Secrets of my inner world

French Pipe Waterproofing System

2011-09-10T08:37:00.003+04:00

Dr.Ravindra Subbanna French pipes, a photo by lavannya on Flickr.

Dr.Ravindra Subbanna's house was my first project at Mistrys the day I joined the office and its a project that's been with me ever since that June 2003. We have renovated and redone the house so many times over the years.

We had proposed a large basement for Dr.Subbanna as the requirement was a lot and the site was an odd piece of land located though beautifully right next to a large park in RMV layout, Bangalore.

Sadly RMV layout is essentially a filled up lake and the water table is very high. This layout like many others in Bangalore have the reverse problem when it comes to Rain water. Dr.Subbanna's basement was always flooding located on the lowest point of the entire layout. For years he complained about it to me. Suffering plenty during rains. We decided to solve the problem once and for all.

The French pipe system is a popular technique of water proofing a basement abroad. Having had theortically learnt about it at Biome, we decided to incorporate the same after some research and study at this site.

Its a simple system where pipes of a good diameter are placed in a grid over a good base of soling. The pipes are perforated on the sides to allow water to fill into them, and the slope at which the pipe is placed allows for water to flow in a particular direction when water table rises towards a water tank or a recharge well and this water in turn can be pumped out once the water tank is full.

This system allows the water to naturally move and therefore disallows it from rising into the walls and into the flooring voids and distrupting the structure in turn.

Today after 2 years of incorporating the system Dr.Ravindra Subbanna expresses the relief he feels from the worry of his flooding basement. There has not been a single leak into it ever since.

More images of the house are here

GAINING GROUND OFFICE

2011-09-08T09:18:00.004+04:00

GAINING GROUND - BEFORE, a photo by lavannya on Flickr.

Like most spaces one rents out in Bangalore Gaining Ground Investment Consultant's newly rented out space was a single BHK house which was to be used as office premises in the simplest way possible. Thanks to the influences I've had while being raised there's this uncanny pleasure one derives from renovating a space and giving it a completely new face.
Ofcourse the concept of simplicity and contemporary have to be a part of what we do but to bring Ravi Kumar and Kshitija's working style into the personality of the new office space was also important.

In a small budget and in 2 weeks our team worked out a little of the electrical points, a simple false ceiling to add lighting, painted the place white with a highlight wall in blue from Gaining Ground's Logo and put a simple flooring that brought in warmth.

Cycles and Dasera

2010-10-17T17:26:00.007+04:00

Through the entire trip to Nagavalli yesterday, 16th Oct '10, I was preoccupied with checking out the cycle decorations around the villages that we crossed on the road trip. For obvious reasons I am preoccupied with Cycles and the color Orange and then Dasera and the excitement that I saw amongst the young cycle owners to fancy up their bicycles was infectious!

There are these small and big mirrors, colorful spiky things you can put around the wheel, these plastic roses that get fixed to the centre of the cycle or wherever one pleases, these plastic covers for various parts of the cycle, seat covers and covers for the rod in front, glittery tassles and reflectors in the shape of a heart. Each reflector comes in two bright colors. So much variety to pick from all these. Starting from Rs.5/- a piece.

The kids and young boys all along the way were proudly displaying their newly bought wares on their nicely done up bicycles!!
Such pride and love they showcase for their vehicles. I was reminded of my obsession with my old BSA SLR red bicycle, how I loved it, cleaned it, and how much I hated it when it was given away without my permission. It was not just a cycle to me, he was a companion. Yes, I always thought of it as a he.

Stickers, colors, birthdays of the cycle, anniversary of my cycle with Umangi's, distributing sweets in the entire school.....all madness came back!
Sigh! no new fancy bicycle can replace him......

Ceramic tile mosaic at Dose Camp

2010-10-10T21:24:00.006+04:00

Giraffe
Originally uploaded by lavannya

A morning drive to the other side of the city to drop my girlfriend
off ended up becoming breakfast at Dose camp (Ganesh Darshan) in
Jayanagar 4th Block!

My first introduction to Bangalore was these south indian tiffin
outlets and me going completely crazy about how each type of dose
had a different accompaniment. Coming from a land where anything
south indian meant Dose or idli and there was simply one way to eat
the same, finding these food places was discovery!

But this blog post is not about the dose that's so good there or
the wonderful coffee....
its about the fantastic Tile Mosaic all over the shop interiors.
The workmanship and detailing is Art in itself.
Hard to find such workmanship now.
I wish I had taken a photograph of it, perhaps I was so caught up
in studying it and eating the masale dose that it slipped my mind.

Memories of my attempts at china mosaic at Khambhat came back. I
know how difficult tile mosaic can be. Harder still when detailed
like that!

Next time I am taking photographs of Ganesh Darshan's interiors.

P.S: I've been meaning to start blogging since months now. Each
time I have an idea to write I let it slip by and not do it. This
day is another beginning.

Bumble Bee

2009-09-22T07:36:00.001+04:00

The mind is a bumble bee
Caressing thoughts so many
Of the future
The expected
The idealistic
The past and the spent
It has roamed and
Sucked off the essence
Of each experience
Felt or not
Sensed or not
The mind is a
Bumble bee today
At total unrest

16th September, 2009

2009-09-16T09:04:00.000+04:00

Seven days and counting
The yearning and
The missing
Is having as good as
Not having?
Or is not having
Only better?

11th September, 2009

2009-09-16T08:58:00.002+04:00

No road,
No destination
No said cause
No reason
No camera
No book to write poetry in
No future and no past
Just this moment
In the present
To be in….

Cigarettes
Music
And friends meet again…
Images painted in my head
Familiar but old songs coming back
Wish u were here!

2009-08-23T18:09:00.003+04:00

Skipping heartbeats
All love songs for me
Heaved breaths
And a loss of patience
Thoughts illicit
Of a desire so wrong
A pain incomparable
Expressions failing
Tears have found a way
To simply drop
At each thought
Have I lost or have I gained
I know not.

Incoherence

2009-08-16T10:31:00.001+04:00

Incoherent words
Incoherent lines
Partial poetry
Within a partial life
Once again the need to fly
Once again the need to sense
How many times
Will I fall and rise
How many times
Will my emotions
Subside
Ah! These small miracles
Devil in disguise

Cut Tree

2009-08-16T06:45:00.002+04:00

The neighbouring property has been vacant for long..... always wanted more trees and green there.... so we planted this Yellow Tabebuia and there was this Guava that was doing well after many years....

Our neighbour downstairs brought down the Guava tree yesterday and cleaned up the entire site of all the shrubs..... They want to play badminton there!

It hurts.... a lot.... Feels like someone died....

Learnings from the past....

2009-06-08T08:03:00.004+04:00

This visit to Gujarat has left me with a feeling I am unrelated to.
Met people from my past and saw the same things with a new perspective.
Have I grown?

Nazar Baug - Vadodara. A visit in the midst of the night with friends

Chandrakanth Zaveri wants to extend the new house he's built a year or so back. His present residence is 200 years old. He choose to extend the building and added an R.C.C. roof above. Now the structure below seems to be giving in, sinking.
The wooden beams and columns have moved and the walls have deeper cracks.

He wants to demolish this structure and replace it with a fancy modern structure.
Sigh!

The traditional architecture in Gujarat has always fascinated me. The more I visit there, the more I fall in love with that town.
This is the first time I have looked inside the "Tanka". (which is in principle a Tank). The underground sump is huge.

Must be easily more than 50,000 litres and has a mouth through which they draw water even today using a thick rope. A pipe from the flat roof brings the rain water in through a smaller hole which is the filter and down into the Tanka.
This filter is so basic its amazing and the detail of the tile with a loop fitting on top to make it invisible. The cap of the cover is made from Brass and still so beautiful.

Why would they want to demolish this house?

Such an urge to write
In the land I come from
Creativity surges in loneliness again
Revisiting past
In many a ways
An urge to write
Feel & sense once again
Fearing will lose it amongst
The urban hustle and bustle soon
Can I remain this way
Joyous, Silent and Sensitive
Here and still not?

Hebbal 3rd Mar'09

2009-03-04T09:12:00.001+04:00

hebbal-3rd-mar'09
Originally uploaded by lavannya

Passing by the Hebbal lake I saw this huge fire yesterday.
Seemed like a forest fire.
Nothing about it in the newspapers.
Perhaps the Attack on the Lankan cricket team made enough news. Temperatures are really rising.
Birds were all in a frenzy.
Fire engines and police were scampering around with sirens going

City Blooms

2009-02-26T12:58:00.000+04:00

Its an overwhelming yellow colour all over the city of Bangalore.
All local newspapers, magazines and blogs are writing about the same thing. The Yellow Tabebuia blooms!!!

Exotic these trees may be but when one sees smiles running across faces of all during seasons of these blooms, one ends up appreciating the efforts of landscapers and botanists who planned these flowering trees all over Bangalore with this intention.

Many thanks to Krumbiegal, and his disciples Dr.H.Marigowda and Javaraya for spreading happiness each season.

Tickle

2008-12-13T10:11:00.002+04:00

An endless tickle

In my stomach

Stirring emotions

Of love once again

Is it a man again

Or is it just Love

Love on its own

I've learnt to yield

Or just plain

Adrenalin rush

Caterpillars and Butterflies

2008-09-17T06:31:00.001+04:00

2 fellows on one plant
Originally uploaded by lavannya

These two are these little shit like fellows earlier.... amazing to see their transformation every day... www.flickr.com/photos/lavannya/2837005632/

Its another thing that they've completely consumed my new born lime plant! (not extremely thrilled about that)

FAILING TO FEEL

2008-03-06T06:47:00.002+04:00

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....

2007-10-12T06:38:00.001+04:00

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

2007-09-12T06:27:00.000+04:00

....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

2007-08-02T07:57:00.000+04:00

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

2007-05-12T07:06:00.000+04:00

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

2007-04-23T14:54:00.001+04:00

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

Kambha

2007-04-15T17:56:00.000+04:00

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?

2007-04-08T18:02:00.000+04:00

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

2007-04-04T07:36:00.000+04:00

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

2007-03-19T08:12:00.000+04:00

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

2007-03-14T19:35:00.000+04:00

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

2006-12-21T06:24:00.000+04:00

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

2006-09-15T06:23:00.000+04:00

_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

2006-07-24T07:23:00.000+04:00

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

2006-07-22T17:52:00.000+04:00

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

2006-05-26T16:37:00.000+04:00

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

2006-05-25T07:41:00.000+04:00

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?

2006-05-19T17:44:00.000+04:00

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

2006-04-13T12:41:00.000+04:00

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

2006-03-15T18:30:00.000+04:00

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

2006-03-13T06:37:00.000+04:00

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

2006-03-13T06:36:00.000+04:00

Roses and a lock
Originally uploaded by lavannya.

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

2006-03-12T06:30:00.000+04:00

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

Happy Women's Day?

2006-03-10T07:15:00.000+04:00

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

2006-03-08T19:22:00.000+04:00

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

2006-03-03T09:19:00.000+04:00

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

2006-02-21T10:21:00.000+04:00

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?

2006-02-12T07:33:00.000+04:00

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!!

2006-02-09T18:42:00.000+04:00

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

2006-01-24T13:20:00.000+04:00

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

2006-01-23T08:08:00.001+04:00

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?

What Are The Keys To Your Heart?

2006-01-18T14:36:00.000+04:00

Try this link for fun!!!

The Keys to Your Heart

You are attracted to those who are unbridled, untrammeled, and free.

In love, you feel the most alive when your partner is patient and never willing to give up on you.

You'd like to your lover to think you are stylish and alluring.

You would be forced to break up with someone who was insecure and in constant need of reassurance.

Your ideal relationship is lasting. You want a relationship that looks to the future... one you can grow with.

Your risk of cheating is zero. You care about society and morality. You would never break a commitment.

You think of marriage as something precious. You'll treasure marriage and treat it as sacred.

In this moment, you think of love as something you can get or discard anytime. You're feeling self centered.

What Are The Keys To Your Heart?

Udaipur

2006-01-10T12:43:00.000+04:00

lagan2
Originally uploaded by lavannya.

My cousin's wedding in Udaipur was the best way to end the year 2005. It was a real Maharaja style wedding that took place in the romantic city of Udaipur, we all staying at the palaces around and the wedding in the centre of the lake at the Jagdish Mandir also called "Jag Mandir", in the late evening: Lights, flowers, decor, colour, glamour was the mood throughout.

goradias2
Originally uploaded by lavannya.

Everyone who was attending the wedding had spent days shopping, losing weight to look good, designing clothes and what not. Each day a couple of functions, get dressed, socialize and party!!!

On the last day, before the Goradias could plan some other event to get together for, Vivek and I snatched away some time for ourselves to explore Udaipur: the city we had heard so many stories about.

market-place
Originally uploaded by lavannya.

As soon as we walked out of the palace we were in the midst of a busy market. Colourful clothes, leather bound notebooks, hard carved wooden elephants and camels, stone carved ganeshas, colourful jootis, zari borders of old saris and so much that our head was spinning.

up-we-go
Originally uploaded by lavannya.

Amidst the busy market we discovered these steps that reached quite high and ended in a temple far above us. Our curiosity led us to a marble temple of Jagdish (or Krishna) and we spent some time there discovering the temple complex and its colourfully traditional Rajasthani people.

elephant
Originally uploaded by lavannya.

Back into the streets of the Haathi Pole (as the bazaar was called), we discovered some Haathis/Elephants making their way through the tiny streets where all types of cars and scooters were trying to make way too, did some really fun shopping and bargained a hellovalot. Its fun to bargain in these shops. The shopkeepers really appreciate it. They expect you to quote something else, do the haggling and then at the end of it when you express real frustration or disinterest in the object do they end up selling it to you. So for the first time I too had some fun haggling big time. I bought some beautiful zardozi embroidered "dupattas" for Rs.150 a piece, old gold thread borders for Rs.40 a metre... and bought many leather bound notebooks for an aunt, some stones, silver buttons for kurtas, jootis of course at a steal away price and much more... spent some 1000 bucks just shopping but really enjoyed shopping for the first time.

