Living vicariously...

The 'Chunkie-junkie' in me, lives vicariously through her... :P . Who am I kidding? I love chunky jewellery and I do wear them when I want to...I just like all the beads on her...she is our resident gypsie ( lambaadi as we call it in Tamizh!)

P.S - This is a farewell gift from my friends at my Bangalore workplace! Isn't she lovely with her serene and calm face?

Before and After Pictures of our home in Paris!

Before...

AND After...

You like? :-)

P. S - All my stuff arrived quite some time back, I just took my time to post the pictures!

Has it been SIX years?

...Often, when people ask me how long you have been married and I count the years, I feel like it can't be THAT long? My darling S, I can't remember how life used to without you ( sounds filmy but true), every happy(iest?) memory has to do with you. Every little gesture of yours shows your love for me...

• When we are both tired from a long trip, and my legs and back ache, you offer to cook and bring warm food with the cutest smile, I am all mushy and feeling so warm
  
• You are so kind, warm and generous that I feel guilty for not missing Amma ( my Mom). I remember telling my mother in the early days of our marraige that he takes such good care of me, 10 times better than you do! ( she smilingly reminds me). That has NOT changed a bit, in fact your love has got stronger over the years...
  
• When we cuddle up and watch a movie and there are loving scenes of happy families, happy tears well up in my eyes coz I have YOU!
  
• You make everyday birthday and anniversary memorable for me, in fact you always remember all the dates and seem a lil hurt if it doesn't ring a bell!
  
• Though we argue a lot about who loves each other more, I secretly revel in the fact that your actions speak louder than my words.
• You were my strong PILLAR of strength during our tough times, holding me together when I was emotionally wrecked when in fact you were equally shattered. My rock-solid support in every sense!
• You have indulged me with all my dreams and fantasies and more...
• You are very romantic ( I never thought you would be!) and even written poetry for me, which i could actually understand
  
• While my geography and topography sucks, you patiently teach me how to read maps and conduct impromptu geography quiz, I am amazed at your patience while I sulk or act high and mighty when you show me how to!
• You revel in my little achievements and proudly proclaim to people about my creativity, cooking, home decor skills like a mother who is proud of her child!
  
• Unlike most men I hear about, you keenly observe my clothes/jewellery and appreciate how smart or pretty I look and it makes me all confident!
• We are a perfect example of 'Opposites attract' and we complement each other perfectly!
• You always manage to bring a smile on my face, whether I am upset or sad or generally 'blink' as you call it.
  
• I like the fact that you know what I am thinking or going to say without uttering a word, which makes me very predictable, you say!
• I like the tickling sessions and the way we play like kids with each other, laughing silly and enjoying ourselves like we have no care in the world...
  
• Above everything else, you are my best friend with whom I can just about say anything without being judged, knowing fully well that you understand me better than I do, sometimes!
  

These are just a few of my favourite things about you :-) ....most of all, I see a big change in you....I see so much of me in you now...and would like to think you see a bit of you in me!

Dear S, I am so glad we are following our tradition of nice, fun and romantic holidays this year too. I am so excited about out trip to Austria/Prague this year, albeit in August, its 2 weeks of just you and me!! How awesome can life be? ;-) I wish you on my blog too so that as we grow old together, we can look back with good memories and smiles...and it's a constant reminder of how lucky i am to have you!

I hope and pray we constantly compete with each other about who loves each other more...every year, our bond gets stronger....Happy Anniversary, my darling S!! :)

Beautiful Belgique!

When S and I met, we decided we would travel as much as possible and we would take at least 2 breaks every year! Boy! I am glad we stuck to it ( one common interest we have!)and every year has been a series of lovely holidays and wonderful memories! Travel exposes you to a different world, gives you a perspective into a different world and makes you feel really small at the same time! You feel you have been a frog in a well, literally!! We y(earn) to travel, that's all we look forward to! Its wonderful to have a glimpse of different people, their lifestyle, cuisines, the lovely locales, clothes, practices...this list goes on and never ceases to surprise me! I believe, you live only once, live life queen size and the way you want to! what say?

