Sunspared and Sunlit – Both beautiful

February 27, 2015 / mythoughtlane / 1 Comment

What is common between these two pictures ? Yet , what is different ? The beauty and play of tender sunshine.

Sunspared and Sunlit.

A sliver of sunlight binds the two in a way I chose to see while my camera clicked

I wondered. Would the lovely white flowers lose the serenity had they been bathed in sunlight ? Would the peace of whiteness been diminished ? All the same , the sliver of sunlight dancing a step away from the flowers adds depth to the picture.

“Any patch of sunlight in a wood will show you something about the sun which you could never get from reading books on astronomy. These pure and spontaneous pleasures are ‘patches of Godlight’ in the woods of our experience.” ― C.S. Lewis

Sunlight fell upon the plant ; the plant received a borrowed splendor. ( borrowed in part and modified from Rumi’s quote )

The plant had gone unnoticed the previous evening as it stood shielded away from the sunlight of dusk. But the early morning rays brought to it a lambency that caught the eye while it basked in the warmth of the tender sunshine. And I exclaimed , “Ô, Sunlight! The most precious gold to be found on Earth.” ― Roman Payne.

Zesty Bean and Almond , Peanuts and Corn

February 19, 2015January 23, 2016 / mythoughtlane / 3 Comments

Salad in a jiffy

Green crunchy beans and almonds look yummy , but throw in the goodness of roasted peanuts and fresh corn kernels and you have a yummylicious salad. Snack on it or pair it with your favourite dish .

I am not a foodie per se , but can recognize health food miles away and Fitness being my mantra , I touch upon only those aspects of food that focus on beauty and fitness. Every ingredient of every dish has a zillion benefits and for that we have Big Daddy Google to list it all.

Rich and Yummy

Ingredients :

Beans – 100 gm , chop them to your preference

Roasted almonds – 10 to 12

Roasted peanuts – a handful

Corn kernels – 2 tablespoonful , fresh kernels best , but can make do with frozen ones

Olive oil – 1 teaspoonfuls

Salt – to taste

Lime juice – 1 teaspoonful.

Alter the proportions to suit your taste ( I use as less oil as possible )

Lets get started:

Place the chopped beans in a skillet and cover with cold water. Bring them to boil and let the beans simmer till they turn crisp-tender. Add the corn kernels and let simmer for another minute.

Heat one teaspoonful of olive oil , sauté the almonds and peanuts and then add the crunchy beans and corn.

Add salt and top it with lemon juice.

Serve it hot or cold. I prefer a cold salad.

You could add honey / bell peppers / seeds to make it more interesting. Anyone that loves to cook would agree that variations are innumerable and that’s what adds the zest and zing to cooking !

And it’s a good idea to store small quantities of nuts roasted , so they come in handy for a quick recipe.

Why this salad ?

Beans are the magic legumes , high in fiber and anti-oxidants and good for your waistline ! Yes , beans are comparable to meat , say registered nutritionists at Northwestern Memorial Hospital’s Wellness Institute in Chicago. Yet , a cut in calories ! High on fiber and water content , they give you a feeling of fullness since they digest slowly , keeping you satisfied longer and added to that , low on sugar. See the magic ?

Almond is the new Power Food , nut lovers rejoice ! Nutrient –dense and delicious ! New research suggests it could help in shedding those extra kilos !

A handful of almonds and your LDL could be lowered. Almonds coupled with other nuts and seeds in general are known to improve blood lipid levels.

And that brings us to peanuts. They aid in all of the above and in addition contain high concentrations of antioxidant polyphenols. Peanuts and peanut butter come packed with nutrition and good protein , good fats , fiber and more than 30 essential vitamins and nutrients that fit perfectly into a balanced diet. More news for weight watchers , peanuts help in keeping your metabolism at its best.

As much as nuts are a nutritionist’s delight and weight-watchers dream come true , moderation is the key ! Recommended daily servings are a handful of peanuts or two tablespoons of peanut butter.

Ask me , I live by what I am writing here in this article ( in most others too ! ) and have reaped the benefits of nuts.

Corn , another rich source of antioxidants and fiber has its role to play in weight-watching.

I like to stick by simple , doable health recipes that don’t demand too much time and effort , for that’s the only way to keep a healthy diet going.

Happy munching !

