FAILING TO FEEL

A week has passed

In a hurry

In a rush

All’s going to get over

Coz … it began sometime

Need to feel it all

In slow motion

Randomly …

All these experiences

Touching me not

Failing to make me feel

A week has passed now

And I can recollect

Nothing!

Memories.... & Music....

When I hear a song there's a feeling of nostalgia that's created .... if its a new one its a new finding, a new idea and a new feeling...but when its a song I've heard before... It brings back many a memories that flash inside outside of me..take me back to the days that were... in the same context, the same sensation of breeze on my back, the same weather, the same temperature, the same feeling of love and the same creative urge that must've developed then...

I set the IPOD to a random listing of music and it played Sting!
How many a times I must've played his CDs ... went on and on for many a days... repeated over and over again... I always listened to music like that... it could be very frustrating to those around me, but to me its like the rhythm on which to operate...

Thousand Years... such a known song ( I didnt enjoy Desert Rose as much somehow)... perhaps if I hear it everyday now I might not enjoy it as much... but it playing right now after a long long time ...stirs the same emotions as that of on those days when I was discovering a life... within my "Film City" thesis... enjoying the internet and the "falling in love"... detached and torn from the world outside... and confined in my large room with Maa's garden below, the morning sun rising there, the cool breeze that went across the room through the east to the west towards the large terrace... Me in my pink shorts and anything else I found... hair tied up high..... and involved in sketching on my huge drawing table and the high chair!

Aren't memories wonderful?

Unfortunately I do not have a picture of the morning time ... but I do of the evening... on the same table... :)



I want to go back to the same house again! I belonged there! Alas!

Changed words
And changed attitude towards this music
This music that governed
My each emotion
And expression
Today it does nothing
But put rhythm into my days
Changed words
And changed attitude
Where now everything
That was rigid
Is straying away!

Mission Sustainability

....Is a contest for those who on an Individual level have made an attempt to bring the Sustainbility aspect into their everyday lives.

So if you want to find out about the innovative 40 top entries and vote for the best amongst them, here goes.

I found these entries interesting

Green house in Germany

These are small steps each individual can adopt in their lives

You read about the Daily Dump composting in Bangalore... here's what this person tried at home

And ofcourse this is the most sustainable and unique idea
Growing paddy on your roof top with recycled water from washing machines!

So vote for the best and tell us if you tried something similar at your home! :)

Ecological Building

I have been learning to "Build" ecologically. And its high time that I
share some of what I've learnt so far.
The question: How does one go about building a house Ecologically?

To understand that its important to know:
What is it that one does to harm the Ecology/Environment?

High energy consuming materials are not suited to Ecology.
Production of Energy e.g. Electricity consumes a lot of resources. e.g.
Wood, Coal and such materials.
Also the process of burning these materials in large quantities
produces a lot of Carbon and carbon based gases that are now being
absorbed by the atmosphere and leading to the Green house effect.
Hence, one's continuous trial should be to reduce this burden on
environment as much as possible.

William Rees coined this concept of Ecological Footprint. Which is an analysis of how much demand a structure makes on
nature in terms of natural resources, energy, biomass, food, building
material, water etc.
It isnt always necessary to calculate the exact footprint, but
understanding of the basics makes it much easier to build so.
Building construction is one of the industries that has harmed
Ecology most. We've therefore begun to now experience all the harm
that Green house gases could create.

What are the aspects that lead to a larger Ecological footprint? :

1. Usage of materials that are manufactured at large levels, in ways
that consume a lot of energy/fossil fuels.

2. Usage of materials that are dependant on Petroleum products.
Petroleum industry being one of the largest energy consuming
industries.



3. Use of materials that have run a long distance to reach the place of
use. Local materials on the other hand make the footprint smaller.

4. the amount of Ecology in terms of trees and water destroyed in the
process of construction.

5. The amount of material wasted in the process of construction.
The conclusion being that Cement - though a natural material we
should discourage using in high quantities because of its

manufacturing process.
check the "Cement Making Processes" section here

Aluminum being the highest energy consuming material and Steel a
little distant from it. The attempt should be to reduce the usage of
these materials.

How can the building structure be suited to the Ecology?

1. By building the structure to suit its immediate environment

2. By designing the structure to use as many locally available
materials as possible.

3. By reducing the use of steel and cement and such high energy
consuming materials.

4. By making terrace gardens and green spaces in every space possible
around and in the structure.

5. By using as many alternative sources of energy possible and being
less dependant on the conventional form of energy.

6. By re using and recycling all the waste produced.

7. By harvesting rain water (which is the purest form of water
available to us) and recycling and using all waste water produced in
the structure.



It will take a whole new stream of thinking to be able to adapt such a
lifestyle, but sooner or later it'll be become an absolute necessity that
each and every individual think of their immediate environment.

BEEN TOO LONG

Been too long
Too strong
Inside my body
In my heart
Given you
Too much
Too fast
You need to be moved
Away from me
See you from beside me
Cut the strings
I’ve attached to you
That have strongly fastened me
To you
You’ve been too long
Too strong
Inside my body
Moments of strange kinds
Have passed now
From a point to another
Dear feelings and
Important moments
Just given away
You’ve been too long
And too strong
Inside my body
This event has to end
A new relationship needs to be cast
A newer mould to be created
Fresh times
And fresh lives
Have to take birth
Stale are these emotions
Stale passion
And the stale me
You’ve been too long
And too strongly
Inside my body

Strange

Strange feelings
Moments
And Time
Joy
Exuberance
Excitement
Life
What is life
If not an experiment?
What is Love
If not tested twice?