Even as a kid, I went all over India, thanks to Maa's passion for travel, every vacation was a new city, Mumbai, Kerala, Sikkim, Varanasi, Calcutta, Shimla, Haridwar-Rishikesh, Bangalore, Delhi....we have had fun times and long vacations! International travel begun after I got married. I travelled to the UK alone and we frolicked in Singapore for 10 days!! I have said enough about Italy here and here and here! We are lucky enough to be in Paris now, and it gives us a chance to travel all over Europe. We just about managed to see a bit of Paris, in about 3 months!! For the long weekend, we made a trip to Antwerp and on a whim, stopped on the way in Brussels too. Some glimpses...















Belgium is quaint and beautiful with an old-world charm....especially Antwerp with its cobbled streets, trams and old towers and big fountains...reminds of a slightly modern Calcutta!

Haute Couture!

Beautiful Clock Tower you can see from any part of Antwerp!

The man lying on the floor is impersonating the statues!

Amazing food at a Thai Restaurant....I was so happy to see Buddha EVERYWHERE!! From the decor to the candle holder!! I am inspired to learn Thai cooking now...very similar ingredients to Indian cooking but with a lot of aroma...

A beautiful ship stuck on the wall, in Brussels!

We welcome people into our home with fanfare and bells!!

Fondly remember...

As I finished reading 'The White Tiger' ( I didn't like it so much, it is a dark story and I felt a lot of negativity. Call me naive, but I like to read positive stories with happy endings!), I wistfully, looked at the light seeping in through the curtains...and the curtains caught my attention. They have moved with me everywhere for the past 6 years, and holds a lot of importance to me. It was the first expensive ( It cost me 5000 bucks which was maybe, half my salary when we bought it)....I had just got married and these silk curtains adorned my new home...my life with S....I have carefully maintained it and guarded it with my life, when we moved....from one place to another! I never trusted the packers with it! I still have it in my home in Paris now, in the living room and it looks as new as it was when we first bought it. Our first home, had brick walls for pillars on the sides...it was a nice cozy home...I have good memories of that place! :-)


I remember, having a doll....as a kid...my mom's friend or someone, i don't remember, got it for me from abroad....she was a pretty doll with long eyelashes and beautiful eyes wearing a pinaform? I had that doll with me for a long time, even in my teen years, I had her! Then, on Holi, all of us were playing in the neighbourhood with colors, and my neighbour V had been splashed with color by yours truly(me)! He came chasing after me and I ran inside our home. He looked for me everywhere and he couldn't find me. In a fit of rage, he took the doll and scribbled on her face with a sketch pen saying 'Happy Holi'. Only kids can be that cruel. I was sooo angry first, and was really very upset later. Maa tried consoling me that we can remove the stains...with a remover or whatever! But sketch pen marks do not go easily....I lost her! I can never forgive him for doing that, to this day! ( I don't have a picture of the doll, am sure my parents threw it away later...she was totally spoilt with the clear big marks on her face, anyway!)

I must have been in III standard, my dad went on a tour to Mumbai and when he got back, he got me a beautiful frock. It was an off-white one with a chocolate brown waist coat. At that time, I had never seen something like it, and I was absolutely thrilled to bits....

On my 15th birthday, as is the ritual in our home, both Maa, Appa and my dear brother woke me up singing a cheery 'Happy Birthday to you...' and voila! I see a big pink teddy bear with a big 'I love you' badge on it. I can't explain my happiness in words. I was elated, jumping with joy...Maa got me expensive pearls... I didn't even glance at it! I still have that bear with me...comes with me wherever I go! My brother was in college then, and he was not earning or anything. So the teddy bear meant a lot to me.Even now, wherever my brother goes, he always gets something really nice for me! :-)

Is any post complete without mentioning my dear S? :-) He bought me a lovely Gili Diamond pendant as our engagement gift. I loved it and wore it for a long time with a thin golden chain my two closest friends, S and K got me for my wedding. It became loose one day and I didn't want to lose the chain/pendant somewhere. So I carefully put it inside my purse so that I can wear it after I tighten the hook. You would think I am smart? No! I lost the purse!!! I can never forgive myself for losing it. S has bought me numerous things from all over the world, everytime he travels...but that pendant was his first gift to me....and I lost it!