And in the midst of all the busy streets we found cold (yes cold but really tasty) samosas and tea, with fried green chillies and chopped onions... God! Does my mouth still water at the thought of it.

streets-of-udaipur2
Originally uploaded by lavannya.

Walking down we discovered many faces, many architectural wonders, ghaats, pools (these are old bridges not swimming pools), mandirs and old houses. Curiosity and wonder not leaving us, we walked on and on…

The eateries were the most amazing discovery. All sort of food sells out there... Korean, Isreali, Mexican, Italian, Swiss, American, just name it. And yes you also might get a decent Rajasthani Thali there!

dupatta
Originally uploaded by lavannya.

Exploring beyond we found many small houses converted into cafe's that can hardly seat more than 8-10 people, but served all sorts of food, massages, teaching how to draw good Heena/mehendi designs and miniature art. We found small spaces where foreigners were seated, painting with thin single hair brushes and learning how to do miniature art! We met an artist who did really good miniature work and tried getting a good price on his work but that was trying our luck too far! Red and green saris hanging down walls

ghoda
Originally uploaded by lavannya.

hand painted elephants and camels and flowers on walls of houses… the place had a character and a mood words can’t reflect.

At last hunger struck and we decided to try one of these eateries out and try our taste buds with Korean or Israeli food. On the bank of the lake was a small eatery… setting very Italian in nature on the street, and food very strange, but didn’t taste bad at all.

shivering
Originally uploaded by lavannya.

We waited watching the women washing clothes and bathing their children at the Ghat and a couple seated far away under a tree tucked away beyond our view, some jarokhas of old structures seemingly peeping out into the lake waters… it was an amazing experience. We realized then that we had spent some 4 hours just walking around and remembered we were to be back at the Palace to have dinner with the Goradias and started walking back… discontent.

Wait on Udaipur, we’ll come back to see you once again!

2005-12-31T07:13:00.000+04:00

A new year here again
New expectations
New resolves

Leaving behind memories
Sadness
And Bygones

Here's celebrating
The Happiness we find
Within each moment lapsed

A Very Very Happy New Year to You!
May you find happiness and joy in each day to come
Live each moment to the fullest and Make most of life!

Hyderabad trip...during diwali

2005-11-19T07:51:00.000+04:00

25
Originally uploaded by lavannya.

Her face said something...

BANGALORE and its ever growing problems - Who is responsible?

2005-11-16T07:11:00.000+04:00

I was quite fascinated by Bangalore when I did come here... The greenery, the lushness, the wonderful weather, the set back attitude of people… just what I wanted in life!

In the past 3 and odd years I've begun to re-think, have been thinking of leaving this city like many others I know.
Perhaps the government ought to give that some thought!

There are apartments after apartments springing in the city like mushrooms. All these so many thousands of apartments are being built for the "software engineer" (implying all those who can afford loans and have a salary to support them).
Each software engineer belonging to all these hundreds of companies in the city are encouraged by these various sources to buy property to save tax. That's one reason I know why people around me are buying apartments like toys!

The entire Ring Road from Sarjapur to Marathahalli has become this "to-be-Mumbai" environ: Each apartment complex holding some 2500-3000 apartments!
Just thinking of the traffic problems that'll be created on this road when all these apartments are full makes me cringe. Already all these individuals are complaining of the Hosur Road being blocked and that a small stretch of 15 kms takes more than 2 hours to get across to their office.

It’s very easy to blame the government and say that it’s not planning properly, but aren't we also somewhere responsible for all these traffic, road, infrastructure problems that have happened in this city?

Most of the software companies are established on one side of the city only: Each company holding some 40,000 or so employees. All these employees have good salaries starting easily from 23000-lakhs a month... These individuals are attacked by "Car selling authorities", "insurance authorities" etc... They encourage you to buy cars on instalments and on loans... with all the brainwashing and discounts that can be made available to the particular software company so that you finally buy it!

Each individual needs to own a car. Not a small car, but a really big one. Each one drives his/her own to their office and then we all complain of traffic problems and parking issues!

BESCOM refuses to give electricity connection to this one apartment complex that I know of, that’s half done on Sarjapur, (where I am doing the interiors of one single apartment for a friend). And people have been living in those apartments for months, using electricity available on Generators. What are they thinking? What are we thinking? And we all talk of saving non-renewable resources as they are falling short, of idealism and planning.
What do we think these Generators operate on? We complain of oil and petrol prices rising... but look at how we all encourage the companies that have anything to do with resources to help hike these prices. Petrol and Oil are resources we can surely not do without, isn’t it? So if the price of petrol keeps going higher you wont stop using it will you?

The methods prevailing in Bangalore are strange. All rents of houses everywhere are high. Over and above that, though you are a good tenant who pays his/her rent on time or not, you HAVE to pay 10 months advance rent. That money just sits doing nothing coz you are paying your rent on time and properly. Neither can the owner do much with the cash nor can you. So here comes the suggestion of the “Very-intelligent-banks”, who offer you loans and allow you to pay back in instalments that will equate to your rent money. Perfect. The idea is why not own a house with the same kind of money than live as a tenant and have a large sum of money sitting around doing nothing? Plus you are saving tax also this way.

Because the idea is prevalent and the government too wants the economy to be such that the money rotates, we buy everything on loans. The builders have found the opportunity and have raised these thousands of apartments around the city, for all those individuals who want to own houses. Are they bothered if water and electricity and such basic amenities are available to each owner? I don’t think so…
Are the builders treating you well as you are the customers paying such huge amounts of money? No…
The builders are the happiest thugs right now. The land prices are being hiked, have risen from a mere 1200 to 3000 rupees today in a matter of a few months! And yet their customers are ready to buy an apartment at any cost. So if you complain that your apartment has taken longer, or you want something extra, or you expect certain excess service, the builder throws the money back in your face. The builder is very sure that there are enough people wanting his apartment for his desired price.

All these various customers buying apartments with different building companies compare whose devil is worse… if they have a lesser devil they are happier. Is this how it all should be? As a customer, in a democratic system don’t you have the right to demand what you really deserve? Are we all not somewhere responsible for what is happening to this city?

And if we are made to believe that all these hundreds of apartments are sold, then we are all wrong… If they were sold there wouldn’t be ads after ads in the newspapers about them. Its how these scams happen in reference to food material: Onions, grains etc are stored or wasted for months to create a shortage and hike the prices of the items of necessity.

How aware are we? It’s high time we realize that WE can do a lot to change how this city operates and how this city seems to grow!

Note: this article isn’t against any particular individual or against any particular type of community. Please refrain from taking it personally.

SAL MUBARAK

2005-11-03T10:24:00.000+04:00

A New Year day
And a new experience
A return to my Roots
After a short separation
A comparison
A difference
That had mellowed within
The realms of credulence
Now becoming apparent
For the facts clear and now evident!

A time when I felt
There was no proximity
No more nearness
Than in my world
A moment when I felt
That we all put together
Were eventually close
But facts now glare
Into my eyes

Let me rethink
And realize
That it is infact
All superficial
And unreal
Everyone awaiting a chance
To blame the other
For their hurt!!

LONELINESS COMES BACK

2005-11-03T08:37:00.000+04:00

Loneliness gathers its wings
In solace
And I am here once more
Searching for the truth
In my life
Wondering at my bygones
And in quandary with my present
Searching amongst
Heaps of experiences now
Experiences that have
Become too many
To handle…

Wanted

2005-10-03T19:21:00.000+04:00

WANTED!!!

A fresh new face
For a Tele-Serial, Antariksh - a Science Fiction to be screened on the Star TV in February
For the lead actress's role...
Ashim Samanta, the son of Shakti Samanta, is directing the serial and needs to cast someone differeing, with some basic experience in acting (theatre is fine), to work in Mumbai

If you do have someone in mind do send in the profile and pictures to my email address
lavanya.goradia@gmail.com

Thank you!

Flowers strewn temple - srirangapattanam

2005-09-23T15:29:00.000+04:00

srirangapattanam-29
Originally uploaded by lavannya.

I agree there's nothing much about this pi cture... yet it is my favorite amongst the lot...

I am glad i got the picture i visualized... and trust me i am still learning to bridge that distance between visualization and making it happen with photography!

These are flowers of my favorite flowering tree...and the fact that the entire floor opposite this small temple (which is opposite, down the Madrasa) ...is strewn lends all the sanctity to the place.
Wanted to get the floor covered in the flowers ..simbly!

Sangam - srirangapattanam

2005-09-23T15:25:00.000+04:00

srirangapattanam-38
Originally uploaded by lavannya.

Sangam... where 3 rivulets meet...
a place for rites and for enjoyment...
This sadhu had polio and he sat there waiting for a customer to walk upto him..and many people enjoying the waters...
I loved the texture and lines of the chapdi floor end in the green blue waters and then the cloudy blue sky!

At the Madrasa - srirangapattanam

2005-09-23T06:30:00.000+04:00

srirangapattanam-25
Originally uploaded by lavannya.

On the first week of September we took off to Srirangapattanam on a saturday evening and returned on the next Sunday evening...
Stayed on the bank of Cauvery and roamed the entire town to discover it...

Srirangapattanam is a town of history and nothing else!
A day was too little to have seen it enough... but I shot on and on...
This is an image in the madrasa there... it was a temple that was converted into a madrasa...

It doesnt matter what language and what culture.... as long as the children of that culture are encouraged to be educated... I loved this place... and this is my favorite picture from there.

After long i am happy with the set of pictures i clicked... though Prabhu Photos screwed up the scanning big time, i could revive the images!

2005-09-15T07:16:00.000+04:00

Sorry guys.... Been awfully busy lately with life...There is no time to think and stare.... no time to ponder ...Will come back when inspiration comes back!

Apple hi Apple

2005-09-02T17:06:00.000+04:00

Pata nahi mujhe yeh padh ke kyu itni hasi aayi...
perhaps i didnt expect it to be this way....
but i thought somehow it was nice!

Habib forwarded it to all of us... and here i post it on the blog
Its' been a while since thoughts have collected in my brain... something tells me I am out of it all for a while... waiting for inspiration to strike... and then shall i write!

Until then Enjoy Ek Apple!

A for apple.
B for bada apple.
C for chhota apple.
D for dusra apple.
E for ek aur apple.
F for fokat ka apple.
G for gol apple.
H for hazar apple
I for itney saarey apple?
J for jaao nahi khaana hai apple
K for kaise nahi khaayengey apple
L for lena padhega tumko apple
M for mujhe nahi chahiye itne apple
N for naa nahi kehtey kyunkey yeh hai apple
O for Oh to tumne khaa daale yeh saare apple
P for peth bhar khaao apple
Q for qismat mein nahi hoti hai sabke, yeh apple
R for roz agar khaao tum apple
S for sehetmand rahoge khaaogey agar tum apple
T for tumko nahi milengey itney achey apple
U for udhaar kii nahi hai yeh apple
V for very tasty hai yeh apple
W for waste na karo time aur khaalo jaldi se apple
X for X'mas mei bhii khane padenge apple
Y for youn na chehra phero dekhkey apple
Z for zaraasa aur khaalo aaple...

2005-08-30T06:14:00.000+04:00

While Vivek took some amazing shots from the plane of the 'heavens' outside... i wanted to shoot him enjoying the outside!

2005-08-30T06:11:00.000+04:00

My nephew Arjun and my sister Shalini... Arjun was enjoying the attention a lot... food...and fun was the agenda on the only night we were in Mumbai!

2005-08-13T17:37:00.000+04:00

Today this picture I had clicked for Ram's "Beyond the Rim" project has been published in the Outlook Magazine. It has felt wonderful to see my intention come to life... I intended to help Ram's cause and today Rajaram has made that happen. I wish Ram all the very best. Thank you very much Rajaram, I am glad I had the fortune of meeting you... You made my day today! :)

2005-08-06T07:23:00.000+04:00

06. 08. 05

GOING HOME .... will be back next week :)

2005-08-03T06:08:00.000+04:00

Going home... Brings back so many memories... of the house in Baroda... each item in that house, however tasteless or tasteful...means so much to my being.. yeah i am nostalgic this week... and i guess i'll be for a longer time.... That house has such warmth, such love..and so much peace!

The drawing dining room at home... that tapestry Maa and i bought really cheap and had a tailor stitch it up for us... We already had the pillow covers and had to match the tapestry too... Maa has done up this house everyday of her life.. she'd be doing something new everyday...repairing old stuff and remaking the dustbins... "sigh"

The backyard garden at Gotri... Its been changed to many times, from growing potatoes, to papayas, to eucaplyptus to everything. I always dreamt of being married in this garden of Maa's... with the sun rising behind... Maa has reared it really well now... creating cozy corners... :)

The entrance verandah... a large french door where popeye parks himself... the old gate with the same ol' post box! The sofa that has seen so many loves make and break... so many make outs ;) ... home is home!

Popeye.. my favorite dog. I've had some 20 pets so far, but Popeye remains my favorite pet... i dont know why...but i truly truly love him... going back home will be meeting him again.. and he surely remembers me very well :)

Some Music To Share

2005-07-27T16:24:00.000+04:00

Last sunday we went shopping... new music and books!
I found John Mayer's "Heavier Things" - some wonderful music that lad plays and writes!
And I wanted after so long another Alanis Morisette .... hmmm... am I angry? hmmm.... me wondering...

Well Alanis I must say is an all time favorite of mine. I like the way she writes, I love her courage, and I can relate to much she writes and sings!

Well these are the two songs I liked much in her recent most album "So Called Chaos" (I loved the title song too... the lines...
"I want to be naked running through the streets,
I want to invite this so-called chaos that you think I dare not be
I want to be weightless flying through the air
I want to drop all these limitations but the shoes upon my feet" .... that's so me!

And I know I love to live within "Chaos"... just love it!