Blissful Symmetry in two forms

February 16, 2015February 16, 2015 / mythoughtlane / 8 Comments

Posing for Symmetry

Symmetry abounds in Hindu temple architecture , ranging in structures , from the tiny to the mammoth , contrasting sometimes in colours and in others , greys personified. While they are stories in stone , here are two beings of our species , who seem to have taken symmetry a tad too seriously and made it their own story probably.

The two small alcoves , the shutters of the door and the decay on both sides of the wall forming a backdrop for the raconteurs only adding to it.

Set in the precincts of a temple in the city of Jaipur ( also called the Pink City ) in North India.

Symmetry in two forms

In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Symmetry.”

Eye to eye with a Crab

February 13, 2015May 15, 2017 / mythoughtlane / 5 Comments

The Crab Moment

Is this baby crab a shutter bug or was it attracted to my Aviator bluish violet shades ? Fancy thought ? Yes , maybe , but you will never know !

Nothing crabby

This little crab scurried out of its hole as I sat on the beach taking pictures of the sea and all else beautiful around. As I poised my phone camera to click this guy or girl , this is the pose I caught in that moment. Was I looking at the crab or was the crab looking at me ? It halted thus for several minutes , giving me ample time to get the best shot. I was too amazed for words ! It stayed in that position even after I had moved away my camera as if guarding its little home and darted back deep down in seconds after that. Doesnt it look endearing and curious ? Dont miss those eyes , that fixed gaze ! Later in moments of random browsing , got to read that recent research indicates crabs being able to distinguish a few colours and specially sensitive to violet.

Be that as it may , it was a simple , lovely moment I was caught in with a little Crustacean and it stayed in my mind for long.

Haunted lanes haunted my mind

February 11, 2015February 13, 2015 / mythoughtlane / 3 Comments

The thought of this haunted lane intrigued me once many a time and then after I dared to search for the ‘haunting ones’ , haunted me for a night and two.

Blue Cross lane

We used to live in Besant Nagar , a posh suburb of Chennai and had to drive through this lane called the Blue Cross lane to reach our home , tucked away in the interiors. It truly is a long , beautiful quiet lane , canopied by trees , but the quietness of it is ascribed by many to the eerie happenings of the night there. Stories abound about some ‘fortunate people’ having seen forms hanging by the trees or walking along the lane. Why , there are one or two spots where lamps are lit , flowers are given in offerings and occasionally I have noticed traces of blood , which I suspect are the remains of a poor unfortunate animal sacrificed nocturnally to appease the ‘whoever’ ! My guess is also that the rest of the remains are expunged from the site for fear of retribution by the cops for defacing public areas. Small mercies !

I have used the word ‘fortunate’ in my earlier paragraph to describe people who have been privy to these sightings. I am a curious and a questioning one by nature and hence was inquisitive , nay , eager to experience it for myself. My husband , my son and yours truly , we have driven on that lane on several nights , late past midnight , but the lane was as it should be. Just a lane !

That night , again well past midnight , after a dinner , as we drove on that lane , I lowered my side of the windows , put my head out and literally looked for any sign of it being haunted. The whole place seemed in order.

We reached home in the next few minutes , changed into our night clothes and went to bed. I am a light sleeper and one to crash the moment my head hits the pillow. But sleep evaded me that night. I had quite forgotten my train of thoughts of just a few minutes earlier. I tossed about for a bit and started becoming aware of a third person in the room , but could see nothing. I sensed someone moving around and come close to me at one point. I froze , yet my pride stopped me from waking up my husband , for fear of being laughed at in the morning. All I could do was pray and take cover under the quilt. I was trying to shut that someone out , but spirits can see you through barriers , I remembered having read somewhere and broke into a cold sweat. More prayers and some more as I lay still while the night was slipping by. I don’t remember when the eeriness left and slumber came. I woke up a bit bleary eyed and narrated my experience of the night nevertheless , and yes , my family was amused !

My day caught on , I drove back on that lane to reach my work place , my nightmare had been pushed to the deeper recesses of my mind. Evening became night soon and the thoughts came back ! I asked my husband to wait in the room till I showered , dressed and came out. I was unusually quiet at dinner and apprehensive as I tucked myself into bed with a book and some music. I insisted on leaving the bedside lamp on and he grumbled no end. No one came that night and I slept peacefully. The next night was uneventful too and soon I forgot about it all.