I am glad I have so many people in my life, who love me deeply and the gifts are an added bonus. After all, it is the thought that counts! I associate every single gift and gesture with happiness and good memories. Isn't that what life is about, good memories? I choose to ignore the bad ones!

Our very own breakfast table!

My little spring project....

The Masked Man poked his nose in everything,
so I broke his nose into pieces!! :D

The Lavender flowers are amazing to look at, as soon as we get up in the morning!

Real flowers from our very own plants!

Candle-holders for a romantic night out, Dinner maybe? ;-)

Love makes this world go round!

As I get to know people and make friends from different countries...religions...cultures...lifestyles...here in Paris, I realize that we are worlds apart yet similar in some really basic sense! As we discuss our lives, love, upbringing and views about people and life, it seems like we are not so different. There is an underlying common thread that binds us - we all ultimately want the same things, you know - Love and Happiness!

As their( people from other countries/cultures) lives unfold, it all drives down to simple wants - LOVE, to remain in love and to be loved in return and happiness forever! The words seem so simple as I type, but seems like a huge struggle in some people's lives. I guess everyone is not lucky in love. As I listen to my friend's woes and all the hurt and resentment that has ruined her life, I fervently hope the inimitable love is waiting round the corner, and she can feel the snuggly warmth that I experience!

At the same time, a shiver runs through me, and I send a silent prayer for all the love and happiness I am blessed with. I can't feel anything but gratitude. I think maybe I have done atleast something right? ;-) Often, when I enjoy something or feel happy about something, for that matter anything remotely positive or good news, I just can't wait to tell S ( I am counting the minutes to see or talk to him). Now that I have him, I can't imagine what I did before him? I used to give a verbatim account to my Maa. I still do, with elaborate details :-). Come to think of it, I am glad I have someone who shares my enthusiasm and happiness. Of course, these epiphanies happen only once in a while. Most times, I am greedy and want EVERYTHING! :-)

I guess, that's when God says, my dear child, 'Have Patience, I will fulfill all your desires at the right time'. When I feel its the RIGHT time :-). So I am learning to be patient. ( Damn, its difficult sometimes)

For once, let me try to think beyond myself and I say a lil prayer for you my friend, I hope you find warm fuzzy love and happiness in abundance, that will keep your spirits up, when you have your lows! ( Life is full of highs and lows, we all know that! Nothing is constant!)

Voila! Taa daa!!

A few extra big cushions, some precious space left in the corner, girly fashion magazines...

Voila! I have a nice cozy corner to chill with books/magazines!! :-) Nothing matches the comfort sitting on the floor, does it?

A visit to Versailles...

We set foot into the garden...literally!

One of the numerous French Kings in the Chateau...

Musical Fountains...

Paintings - Baby?

Our effort at photography...

Travel treasures and a blog!

My brother went on a trip to Haridwar Rishikesh and took this picture of Lord Shiva! Its a treasured posession for me, for a reason! In my growing years, in my parent's home, there was a calendar of Lord Shiva with the most serene and calm face. That visual has stayed in my mind for years, and I often close my eyes and think about that exact picture when I am feeling restless or upset. I feel much better instantly. Unfortunately, I didn't have the presence of mind to take that picture ( If it was with my parents, the first thing they would have done is to courier it to me!)....

Now, this picture comes really close to that calendar picture! :-) I am in a happy place again and it adorns my desktop! Its breathtaking, isn't it? I feel like the Lord talks to me through this and says 'Why fear when I am here?'

Interestingly, my brother blogs here ( Click here to read his blog) and looks like he has been doing it long before me. I never knew, neither did he tell me...I just found it by a coincidence. I like the fact that he has made an effort to learn and share the significance of many Hindu practices or why we do certain things the way we do! I never knew the significance of Om or the reason why people wear Vibhuti on their forehead. (Click on the colored text to read it). Often, I have seen many people comment on how outdated certain practices are, without taking the effort to understand why we do it. In ancient times, most practices were forced on people, with a fear factor attached to it, so that it was actually practised. I agree, it is not the smartest way to go about it but hey, sometimes only that works! I guess they were not very good at marketing their theories or ideas in a better package!

Yes, sometimes adults do not have the patience or maybe the knowledge, to explain why? But with google, there is so much information available in a click! I am glad that he is doing this in his blog, even his introduction is so profound.