Kambha

My grandmother used to have this large pit in the garden where she
put in all the daily waste and made "compost" out of it. The only
downside to it was that sometimes the maids didnt know what to
not put into it..and all the plastic waste also got dumped along.

Obviously plastic doesnt decompose that quickly so the compost pit
became soon a nuisance. Also we had loads of rats and other animals breeding there and living there.

Well Daily Dump a company in Bangalore has started this concept of making Compost at home, and I am truly impressed with it. Its so so simple, you wonder how come noone else thought of it. And to add to that its so cheap plus its made out of mud. How better can things be?

Daily Dump designs these Kambha's and Gamla's for people who do not have much space to make a compost pit and dont like the mosquitoes and insects that come along with the whole thing.

All you have to do is put in your organic waste into this feature everday... mix it in every week or so. If its too dry sprinkle some water, if its too wet add in some dry leaves from your pots or garden or simply put pieces of newspaper into it.

You can put in everything, all bones, cooked food, peels, kitchen tisse, etc, but cant add in plastic, foil, coconut husk and shell ( as it doesnt decompose, you can burn it alternatively), cigarette buds and batteries. The lesser waste you dump into the garbage bins the lesser number of dogs and cows that breed on these open waste bins, and the lesser number of them getting crushed on the roads.



If you want to contact Daily Dump here's the number
Poonam Bir Kasturi at 2992, 12A Main, HAL IInd Stage, Bangalore - 560008,
phone: 9844239660.

update 27 08 07 :
check this video to get an idea of how it works

Water problems?

The fact that water is even being debated as a commodity or a human right itself scares me... and to know in the next 50 years we'll have to desalinate sea water because fresh water supply will get thinner and thinner is scarier still....

Why are we getting so unconcious of what is right or wrong?
Is everybody deliberately using up water resources?
Are we all over using water?

I am still learning and dont have all the answers yet but spreading awareness is something I must do.

Did you know that Rain water is one of the purest form of water you could have? (that's only in the case you dont live in an industrial area)

Did you know that for a 1000 sqft roof top area, or 100 square meter roof top, (which is the area of the roof of a small 30x40 house in bangalore) in bangalore you could harvest as much as 90,000 litres of water in a year?
And this is 1/3rd of the water a family of 4-5 would need in a year?

If all of us began harvesting rain water it would ease off the pressure on the rivers that are being fought for.

The method to use Rain water is so simple, its unbelievable. All you need to do is slope all the water on your terrace in one direction and collect it into this tank (either made from ferro-cement or a small PVC tank would do), let the water filter through natural materials like thin fabric, sand and coal, and let it all go into the underground sump you have for water storage!

All overflow could simply go into a well (about 2.5-3 feet dia and 20 feet deep) and that would help keep the ground water level good. The sub-soil water level is important as the surface water supply is soon running dry.

Sometimes we are too selfish and careless and if the carelessness continues it could cost us a lot. Dont cement all sides of the property...leave ground/earth in places so that water can seep into the earth below.

Check out this image

The technique is so simple that everyone can do it. There exist a lot of misnomers about RWH and I simply wanted to change them.

Alas if all apartments and large buildings alongwith all the many residences that are mushrooming all over the city began to store water from the rain... there would be less fights over rivers in time!

If you want to know what to do Mr.Vishwanath and team are willing to teach you and guide you for free. Anyone is welcome to go visit and see the techinques they're using for the same in their house.

I just hope more people begin harvesting rain water and become a little more careful in the way they use water and other resources without making it a burden for themselves.

If you do not know what to do please contact them on
S. Vishwanath,
264, 6th Main, 6th Block, B.E.L. Layout
Vidyaranyapura, Bangalore - 560 097 India
Phone: 91-80-23641690, 41672790
Email:zenrainman@gmail.com

A SPIRITUAL UDUPI

I am not religious and I find it very difficult to believe in religions and follow them...
But I think I now (after this very long) understand the essence of the
whole concept... I dont like the temples, the hypocritic priests and their slimy ways, the dirty floors and walls and the norm of removing shoes, the bad rotten flowers and dirty water they give away in name of God and all the black money that gets pumped into the temples in name of God ... I dislike it all...
It makes me very angry to be inside a temple and to have to bribe a priest so that I can have a peaceful look at the idol!

Very angry!

But... I loved what i witnessed at Udupi this visit....The sounds of the drums and the "manjiras" still ring in my ear, I cant still forget the temple elephant dancing to the rhythm, the hundreds of people that suddenly appeared from nowhere to pull on
the thick ropes tugged onto the 20-30 foot tall wooden chariot, the rush, the mood,the fire, the music and it all stirred something inside me...



I felt tears rolling down my eyes, I can feel them now!

I now know what its all about, and how wrong we all got it...and how simple it has to be.... Its all about energy... and positive energy... and we can all feel it... its this energy that makes it all so spiritual...