Another time , another story. My lower back had given way and I needed physiotherapy to relieve me of the pain. The clinic happened to be adjacent to another so-called haunted place , De Monte colony in another suburb of Chennai , Abhiramapuram. Now it is common knowledge in the city about the this place being haunted , but I was blissfully unaware of it. Parked my car in a convenient spot , got the treatment and in a casual conversation that evening mentioned the location to my husband. Oops , he said , I was in a haunted area again and went on to tell me the story.

D’Monte colony lane

Apparently, there was a man named John D’monte who lived in one of the houses with his family. He was one of the directors of Arbuthnot bank, a leading mercantile bank in Chennai that went down in 1906. It is said that his son died mysteriously , disappeared from on board a ship while returning to India after his studies abroad and soon after the couple died too. Since then, the house seems haunted and people who have passed by the road have shared experiences of the paranormal kind , like hearing voices, seeing doors open, seen specters wandering the streets. Nobody really knows what happened to the family, but the entire area is haunted is the belief. However , there are a few houses that people have taken up in the colony and they rubbish these accounts.

I continued to park my car in almost the same spot in the next 3 days and wondered at my luck at getting free parking space in such a busy area , till it dawned upon me that the spot was probably being avoided !!! I decided to park somewhere else the next day. That afternoon , during my power nap of sharp 10 minutes , I dreamt I was swept away by some weird force on to the terrace of a multi-storied building and even as I stood there , the building swayed precariously as if it were a tree caught in a tempest. I clutched hard the parapet wall with all hopes of surviving the upheaval dashed ! Even as my heart was in my mouth , I woke up and was thankful to be in the comfort of my home.

So , what was all this about ? My mind playing games with me ? A note of caution not to dare too much ? Or are there really spirits that don’t like to be challenged on their existence ? Why do only some people get to see these apparitions and why not others like me ?

Please share your views or experiences if you have had any. My mind is not at rest on this subject , I am still curious !

Lord Shiva and the Floods

February 8, 2015February 13, 2015 / mythoughtlane / 3 Comments

The Lord and The Nature

Even the fury of nature seems diminutive as the statue of Lord Shiva on the banks of river Ganga ( Ganges ) towers over the ravaging floods that devastated the towns of Rishikesh and Haridwar in the northern tip of India recently.

Lord Shiva is a Hindu deity , one of the Triumvirate , Brahma , Vishnu and Maheshwara ( other name for Shiva )

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shiva

Standing the test of fury of Nature

In response to The Daily Post’s weekly photo challenge: “Scale.”

Guzzly evening turns Ghazal evening

February 6, 2015February 13, 2015 / mythoughtlane / 7 Comments

Ghulam Ali Saab’s Bin Baarish Barsaat Na Hogi

There was promise of a rocking weekend. But it turned somber. In support of a few friends , who had to battle accidents and ailments , parties were called off and as we sat dwelling on the uncertainties of life , listened to music that went with the mood. It rocked my weekened in its own way and has lingered in my mind since…….

Listen to this lovely ‘ghazal’ , a rendering by the legendary Ustad Ghulam Ali Saab. Pours his heart out as he likens his tears to a torrent of rain on a lonely night and chides his beloved that has forsaken him. Taking you along his path of unrequited love in his signature style of combining melody with technique , that quintessential ‘ghazal’ style.

People from India , Pakistan and Middle Eastern countries are all so familiar with ghazals and music lovers of these regions have spent many a lovely evening attending ghazal concerts or listening to the melodies with friends and family over a drink or two. For those , ghazals are foreign to , here we go :

Ghazal is a poetic form , consisting of rhyming couplets and a refrain , each line sharing the same meter. And it traditionally deals with one subject : Love. Its either ‘in love’ or ‘out of love’ ! The sublimity of ghazals lies in the poetic expression of both , the ecstasy of love fulfilled or the pain of loss or separation and the beauty of love in spite of that pain ! Unconditional love , celebrated , in other words !

A beloved that is unattainable , a beloved that does not reciprocate the poet’s love or returns it shorn of sincerity , or in cases where society and circumstances do not allow the coming together of two lovers , is the subject of almost every ghazal. And yet , the lover continues loving …….

This ancient form of poetry originated in ancient Arabia and the term ghazal is of Middle Eastern origin. The Sufi mystics and the courts of the Islamic Sultanate introduced ghazals to South Asia in the 12^th century. Such intense emotions set to lilting tunes that sometimes wrench your heart and at others lift your spirits glorifying love. As tradition would have it , the poet’s name ( known as takhallus ) is always featured in the last verse , a convention known as Maqta.