Note: I am not interested in any counter-opinions about Hinduism or its practices. This blog is reflective of MY opinions and thoughts. If you feel differently, by all means, Please do! To each his own, except not on MY BLOG!

Moving on to greener pastures...

Literally!!...(don't get it all wrong!)..I mean, my love for gardening!! :P

As a kid, I remember, my brother and I, had few household chores to do, and I would water the plants sometimes. I would often watch my mom toil for hours in the balcony ( we had a few plants on our balcony coz we stayed in a spacious apartment, my parents still do) digging, watering, manure...the works! I would often wonder what does she see in these plants? When there are so many people here, wanting her attention ( which basically meant her daughter!), why does she spend so much time with these plants? We would often have tomatoes, bitter gourd and other home-grown vegetables in our rasam or curry. Amma would be so excited that it is something she had grown. Now, I understand that feeling! I had written this (click on 'this' to read that post) when we had strawberries at home, when we just arrived in Pune. We brought saplings from Mahabaleshwar and when we had cut strawberries with our cereal or muesli, I had a feeling of deja vu!

I didn't realize then that as a working mom, she had so many things to do! For that matter, I didn't understand that she would need to do something for herself, that gives her happiness...other than the kids, home, husband, work and million other things.

Now, I can't imagine how people can't realize beautiful plants are....or how lovely it is to see a plant grow or a flower bloom. Often, the first thing I do, once I get up from bed, is to see if the seed that I have been watering regularly, has sprouted? half a centimeter more? a new bud? some new petals? I get really excited and drag S from the bathroom while he is brushing groggy-eyed . I ask him to figure out what is the change?...And he is clueless!!! I want him to share the same joy and excitement I feel...

I am totally in love with gardening and I have started working on my breakfast table in the balcony adjoining the bedroom. With spring in full bloom, there are lovely flowers and little saplings available everywhere in the market. ( will post pics soon when it is ready!)

Everytime, S and I go to the market, we come back with plants. S groans and runs in the opposite direction! Another addition to my obsession for cushion covers, clothes and wind chimes!!!

I am amused!

...as I flick through the pages of a Fashion Magazine ( only English magazine I could find!), I see this!

Pic Courtesy: www.elle.com

...I have seen a few women sport these pants in Paris, and often wondered what the hell can it be? I was really amused to find out that they are called 'Dhoti Pants' and of course, they do look like Dhoti!

*For the uninitiated, Dhoti is a long unstitched cloth wound around the lower body, passed between the legs and tucked into the waist, especially in the rural parts of India.

You can rarely see anyone in Dhotis in urban India. Its so great that the Dhoti has travelled so far....from rural India to HI-FASHION!!!!

My first Award!

Homecooked has given me my first award on my blog!!! She is an amazing cook and I often read her blog for some amazing vegetarian recipes. Her pictures speak a thousand tastes! Go have a look!

I am soooo thrilled.....thank you so much, you made my day! She has tagged me as well, which needs some thinking...will do it soon!

Merci beaucoup Homecooked! :-)

I am proud to be an Indian!

...Snatches of conversations in Paris... S and I stroll across the open-air market in Odeon and as we are window-shopping, we found a shop that sold ties. Its an interesting package in a cute box that opens up to hold, a tie, cuff-links and a silk scarf or cloth or whatever people wear on their formal suits. S goes to office in formal suits and he often needs lots of ties ( not that I need any excuse to shop!). So we pick one among them...when the owner, a slightly old man...very excitedly...

Old Guy: Are you Indians? ( with a big smile on his face!)

Me: Yes! ( S conveniently leaves the talking to me, as always) ;-)

Old Guy (skeptically) : You are from the real India, not London?

Me: Yes !! ( amused)

He grabs my hand and very excitedly, shows me all the stoles.

He tells me all this is from your country, very beautiful, eh?

Me: I know! :-)

Old Guy: India is such a vast and beautiful country....He says 'Namaste' and folds his hands and bows!!