I could relate to "This Grudge" so much...some lines are so similar to the way I write that it amused me.... And then I could relate to "Doth I protest too much"... hmmm....(thoughtfully, dreamily)

This Grudge

14 years 30 minutes 15 seconds I’ve held this grudge
11 songs 4 full journals, thoughts of punishment I've expended

Not in contact not a letter such communications telepathic
You've been vilified, used as fodder, you deserve a piece of every record

But who's it hurting now?
Who's the one that's stuck?
Who's it torturing now, with an antique knot in her stomach

I want to be big and let go of this grudge that's grown old
All this time I've not known how to rest this bygone
I want to be soft and resolved clean of slate and released
I want to forgive for the both of us

Like an abandoned house dusty-covered furniture still intact
If I visit now, do I simply re-live it somehow gratuitous
But who's still aching now
Who's tired of her own voice?
Who's it weighing down with no gift from time of said healing

I want to be big and let go of this grudge that's grown old
All this time I've not known how to rest this bygone
I want to be soft and resolved clean of slate and released
I want to forgive for the both of us

Maybe as I cut the cord veils will lift from my eyes
Maybe as I lay this to rest dead weight off my shoulder will rise

Here I sit, much determined ever ill-equipped to draw this curtain
How this has entertained, validated and has served me greatly ever the victim

But who's done whining now?
Who's ready to put down
This load I've carried longer than I cared to remember

I want to be big and let go of this grudge that's grown old
All this time I've not known how to rest this bygone
I want to be soft and resolved clean of slate and released
I want to forgive for the both of us

Doth I protest too much

I'm not threatened by every pair of legs you watch go by
I don't cringe when you stare at women it's just a thing called guy
I don't notice your sideways glances or where your loyalty lies
I'm secure and out of me it's hard to get a rise

I'm not jealous
I don’t get moved by much
Not insecure as such
Not going insane
Rational stays in touch
Doth I protest too much

I'm not tortured by how oft you're busy cuz I've got things to do
I'm not disappointed about how you don’t miss me cuz I don’t need you to

I'm not needy
I don’t get clingy much
I am not scared
I'm not afraid as such
I'm not dependant
Rock solid stays in touch
Doth I protest too much

So much energy to prove to you who I can't possibly be
So much energy to prove to you I'm not who you hate for me to be

I'm not saddened and I don’t miss you cuz I have moved on too
I'm not concerned about your new lover cuz I've a new lover too

I'm not depressed
I don’t get down that much
I'm not despondent
I am not dark as such
I'm never sad
Keep chin up stays in touch
Doth I protest too much

I'm not jealous
I don’t get moved by much
Not insecure as such
Not going insane
Rational stays in touch
Doth I protest too much

No Love Marraiges

2005-07-23T17:54:00.000+04:00

A couple of days back I was amused at this funny law the Chinese have : A citizen of any other country must get proof from their own country's govt that they're single. The chinese believe in marriage only between single people. I have heard of proof required of being Married but of being single???

And here I read in the TOI yesterday, Wednesday 22nd July, that the Gujarat govt has some such ridiculous new resolution that states: A couple cant get married without approval of their parents. Meaning love marriages are not allowed here on in Gujarat.
Now can you believe that?
I was so angry..upset...frustrated...irritated..cant begin to describe...

How can a particular state take a decision against the Constitution of the country? I mean has Narendra Modi lost it?

But now I am relieved...
Read here....

Gujarat drop parents' consent clause for marriages
Saturday July 23 2005 11:45 IST

AHMEDABAD: Widespread criticism has made the Inspector-General of Registration and Marriages amend a circular making it necessary for couples registering their marriage to produce letters of consent from their parents.

A note from the Gujarat Government on Friday said the requirement had been amended to make the submission of letters voluntary.

This website’s newspaper reported on Thursday that a circular from Inspector-General of Registration & Marriages H B Varia had asked registrars across Gujarat to make sure couples produced consent letters. Couples unable to produce such a letter would have to state in writing that they were marrying without their parents' permission.

However, legal experts said the requirement was wrong in law and absurd and would become a tool of harassment and corruption.

Varia said on Friday that no one will now be forced to get parental approval before marriage. "We have now said approval from parents is voluntary and no adult keen to marry should be harassed. The intention behind the old circular was only to check social evils and ensure that civil marriage procedure is not misused,'' he said.

Marriage registrars will now demand proof of age from the bride and groom as well as their address. If they have been married by religious rites, the couple will be asked the priest's name and address.

Revenue Minister Kaushik Patel on Friday admitted the original circular was wrong in law and added: "Adults have the right to vote and choose their partners. No government can stop them from doing so."

from newindrpress.com

Pic 1

2005-07-21T21:47:00.000+04:00

F1010006
Originally uploaded by lavannya.

Nektar and Priya getting wedded :) Love the colours here!
More images on flickr!

Pic 2

2005-07-21T21:46:00.000+04:00

F1010013
Originally uploaded by lavannya.

Rama Rao :) Maya's mom!

Pic 3

2005-07-21T21:45:00.000+04:00

F1010017
Originally uploaded by lavannya.

All mithapurians at Nektar's wedding!

Some photography!

2005-07-20T16:25:00.000+04:00

Some new photographs to add to my weird collection of photography...

I tried some more photographs in the Sunday Market last sunday...

And then I tried my hand at a series from above the footbridge at the bangalore bus stop

And then some from an autorickshaw ride - which is what I rarely get to do

Click on the pictures to see more...

2005-07-12T18:30:00.000+04:00

Anu... We all photography enthusiasts went this sunday to the Sunday Market, Majestic and Tipu Sultan's Summer Palace... I was trying out Ramanan's digital camera and this is what i achieved.. its been long since i've done photography... still quite lazy to process my rolls...

London's Blast and now Skin colour matters!

2005-07-09T17:03:00.000+04:00

A big blast, terrorism for years, floods, famines, anything in any part of the world is not as great as it has to be when it happens in the US or to UK...

(I know this can be VERY controversial... but its burns inside when I think of how countries and its rulers behave like young children)

These two countries that rule the world and control all aspects of what happen in the world...
UK earlier..and US now.

US cried, screamed and begged for attention and security when it was hurt in the 9/11... the worst attack to its country or to its ego? (mind you its no more about people its a personification)

Today UK is crying... high alert and "orange" level security... lol... as if they'll find anything... did US? No...but because it didnt....it threw a tantrum the repurcussions of which a whole world of people is suffering for... sad... (again a personification for those who've misunderstood)

I found the article below on MSN home..and wanted to share with all of you...all those who live abroad and all who live here in India and who dream of being in these places forever...

Suddenly its everyone's concern and everyone's problem...The London Blast!
Suddenly Indians abroad...very much like in USA's situation... are unwanted, suspected and questioned.
Why? Why do we allow ourselves to be treated such? *very angry,frustrated, agitated*

Source: IANS
London, July 9: When terror strikes the West, it's best to batten down the hatches - especially if you are of the 'wrong' skin colour.

So far I've considered Britain to be an exception in the West. But I maybe wrong.
Times are changing, and when ruthless terrorists struck London Thursday with four rush-hour bombs that left some 50 civilians dead, a number of leaders - led by Prime Minister Tony Blair - called upon the British pub Although no group had yet admitted setting off the blasts, Blair, who rushed to London from the G8 summit in Gleneagles, said: "The vast majority of Muslims here and abroad are decent and law abiding people who abhor these acts of terrorism every bit as much as we do."

He was right in saying so, as were his home secretary, foreign secretary and chief of police, who all issued similar calls. As an Indian who has lived and worked as a London-based foreign correspondent for more than 18 years, I felt relieved.lic to ensure that there is no backlash against Muslims.

Yet, on my way back from Gleneagles to London, I was singled out at Edinburgh airport for special security treatment.

After walking through the metal detectors and being waved past by airport security officials, I was abruptly stopped by a policeman in civvies.

He wore a black suit, but I knew he was a policeman because his ID card said so.
"Do you have a photo-ID of any sort, sir?" he asked.

Yes, I did, I said, and fished out my National Union of Journalists (NUJ) card - a prized document in Britain that says 'Press' in bold black letters.

"Will you be going on to some place else from London or is London your last destination, sir?" the policeman asked.

I said I was headed for London and asked him if this was a random check. And although he said it was, yet, as far as I could see, I was the only person he had stopped.

Streams of white-skinned travellers calmly walked past me without the policeman giving them as much as a second glance.

"This is part of a general tightening of security after yesterday, sir," my policeman informed me, before adding helpfully: "You may well find more of such checks in London."

"Don't worry," I told him, "I'm used to this."

There's a lot more that I could have told him.

I could have said, for instance, that I was not a Muslim. But to say so would have been too demeaning to me as a national from India where followers of all faiths, and of no faiths, are equal before the law.

I could have told him that not a single Indian has been found among the many followers of Al Qaeda in Afghanistan. But he wouldn't understand - and, I suspect, wouldn't care.

I could have reminded him that Richard Reid, the shoe bomber now serving life sentence in the US, is a mixed-race man, with a white mother and Jamaican father. Yet, would that mean he would stop white passengers just as he chose to stop me?

And I could have asked him: "What does a Muslim look like anyway?"

Does a Muslim look any of the hundreds of Asian doctors and other health service workers shown on television helping out the estimated 1,000 people wounded in the terror blasts?

Does a Muslim look like the Asian bus driver who was interviewed on television saying Londoners will not allow terrorists to beat them down?

Does a Muslim look like the thousands of Asians who work in London Underground, the tube system that the terrorists sought to blow up?

This question of the Muslim 'identity' came into focus Thursday when a community human rights activist advised Muslims to stay home for some time - especially women. He had in mind women who wear headscarves or burqas.

But back at Heathrow airport it was a bearded Asian man who was questioned by two heavily armed policemen as I stood waiting for a taxicab.

The man looked like he was from Afghanistan or Pakistan's North West Frontier Province. Of the 20-odd car drivers waiting to pick up passengers, he was the only one to be questioned.

I have always considered London to be the most multi-cultural, liberal-minded and cosmopolitan city on planet earth. But I also know that London is not Britain.

And, no matter where you live, the question of identity and allegiance - of who you are, of whether you are with 'us' or not in the battle against terror - is one that is being posed to men and women of colour more than others.

And that is a form of discrimination that I hope to see Britain fight and overcome.

(Dipankar De Sarkar is the IANS correspondent in London)

Anand has a very thought provoking view on this matter...check it out here...

Halal Vegetarianism

2005-07-08T13:37:00.000+04:00

All this while I had no idea what Halal meat was. In my understanding Halal meat was always the way the animal was killed/cut.

Today I dont know how I landed up on this website and its completely changed my understanding of Islam and its beliefs.

How often do we operate from our existing beliefs, from what our perception has been.
Have we shunned the knowledge of some truth because of this existing perception we hold?
These are the thougths that run through my brain once again....

I want to learn and for that I HAVE TO BE OPEN...

This website is a must see... for all who lack insight into the Islamic religion and world.

The website says, "This section of the site shows how vegetarianism and Islam are compatible and how the switch to a vegetarian diet can help the animals, the Earth, and your own health."

"Are you eating "halal" meat? Did you know that your sheep have probably eaten chicken in their feed? Or that your dairy cows have probably had pork bones in their feed? A new article shows that this problem extends beyond meat in America - even animals in the Islamic world are fed these products."

"Factory-farmed meat may also not be halal (permissible). Cattle, sheep, chickens, and other animals are routinely fed the ground-up bodies of pigs, chickens, and cattle, along with chicken excrement and other unsavory waste products as a supplement in their food. This should make most meat haram (forbidden) for two reasons:
1. The animals have eaten pork and
2. These animals could be considered carnivorous, and carnivorous animals are generally forbidden for food in Islam."

"The Qur'an says only that permitted meats may be eaten if one so wishes. Nowhere in Islam are Muslims required to eat meat. Meat consumption is neither encouraged nor even recommended."

"Traditionally, dogs have been seen as impure, and the Islamic legal tradition has developed several injunctions that warn Muslims against most contact with dogs. Unfortunately, many Muslims have used this view to justify the abuse and neglect of dogs, even though cruelty contradicts the Qur'an's view that all animals form "communities like you." We are pleased to present several articles examining the place of dogs in Islam."

"nitially this three-day festival, which occurs every year on the 10th of Zul Hijja on the Islamic calendar at the end of the Hajj, or pilgrimage, to Mecca, provided many valuable services to the Muslim and to the Muslim community. It inculcated a sense of sacrifice and compassion in the giver, who had to give up an animal, an important source of life and income in the early history of Islamic civilization. It also served a social purpose in providing meat, one of the few protein-rich foods in early Islam, to the poor. Even well-to-do Muslims consumed meat sparingly, perhaps once or twice per week, while the poor ate it only on the two eids, when it was donated from the sacrifices.

In current time, though, this sacrifice has devolved into a largely empty ritual. Muslim critics have come to recognize that Islamic standards of compassion to animals are violated by efforts to provide sacrificial animals, such as the mass transport of sheep in overcrowded, filthy conditions from Australia. These animals are denied food, water, and medical attention during their lengthy overseas journeys. Such treatment is a clear violation of Islamic teachings."

I so wish to know of the Religion of Islam. The more I find out about this religion the more confused I am of its laws and ways...

And well then again, hasn't ever religion been twisted and turned by the practioners for their own benefit and convinience? Who is really sure what their religion really means?

Enlighten me...

Internation Student of the Year!

2005-07-07T12:16:00.000+04:00

I was taking a look at the sitemeter details... and i found that someone from louisville university (probably riddhi herself) had made a search on Riddhi Goradia, and that led to this picture...I am stunned coz i have no idea that my sister's been awarded the Internation Student of the Year.