Yes I had a spiritual experience!

G O K A R N

Gokarn

Another Beach town along the mysterious land of Karnataka.

"Go" meaning Cow and "Karn" meaning Ear... this towns name means "Cow's Ear" literally.
The mythological story states that the Shivaling that stands tall in this town was retrieved from the ear of a Cow and this cow is worshipped as Nandi.
Now I know why theres always a Nandi wherever there's the Shivaling.

Gokarn means Cows, Pujaris, Silent Beaches, Sea Food and Hippies to me...Not to forget the tribals who are named the Hallakis - hard working women who mostly sell flowers and vegetables.

The irony of this town will surely take you aback if you have similar sensibilities as mine. Once known for its religious and mythological reasons, this town is now popular for its secluded beaches and its hippie culture. Honestly I was disappointed. Unlike other beach towns these beaches were empty inspite of people being there. Foreigners in bikinis and in nude asking me to not shoot them, smoking something that made them feel they're in "India", wearing clothes that are strange to me but are somehow "Indian" to them - arabic and two-sided pants!!!

G O K A R N
Originally uploaded by lavannya.

Most foreigners have been living there for months together and have deviced very smart methods for staying longer also. Yes, the town is now known and thrives because of these visitors, but sadly they seem to have taken something away from the town.

I wish there was some sort of a law or rule against drugs. It wasnt difficult to tell if people were doing "nasha", and if its that apparent to a visitor doesnt the police and the government know?

These hippies find it easy to stay back in Gokarn, they've made these shacks all along beaches and the locals have everything they need. A tea takes 20 minutes to serve and drink, hence if you're expecting quick gratification, you're bound to be disappointed.

The pujaris are no less. The temple doesnt allow foreigners (which I am not happy at all about). And therefore its only the pujaris who're not making the "dollars". To make up for the loss they spread all around the temple and as soon as they see some well off indian, they rush, literally pull them into the temple, do a puja before one can wink their eyes and viola! shell of hundreds of rupees!



Its strange to see how the Cows are respected and lovingly treated in this town. As usual they're always hungry but they respond to a call, to sounds, to touch and talk.



It took me a while to accept this town as it was. I perhaps had too many preconcieved notions. The second day I was more relaxed accepting everything the way it was... and hence yes... i'd say to you
Do visit Gokarn... its a delightful little town with excellent beaches and wonderful sea food... and be ready to make expenses!

New Project

New Project
Originally uploaded by lavannya.

Every time I think I’m happy and satisfied I find a new reason to be discontent with life… Is it deliberate or something’s wrong with the way my brain and heart functions I do not know…
But once again I break the shell…

Shock!
I am also under shock while the ones around me are also experiencing one.
When everyone else and I too had thought that this is it, my life is now perfect, I’m set with my established practice of architecture, I’m designing and people are getting to know who I am… a part of me inside was all uncomfortable. Can I be content? Am I truly content? Is this all? Am I going to be this Architect cum Interior Designer who makes this and that sort of designs for all her life? Do I know it all?
Happiness and Discontent don’t necessarily go hand in hand, is something I’m totally and completely sure of now.

I have begun to work for a firm called by the name of the two individuals who started off this practice in Bangalore “Chitra Vishwanath”. They practice Eco Friendly Architecture and have been experimenting with what they call as Mud Block Constructions. I have wanted to work with Chitra ever since I passed out of College. I decided to ask her once again. It’s truly not about money it’s about what all I’m going to get to learn. It’s about what all I’ve got to gain here. For long I’ve been feeling I’m missing out on a lot. All my co-mates are studying something or the other somewhere or the other… and I? I’ve been busy doing this… well its not so meaningless, but what can I do? I enjoy learning only by practice. I can’t just read books… I need to be there! So here am I… learning Ecologically Friendly and Sustainable Architecture!

Dying Markets

R U S S E L M A R K E T
Originally uploaded by lavannya.

Russel market and Shivajinagar is a large Market area full of so many things to sell. Its one place one can avail just about anything. Indian markets have always been a fancy with people abroad and a matter of pride for the Indians. Its sad how the supermarkets have taken over, and ironically how they are not so "super". There's no haggling anymore, no best prices, no choice for the consumer, no happiness of purchasing anymore, for that matter not as colorful either. Long walks down many streets and long mysterious searches for any particular item you want to buy has been taken over by these huge fabulous Malls... that to me are so cold, strange and colorless. These malls and supermarkets are supposed to stock up everything in one building and yet I dont find them as satisfying as these vibrant Markets.

Think of all these individuals who have been making their income via these markets selling their small goods for years and generations. These people shall soon be unemployed, and nothing saddens me more to know that We shall be responsible for that.

Bylakuppe

_MG_5217
Originally uploaded by lavannya.

Bylakuppe... An amazing place of colour and vibrance, friendliness and spirituality...
Burgundy robed monks, and smiling but shy faces welcomed us to it. As soon as we entered the town and the valleys and hills through which the roads took us, flanked with lush green wheat fields and skies of shades of blue, white and grey, we all felt that we were displaced into a completely foreign world.

