we made;
Yet, there for each other.

Sometimes right;
Sometimes wrong;
We shared a space
Without much
Friction or grimace.

Then came two bundles of joy,
Who were more than just toys.
Adding more to our lives.
Time flew,
As they grew.
A feeling nobody could satisfy.

A man all-aspiring;
Optimistic and real.
Machines, lobsters,
Computers, and toys,
He tampered
In all with great joy.
A Don Quixote of sorts,
He definitely rocks!
This man I love!

Distance lies between us now,
One feels fonder and how.
May Silver turn to Gold;
As we age old.
May happiness and health prevail;
I pray to God that this remains
At this juncture; I am sure;
That I could not have asked for more.”

Happy 2011

We are already into the second month of this year.

‘Time flies, this year is already over’ is what one says at every year-end, feeling a bit sad yet we bring in the New Year with celebration … hoping what follows will be as happy as we want to feel at that time. It is almost spring everywhere … the Chinese have just celebrated this turn of season as their New Year. In Iran and elsewhere this will follow next month as Nowroz. The celebrations continue …..

For many years now, New Year ’s Eve parties have shrivelled up into quiet celebrations with family and close friends. For us this year had its beginnings in Mumbai with a very close cousin. A good meal at home with some home-made Yakhni Palao and Haleem, and for dessert fresh figs and strawberries …. ’pet puja’ is the best and the most satisfying feeling .. and to begin one’s New year with such a delightful Puja and good company is truly a wonderful feeling.

A new beginning for some and for others it’s just another day. New resolves made, some to keep and some forgotten soon. Although my resolutions keep happening throughout the year, whether followed or not is another matter …

I never thought of time as such when I was younger ... I had no Time!!!! Time is so relative, it’s how it’s spent .. Getting older makes time a more precious thing to have than it used to be when one was younger.

Enjoy every moment … because the moment is really all one has really got.

I hope this year started well for everyone, and brings happiness, good health and contentment for all. I hope there is inspiration everywhere to live life to its fullest. In the end I feel happy to be alive and still learning to accept things that I cannot change.

After a 2 month gap I hope to be back to more regular blogging, and wish everyone a happy 2011!