Now a little about the Maestro : Ustad Ghulam Ali Saab , born on 5^th December 1940 ( how privileged am I to share his birthday ) , is an acclaimed Pakistani ghazal singer of the Patiala gharana. The word gharana is traced back to the Urdu/Hindi word ghar , meaning house and typically refers to the place where the particular musical ideology originated.

His name Ghulam was given by his father , who was a great follower of Bade Ghulam Ali Khansaab , an unparalleled legend of classical music , hailing from Lahore.

Ustad Ghulam Ali Saab’s style and variations in singing ghazals is inimitable , as he blends Hindustani classical music with the beauty of poetry. Add to that the melody of his voice and supreme knowledge of classical music evoking pathos , and the listener could want to be in love ! That is the power of his singing ! He is highly popular in India , Pakistan , Nepal , Bangladesh as well as amongst the South Asian diaspora of the US , the UK and Middle Eastern countries. Indian Hindi film industry , forever celebrating good music , not to be left behind , used some of his hit ghazals in the movies , thereby popularizing ghazals and the Maestro even further.

Ghulam Ali Saab and Anup Jalota

My entire family has been enthralled by his ghazals , so much so that Urdu , the language of ghazals is pursued by most of us in order to understand the deep meanings hidden in the couplets. Such legends are a rarity , salutations to the Ustad for bringing much joy and music to our homes. A teetotaler apparently ( as told to us by him ) who has intoxicated many with his music and an urge to toast a drink or two to the art !

A note of gratitude to my husband , he is the one who introduced ghazals into my life !

A Dog’s Musical Evening

February 4, 2015May 15, 2017 / mythoughtlane / 6 Comments

I am someone who runs for cover at the sight of any breed of pet dogs , but will warm up to them once we both get familiar and then I cant stop my oohs and aahs admiring and petting them. And in this case , my exclamations were even more pronounced ; you will see why.

My husband and I were visiting my cousin Anil and his wife Preeti in Mumbai ( Bombay ) , India. They , along with their son Shourya , stay in a lovely suburb of the city , called Powai. We were on a super high after taking in the beauty of Powai on a pleasantly chilly winter evening. Undulating streets lined by high fashion stores lit aesthetically would suddenly pave the way for stretches of quiet strolling parks and quaint bistros. Enticing coming together of glamour and quiet beauty , if you know what I mean.

We looked forward to a lovely evening of conversations spiced by either Jack Daniels or wine. The mood was such ! But our bubble burst when Turbo , their dog flew at my cousin on entering the house to give him his welcome hug and I froze ! The rest of the evening looked dubious. Turbo , I knew would hover around me and I would have to learn to get comfortable with him. I wasn’t quite looking forward to the task , but had no heart to ask them to lock him up either.

Soon enough glasses of drinks clinked , Turbo did his rounds of sniffing and snuggling amidst our cheery , loud conversations and laughter till that singing moment and mood came in. Turbo had tired of us by then and prepared himself to shut us all out and snooze on the soft sofa. I sang a peppy number to some appreciation. My husband , who is gifted with the talent but at most times makes a fuss when asked to sing , surprised us when he took up next.

I am a big fan of his singing and he started with this Hindi melody “Rim jhim gire saavan” , sung enchantingly by Kishore Kumar. Hardly was he into the second line of the song , when Turbo , who had all along tucked his face into his forepaws and was probably entering dream world , looked up and around and fixed his gaze soulfully on my husband.

The soulful looking up

In the next instant , he got out of the sofa , walked towards my husband gently , licked his elbows and snuggled even closer to him. I worried at that moment that the singing would stop , because my husband is not particularly accommodative with pets in general. But no , to my surprise , he even started stroking Turbo gently on his neck. I sat there transfixed , watching both. Turbo then nestled himself on my husbands foot peacefully , turning to look up at him every few seconds. The song got over and as we all cheered , Turbo got up from where he was sitting , walked across the room , climbed the sofa and curled himself once again to sleep.

It amazed me and amused me no end. I even forgot to take pictures of the –man-and-the-animal-bonding-over-music-moment ! That was my first taste of such cute animal behavior. And at that moment I didn’t think I would be writing about Turbo in my blog , so it is going without pictures.