A few ten kilometers from Mysore this town Bylakuppe is situated at the border of Mysore and Coorg. The government of Karnataka offered this land to the Tibetians who had wanted refuge in India. They've created their own little niche in the town with monasteries, temples, nunneries, animals and fields of grains.

The town was lush green with wonderful shades of blue, white, green, brown and the burgundy, maroon and yellow clothes of the monks living there.
Some monks come to study all the way from Tibet and some from all parts of North and North East India.

The Namdroling Monastery known as the Golden Temple made me feel small and insignificant. Though I was there with no real intention of feeling spiritual, standing in that vast space, with the large gold statues in front of me, the monks chanting and the pipes and drums being played... i felt a tear run down my eye. I was overwhelmed!

I wanted to know more and feel more, experience more but alas the journey had to end. It was a calming but exciting experience and to have documented it in photographs was not easy.

Instead we simply let ourselves have a great time. Momos and thukpa, shopping and drives, laughs and many discussions and arguments about photography and its equipment that lasted for hours!

Nandi Hills

Dr Vivek M started this group on Flickr. com called Bangalore Weekend Shoots.
His intention was to bring about a little interaction amongst all the photographers living in and around Bangalore.

Everyone now meets every weekend on some shoot or the other and we have a great time.
There is food exploration, places and lots of photography.
Its great to see how each one sees the same subject and place differently and there's so much to learn I must say!
We've all grown, atleast I can say that for myself.

Markets has been a major focus for a long time amongst the group... and that's where I've been disappearing into every weekend! There is no time to while away lately :), and doesnt that feel great!!!

Here are my pictures from these Weekend Shoots. It feels good to see myself learning and improving.

Resisting the Digital world so much I've shamelessly given in to it now "blush". And with Digital cameras I have had to learn post processing skills on the Photoshop CS2. Uploading pictures has become so much easier...and photography has been the high that I've been on lately.

This weekend we took a trip to the Nandi Hills... staying as close as i do to the place i have never been there in the past 4 years!

This was my chance to see the so heard of place...

It's a total Hill Station...
misty, cold, windy, romantic, cool, colourful, green...
and soon full of lots of people and romantic couples! :)

We had a great time...and here are my shots from the place.

DIVIDED BETWEEN

Divided between 2 languages unknown
Divided in my mind and in my heart
My heart’s the master
And my mind a slave
To all that has crossed me now
I believe in love
I believe in the tears of my loneliness
I believe life can grow
Improve
And give more
Torn apart are these thoughts
Happens so
When too much comes by to sense
A lot needs to get out
And overflow
Flow into words
Written or said
Making it less meaningful thus
And less important
Or less owned
Divided between 2 languages unknown
Divided between 2 men unknown

DUMB

DUMB

Where days are filled with beauty
And moments full of hope
An extravagance of immense
Passion
And a desire that can’t be curbed
That’s the state of mind
You leave me in
Every time I feel your presence and
Every time I know you’ll leave
It’s a choice I’ve made
To live in this partial
World of emotions
It’s a choice that’ll drive me
Crazy
A choice that’ll forever
Leave me dumb!

AIDS and Paani Puri

How many of you have recieved this forwarded message on your yahoo messenger?

"In Ahmedabad 10 yrs old boy had eaten "panipuri" about 15 days ago and fell sick, later when he had his health check done doctors diagnosed that he had AIDS. His parents couldn't believe it...? Then the entire family under went a checkup none of them was suffering from that. The doctors checked with the boy if he had eaten out? And the boy says he had panipuri one evening. The hospital team went there to check. They found the panipuri seller had a cut on his finger while cutting the onions, and his blood had spread in the food. When they had his blood checked... the guy was suffering from AIDS but he himself was not aware. Please take care while u eat from road side panipuri wallas or roadside vendors. kindly forward this message to your friends!!! "

And how many of you believe that there is any truth in this matter?

I feel extremely sad when I read such things. Its disappointing to see that inspite of so much awareness of AIDS people still spread such nonsensical rumors.

What is AIDS? - Its a disease acquired by being infected by the Virus called HIV. Full form Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome

What is HIV? - HIV is the virus that leads to the disease called AIDS. It can remain in your system or body for a very long time, completely inert and you might not get AIDS for years together.

What does this Virus do? - HIV virus attacks the Spleen - the part of your body that manufactures the white antibodies to protect your body against attack from an external virus or bacterial or a different sort of infection. By attacking, the Virus deforms the DNA of the antibodies such that - in layman language - they go all haywire and crazy when there's an actual attack on the body from an external germ.
Hence it is necessary for the person who is already infected by HIV virus to protect themselves from any sort of infection whatsoever.

This "going haywire" concept is what decreases your body's immunity, and therefore makes it difficult for the patient affected by the HIV to cure.

It is similar for those who suffer from Diabetes or High Blood Pressure. Those who suffer from these diseases also have low immunity and its difficult to help individuals who suffer from it.

How does HIV virus transfer? - The HIV virus, unlike many other viruses we know, needs the medium of body fluid. E.g. The common cold virus is Airborne and can transfer through air, similarly the HIV virus can move from a body fluid to a body fluid.
The HIV virus cannot live in dried body fluid, the body fluid needs to be active.

What can you do to get the Virus? - Remember that getting the virus is very different from getting AIDS. Its not the same. Lets learn to use the correct terminology.