Apparently its old news and this is an event before her marriage and I never found out about it.. :(

So proud sis! Way to go!!!
Love you xoxoxox

Blog as a Career - and others

2005-07-04T16:09:00.000+04:00

My friend Kiran Jonnalagadda has a presentation for all bloggers and all willing-bloggers here...
do read it...its interesting :)

I just started a new food blog..having seen chai pani and shyam's blog...i realized there's a whole world out there that i know nothing of....so check out LuvBites ;)

I'm craving for Jill Sobule's music.... I just discovered a million websites on her...
I totally dig her song "I Kissed A Girl" and I wait for it to play on the MSN radio everyday... aah! Wish someone loved me enough to get me a cassette of her recent most album "Jill Sobule"... its not available anywhere in Bangalore :(
And i discover Lisa Loeb on this website...aah that brings back memories...
Ramanan found me the lyrics and luckily the song too :)... This is how the song goes... ;)

I Kissed A Girl:

Genny came over and told me about Brad
He's such a hairy behemoth she said
And dumb as a box of hammers
But he's such a handsome guy
And I opened up and told her about Larry
And yesterday how he asked me to marry
I'm not giving him an answer yet
I think I can do better

CHORUS: So we laughed,
compared notes
We had a drink,
we had a smoke
She took off her overcoat
I kissed a girl I kissed a girl
So she called home to say she'd be late
He said, he worried but now he'd feel safe
I'm glad you're with your girlfriend,
Tell her "Hi" for me
So I looked at you,
you had guilt in your eyes
But it only lasted a little while
And then I felt your hand upon my knee

CHORUS: And we laughed at the world
They can have their diamonds
And we'll have our pearls
I kissed a girl

Thank you friend...

FLOODS IN GUJARAT

2005-07-02T16:49:00.000+04:00

The heat this summer in Gujarat has been intolerable, and as soon as it was over with came floods!

All my family being in Vadodara and Khambhat, I am quite worried about the state of affairs there.

I feel worse for the poor people whose homes have broken, destroyed or sunk under 2 to 9 feet of water. All the rivers have flooded. The sea seems to have taken the toll on the Khambhat port. People have no connection to media – television or radio or newspaper anymore. No water, no electricity, cell phones and land lines have stopped working.

click on image to see larger map

This is what the newspapers put mildly of the disaster that has occurred.

>AHMEDABAD: At least 94 people have died and some 200,000 have been evacuated due to heavy rains and flash floods in Gujarat, officials said Friday.

>The floods have inundated scores of villages and water has overwhelmed residential suburbs of many towns, including worst-affected Vadodara, state government officials said.

>Most of the 94 deaths occurred when people -- adults and children -- were washed away by strong currents after dams overflowed, while others were crushed when buildings collapsed or buried in mudslides, state revenue officials said.

>They added that around 200,000 people in the affected areas of the state had by Friday been moved to higher ground.
Dozens of train services were delayed due to water-logged tracks while some had to be cancelled, marooning hundreds of passengers on railway platforms.

>The rains, which began lashing the state earlier this week, have also disrupted flights and left vehicles stranded on water-logged highways, while all schools in the state were closed until Monday, education officials said.

>Army and paramilitary personnel have been deployed to reach those trapped, state officials said, but bad weather prevented rescue helicopters from lifting those stranded in many places.

>Most of India is currently in the grip of seasonal monsoon rains and while at many places the volumes are below average, in Gujarat the torrent has caused havoc.

>"Many dams in south and central Gujarat are overflowing worsening the problem. Vishwamitry river in Vadodara is also in spate, flowing two feet (60 centimetres) above the danger mark," Patel said.

>Vadodara continued to be lashed by incessant rains on Friday and weather officials forecast another 24 hours of rainfall.

>Power supplies to the city were cut for several hours to prevent short-circuits.

It’s sad to see that such major traumas seem to be on the increase in our country for many years now. And yet there is nothing like a “Disaster Relief Team” in our country. There is little knowledge, more politics, and lesser help provided to people who are now dying rapidly in this country due to one natural disaster and then another. Not mentioning all the train accidents and other major hazards that also occur.

Gujarat since the past few years has faced many tragedies. And to add to the Earthquakes, and the political rampage and killings, droughts and now Floods.

It’s very saddening to see such things happen? Who will infact help these individuals? Some few thousands or a couple of lac of rupees can’t take away the jolt people feel when such a disaster occurs. And the saddest of it all is to see the helpless and the poor lose everything in one go. Who will help them? Who can infact help them? My heart pours out to those farmers who’ve completely lost their yield this year.

The most amazing thing to observe is how media plays an important part in the “relief” that reaches such people and places. Tsunami was so hyped that every soul I know was helping them. But there are so many tragedies that occur each day in our country, and no body even finds out about it. The rains started in Gujarat, Orissa, Bihar and Himachal Pradesh on last Saturday. The TOI writes about the floods on the first page only this Friday!

Mom ( a school principal) wrote yesterday from Khambhat (a small town on the sea shore)

“Since the 26th June there are incessant rains in Khambhat. That morning I was supposed to go to Anand. In the morning I started and had to return from Kansari near ONGC. Within just three hours we had about 10 inches of rain. Children had already come to school so we had to make arrangements to send the children home. Many parents came and picked up their wards and even carried children living in their neighborhood. By about 12 noon all children had gone leaving behind their bags and cycles. One luxury bus was brought by one parent and he saw to it that he dropped every child safely back home. In certain areas they had to take help of police jeeps.
Waters in the low lying areas had reached to a height of nine feet by the afternoon. People had to be picked up and put in safer areas. In Salwa which is in a very low area I saw only the top of a truck, rest all around there was only water.
The base of the tall tower of Khambhat was submerged completely in water. Mochiwad, rabariwad, jehangirpura, and all areas beyond the "madla talav" were completely in water. Today the talav is overflowing, so Gopal cinema started getting water in its premises. Fortunately the rains have cooled down a little so the force of the water has lessened.

Yesterday and today I went to see Sokhada (industrial area of Khambhat). The surrounding fields are flooded so the force of the water had broken the road. I saw a big gap of 10 to 12 feet on the road, so people in the Sokhada village and all the people working in different industrial units were trapped. They cannot come to Khambhat. I saw that people were helping them by tying ropes across the gap and transporting food and food articles.
Near Neja village also there is a wide gap of about 15 feet on the road so no vehicles can go to Ahmedabad. The road to Tarapur is broken so one can even go there. All the palm trees are half in water. There is only water seen around. All the hut and houses of neja village are in water. People are shifted to higher places. Many people distribute food to these people. Except the govt. all are helping them.
There is water all around and no water to drink and use in cooking. We use only rain water collected in buckets for bathing, washing vessels and cooking also. We are fortunate that we have undisturbed electricity.

All are now afraid of the spread of diseases.

Bye for now, shall write to you later.

Love, mom

P.S: I forgot to mention that Khambhat/Gujarat has not experienced such heavy rains for the last 30 years."

Its sadder still that so much rain and there are no systems in the country available to drain the water in the right direction and store it for future use. This could be an eye opener or this could be something the government will easily forget about.

But as citizens of this country, and of this world, where water soon shall be a very big problem. (already is a problem if observed carefully) ; we all should pledge to harvest rain water in our homes, use water in the most judicial ways.
The only way Nature will not hurt us, is when WE learn to respect it.

for more images....

HISTORICAL EVIDENCE OF VAASTU

2005-06-29T07:48:00.000+04:00

The Aryans, when they came to the Indian land, came from the North West and decided to settle along the Indus Valley Civilization. Most of our civilizations have happened around major rivers and lakes, there’s no doubt about that. Most major (older) cities are either on River banks, or on Sea shores, or have many lakes.
Water – therefore being a very important part of any settlement was always the aspect on which the settlement took precedence. Hence came the Indus Valley Civilization, as they settled on the banks of the River Sindhu (which they pronounced as Indus)

All the rivers in India flow from North to South: there’s an exception to that factor also as Narmada flows from East to West. Therefore settling on the banks, the ancient people of Mohenjedaro and Harrappa and such others, started settling on the mouth of the river where the water was potable and clean. Hence, it so happened, that all the residences, temples and important structures of the city were towards the North part of the river and as all the dirt, sewage etc moved towards the South, the crematory and dump sites were therefore at the end of the city to keep the water as clean as possible. 100 km ahead the water became clean and potable once again and another city sprang there.

This is the concept on which the cities of our ancient India developed. Complicated – No. Rules regulations – No. It just had logic and nothing else to it.

So is this what makes the South the position of the God of Death? Is this why you don’t have an opening or entrance into the house from this direction? Yama is also the god of Wisdom. If you do have an entry from that direction you are only allowing wisdom in. (my interpretation)

Tracing back to the history of living habits and living environments, it has been observed that due to social customs, safety and security of the inmates of the family, houses were built inward or enclosed around walled structures, mainly in southern states, and hot regions like Rajasthan and North West India.
These houses were generally built with a courtyard which served as a protected space for use of ladies, children and family activities and house hold occupations, when the men folks were out of the house for their work, or on long trading journeys.
The courtyard also helped to retain the climate of the house. In very hot climate, the house would be cooler and in very cold climates the houses remained warm. The hot air that collects on the higher strata due to the heat easily escapes from the courtyard allowing thus for the cooler air to gush in through the windows on the lower level.

Since the sunrise in the north east side is at a lower angle, the north east section of the house was always at low height to receive the comfortable morning sunlight into the courtyard of the house. The south-west of the house was made higher so that in the afternoon when it is hotter, the higher portion of the south-west corner of the house would cast shadow in the courtyard giving protection from the hot sun for comfort and welfare of the inmates.

South West is the direction of winds for ¾ th of the year in India. Hence this is the best direction to sleep in the summers and monsoons. The winds change direction after January 14th- Shankranti or Uttarayan is what we recognize this date as, and the winds start coming in from the North East.
The reason why we fly kites on this date IS because of the high winds on this particular day. The change of direction causes for winds to flow from all direction on this day therefore kite flying is the festival we celebrate. The North East winds are cold as they come from the Himalayas, causing winter in most parts of the country. To still sleep in the South West makes sense, as this part of the house is the warmest.

This is climatology. And building houses according to climate, is respecting nature. If Vaastu infact is a means of building houses to respect nature and climate, then there are many aspects of today’s “following” that are incorrect and don’t respect this factor.

The reason why North East door is supposed to be so auspicious is very simple. The North sunlight is constant throughout the day and it’s a healthy light. East sunlight is equally healthy in the early mornings. So our Vaastu experts profess this concept without an explanation, which is: “to open the main door of the house and look at sunlight that is healthier and more acceptable than otherwise”. The West and the South sun can be very disturbing to the eyes comparatively.

The reason why the puja room should be in the North East of the house has relevance to the above mentioned ancient civilization settlement structure, while the placement of god being East-West has also a similar concept. To see the sun rise behind the God’s idol is supposed to be beautiful. And that’s that! If all temples are supposed to be only in the North –East and all the good things can only happen in that region, wouldn’t all the temples of the country be cluttered only in the North East? Are there no temples in the South of the country or the West of the country?

If North East is this auspicious, trust me folks, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh would’ve been the luckiest states of the Country!

Such an architectural planning based on environmental aspects has been distorted, by the modern Vastu Pandit and hence the interior of an enclosed office space or office floor, raised by couple of inches in the south-west corner as specified by the VASTU is nothing but a superstitious ritual in the name of VASTU.

“Principles of VASTU can be traced from the philosophy of Indian way of life, which can be best understood from the two celebrated texts of our ancient Indians. One is "GITA" and other is "KAMASUTRA". While the essence of GITA pertains to Karma Promo Dharma or duty is worship, KAMASUTRA pertains to skills of performing duties. KAMASUTRA is a detailed text of 64 basic arts which the men and women of noble civilization had to perform for the fulfillment of their life with success and glory.
Out of 64 basic arts only 4 arts were meant to be personal and generally not discussed in public, 24 pertain to daily life activities, 16 pertain to gambling including practical aspects of gambling and 20 pertain to skills including VASTU and SHILPI. VASTU somehow or the other has relevance to all the arts which become allied to the activity of VASTU, which include philosophy, science, astrology, mathematics, geomancy, divining, fashion, trends of beautification, music, dance, drama, crafts, artful presentation, elocution, skill of intuition, mystic judgment and what not. RISHI VAHTSAYANA, in this text of KAMASUTRA, has described "VASTU" as an ARTIST, ARCHITECT, TOWN PLANNER, INTERIOR DECORATOR all in one and with ability of more than one skill.”

So are we all missing out something here?

How can each person’s and family’s house be just the same? When each person, his attitude, personality and similarly of a family differ greatly. How can a house that is applicable for one be the same for the other?

Why don’t people realize that architecture is so much more about people and personalities, families, bonds, and lifestyles?

(This will sound like He Man but is true) As an architect I have the power to change so much. As an architect, I posses the power to be able to completely change the lifestyle of the person who lives in the space I create. As an architect I possess the power to be able to change the spaces to suit a particular need and relationship.
It’s this power exactly that I use with such care and diligence. Very aware of it, I need to be able to assert it in a certain way only. How can a Vaastu expert have so much understanding of a space?

My dear friend "M" is in the process of building a house for himself – my sympathies. He works in one city, has his home town in another and is making the house in a third with the help of his dear father. "M's" family has consulted a Vaastu expert, and therefore in his perception the house is perfect. There cannot be anything better. His motive has shifted from making a home to making a Vaastu perfect house. Spaces, quality of light, and understanding of relationships of the family, and understanding of the attitude of the person is so very necessary to build a house for someone. But this is all side tracked!

It’s difficult to design buildings in this present market scenario where everyone wants the same house with the same placements of rooms. And, looking at it optimistically, I’d say that’s a limitation that somehow drives my passion even more: Drives me to perform my best within these limitations that are created for me.

Back home in MSUniversity, we were taught architecture in a very different way. Sharing our college space with the Astrologers and Vaastu experts, we were never encouraged to step into these belief systems. Therefore we learnt architecture in a very specific way. The dedication was towards Modernism infact, and we all became fan followers of Modernism. We were taught that an Elevation is not separate from a house. We were taught that an elevation can’t take precedence over a functional plan. We were taught that simplicity is beauty. Somewhere those ideas still remain and remain intact in my brain. When I see clients walking in with a plan in their hand, drawn by their Vaastu expert, and then asking me to make an elevation for them, with Ionic columns, and sloped roofs: I find myself only laughing, slightly disgusted and most sympathetic.

