Mental Excursions

  Last week I told you that while in the US we had made a weekend trip to New Orleans (nicknamed NOLA). Why not share about that with you, I thought and so… We took a very early morning flight from NYC on Friday to reach New Orleans before breakfast. The hotel allowed early check-in, a wise business decision because I was told weekends are their busiest time. By the way, during the week days when business is dull, some of them offer inexpensive staycations;  the hospitality industry would do well to welcome tourists-domestic or international. We took a couple of hours unpacking and freshening up and chose to do brunch instead of two meals so that we could make the most of our time in the city. At a small place known for crepes, we chose savoury ones with spinach, cheese and chicken fillings to kickstart the day. It was already noon when we stepped out to follow our plan for the day. When we visit a new city in Europe or the US, I prefer taking the ‘hop on, hop off’ bus, if avai

Big Apple visit is vacation time! Mural by Eduardo Kobra at Chelsea Square Market, New York City A very dear friend replaced her profile photo on Whatsapp with another in which she is wearing a cardigan. For a few minutes, I was the one sweating, merely seeing her in the cardigan, and then I remembered my vacation early this year. Do not have proper jars? No issue, mason jars are perfect for mixed winter veg pickle and kanji* Most of us humans long for what is not. In winter we think of hot summers when the AC running at 21 degrees C brings comfort and one can enjoy endless mangoes/water melons/ chhachh (buttermilk)/ lassi /iced lemonade .  These days when the mercury is banging its head between 40 and 48 degrees C in the column of the thermometer, we long for the cold when one sweats only on chewing on sharp green chillies, can bury themselves under the quilt and surface only to gorge guiltfree on masala chai (tea with spices)/roasted peanuts/stuffed parathas / pakoras (griddle fr

Election not on my plate! The mercury has been hovering between 44 and 49 deg C (111 and 120 deg F) at different places in the past few days. The whole of north, west and south-western regions of the country feel like a huge grill sizzling to roast flesh. And with that there is something else heating up the minds and tongues of people everywhere - the election results. Fiery speeches of candidates during their campaigns, their charges and counter-charges stewed the atmosphere (although in their election rallies, speeches and interviews, none talked about what they wanted to do for climate). I am not reporting about elections here. What causes me concern is that thousands of people, a big percentage of whom have not even voted, are spending (wasting?) their precious time, and energy in calculating or predicting whether the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party is going to win, on how may seats, in which state, come back to power on its own/with allies and to what end. The maharajas of the

Diamonds are forever! Marilyn Monroe sings ' Diamonds are a girl's best friend ' in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1949) What to talk of the country, one cannot count me among the rich, famous or achievers within even our own family. But there are times when I get the unexpected opportunity to see or experience some things for which I feel lucky and grateful. Some of you have pointed out the names of foods I missed out on, during my recent visit to Surat. Sadly, that ship has sailed now and I am not getting another chance to try them ever. You might consider that my bad luck which is partly true, but the Surat visit would forever be etched into my memory because of another reason - I got a chance to visit a diamond jewellery-making factory. I checked with some friends who said they had not had the luck of visiting such a place, so I thought of sharing my experience. Those among you, who have seen something similar, please ignore and forgive my indulgence. Marilyn Monroe’s