You can get the HIV virus by being in a situation where
1. Blood is being transfused from an HIV affected person to a non-affected human being
2. It can be transmitted by using a fresh syringe which is not sterile, and was used for a HIV affected person
3. It can be trasmitted by having unprotected sex, i.e. sex without a condom. If the woman is affected by HIV or the man, the virus transmits itself, as a lot of body fluid is present in the sexual act.
The more number of people one has sex with therefore the greater the chances of being affected by the HIV virus.
4. You can get it while having oral sex too. How? Well if one of the partner has a cut in the mouth which is raw or fresh

and the body fluid of the other partner getting the oral sex enters the mouth of the this one, there is a chance of transmission. So check the mouth carefully. ;)


The HIV virus is very clever an organism. Its not usually detected by our machines for as long as 3 months of gestation.

So if you had sex today or a blood transfusion today and expect the HIV virus to be detected in your body tomorrow, its not possible.

That is why people are quite scared of this virus.
What is to be scared about?
1. You dont know if someone has the virus very easily. The unknown is usually scary
2. Once you start showing the symptoms of AIDS, its very difficult to help the patient. Immunity is low and diseases spread quickly.

Can you get the HIV virus by eating Pani puri made by a man who cut his finger while chopping onions? No.
1. You have to have a cut in your mouth to get it.
2. The blood plasma would be really dissolved into the paani of the paani puri so chances are slow.
3. Even if you had a cut and the blood of the paani puri wala was flowing from his finger and you get infected by the

HIV virus, 15 days hence it cant be detected.

The above story is "bakwaas". Please dont attack the poor paani puri walas or the street vendor's food business.
Yes do check if the paani puri wala's nails are clean before you have him feed you the paani puri, if not you could have different diseases. And if you're already affected by the HIV virus, it wouldnt be safe either.

Please put in your views here... Tell me more if I dont know something...
AIDS happens with HIV virus, HIV and AIDS is not the same thing!!!

Voting Rights?

Do you hate the idea that your leaders/ politicians are crapp?

Do you wish there was a better politician in your city, state, country?

Do you wish better candidates applied?

Do you wish that our country was a better place?

Then this email that i recieved today as a forward might be of help!

Please read on...

Dear all,

Please take some time to read this entire mail. You will definitely feel its worth.

Hope some of you have already got this mail and got to know about the 49'O..
It says :

"In a particular constituency, if a voter has dislike to all of the candidates competing there,

Then he can show his dislike to all of them by registering for 49'O.

Steps for doing this :
1. while registering the name by the time of voting, convey the booth officials that "I want to go for 49'O".

2. Register your signature in the 49'O form available there.

Done.
Now, if the number of 49'O count is larger than that of the winning candidates total vote count, then a re-election is called there.

More than all, the shameful fact is,
This 49'O is available ever since 1960, but it is in no way conveyed to the people.
Neither the government communicate this, nor did the election commission.

As long as the people are unaware of this one, the political parties are enjoying by winning the election and ditching our country.
To stop this disaster to continue further, we don't need to take a sword and fight against the government.
Just help every citizen to know that they have such a powerful weapon which can be used for ensuring their welfare.

None of the media will be ready to publish this 49'O.
Let us do this by ourselves.
Communicate this information with all your family, friends and neighbors as much as you can and let them know their right.
Please send this mail to everyone you know and request them to spread it across to everyone.
Convey this information to as many people you know.

Not only, we get a satisfaction that we have done a good service for our country's welfare.

This is very well equal to what our patriots have done for the independence of our country.

Very less time left before the next election drama.
Before that lets make sure that everyone speaks about this word "49'O".

Dr.Rajkumar's Sad Demise

I just happened to be in Majestic yesterday afternoon... was wanting to check out this carpenter's work who insisted that I be there at 2:30 in the afternoon. I was hating the idea but what had to be done had to be done.

I also had a buy a sari as a gift and decided that Majestic and area would be perfect to do the shopping. There was a huge gathering of women workers on the BVK Iyengar road at that hour, and I was already curious to see so many of them, with banners and posters standing and sitting around. I wanted to click them, but there was no time for all that.

I met the carpenter, checked out the various shops he had done, and stopped for a quench of thirst at a Juice shop. It was hot. We ordered some juice and were observing this woman who was excitedly talking to the person opposite her. She quickly drank up the glass of juice put in front of her and walked out. She met some other 2 women on the roadside,and all three of them began to have an agitated conversation. I was wondering what it was about and then understood that they were upset coz it seems Dr.Rajkumar had expired. I was told that Majestic was an absolutely sensitive area as it was full of movie fans.



We walked into a large new building to check out saris. Saw a few and decided to return back. The gaurd standing outside was missing and he suddenly turned up panting that Dr.Rajkumar had expired. I didnt realize the gravity of the situation until we realized we were locked in this huge building. Everyone was guiding us from one to another gate. All gates were locked. We ran down to the ground floor, gate locked. We ran to the other end of the 100 feet building, gate locked. We ran down to the basement, gate locked. We ran to the end of the parking lot and the man was just locking the gate and we requested to be let out. We had parked out vehicle in Abhinav theatre. This too was being locked. We requested and were let in. As soon as we entered the large lock was keyed in. We rushed out of the other gate and attempted to get out of the area as quickly as possible. Realizing slowly that all the shops were now closed. The shop we had had juice at a few minutes back was locked. All the people sitting on the paedestrian walkway were collecting their stuff, all vehicles seemed to be rushing and all people seemed to be running. Everything was closed. Suddenly the entire area had taken a completely different look. I wanted to check out saris in Malleshwaram and decided to go past that area. But it was all closed. All of it.