I did google on ‘do dogs love music’ after that and yes , read lots about how dogs and cats and some other animals calm down to soothing , gentle classical music.and how music is being used at vet clinics and hospitals to treat animals of some ailments. But dogs seem to be very sure of what music they like and want , no pop or rock genres for them ! No wonder Turbo ignored my singing !

While its one thing to see them enjoying music and calm down , it’s quite another to see this dog walking that extra mile in quiet appreciation. Not much of an animal person , but truly delighted to discover their sensitivity and in that dear Turbo has been my teacher.

The ABC of Radiant Skin

January 31, 2015September 22, 2015 / mythoughtlane / 6 Comments

The Secret of Glowing Radiant Skin – Apple , Beetroot and Carrot

Apples , Beetroots and Carrots and your miracle drink is ready to make your skin glow , free it of pimples and blemishes and slow down ageing of the skin.

The Miracle Drink

Researchers claim that this Miracle Drink is a gift of nature. It is ! Enough has been said and written on the multitudinous benefits of this magical ABC drink . But here I am , in flesh and blood who has gained from the miracle of it all. And I write this , even as I sip on my glass of the potion ! While it has an array of health benefits to its credit , I am touching upon what wonders it did to my skin !

Let me admit , I have dull skin and have spent fortunes on lotions and creams that promised brightening of the skin. Burnt holes in my pockets ! But my skin continued to appear dull , except for those few hours of medicated/cosmetic applications.

And then came the saviour. My son , who trains for physical fitness with expert trainer Alkhas Joseph came home one day with the recipe of this ABC drink. That was the first time I made it and went haywire with proportions – got enough drink for 2 instead of 1 ! Unsure of its taste , took a sip hesitantly , it tasted alright. Had a glass of it every time I blended the juice for sonny boy.

The goodness of ABC drink or Miracle Drink with apple , beetroot and carrot

And the compliments started coming. Compliments of a bright , glowing skin. One went ahead and asked me if I was wearing a skin brightener. I said , no , I was not wearing , but had ingested one ! But the ace comment came when my dermatologist asked me if I was wearing makeup !! Voila !

Eyes and Beauty are wedded forever. Eyes are what strike first when we meet someone , not the nose , not the mouth. Let this drink work its magic on your eyes too. It can soothe dry eyes from those long hours of computer use , eliminate redness and tiredness.

A few facts for those not familiar : The Miracle drink was introduced by the Chinese.

A simple to make drink. All it takes is a juicer or blender , apples , carrots and beetroots , in equal proportions for best results. Add lime if you wish.
Keep the skins intact while juicing and consume immediately , without storing.
The power of antioxidants and nutrients packed in two vegetables and one fruit.
Apples – Vitamins A , B1 , B2 , B6 , C , E , K , Folate , Niacin , Zinc , Copper , Magnesium , Potassium , Phosphorus , Iron , Calcium , Sodium and Manganese along with the dietary fibres.
Carrots – Vitamins A , B1 , B2 , B3 , B6 , C , E , K , Folate , Niacin and Pantothenic Acid along with minerals like Potassium , Calcium , Phosphorus , magnesium and Selenium. And of course the most important beta-carotene.
Beetroots – Vitamins A , C , B-complex , Potassium , Iron , Manganese and Copper. Your heart’s best friend !

Sip on it once a day , twice for even better results. Experts suggest having it on an empty stomach , but works well otherwise too.

Those hooked on to this drink , will you agree with me ? Others , want to give it a shot ? Do share the marvellous drink benefits to your folks , spread beauty and happiness !

Far from the Madding Crowd

January 24, 2015February 13, 2015 / mythoughtlane / Leave a comment

Taking a tiny break. No , not by the sea. I just liked this image immensely. I am going to be in the bustle of a megalopolis , but yet looking forward to those moments of solitude amidst the milling crowd , the blaring music or at times the cacophony of sounds. Aint it a gift , to be able to shut out voices and sounds and revel in a world of one’s own , to live in the fantasies that evaded you in the daily humdrum of work , duties and chores ? I can sense my distant gaze when I drift into my private space ( I am sure others can see that too ) oblivious to the small talk around , a half-smile here , a vacant look there. Thankfully , my significant half has come to accept and understand these virtual sojourns of mine and lets me be ! This is why I love to travel and if I had it my way , would be living out of suitcases. Thats not to gainsay the happiness of chatting up people , but the quick escapades are always a fillip.