How did it all go so wrong? Where did it all go so wrong?
Why cannot I explain to these individuals that this is the wrong attitude?
Why don’t I device a theory to put fear into these people/Clients that if you didn’t design a house in my way, you’ll lose all your wealth?
Ha, that’s the devil in me! I wish…

Many excerpts are from Ar.Premnath’s write.
(and you’ll see no more of this subject here :)
Thank you,
Lavannya

The Story of VAASTUPURUSHA and other details

2005-06-27T11:01:00.000+04:00

Why do people say “I believe or I don’t believe in Vaastu” when it’s a supposed to be a science?

Excerpts from various sites on asking “What is Vaastu?” say:

• “Vaastu is the art of placement.”

• “The term Vastu is a Sanskrit word which means "Bhu" or the Earth and is the underlying stratum of existence. As per a Vedic Hymn "Vastu reva Vastu", all material forms of the Universe are all energies. Vaasthu sastra states that every energy has life and nothing in universe is left out without any vibration. Every material in the Universe radiates some energy at its own specific frequencies. This energy may be positive or negative. Positive energy is beneficial and negative is harmful. Vaastu aims at maximising the generation and accumulation of positive energy around the humans and minimise the negative energy.”

• “Vaastu is an edifice science that was developed by our learned people thousands of years ago. Its application today is purely architectural and its principles are based on becoming one with nature.”

• “Vaastushastra a science which deals with the creation of a harmonious energy field in a structure. In general terms it is a science of structures and to derive the benefits from it and to cherish it.In all it is a science apart from the notion that Vaastu has any thing to do with religion, rituals , astrology, numerology or may be psychosymbiology.....Relating the subject with superstitions in whichever manner, can only hamper the widespread of this wonderful and valuable phenomenon or the science/art. It can also defined as the traditional Indian system of architecture and design Vaastu, in Hindu tradition means the dwelling of humans and Gods. It aims at providing guidelines for proper construction.”

This site doesn’t even explain the little that others do, and just puts the RULES down straight.

VAASTU & THE STORY OF VAASTUPURUSHA

ONE OF THE ANCIENT TREATISES ON VAASTU, the Brihat Samhita, includes a myth about the origin of Vaastupurusha, the deity of vaastu. The God Shiva was once engaged in a battle with a demon. As the fierce struggle went on, Shiva began sweating profusely. Vaastupurusha was born out of Shiva's beads of sweat. His origin in strife made him very hungry and he started devouring everything in his path. The other gods went to Lord Brahma for protection, begging him to do something about this new creature that was destroying their world. Brahma gave Vaastupurusha a push and he fell to earth, landing face down. Immediately Brahma told the gods - who were forty-five in numbers - to sit on Vaastupurusha and not allow him to get up. After they did so. Vaastupurusha prayed for Brahma's mercy, entreating that he had been created hungry and that he was only following his nature. Brahma felt sorry for him and granted him the blessing of having his endless hunger fed by offerings from the inhabitants of the dwellings built upon him. In return, Vaastupurusha was to stay embedded in the earth and take care of the inhabitants' health and prosperity. But he could seek his own sustenance if the inhabitants didn't feed him properly. Those who did not abide by Brahma's rules would awaken the creature's hunger and suffer the consequences.

Talking of the Vaastupurusha and him eating up the happiness of people who don’t satisfy his greed ….
I’ve realized I’ve had more problems and trouble in life after having come to Bangalore and lived in these Vaastu designed houses than the house back home in Baroda. That home reaped so much more happiness and pleasure, health and wealth.

The Baroda house, i.e. Maa’s house is supposed to be the abode for all who seek happiness and love and health. Anyone sick comes to that house and returns all well, anyone deprived of love came to that house and fell in love. Anyone seeking support and friendship found it in this house, anyone wanting to find just some sound sleep found it here.

And it’s funny how that house still remains an identity of peace and harmony for all who know it today.

The entrance is through the living room’s French window, which faces West.

The living room itself is on the South West of the house, and has a terrace right above, therefore lower than all other ends of the house.

The kitchen is placed in the North West (which according to vaastu is acceptable)

Maa’s bedroom is in the South East corner and Dada’s bedroom used to be in the North East corner.
Above I have all my life lived in the North East bedroom and always had my head in the North when I slept. My sister had her’s over the South East.

There was always abundance of everything in that house.
Never a denial for anything.
My grandfather, the master of the house died at 83 and died rather peacefully due to a heart attack that was thanks to the slow decline of all the organs.
Natural to put it simply.

Vaastu - What kind of Shastra is it?

2005-06-26T17:21:00.000+04:00

Dear all,

I’ve been researching this topic for many days and have been discussing it with many people. Now I wish to let open this subject on my blog for comments from all of you. Please feel free to say what you wish to about it.

I am going to post this one topic in many parts, as I have realized there’s just too much to be discussed and researched and said here.

This is a subjec t that has ‘disturbed’ me for ever since I've come to Bangalore. Everybody I meet in Bangalore is either addicted to the concept of Vaastu or wants to incorporate it in his/her construction/residence or interior as he/she doesn’t want to risk being unhappy.

Some stories from real life:

After constructing the complete house, the pujari/astrologer/vaastu expert advised my client to break and fill up the basement on the South East corner of the property.
The basement designed in beautiful exposed stone masonry, and filler slab with these special tiles, so precise that you can’t see a variation in the 2 inch gap in-between, having had spent excessive energy and time to get precision in each joint, spent about 3-4 lacs of rupees on it, and many more months. Sweat of the contractor, the supervisor, my very interested client, and my own… we today have decided to fill up and waste that structure, because the astrologer “promises” that a woman in the family shall surely get cancer if my client stuck with it. Tell me, which good hearted man would take a risk like that? With a heavy heart today we’ve decided to demolish the basement.

After spending many hours and love in designing the apartment, my clients decided to ask the same pujari/astrologer/vaastu expert his opinion on the design. He asked them to move their bedroom from the North East to the South west, which happens to be a dead space, with no ventilation or light. If they did not, the woman of the house would surely face many health problems. He even went to the extent of asking them to confirm with their existing tenants if the woman of the house had had abortions. And to my fear, she had!

For the interested it’s not difficult to understand Vaastu as it has very simple rules. Just place every room in the position pre-decided, raise and lower levels in accordance to the Vaastu experts/websites/gurujis etc. and they guarantee peace, harmony and prosperity.

Well I do wish it was that easy to be happy! Don’t you? And is there a possibility that its this insecurity, or deep desire that’s been fed upon by these so called Vaastu experts?

Is Vaastu a science or is it a myth? Is it a methodology simply or just some facts that have been distorted of some ancient knowledge like many today?

Architect Premnath writes:

“Most People refer VASTU as a SHASTRA? Is VASTU a SHASTRA?
Research of our ancient culture reveals that there were 4 vedas, 6 shastras, 18 puranas, 24 upanishads and VASTU is not listed among any of these compilations or listings, that means VASTU is not among the listed shastras. Perhaps it is the manipulation of the clever mind of the media or the pandits who propagate VASTU as Shastra to call themselves as Shastri or VASTU Shastri, perhaps to attach greater significance or value addition to their qualification in the name of Shastra.”

Doesn’t this defy the writings on this website? Does it just seem someone is attempting to take over the job of a real ARCHITECT?

Since the past few years, it’s suddenly a fad to consult a vaastu expert. Suddenly you see these small metal plates nailed onto tree trunks on small roads saying “Vastu expert” or “Vastu planning”. Who is this Vastu expert? Another form of an uneducated Architect?

The education system is not really wonderful in our country I would agree but is not so foolish as to ask a student to devote 5 years of education to become an Architect. Then who are these people who know how to design a house or anything else better than an Architect? What made them that proficient at it?

On these various websites you’ll find the following rules to follow to build a happy home: and I really do doubt if that does make a happy home!

- The entrance door to the house should be in the North-East quadrant of your house. If not possible preferably North or East atleast.
- The Master bedroom/The bedroom of the man who presides over the house should be in the South-West corner of the house’s plan.
- The Kitchen should be ideally in the South-East, but alternatively if the woman of the house is the one who cooks there, it should be in the North West. Otherwise the Agni in the house increases far too much.
- The Kitchen should have the colours of green, they are supposed to be auspicious.
- The Puja room should be placed in the North-East corner of the house, and it should be East West Facing. All things you treasure for a lifetime should be in that corner of the house.
- The house should extend in the South West and the North East direction. (opposite ends)
- And there should be more space between the property line and the house on the North East side rather than the South West.
- The house should be higher on the South West side of the property.
- All water bodies, sumps and borewells should be preferably on the North East side of the property. The north east end should be lower than any other side of the property.

These are few of them and I can go on forever about them.

Talking of the 3 houses around mine, there’s not one house that doesn’t comply to these rules of Vaastu. There isn’t one house that is happy also.

A drunkard son, shuts his mother into a room every night, mother banging on the doors, he breaks things in the house, and the woman cries and cries and cries. I sit in my bed worried, hoping he doesnt kill her. Hoping i could help.

A desperate mother, never finds happiness, she wants a happy son, a house for herself, a small garden and lots of money. But inspite of her rented Vaastu house, she doesn’t have any of it. Lives forever in a hope of happiness. I've tried every possible thing to make her happy with the idea of her present state of life, but she cant be.

A Software engineer, with a big car and two large vans, a dog and a pretty wife, a little son and many other members living in his home, is always shouting at someone, and throwing utensils in the house. And then comes outside and speaks sweetly to me.

After long

2005-06-24T07:11:00.000+04:00

After many years of no communication...
suddenly he in a desire to want to re-light the spark...
writes to me:

Stories untold of countless shedded tears
Travelling subconsciously over unknown roads
Together and alone
In conditions conducive to be labelled madness
We had to argue and keep silent
You, just an attractive face
Neither totally meeting nor totally separate
What a weird acquaintance
Neither strangers nor lovers
Judged by a thousand eyes
Aware of just the physical closeness
Unaware of the pain of the multiple differences
So skillful did we become
In interpreting our gestures
Our pretenses, our eyes
Every accomodating the other.
Was it
A fear of loneliness
Or an act for nothing better to do
You, o eternity of secrets
Have known all my most dear treasures
O how reality kills
You who were waiting
For somebody to pass on your forlorn road
Till your patience asked its price.......

Dum Pukht - Another food binge!

2005-06-21T08:58:00.000+04:00

Hello everyone, (and the Known Stranger)

This is my recent food adventure... a five star restaurant... and in celebration of a Special Day and an event, we decided to celebrate!
Champagne... - the best and the food - the best had to be!

This was my first and probably the last visit to Dum Pukht - the Indian restaurant at Windsor Manor.

from The Hindu

A Decor: from the past, English yet Indian... food from the same era...where the British would bring back their hunt of the day and it would be cooked!

I was promised that this is a chain of restaurants within the ITC group and always serves the best.

In my Uncle's opinion the food wasn't at par with the other Dum Pukhts but i was surely delighted!

The Service: Oh that?? That HAD to be good... we were spending an obsene amount of money. But it could've been far better.

The Food: I havent had more succulent meat before in life. Whatever was served was special by itself. Starting from the wonderful Raitas to the malai chicken kababs, to the prawns, and the khus khus cultets... all.
The champagne they arranged was wonderful too... !!! I should've brought the empty bottle home to worship it!
There was far too much food and the champagne to remember all that was served. But from i recollect, we were served some fish curry cooked with brinjals and a chicken in a gravy. Again the meat was outstanding. A serving of lamb sheek kababs came in (i dont really remember the name), it had a strong flavor of cardomom, but trust me guys i had no idea and couldnt possibly tell that that was Lamb. It just melted in the mouth the minute you put it in.

We were served this magnificent Naans, that too just crumbled and disappeared into your mouth the minute they entered..many parathas, and pudina naans.... oh can i remember!

A mutton biryani..AAh! this tops the entire list. It was excellent. Each rice grain separate, and the mutton the softest i've ever eaten.

Lukhnowi food is all cooked in "Dum". In a terracotta handi, and the meats are cooked in their own juices. I wonder what lends that meat this succulentness. But i havent tasted any meat ever tasting better.

We ended the meal with Falooda Kulfi...This was the only dish which i found nothing great!

The Prices: Dont even talk about it!...lol. A meal for 6 with the Champagne cost us some 5 figures!

How to get there: Windsor Manor - ITC group of Hotels, at the Windor Manor circle. Just walk into the reception and

ask for the Dum Pukht restaurant.

Rating: 9 out of 10 is how i would rate the quality of the food.

Happy Eating everyone...
Regards,
Lavannya

Love the woman in you!

2005-06-17T18:29:00.000+04:00

In a turmoil,
In a pain excrutiating,
Seeking a shoulder,
Seeking a friend,
I found him...
In love with me
Said something simple,
Just asked me to feel,
To accept and be concious,
I cried,
Cried uncontrollably,
And I am relieved of my pain!

He wrote to me:
My Love

Here is something I picked up from somewhere and wanted
to share with you.

By the time the Lord made woman, he was into his sixth
day of working overtime. An angel appeared and said,
"Why are you spending so much time on this one?"

And the Lord answered, "Have you seen my spec sheet on
her? She has to be completely washable, but not
plastic, have over 200 movable parts, all replaceable
and able to run on diet coke and leftovers, have a lap
that can hold four children at one time, have a kiss
that can cure
anything from a scraped knee to a broken heart-and she
will do everything with only two hands."

The angel was astounded at the requirements. "Only two
hands!? No way! And that's just on the standard model?
That's too much work for one day.Wait until tomorrow
to finish."

"But I won't," the Lord protested. "I am so close to
finishing this creation that is so close to my own
heart. She already heals herself when she is sick AND
can work 18 hour days."

The angel moved closer and touched the woman. "But
you have made her so soft, Lord."

"She is soft," the Lord agreed, "but I have also made
her tough. You have no idea what she can endure or
accomplish."

"Will she be able to think?", asked the angel.