Everything was closed, people waiting for buses on the roadside and suddenly a lot of traffic police and policemen had turned up. We saw a policemen entering into the Sampige Road Cafe Coffee Day to shut them down.



Curious that I am, I wanted to pass by Sadashivanagar, to see the happenings there. I was warned off, but I had to go there. We passed by Dr.Rajkumar's house and lots of vehicles were parked outside. Many policemen and road blocks. This was still early. It was only 3:30 pm then.



We got out onto the main road and were across Mekhri Circle, which was still calm.
We reached home and put on the television. And heard news of so much violence and madness.

Its very sad that Dr.Rajkumar, such an acclaimed and talented actor passed away. He was surely the reason Kannada movies got their popularity. But he is now resting in peace. Not suffering from his heart disease, and we should all pray for his peace instead of creating ruccous. Its sad how these Union Leaders find a reason to create panic and lack of peace in the lives of people.

Today we have no TV except all kannada channels and news channels, we had no electricity for quite a while too, and ofcourse all business is on the close. What are people doing sitting at home then? Kannadigas might be watching Dr.Rajkumar's movies and songs on the TV and others are timepassing in other ways!

I pray that his soul rest in peace and pray that people follow his strong examples of good behaviour and peaceful life.

Siddhi Creations - Summer Camp for Children

joyous-children
Originally uploaded by lavannya.

Sudha Iyengar has been running this Summer Camp called "Siddhi Creations" for the past 16 years...

The children who've attended these camps sing songs about it, and have passed on their learnings to others. Many have won many prizes and awards for the songs that they've learnt here and performed at their schools, for the dances and skits, and the crafts that they've learnt here.

Sudha Iyengar has many people who volunteer to help her run this Camp every year, (including myself) and perhaps she'll always have people doing it for her as she runs this camp for sheer joy of seeing the children happy and blooming.

These the details of the Camp:
Siddhi Creations (Summer Camp)

It starts on the 13th of April

And ends on the 30th of April

Daily Schedule : from 10:00 am to 1:30 pm

Starts with a class in Music
Then practice in a Dance or a Skit by choice of the child
Learning in Art, painting and various Crafts
And the day ends in various activities like Quizzing, Story Telling, Games, Yoga and so on and so forth
The 2 Sundays that fall into this period will be spent in excursions outside which will be basically full of fun and games, and education in Bird Watching/Orinthology and Photography and appreciation of Nature.

The last day that is the 30th of April shall have an Annual Function, wherein the children get to perform all the dances, songs and skits they've learnt through the 2 weeks and display all their works of art and craft. All parents shall be invited by the children themselves to audience this event.

The Address is : #8, 17th A Cross, 12th Main, Malleshwaram

Ph: Call 23341022 and ask for Sudha Iyengar

Do give my name as reference.

I'd like to help her get as many children to join this wonderful camp as possible... so... contact her if you're interested

Many regards,
Lavannya

wild gooseberries and a wild jasmine

wild gooseberries and a wild jasmine
Originally uploaded by lavannya.

wild gooseberries and a wild jasmine from the forests...from my love...

Roses and a lock

Roses and a lock
Originally uploaded by lavannya.

Roses and a lock where keep our keys now .... for our 4th anniversary

Hahahahhahaa... i got this from friends as a forward... god! 

Happy Women's Day?

100_2147
Originally uploaded by lavannya.

What is this with celebrating Women's Day...
I still havent heard of a Men's Day... is there one that I dont know about?
I know of Father's Day and of Mother's Day and I know of Valentine's Day... and Environment Day...

Somehow it seems that everything that has lost recognition and its importance in the sociological scenario needs recognizing and therefore a "Day" is assigned for it. Everyone this way pays their due respect somehow or becomes more aware of that important part of society and life that we all ought to give some more importance to than we already do!

Newspapers have articles about Women and Men... Which Women today are Hot... and which Women have broken barriers and done something in the society at par with Men...
Doesnt it all already sound extremely unequal, lopsided and ironical?

How does this talk and analysis of Women once in a year make a difference to the society?

Come on everybody rise and shine... post Christ and Islamism, the world became an orthodox society that was partial to the "Man" and the same "Man" in need of becoming more powerful politically and otherwise needed to suppress the Woman... only to realize at some point in history that the Woman made a huge difference also. (obviously the initial suppression was only coz there was already the knowledge of the fact that "She" was capable of more but less aware -
an example like what the British Empire attempted with a country like India - Lot of potential but lack of awareness, therefore suppress and take advantage)
Well whatever it is, this is not about a particular man, it is about those leaders who wanted to be in power and wanted to keep a woman out of everything political. And trust me my friends Religion also is Political.