I am very pleased and we thank him. *******************************************************************************************
I am ravenously hungry as I have not had lunch so I stop by to have Crêpes, on the way back home from my French class. I spent a long time figuring out how to get there and all the tension to reach on time!! Its a really old lady who is making them and I feel sad as her hands shiver as she spreads the batter.( S and I often disagree with this, I feel sad that old people have to work at this age, instead of having a relaxed life while he thinks its good that they are independant and active!)

Crepe Lady: ( in French) So which country are you from?

Me: ( hearing the only word 'country', I get what she asks...) I am from India!

Crepe Lady (very excited and a big smile on her face!): Big country, lots of people....you speak 30 languages?

Me: I smile and say that there are about 26 states in India and each state speaks a different language! Oui! ( Yes!)

Crepe Lady: (speaks in broken English now)...You are very beautiful...all Indians are very beautiful!

Me: Merci Madame...

Crepe Lady: They are very intelligent too! Indians..very intelligent!

Me( amused): smiles...

Crepe Lady: You know Sonia Gandhi, she is from my Italy! Indian man married her...very intelligent!!!

Me: !!!!!!! ( now I know why she thinks we are intelligent)...LOL!

Jokes apart, I was very pleasantly surprised to know that she knows so much about India and is generally aware about other countries as well. I felt very proud. It feels good to hear such things about our country! :-)

Spring is here!

Tulips...

Tulips...

and Tulips....

From Jardin Du Luxembourg ( Luxembourg Gardens) on a relaxed Sunday evening!

Jewel-Art!

I miss...

...the pleasure of meeting people...face-to-face conversations...Yup, that is the only thing I miss now that I work from home here. I have always been interested in watching people, how they behave, how they react to something! Of course, in the process, I tend to get affected as well. I can rarely be detached about something; I find it very difficult to hold my tongue! I always need to say something...I miss that! I have become pretty quiet except for snatches of conversations with few friends I have here, who don't speak English too well, only language i can communicate in, at least as of now! Hopefully, the French classes that start soon help me learn the language well and to make friends too.

I have always worked since graduation. So i feel strongly about doing something all the time. Even when I quit my job in Bangalore to move to Pune, I started learning glass paintings and went on to sell a few pieces..within a month! I think its very important to be yourself, do something on your own. ANYTHING, but you MUST do something! Now that I am in Paris, I can't look for opportunities immedietly coz I need the Carte De Sejour ( residence permit) to look for work or to start working. Expats don't get work easily as employers prefer to employ the natives and fair enough, me thinks! So I am freelancing and sourcing writing/editing projects since the Internet started working. I have done some freelance work on and off even before when I had a regular job, that helps me a lot now! I used to write so that I don't lose touch and it has helped and how!

I am also learning how difficult it can be, to run a business ( I mean, to do your own thing!). I have always thought its a dream come true to be your own boss, so to speak! In a short while, I have interacted with really different clients with absolutely different needs. Some of them don't clearly explain or elaborate their requirements upfront. So I work hard on it and finally I get really frustrated when it goes kaput. On the other hand, there are good ones too who know clearly what they want. It takes 'all kinds' to make up this world. So I am learning too; to never give up, to be patient, to listen and not to take myself too seriously.

The best part of working from home is that I get to listen to some awesome music in the background, I have been hooked on to Advaitha ( Click to listen to their music!)and take a break to chat with my friends online or play a game on Facebook! I am at ease, take long leisurely baths, relax while being able to do something constructive. I can even speak to my parents everyday on Skype! ...and ask for a third-person perspective from friends on my writing, if it needs to be reviewed...What would I do without the Internet? I wonder...

The music, interesting conversations, the work that flows in, on and off...am learning to enjoy this phase too! I start French Lessons for 3 hours/3 days next week!!! I am looking forward to it...

LOL!

He who asks is a fool for five minutes, but he who does not ask remains a fool forever!

A visit to IKEA*!

.... makes an interesting center-piece in the living room!










....colorful and aromatic candles to soothe your senses!

more organized wardrobe ( Part I)...

...organized bathroom! ( where you can find it when you want to!)

A cute kitchen table with colorful Masalas!

* IKEA is a swedish home decor store that has a chain across the world! They sell modern furniture and trinkets...mostly decor and interiors :-) They are pioneers in home decor stuff but sadly do not retail in India YET! For me, it was like visiting Heaven!!