The Lord replied, "Not only will she be able to think,
she will be able to reason and negotiate."

The angel then noticed something, and reaching out,
touched the woman's cheek. "Oops, it looks like you
have a leak in this model. I told you that you were
trying to put too much into this one."

"That's not a leak," the Lord corrected, "that's a
tear!"

"What's the tear for?" the angel asked.

The Lord said, "The tear is her way of expressing her
joy, her sorrow, her pain, her disappointment, her
love, her loneliness, her grief and her pride."

The angel was impressed. "You are a genius, Lord. You
thought of everything! Woman is truly amazing."

And she is! Women have strengths that amaze men.
They bear hardships and they carry burdens, but they
hold happiness, love and joy. They smile when they
want to scream. They sing when they want to cry. They
cry when they are happy and laugh when they are
nervous.

They fight for what they believe in. They stand up to
injustice. They don't take "no" for an answer when
they believe there is a better solution. They go
without so their family can have. They go to the
doctor with a frightened friend. They love
unconditionally. They cry
when their children excel and cheer when their friends
get awards. They are happy when they hear about a
birth or a wedding.

Their hearts break when a friend dies. They grieve at
the loss of a family member, yet they are strong when
they think there is no strength left. They know that
a hug and a kiss can heal a broken heart. Women come
in all shapes, sizes and colors. They'll drive, fly,
walk, run or e-mail you to show how much they care
about you.

The heart of a woman is what makes the world keep
turning. They bring joy, hope and love. They have
compassion and ideals. They give moral support to
their family and friends. Women have vital things to
say and everything to give.
I only wish they accepted themselves for all the
preciousness and beauty they lend to the Universe.

Love the woman in you, also.

A tired soul.

Blog Birthday

2005-06-14T06:25:00.000+04:00

Today is a year since I began blogging.
I remember I was introduced, out of curiosity, to the concept by Anita Bora and her famous blog.
Someone said, "You will read about this event later today on Anita's blog". And I was curious.
What the hell is a blog?
Slowly reading and studying I discovered it was an "online diary". I never had a problem with letting my life be an "open book" and here I store my feelings and emotions in their raw state...
www.lavannya.blogspot.com

Thank you all dear friends who've come by here, supported me in times I’ve been low, participating in my life, and making these writings memorable. I feel like writing each day thanks to this blogging and I can never be grateful enough for that opportunity.

Today I once more dedicate my blog to these various friends I’ve made on the blogging world...

Vivek has moved on to be a doctor now... left his photography on the rack until another time...

Anita has a new design for her blog, which I personally do not like as much as her previous one, but well it’s her blog... :) She's talking for the first time of something very personal...her relationship with her "pop"

Ramya has written about Blogger meets and bloggers on The Hindu and she is using a picture taken by Anita in the article. Well done Ramya... and now she's got herself a new vehicle...read here...

Anuradha watched a movie after our meeting this Saturday and she's reviewing it...

The talented Filthy, Funny, flawed, gorgeous has one more interesting story to tell...

And Ram is talking Globalization, technology and the sophisticated corruption of the young mind and discussing pornography as an aspect of cultural invasion/erosion... he can get you thinking with his write!

Lakshmi... or Laksh as she calls herself - sensitive to details and thoughtful, has two new members to her family, their names are Russet and Stapalamala.... you wanna who they are? Find out!
And Samudraa continues her series of stories...

Hari the Hadron - popular as he is... is talking of what Ramya wrote of on the Hindu... read the article people; she is mentioning Hari on it... :)

Surinder once again has something to tell us all: short and sweet...he usually has something either to make us think or make us laugh...today (the day I write this) he is he is writing something from his own life!... something's happening with people and this sun being in the Gemini...

Idlichutney - Prabz...has a new design!! I love it, Prabz it looks great!

While Kousik is back to shooting wildlife... butterflies, greenery... all...

Kishore has posted his black and white pictures from the shoot at the pottery town in Bangalore...

Satz is shooting temples. Lovely black and white pictures of the same...

And Kalyan has some magnificent macro picture of the large red ants of the jungles... what a great close up shot with what details!!

Sudarshan has a new picture where he's experimenting with light and shadow and a write about Outlook's new guide to treks in India... Vivek M has written an article for the book and they decided to publish quite a few of his photographs... I am so proud! :)

Nikhil Kulkarni's writings are once again being published too... what and how ...find out...
While Vevck is telling us why a man's brain is 4 times faster than.....humph! On his photoblog he has some close up shots of flowers and leaves...

Nish has one more interesting portrait to share with us...
Karthik, my friend, has uploaded some new pictures he's taken around Chennapatna... he has a new picture on his profile thanks to moi :P

Abhishek is an Engineer at last ...congratulations Abhishek...we were wondering where you were all this time...i.e. missing from blogging
And Paddy too celebrates his anniversary and now talks of why he was deliberately away from the Internet world for a week... says "My frontal cortex throws me into a dizzy when I think of what might be the meaning of actual experience as opposed to an online/virtual experience "... like it a lot.. :)

Pallavi is getting a little thoughtful...has posted a beautiful thought of the Zen philosophy...

Madman is tagging other bloggers and it’s getting into a cyclic reaction types....Man! What all they come up with to be blog with!! I learnt two new concepts from Madhu's blog...1. The Blog Mela and 2. Book Tag, wonder what's more to be learnt!

Ammani has cooked Courgette Curry on Chai pani...

While Sonia has after a long period of silence, written something about the software boom... read on people...
Dhananjay Kulkarni is feeling good about Recognition of bloggers as young journalists…
Jace is telling us of his experience at Symbiosis with guitars and....

And Carpe Diem/Ravi Kumar is blogging about luxury AC coaches, and tulips named on Ash....

While Shyamala is happy there was a Sunny day in her part of the world... shyamala what an irony of life is this... one half of the world yearns for a cool day and the other to see the Sun!
Suresh is brainstorming about "creation, change, attitude and belief"

On Chennai Snippets - for all Chennai and Technology lovers is this "Compress 60 GB into 2 GB via Matrix"
And all Ashwita has to say is " Hi everyone, I'm back will soon update,bye Ashwita" lol...Welcome back Ashwita.. We missed you.:)

Reflex is still travelling and giving everyone who wants to meet him his phone number... I wonder if he was a female... would he have ever done that??

Sathya was caught by the Traffic Policeman is really mad about the whole corrupt system

And Jessica is talking of love and cupcakes!

A mysterious friend whom i discovered on the blogging world Rashmi... is telling why she has such appreciation for Mallika Sherawat.

"Out came a thought and then another one" is finishing the mysterious story about the friend who wrote her exam on her wedding day...

And Shelley thinks that you have to look older to be a leader... wonder how old I look...

Mr.Arrogant...is talking football now...now I dont understand that one much Jinu...

Our Mr.Gemini is talking of the speech by S.Gurumurthy on Kanchi Sankaracharyar's arrest...

Two friends Vasu and Shankar who've started blogging recently... come visit there site and express your views...

. : A : . as usual has beautiful writings juxtapositioned with an image..
Jyotsna has poetry called "changed hues"... an amazing write...
And Lauren has a beautiful quote and not a poem for a change...
Rahul has a romantic poem posted recently with a previous blog on "Friends"...
Che Sara Sara too has posted a beautiful poem... a mind full of passion and love... thoughts and craziness... I can relate to her.. :)
Wow there are such good writers there!!!

Some of my friends here... Karthikeya Tripathi, Hemal Trivedi, Curry lover, EOS300, Rohan, and many others who don’t seem to want to update their blog at all… come on friends we are missing you out here.

A big thank you to you all,
Don’t curse me if I have a very long blog… its coz there are so many of you! >:D<

3Story - A restaurant's review

2005-06-12T14:16:00.000+04:00

Hi all foodies,

Today afternoon in search for a new place to eat, we parked our two wheelers at the mouth of Lavelle and started walking down the road. Desmond's we had been to, Rice Bowl would be full on a Sunday, Charcoal we had tried far too often, Sheesh Mahal sounded to ordinary...

Walking down further we looked into a street and saw this small board saying "3Story". Not aware of what it infact was we went up closer... and saw a fork and a spoon painted into the name. That gave away that it was a restaurant. Our immediate reaction was to walk in. We realized that the kitchen was on the ground floor and we had to walk up and not walk in....

A nice decor, in light greens and blues.. very contemporary gave us a feel of another Herbs and Spice...
We being the first customers of the day had a little too much attention on arrival...and then on the presentation of the Menu card did we realize this was COASTAL CUISINE ...

Happy that I would get to eat what I had imagined all day, we hungrily started ordering... and we were not dissappointed with what we had eventually. I know I would go there again for sure.

The Service: Decent. The Hostess is very interested and helpful in ordering the meal.

The Food: The food was very nice. Hot food and quickly served.
We had Prawn papads for starters - and they arent the papads made out of powdered prawns but are infact urad papad rolls stuffed with prawn masala, masala chaas, sweet lime soda, Prawn stew, appams and Mutton Erachi Chops.

I enjoyed the Mutton Erachi Chops curry the most. I almost licked the plate clean. The prawn stew was decent and they were concious that they served hot hot appams.

We ended the huge meal with coconut souffle, which was very much like what I expected. Smooth, coconutty and slightly sweet... The right thing to end your coastal meal with...

The Prices: Around 8 appams, 1 plate of prawn papads, 1 malasa chaas, 1 sweet lime soda, 1 prawn stew, 1 mutton erachi chops and the coconut souffle cost 2 of us some Rs.770/-. For my standards that is expensive but i am sure most people can afford a meal like this once a week.

I wish I had more appetite left to taste more... We really hogged our brunch!

How to get there: It’s on the Lavelle Road. To your right hand side as you approach the prestige building in the corner after Sheesh Mahal restaurant.

Rating: 7 out of 10 is how I would rate this new born eatery...Its only 10 days old.

Happy Eating everyone...Let me know if you tried this new restaurant we discovered..
Lavannya

Do you wear a Helmet on your 2-Wheeler?

2005-06-10T07:16:00.000+04:00

Never have had to use a helmet in Baroda... don't know why but there was never a necessity.
When I came to Bangalore... travelling from Yelahanka to Jayanagar, I would end up with porcupine hair! A comb wouldn't enter it and I suppose it just became a hairstyle with me. I must've earned the white hair from there then.

Then working at the Mistry's in Indiranagar obviously my travel distance decreased and it sure was a relief. But somehow my hair never got the relief. They still stuck out!

Mistry's - was a place of hard work and nothing else. There was always an emergency, late nights and early mornings. I've never felt as cold as I did while I was working at Mistrys. The early morning rides felt freezing then. Leaving the office late one night at some 10:30 pm, my colleague Karthik, was worried about my safety (how shweet!). He knew that I had to travel through the Ring Road and then get into a complete Jungle zone. Karthik had a bright idea. "Why don't you take my Helmet and you already have a thick jacket. No one can tell what sex you are that way. Hahahaha... " I too was amused. But he was right.

I had feared that a Helmet would make me feel claustrophobic, or it would sort of bind me up. And being the free spirit that I was, this was surely not the thing for me.

But when I reached home, he called me to ask me if I was well. I of course was. For the first time I experienced safety. I felt so safe within the Helmet. It wasn't as cold anymore; the wind didn't hit my face, the mosquitoes and flying insects stayed out, and my hair stayed intact, of course my head stayed intact too. Karthik made me inadvertently decide that buying a Helmet was the way to go.

Meanwhile there was a compulsion declared by the Traffic police, and then me earning Rs.4000/-, out of which there were enough expenses that a Helmet sounded a huge huge expense (Rs.750/-), but I had to buy it. I was already by then tired of paying the cops and had learnt of the benefits that came along.

But I am of a completely different view now. The Helmet Protects! And that's period. It protects you from the Heavy rains, Cold, Heat, Sun, insects, protects the hair, the skin, the eyes and ofcourse your precious Head/Brain and just about anything you can think of on the face. Trust me you'd have less "goo" in your nose if you use a Helmet for that matter!

And for those who believe that they'll lose hair wearing a Helmet. Are so so so wrong. Infact if you don't protect your hair you're sure to lose them. The high wind velocity and the pollution and dust, does a lot more harm to the follicles then does a Helmet. I don't have to worry about porcupine hair anymore... they are as soft as they were before...

So guys do you all use Helmets on the road? If not why...tell me please...

IMAGES

2005-06-08T09:02:00.000+04:00

Needs directed elsewhere
Pulsating emotions
Drawing images
With a paper and a pen
A free mind
Imagining
Fantasizing
Building on a phantasm
That shall always
Be an illusion and nothing else
A free hour
Between nodes of time
A sense of security
That cuts a line
Through all these images!

7th June '05

2005-06-07T07:18:00.000+04:00

7th June! Its My Mom's 50th Birthday.

Mom's favorite colour is Golden Yellow and she loves to eat good hot Idlis and any Indian food thats piping hot...

Mom is an awesome cook. Can cook anything on this earth...veg or non-veg and do it so professionally.

She is full of life... has enthusiasm for every thing in this world.

Has a creative hand with just about anything...with cooking, embroidery, flower making, candle making and has taught these arts to all the women of the little town she lives in - Khambhat.

She is a principal of two schools in Khambhat. Runs both a gujarati and an English medium school. The most loved teacher and a very strict disciplinarian.

A town where it was taboo to wear Salwar kurta my mom has made shorts acceptable! Very respected person called "Madam" all over the town.

She assists dad at operations when he is short of help!

She's had every medical problem on earth but never loses faith in anything.
Being a vivacious person she wanted a vivacious house... and has one... thanks to some of my help :)

She's converted, changed and modulated herself through years to become a sensitive and sensual soul...

I can go on about her and never stop! She always amuses and surprises me...

I never was brought up around mom... and I wish she was more a part of my life... Thank you mother for all the times you've stood by me..and all the time you've taken in trying to understand who I am...

You never aged and you never will...