Well now that I have said so much, I'd like to say the real thing: I completely dislike this Women's Day.
Though the attempt it to convey a regard for these people and things of the world... its also a way of saying these are dying... and Women are not dead.

We say we live in a Democratic, Free society and countries like USA claim that all are Equal or rather should be equal, coz they havent been able to create an Equal society even today. In the process of creating an equal society to be partial to one part of the society by caste creed sex or colour isnt going to create Equality... But perhaps that's also a way to reach the end... We end up suppressing our strong bias when such efforts are made by the Government perhaps.
But has any democratic society been able to reach that point of equality successfully by such means?

Why have the Women to be compared to Men... Why do Women themselves compare themselves to Men?
And Women, please, one cant get freedom and be treated equally by removing one's bras and t-shirts and walking parades! All one can gain that way is pity and sympathy! I pity those who do it!

I have been asked many a times before this question... Who/What would you like to be in your next birth if you had a choice?
My answer, ever since I was a little girl has been "ME"... I wouldnt like to be anyone else.

Women themselves I have seen have opted to be a man. They dont want suppression, they want more freedom and they dont want menstrual cycles in their next birth ... lol...

That I think says a lot about how Women are treated in this Free Democratic Society and that there shall always be inequality until Women just stop comparing themselves.

I was chatting with a friend of mine yesterday - Neeraj - and he said something wonderful to me... I was awfully flattered and that's where this whole discussion came about from.
In Neeraj's opinion I lead my life like any other man. And I do all that a Man can do.
But no I dont think I am like any other man, coz I am a Woman and I love being so. I have never compared myself to another man and I dont wish to.

And may I request all my friends, that if you do have children, please do not make any sex discrimination with them. If you respect your daughters as they are, they will learn to respect themselves, the society will learn to respect them and more than anything else They will learn to respect themselves.
A Women's Day will not be necessary!

RED

RED
Originally uploaded by lavannya.

I found these flowers blooming at the Kanteerava Stadium this last saturday - the day I was out with Anuradha..picking a sofa for her appartment...
Just loved the red colour... red is as such my soft corner when it comes to colours, perhaps you could tell from the way my website is designed ;-p.
Well coming to the point, I have no idea what this flower is, (i surely know now its a spring bloom) and I have no idea of its scientific name and where it really comes from... it surely is not the Flame of the Forest, coz the these were shrubs and not trees...
Can anyone put some more insight into this?

This is the flower unphotoshopped!

Eleven/Ten

layout
Originally uploaded by lavannya.

Hi everyone,

Eleven / Ten is a new restaurant opening on the 11th of March on New BEL road, in the North of Bangalore serving Continental dishes that mostly is going to be Gourmet food.

Besides the fact that I've designed and done up the place, I am mostly recommending the food that I tasted yesterday.
Food pictures of what was served to us is available here http://www.flickr.com/photos/lavannya/

The Ambience: Well that's something I'd like you to tell me how it is.

low-seating
Originally uploaded by lavannya.

The Service: Is something I still cannot comment on as the place isn't running as yet... but I am quite sure its going to be great, knowing how particular Prakash - the manager is about it. We have discussed it in detail!

The Food: I was invited for a trial run at the food and as much as I wanted to be blown away I had to be highly criticizing of the food. But here's is my honest review.

We ate a lot!!! Terribly lot, coz Wren - the owner, wanted us to taste almost everything and give him feedback on the same.

potatonleek-soup
Originally uploaded by lavannya.

We started with the
Minestrone Soup and the Potato and Leek soup - This is the first time i've tasted minestrone in a proper way and the Potato and Leek soup was fantastic. I could've licked the bowl! It was served with some nice hot garlic bread and loaves.

fish-fingers
Originally uploaded by lavannya.

We then had the starters Fish Fingers and Grilled Vegetables Timble : The fish fingers disappeared so quickly! The fish was tender and marinated in a mint sauce, deep fried with a crusty crumb coating, served with a salad and a mayonnaise based sauce. It was obvious we loved it!

grillvegetables
Originally uploaded by lavannya.

The Grilled Vegetable Timble was extraoridary too. I've had grilled vegetables on a skewer often, but this tasted excellent. The paneer or cottage cheese used was so soft and tender that it melted in the mouth and yet on the platter it was intact and at its best. Grilled to perfection and again served with a big serving of salad and a barbecue sauce (the sauce was excellent too)

fattoosh-salad
Originally uploaded by lavannya.

Then came the Salads. We had the Lebanese salad called Fattoosh and a Tuna and olive salad. Both were good, while I preferred the Fattoosh to the tuna salad. There's a big salad bar at Eleven Ten and I am truly looking forward to it.

grilled-fish
Originally uploaded by lavannya.

The Main course had Grilled Fish and Moroccan Lamb with Cous Cous : sounds delicious already!

The Grilled fish was tender and so lovely, very simply done and very nicely presented.

morrocan-lamb
Originally uploaded by lavannya.

The moroccan lamb went away so quickly into tummies that I couldnt even start clicking pictures of it! It was so close to the original stuff, with the apricots and nuts on top, and the cous cous on the side. Yummy!

spagetti
Originally uploaded by lavannya.