Love you and respect you tremendously,
With many regards and pranaams,

Your daughter,
Lavannya

Loving You Unconditionally

2005-06-06T12:26:00.000+04:00

A memory of you
That kills my deep-most being
A memory of you
That cuts through all the strength
Of my established armor
A memory of you
That precedes all the necessity
To learn and to know
To find out
The whys and the hows
A memory of you
Converting itself into a new identity of
Nostalgia
Then a desire
And later a want
A want for you
And all that is yours
A helpless want to be that close to you
That not even can silence interfere
With our proximity.

A STRANGE LAND

2005-06-03T12:24:00.000+04:00

A STRANGE LAND

On a strange land
Amongst strangers
A foreign language
A foreign religion
Am around
Too many here
Feeling suffocated
And trampled upon
Know not why
Strangers and strange things
Should make me feel this way

TO BE ALONE

Yearning to be alone
Getting away from people
Again be irresponsible
And free
This journey I’ve adventured
This journey I took up
Thinking I’d get more
Know not now
What I’ve lost
And what I’ve gained
Feeling strangely content
And strangely incomplete!

I WISH

I wish to not be in love
I wish to not expect
I wish my desires die
Within whatever
Jail I can create
I wish I could be free
In reality

Suresh - and an update from me

2005-06-01T08:36:00.000+04:00

Hello friends,

Me's been really busy now adays!
(Thank god for that! :))

I've been working on some 8 projects along with the Website design... its difficult when you expect too much of yourself..... this is going to be a task... but i should upload something soon.
In the midst of it all I lost my Cellphone and trust me I experienced the Peace that comes along for 2 days...and it felt awfully good.

Suresh has started a blog called "Different Aspects of Life" and has written articles about "Depression" and "Goodness" and a poem on "Auto Rickshaw"..... he desperately needs feedback... so all those who are good at giving a REAL GOOD feedback please do visit Suresh's blog and give it to him!!!

Meanwhile please wish me luck! I need it bad!!!

Something Serious

2005-05-27T18:28:00.000+04:00

GIRLFRIEND BUSINESS:

A man was sitting reading his paper when his wife hit him on the head with a frying pan.

"What was that for?" the man asked. The wife replied "That was for the piece of paper with the name Jenny on it that I found in your pants pocket".

The man then said "When I was at the races last week Jenny was the name of the horse I bet on"

The wife apologized and went on with the housework.

Three days later the man is watching TV when his wife bashes him on the head with an even bigger frying pan, knocking him unconscious. Upon re-gaining consciousness the man asked why she had hit again.

"Your horse phoned"

HOTEL MENACE:

A Sardarji and his wife are traveling by car from Key West to Boston.After almost twenty-four hours on the road, they're too tired to continue, and they decide to stop for a rest. They stop at a nice hotel and take a room, but they only plan to sleep for four hours and then get back on the road.

When they check out four hours later, the desk clerk hands them a bill for 350. The Sardarji explodes and demands to know why the charge is so high. He tells the clerk although it's a nice hotel, the rooms certainly aren't worth $350. When the clerk tells him $350 is the standard rate, the man insists on speaking to the Manager. The Manager appears, listens to the Sard and then explains that the hotel has an Olympic-sized pool and a huge conference center that were available for the husband and wife to use.

But we didn't use them", the Sardarji complains.
Well, they are here, and you could have," explains the Manager. He
goes on to explain they could have taken in one of the shows for which the hotel is famous. "The best entertainers from New York, Hollywood and Las Vegas perform here," the Manager says.

But we didn't go to any of those shows," sardarji complains again.

"Well, we have them, and you could have", the Manager replies. No matter what facility the Manager mentions, the sardarji replies "But we didn't use it". The Manager is unmoved, and eventually the Sardarji finally gives up and agrees to pay. He writes a check and gives it to the Manager.

The Manager is surprised when the looks at the check. "But sir," he says, "this check is only made out for $100." "That's right," says the sardarji, "I charged you $250 for sleeping with my wife."

"But I didn't!" exclaims the Manager.

"Well," the Sardarji replies, "she was here, and you could have."

Of the #4

2005-05-26T09:38:00.000+04:00

FOUR HOURS IN A WAITING ROOM

4 hours in a waiting room
Waiting for a thought to come by
A thought that triggers
Writing again
My only soul mate
My only companion
4 hours in a waiting room
Waiting for a person to come by
Come and talk to me
And delete this silence
4 hours in a waiting room
Rethinking of all my loves
Wondering at every person
How fair or unfair I’ve been
4 hours in a waiting room
How shall I pass them?

FOUR DAYS GONE

Some days have gone past me
Four days
Of six months
Four days spent
In too much
Or just in nothingness
No words came
And no feelings overflowed
Just nothingness
A void
In which I lay
Amongst
Aspirations so high!

A Day of Love and Warmth

2005-05-23T10:58:00.000+04:00

Mithapur is a small industrial town 10kms from Dwarka in Gujarat formed by the Tata Chemical Pvt. Ltd.

My grandparents Dr. Mrs. Nirmala Goradia and Dr. Mr. M.P Goradia were the only doctors in the hospital Tata's ran in Mithapur. I was brought up by my Grandparents, and I began my journey to life from there.

With the concept of bringing in the best people into the Company, TATA's had invited many people from all around the country to work for them. Mithapur thus was full of people of all castes and creeds, cultures and religions...and in a small way was a wonderfully cosmopolitan town.

The hospital still stands there and the residence that I was brought up in which was just above the hospital. Reference...

There was apparently no choice that these various people had but to mingle and meet each other. The women organized many events and the men too had their own games of Bridge and Shooting...
Competitions and Tennis...everything was shared in those days. This resulting into an interactive community that held values and morals those were ingrained in these individuals from that time on. Something I suppose I could even grant it as a credit to the Tatas themselves. Men and women from all strata of the country and at all levels of the organization had built this level of love and gratitude that was not at par with any other.

Suddenly out of the blue many Mithapurians contacted me...thanks to this wonderfully large, interfaced world of Internet. The children of many families who lived in Mithapur once upon a time and have resituated post-retirement were curious...and urging for a connection I am sure.

One communication led to another and that to us all meeting eventually at Nektar Thanawala's wedding this Sunday - 22nd May '05.

Nektar married Priya who is based in Bangalore, an architect and soon going to Mumbai.
Siamak Thanawala (his brother) had contacted me earlier and had invited me to the wedding ceremony. My grandmother (who's still very much alive and kicking at 84) wanted me to go and meet all the Mithapurians. Infact I too wanted to connect to these people I had no idea of. Very strangely but true. I usually express a lot of strain in meeting strangers but in this case I had a good feeling already...

10 am in the morning I arrived at the wedding hall...and suddenly realized I knew not a soul there. Not a face I recognized. I stood in silence feeling slightly embarrassed for a few minutes and the minute someone's eyes met mine, I said "I am Lavannya and..." Before I had finished what I said, Siamak (the person I was talking to) announced that, "Dr.Goradia's granddaughter is here". Suddenly all people turned around from the wedding ceremony and started to gather in a circle around me. Everyone introducing themselves, asking me whose daughter I was (meaning which son's), and how my grandmother was, and what a surprise, stories from the past, nostalgia, memories,etc ...

I was overwhelmed. I spoke a little too much. So many people (some 25-30) were interested in me, and my family. I belonged to these strangers. They connected me to something I had no idea of. Each from a different culture was still speaking such fluent Gujarati. Everyone was talking to me and yet not probing into my life. There was this space and this warmth and love that I hadnt experienced in a long time.

For a girl who's been living in a big city like Bangalore, all alone, for the past 3 years, with no previous contact here, I suddenly felt I belonged here. I suddenly felt I had family and people who were there for me. It was a wonderful experience. Mr.G.R.Rao, and Mr. Talati, Mr and Mrs. Thanawala, and Rama Rao, Mr.Venkat Rao, and Mrs. Prabhakar.... so many people their children and their grandchildren, who knew me and accepted me immediately as their own.

All these people connect with each other so well. There is no bias, there are no hang ups. Each individual's children are married into another culture and creed. The wedding ceremony that was going on was neither Parsi nor Gujarati...there was complexity and yet such simplicity. Everyone sat down to eat a Kannadiga meal on plantain leaves later...and talking and talking and talking endlessly.

I can never forget this day of so much love and warmth. Hugs and touches, familiarity and strangeness...all mixed in those two hours of a day...

What I feel best about is that my grandparents as doctors have earned so much fame and gratitude from so many individuals. They have touched so many lives and hearts in such beautiful ways that these people and their generations will never fail to remember them with love. Is this love still telepathically living with me? I think so. ... Tears well up in my eyes as my memory repeats the words of respect and awe that were said yesterday for my Maa...

I wish I can be like my grandmother some day!

lavannya dot com

2005-05-19T09:28:00.000+04:00

Hello friends,

I have finally decided to launch my own website....www.lavannya.com...
I have no experience in Website designing per say... though I am sure that at designing as such I can do a decent job...
Yet I'd like some ideas and thoughts on Website designing...
Colours, forms, design, concept, html, uploading, softwares, links, ideas,criticizm on old websites..............anything you can contribute...would apppreciate it.

I am planning to include all that Lavannya does on this webpage..
1. Architecture - iDEA49 Architectural Solutions and its works
2. Amatuer Photography
3. Writings and Poems
4. Links to HR training experiences...

And whatever else I step my foot into in the future...
Again your ideas are welcome as to what all i can include...

I like:
Simplicity,
Clarity
Lots of Space
Great geometry
eg. sites:
www.vivekm.com
www.james-straffon.com
www.justmyway.com

I dont like:
Clutter
Too many colours (extremely bright backgrounds, they take focus away from reading)
Too many things and images.

I have never designed a proper website before...but intend to give it a try. Know how to use Photoshop a little and am planning to use Dreamweaver 4 (an old version :( )...

This image is what I designed for a Friend with whom I have been working on HR soft skill training. She wanted something simple, to convey honesty and clarity, very professional. So I worked this out.Know-More is her company's name. Any criticizm welcome.

Any ideas people?

More Sunday Market Shots!

2005-05-17T06:21:00.000+04:00

people buying clothes from the roadside at the Sunday market!

photographers at work early morning on the streets of Majestic!

A barber's shop along the streets of Majestic!

No Words ....

2005-05-14T05:21:00.000+04:00

NO WORDS

As words have
Become sparse
Faces have become
More meaningful to me
I hear louder
And clearer sounds
Voices that were unheard earlier
And feelings that
Were trapped
Within solidity
As words have
Become sparse
Life seems to
Have become
More meaningful
And relationships
More real!

LIFELESS OBJECTS

Today I missed
This paper
And this pencil
They seem to
Take me
Where I want to go
Dig into what
I’ve ceased to express
And touch
My own life
With such immense
Love
Today I missed
This paper
And this pencil
Lifeless objects
That have structured
My life!

Of cross cultural marriages....

2005-05-11T17:50:00.000+04:00

My only, very dear and younger sister Riddhi just got married on this 3rd of May to Mr. Eric.Cocran. (hopefully i am spelling this right otherwise she'll kill me!).

She is a gujarati girl who's lived all her life in Gujarat until a year back, when she met Eric on Valentines day on a Blind Date in Lousville. (yes my sister was allowed to do that by my family)

A year later Eric proposed an engagement to Riddhi and now she is married to him!! Congratulations Sis... its nice to know you found someone who loves you for exactly who you are... :)

My parents flew down to USA immediately the plans were in act... and i couldnt coz my passport had expired and i didnt see a reason to work on it... :( (until now)
Eric's parents are extremely interested in Indian culture and religions and curios and on and on... and ofcourse Riddhi always knew she belonged with an American!
They had a priest preside over the wedding...Riddhi dressed like a Gujarati Bride and Eric like a Christian Groom! The ceremony was simple with few close friends and family, a cake and lots of wine!

Its another thing that we come from a very progressive family that accepts a lot of things that are usually social doctrines, but has it not become quite normal for someone to marry someone from a completely another culture and religion?

My mind asks:
Why were these norms existent in the first place?
Why are these same norms being compromised with now?
Has urbanization made so much difference?

Some answers I figured:

Education mixed with financial freedom, mixed with the new cult of technology and the Internet, the world has become such a small place. We are infact the citizens of the world now and not just a country...is it true?

I find it exciting to see these people meeting from different places, getting to know each other's religions, norms, ways etc. Its a wonderful way to learning to appreciate what the other has. Suddenly boundaries of cities, states and countries seem to be disappearing. There's a mixing happening and there's a learning in the process.

And yet somewhere we're losing something beautiful... i feel. Certain festivals and celebrations, traditions have stopped mattering. Festivals used to be a reason to free the mind, enjoy, mingle and meet. That is replaced today by Holidays and Weekends. The mode of enjoyment is else and the reason of celebration completely different.

Its complex this age of our generation ( i belong to it guys!) and the "new" that we come across. There are judgements and there is reluctance in acceptance of this new... and yet it seems practical and easy. Be it cross cultural marraiges or Digital Cameras....Vivek says we are a part of this age where we are evolving as a worldly culture and revolutionizing the way the world lives...

Love makes better marriages - of the heart and the mind... and then there is this fear that people like Hari have... of the Divorce! Its all a part of this age we are in... the generation before us had not to face it and the generation after us will be rather comfortable with these ideas and ways of living...

We are not only blending across states but across continents also.... is something i feel or you do too... ?

Pathological Lying: A real story

2005-05-07T13:32:00.000+04:00

I recently discovered that this friend - Mr.A, I had met in Bangalore and have had as a friend for some 3 years now,might just be a Pathological Liar. At least I suspect that he is.

Having interest in medical findings, and having had experienced this state of affair with someone very close to me, I suspect this behavioral disorder.

Mr.A's story:

This friend of mine is a CA and got his degree quite young- at 23 years.

Although he is a CA he runs a Mechanic's shop from the Garage of his house.

He refuses to work for anyone else, and his parents know that he never appeared for 4 papers so he never finished his CA. While he would always tell me that he had finished his CA but because he feared that he'll be forced by his parents to work "under" someone for whatever sort of money, he doesn’t want to tell them the truth.