And yeah how can I forget the Spagetti Arrabiatta, it was just right! I wouldnt change a thing about it.
Guessing that we were so full and yet we couldnt resist any of the food itself says a lot about the quality of the stuff.

choc-mousse
Originally uploaded by lavannya.

The dessert ended with a Choclate Mousse - which I dont have words for,

mangocheesecake
Originally uploaded by lavannya.

a mango cheesecake

tiramisu
Originally uploaded by lavannya.

and a large slice of Tiramisu - the kind of which I havent tasted in a long time.

wall-n-ceiling
Originally uploaded by lavannya.

I am so happy for my client and for myself ;) that this food is so classy and that he's going do surely very well. The project was a joy for me and to see the food doing so well is a greater joy for me.

The Prices: They are going to be serving a platter of genuine Hot Dogs (english style) and sandwiches of many kinds, served with salad, onion rings & french fries; going to be priced at Rs.55-60 a platter.
Fish platter with two slices of fish around Rs.120 a plate and Vegetarian pastas at around Rs.100-120 a plate.

How to get there: It’s on the New BEL Road. If you know the Ramiah Hospital or Dollars colony, go down the road towards the Ring Road and this place is after the Mayura Restaurant, on the Left hand side, first floor, just above a large liquor store called "Total Spirits".

To approach New BEL road, take a left on the Mekhri Circle if you are appproaching from M.G.Road, and take a right as soon as you reach the Sadashivnagar police station traffic crossing. Go down the road, there's Ramiah Hospital on your left and further down about less than a kilometer is Eleven/Ten.

Happy Eating,

Lavannya

lavannya dot com - update

Hello everyone,

Remember this almost an year old post, about me thinking of how my website should be?

Well www.lavannya.com is up atlast... and I am truly relieved!

Any feedback welcome...


A friend forwarded this message by Mother Theresa and I thought I'd share it. Very simple but so true, it somehow hit a chord in me...

A group of working adults got together to visit their University lecturer.
The lecturer was happy to see them. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life.

The Lecturer just smiled and went to the kitchen to get an assortment of cups - some porcelain, some in plastic, some in glass, some plain looking and some looked rather expensive and exquisite.

The Lecturer offered his former students the cups to get drinks for themselves.

When all the students had a cup in hand with water, the Lecturer spoke:
"If you noticed, all the nice looking, expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal that you only want the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. What all you wanted was water, not the cup, but we unconsciously went for the better cups."

"Just like in life, if Life is Water, then the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold/maintain Life, but the quality of Life doesn't change."

"If we only concentrate on the cup, we won't have time to enjoy/taste the water in it."


-Mother Teresa

Noble Ideas?

I open the main door to look for the newspaper today, and I find supplements all over my verandah. Flying helter skelter. Picking each one by one I find this one supplement completely on Art of Living or Sri Sri Ravishankar! (why these two "sri's" i've never understood it...tell me someone please?)

Its an entire supplement of what this man has been doing for the world since 1982 (helping United states, Russia, Kosova etc countries). It states all facts, all help they've done to humanity and all they have done to bring PEACE to the world.

Not any company or organization can afford a whole 4 page supplement for themselves,(can they?) their advertisement and marketing, and this organization that's creating peace in the world can. Amazing!

The first page is asking you to Save the Dates 17th, 18th and 19th February to come to Jakkur Airfield for a mega "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam". (Are you going?)

Our new Chief Minister's orders are that all roads are to be built and repaired as soon as possible and works on roads has started in a frenzy suddenly, leaving this New Bellary Road inaccessible. A small patch of 2 km takes us more than an hour to cross through, with so much dust and dirt flying around, its horrid
I wonder what's to happen on the 17th, 18th and the 19th of February when 25 lakhs of people are going to attend this Mega Art of Living event!!! (this shall surely bring peace to the roads..hahaha)

Also isn't it strange or a little too perfect timing a for exhibition of their "goods" when Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has just been nominated for the Peace Nobel Prize? - This link is really worth reading...hilarious infact!

Never Changing Loneliness!!

This absolute cold air
Touching my naked body
Sitting here
In the vapour
Of this hot hot water
Smelling its heat
And feeling its cold ness
This music once more
Sounding in my ears
All men in my life
Passing one by one
Through my thoughts
Like visitors
Stopping in my mind
For a short while
Their coldness
And their heat
My heat
And my existing coldness
All coming together
In my thoughts
As life proceeds
In this neverchanging
Loneliness!

TIRED BODY

My body’s tired
My body’s burning
In a natural desire
I need love
I need passion
I need sex
None have come
But in form of inhuman work
Restless days and moments
Are passing me by
No scope for growth
No scope for improvement
No place for sex!

19th January 2006

In a maze
In a time
In a process
Soundless
Mind not functioning
Body moving on
Feelingless
Meaningless
Painful times
Wish there was no death!

Timeless moments
Priceless fights
Oh! how can one replace
A lost love?

Sucked off
Of something
What?
Not known
Tears
Screams
Sighs
Pain
All mixed in a couldron of Sad times
Change inevitable
But love an enemy
Wish to shut my eye and let this pass by....

To hold her
Comfort her
To protect her from this pain
Bring him back to her
So she's happy again!
Will she adjust to this void?
Will loneliness ever leave?
Will habits change
To be able to gain sanity again?