He would convince me in strange ways that he was filing returns for many friends around him. His friends were always the local shop keepers, some rowdies, some chai-walas or the policemen. I had begun to treat this person as my close friend. I had very often spent quite some time with him talking and discussing his unusual course of life, expressing concern for the odd sort of way he ran his business and life.
“A” had no social life, no apparent friends, and was always owing someone money or had given credit.
“A” would spend a lot of time earning my sympathy (again with the same factors of having spent lakhs on someone etc), then discussing with me his physical interactions with many women around him. Every girl or woman that walked past the shop was apparently attracted to him and would ask him for sexual favors. Not a doubt that this person is quite good looking, tall and has excellent conversational skills. Though I always thought he was much too sweet.

Though i had come close to this person and was comfortable with him in a certain sort of way, i was always in doubt of his character. I usually trust people first and then allow my self to experience to find out if he/she is worth the trust or not. But in “A's” case my instincts forced me to never trust him. Never.
He would go to 3 temples everyday and do puja everyday at home too. I found that very surprising. I used to tell him that if he believed in God he had to be an honest person. (something I had already learnt he wasn’t)

In time i got close to his parents also. Obviously they were keen to know this lady who was spending so much time in their garage. But the minute “A” realized that i had built a rapport with his parents he attempted all ways to keep me away. Including keep me from telling them any of the stories he had ever told me.

As time passed I started to wade away from this person as his stories were becoming more and more strange. He would call every once in a week about some girl (whose name would never be disclosed) and her probable pregnancy due to late periods.
If i asked him "are you responsible", he'd immediately reply "no yaar, just helping a friend". But i had learnt and seen and observed that he never had a social life, and no friends that i had ever seen or met. Except for these Rowdy fellows and shop keepers.

He would request me to lend out my house to him while I was out so that he could have sex with his girlfriend. Either it was her birthday or he just didn’t have a place to do it. Ofcourse that was completely unacceptable to me. And I used to frankly refuse such nonsensical requests. Very outrageous!

One fine day he called in about his 17 year old girlfriend and her chances of being pregnant. I confirmed that late periods dont always mean pregnancy, had a lot to do with situational reasons. Very sedentary life could also be responsible. And their day of intercourse did not meet the dates. This friend insisted that I buy a pregancy test for him and hand it over to his girlfriend. He took me to a medical shop, asked the young girl to come there, used my money to buy the preganancy test and gave it to her. I gave her some intructions and then we left. Upset as i was that my friend was this frivolous with his way of life, i took the opportunity to lecture him all through the way back home. Telling him that this was hopefully a lesson for him forever!

The girl from a very conservative "Marwadi" family and “A” being from a conservative "Punjabi" were never going to have acceptable family relations. And not to forget that the girl was yet not an adult. Getting her pregnant, specially when she has a mother who checks her periods every month, would only lead to trouble. This chap was scared out of his wits that day.

But he decided to take a second opinion from a cousin brother who already has 3 girls. This brother (who i later learnt has no understanding of the matter and that leading to many abortions for his wife) advised my friend that another intercourse would burst the forming foetus!! So our young man went back and had sex with this girl. This time he was successful in making the not-at-all-pregnant under age girl pregnant!

Gyneacs and oral medication helped her abort.

These incidents had left me quite stunned with this friendship of mine. I started to keep away. Lack of loyalty, faithfulness, honesty easily make me withdraw. But the phone calls about late periods and sure pregnancies didnt stop. And i still called "A" everytime my 2 wheeler was in trouble.

One fine day i recieved a lot of calls from this Mr.A's phone. All missed calls so i returned them. When i called back to ask what it was about, i was told about a girlfriend once again. So sure that that was the reason of the call I obviously asked nothing.

A couple of days later when I was at the garage getting some repairs done on my kinetic, "A'"s parents arrive home. “A”, suddenly frantic, tells me that his parents want me to help them buy a property but i shouldnt get involved as he wasn’t for the idea. He obviously didnt discuss the problem much as time didn’t permit. The parents called me i proceeded towards them, and saw that they were a little upset.

They asked me," Lavannya why didnt you return our call?"
I said, "which call aunty?"
"”A “called you so many times the other day and apparently you never replied to the call. We want you to assist us in buying a decent property around your area".

This was much too much for me, so i state "But Aunty, i returned that call and “A” told me something completely else. And right now he tells me i am not supposed to help you buy the property you intend to as he doesnt wish it. I am sorry but i wouldnt want to be involved in a family matter."

Uncle and Aunty initially shocked, regain their composure and request me, "I completely understand Lavannya, try if you can help, if not we understand".
I called them the next day and gave them the phone number of an estate agent. Never interacted personally on this matter.

Then one another day, months and months later, “A'”s parents call me, inform me that they have already bought a property and would like to have me handle the project rather than anyone else. I was flattered and yet unsure of how things would be. As i had a clear idea by now about “A'”s intentions.

By the by “A”, one day on my way home from the market, did tell me that his parents were intending to throw him out and build such a house where he could be separated from them. As usual this sounded like a sympathy earning thing.

I tried delaying the process but the parents were insistent. I finished the design and went over to their residence to discuss the plans. In the process of discussion we got into the matters of the family discussion a probable separation etc.
This is where the parents were surprised, when i told them what their son had informed me. They started discussion how their son seeks everyone's sympathy and asked if agreed with their view. I had incidents to convey myself. One thing led to another, and then third. I expressed a lot of hesistance, didnt want to talk at all, told them their personal life was none of my business etc etc... but they wanted to know how their son was doing: financially and emotionally. I had little idea. I had nothing that I could completely believe and convey, except for the time when he introduced me to this 17 year old girlfriend of his that he was having an affair with and had impregnated. I had a clear idea of how my relationship with “A” was going to go down the drain forever... and i had a clear idea of a chance that the whole thing could turn around and boomerang on me. But somehow my conscience told me to do the right thing. I had observed and known this person for so long that I was sure I wasnt going to say anything wrong.

Again with my previous experiences I had already learnt that he was a pathological liar. The stories told to his parents and those told to me were very different. He had made many attempts to make his parents feel contempt for me, and succeeded many times. At the same time he had expressed great amount of resentment at putting me on the job of designing their house.

The parents were shocked and dumbfounded. I felt horrible for them. Reciting events i cried too. They are such a wonderful set of people, i could never figure out where from they got a son like this. He's the only son and only child. And i've seen them pour out their hearts on him. Both the parents are an ideal couple. Still very much in love and very good friends.

His parents knew i would face a lot of music as i had opened my mouth and so did I, but I did it all the same. I told them all the facts and fables I knew. Told them how to handle the situation and how is a medical problem and nothing else. Shouting and screaming wouldnt solve the problem. With a heavy heart and no conclusion on my design, I returned home.

Later many made me regret my doing. The family's peace (probably) was destroyed. And i was responsible for it.

In a couple of hours, “A” called several times on my phone. I recieved and he told me that he was outside then and his parents were wanting to discuss some important matter of contruction so I should get there immediately. I had other appointments so immediately I called the parents. The parents were at home and so was “A” (he had lied). They said that “A” was completely denying everything I had informed them about, and was ready to confront me. So I was put on the speaker phone. “A” talked to me. Said “who did I impregnante? What girl? What nonsense are you talking about? Why are you being such a Witch?” etc.

The parents obviously got the idea, thanked me and said bye to me. He had completely denied existential proof making me sound like a liar. Another sign of Pathological lying. Ofcourse a Pathological Liar will never accept he was lying. To him that's the truth of his life. I was scared for his parents. I was really worried for their and my life.

Many days passed, for few days i worried and had bad dreams also (i.e.a couple of weeks) and I had gone to a Udipi restaurant around the corner for some grub. “A”s rowdy friend came over and started talking to me about “A”. Telling me that He was hit by his parents and his clothes torn, not given food and thrown out of the house. He was admitted in a hospital and then his parents took poison to try to kill themselves. They too were hospitalized. They filed a case against their son having stolen a lakh of rupees from the house and that if anything ever happens to Lavannya “A” should be held responsible. He is being tortured even today and is going to be forcefully married to some girl real soon.

I was upset. Very upset. I had guided his parents very clearly and carefully. Explaining to them that this was a medical disorder and not something they could change with a confrontation or by force. I felt sad and guilty that i had distrupted a family. Came home sad and got some more lectures from my friends about "not ever interefering in anyone's lives ever again.”

Already upset for a few days, today “A'”s two friends (same rowdy men) turned up at my door: telling me that “A” had tried to committ suicide. He had stabbed himself in the stomach and his intestines were cut through. Was admitted in so and so hospital and might not survive. “A”s parents confronted the girl’s family and she too is about to kill herself. Maybe she is already dead by now. My imagination running and heart pacing, i was really sorry now. I was wanting to really chide myself, punish myself. I asked them the room number at the hospital and they said "4 or 5". Hurriedly i called Mr.A's father on his cellphone.

A cheerful voice said,"Hello Lavannya, how are you doing?"
Confused i replied, "Sorry uncle if i am disturbing you, but i heard that your family has gone through some really bad times".
"What are you talking about?"- still in his singing, sweet, gentle voice.
"A's friends came over today morning and told me that “A” tried to committ suicide uncle. What's happening?"
"Oh no not at all, i am driving right now to the office, shall call you up later. How can that be?"

Couple of hours later just to be very very sure... I call uncle again and he convinces me that there has been no such trouble at all. Everything is fine. He wouldnt be sitting in his office if he'd tried to committ suicide or his son had.

I am relieved in a way but i am wondering what is “A” infact attempting at......
What if I had gone to the hospital to see him today?

SORRY GUYS!!

2005-05-06T05:32:00.000+04:00

Sorry guys for the inconvinience...
but some wonderful enlightenment that i could possibly make html edits on my own on my blog... was obviously not an enlighenment enough!!
so please wait a while until i've retrieved most data on this blog...

Thankfully i've atleast been able to get the basic stuff back!! I had lost hope for that too...

So yahoo!! to my blog being back...but unfortunately in new clothes... :(

Not bad is it??

Slightly dissappointed,
Lavannya

What is YOUR Sun Sign?

2005-05-04T11:16:00.000+04:00

At a point in time I didn't want to believe in these matters of astrology or numerology...
But I have this obsession that to disregard something I must know of it first. Hence I decided to read the Linda Goodman's books. I wonder what got me into it. But I bought all the books available on the rack and read them all. The way she introduces the topic, I was sucked in... and like a typical Arian I had to do it quickly ;)

It brought about some basic changes in my character:
- Because I am an Arian I have this tendency to assume that I am always right. I hope I changed that to some extent ;)

- Having my Rising Sun/Ascendant in Aquarius and having a Life Path number 9 I have an obsession with people in general. Anything to do with Human beings and their minds, lives, cultures, interests me.

- I learnt that this Ascendant in Aquarius is what lends this curiosity to my mind. Another reason why I read about something I wasnt sure I could believe in.

- I learnt my Moon being in Cancer is why I am so moody and so obsessive about relationships. Thats what gets me ultra emotional and thats the sign that rules my mothering instincts!! Also probably the only factor that lends any creativity to my nature.

- I learnt to tolerate other people. I learnt to understand their minds and reactions. I began somehow to accept the person opposite for who he/she was.
I somewhere stopped making strong remarks and from a very rude person have become quite mild in my approach. (Atleast i think so :))

Well for those who know nothing of these matters, you'd be wondering what in the world I am talking about?
To find out the meaning of these words, life path number, rising sun etc Id suggest you visit this website.

As a habit now I ask the person opposite (of course in a manner of conversation) what his/her sun sign is. First I try to assess if this person is an Earth Sign, Water Sign, Fire Sign or an Air Sign, and then get the exact Sun Sign in place.

Example: The other day a couple walked into my office, wanting some designs done. While discussing with them about what they would like and what not, I realized that the husband was quite laid back and his interests were basically in enjoying the garden and coming back home to eat some nice home made food. And the wife was very keen about the details and the design, always the person who talked and talked quite fast. She is an HR person in her company. It wasnt difficult for me to assume that She was either a Fire sign or an Air sign, and that He was either a Water or an Earth sign. Well only later did I find out that my assumption was right. She is an Aquarian (Air Sign), born in February and He is a Piscean (Water Sign)born in March.

Slow deliberate speech, with lots of thoughts, an attraction to the words "Money, Dollars, Savings" is usually an Earth Sign. (it might sound like an assumption people but trust me its not.)
Taureans, Virgos and Capricorns are all Earth Signs. But yes each has different characteristics.

All Water Sign people are usually moody, emotional or sensitive, slightly orthodox (if i have hurt a water sign here I am sure to get brash remarks from my water sign friends here!) But the fact is if you hurt the Water Sign people, youll get something back that really pinches.
Cancerians, Scorpios and Pisceans are all Water Signs.

Very passionate, senselessly romantic, impatient people, with a lack of control on their speech are usually Fire Signs. Its not difficult to spot them.
Arians, Leos and Sagittarians are all Fire Signs.

Quick people, with a very dreamy nature, continuously changing thoughts and ideas are easily the Air Sign people.
Gemini, Librans and Aquarians are all Air signs.

Though each sign obviously has different and very specific characteristics, its interesting to know that there are actually these main categories you can put people into. Again something only a Fire Sign would think of. A Leo would though think of such an assumption twice, but a Sagittarian wouldve put it even more sharply.

Youll observe that the Fire and the Air signs get along quite easily...air and fire go well together. And that the Water and Earth signs will easily find they meet each others personalities well, as water and earth blend well.
Fire and Air signs are positive signs and Earth and Water are Negative signs.
Some sign are Fixed and the others Mutable... some follow the Day forces and the others Night.

But there is lot more to know of these people, their personalities which are colored by many factors besides just the Sun Sign. Their moon sign, their ascendant, the Fate and the Birth Number and much more....
Numerology is another ball game completely...but yet very similar

Why dont you tell me what your Sun Sign is and if you believe you are anything like what you are supposed to be by these many books of descriptions on Sun Signs?