Simple Pleasures

Honeymoon Travels...

2013-04-16T07:36:00.002-07:00

By my bedside: The Second Coming of Lucy Hatch

2011-11-11T20:53:00.001-08:00

I was hunting for a slightly offbeat read at my favourite stopover, the Adbhuta discount bookstore on the Gurgaon road. I found Marsha Moyer's Lucy Hatch. She had my attention with the first paragraph, which ends:

"I didn't love Mitchell, which you'd think would help but it doesn't, really, not when you've been with someone fourteen years and worn their presence next to you so long it's like a favorite old shirt, come to take for granted its smell and its feel. I didn't love Mitchell, but he was mine and that was something."

Here is a character it is so easy to relate to, and an author whose poetic descriptions are rooted in reality. Samples from Chapter One:

"Even in the heart of the summer I liked the windows flung open, filling the house with the smell of hay and horses and the sweetbriar roses that bloomed wild along the porch rail. The nights were as black and bottomless as water in a quarry, and when the moon rose over the pines the countryside seemed cast in liquid silver."

"On the one hand, I can say in truth that in fourteen years Mitchell never raised hand nor voice to me; on the other, I have to admit that he never grabbed me up hard in passion, and rarely laughed. But like anything that's not too uncomfortable, you find you can live with it. I became, in time, without even noticing, someone whose life she's learned not to mind."

Window shopping in Jasper, Canada

2011-11-09T22:48:00.000-08:00

Life's Little Luxuries

2011-11-08T21:25:00.000-08:00

A four-poster bed.

A collection of hand-made soaps

Fresh flowers on your dining table every morning

A handmade quilt

An old wooden chest

Silk scarves

Lace tablecloth, gracefully skirting the floor

Polished wood flooring

A snuggly couch

Floral cushions

Sachets of herb tea

The scent of vanilla

Hot cocoa topped with marshmallows

A slab of rich dark chocolate

Lots of natural light

A beautiful bird bath

Foot-hugging bathroom slippers

Crisp, clean cotton bedlinen

Body butter

Flowerpots and herbs on your kitchen windowsill

A corner where you can just sit, just be

A lovely chandelier, lit with candles

A beautiful full-length mirror

Fresh fruits in a big bowl

A wicker basket for your magazines, and one for picnics

Red check napkins and tablecloth

A woven cotton rug

A reading lamp

A lovely tea or coffee set

Homemade cookies in a jar

White slipcovers for your sofas

A Life-Changing Poem

2011-11-07T20:29:00.000-08:00

I found this poem by Mary Oliver in my favourite magazine, O. I believe in signs, so stumbling upon it today, this morning, is so significant in my journey that I cannot explain it to you!

The Journey

One day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice--
though the whole house
began to tremble
and you felt the old tug
at your ankles.
"Mend my life!"
each voice cried.
But you didn't stop.
You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy
was terrible.
It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
But little by little,
as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world,
determined to do
the only thing you could do--
determined to save
the only life you could save.

Black Walnut Tree, Niagara, Canada

2011-11-07T09:03:00.000-08:00

The husks of black walnut are round and light green before they ripen. Upon maturity, they leak a brown dye that is difficult at best to remove from the hands. Inside this husk is a hard two-halved shell that is so strong that pulverized pieces of it can scour clean jet engine parts. The husk contains the prized walnut that cooks use in various recipes.

The black walnut tree produces a toxic substance called Juglone, which can kill many types of plants, and its effects range outward from the tree as it grows. Plants such as tomatoes, blueberries, blackberries, azaleas, apple trees, rhododendrons and potatoes cannot survive when juglone is present in the soil. Horse owners should never use walnut trees for sawdust or wood chip bedding as the juglone can cause reactions in the animal.
Read more: Black Walnut Tree Facts | Garden Guides http://www.gardenguides.com/87503-black-walnut-tree.html#ixzz1d2V4g3p7

Doctor K.K. Aggarwal's Health Blog--Truly Unique!

2011-11-06T19:28:00.000-08:00

My Award-winning cardiologist friend, Dr. K.K., as he is affectionately called, writes a daily blog about health and well-being.

http://blog.kkaggarwal.com/

Nothing new there--many doctors write blogs. What makes this one unique is the content. He talks about why the Holy Basil is worshipped in India, what's the best time to take your blood pressure medication, what makes a particular religious fast scientifically logical, and many such intriguing topics. A must-read if you enjoy reading about health and spirituality!

Hot off the press: My latest book!

2011-11-05T23:01:00.000-07:00

Today, I am thrilled to share with you the cover of my new book, Thinner Dinner.

How to make a six-figure income as a freelance writer

2011-11-05T22:54:00.000-07:00

I've been pondering this question for a while now, so I googled it. Joy! There's a wonderful article by Rob W. Bly that tells you just how you can make it happen. Here is the most inspiring part of the article:

"If you want to consistently make $100,000 a year as a freelance writer, you need to avoid the “poverty mentality” that holds so many writers back from earning a high income.

A doorman in New York City earns around $30,000 a year. If an unskilled laborer can make $30,000 just for opening a door, surely you can earn $50,000 to $100,000 for your skills."

The World's Smallest Church

2011-11-05T22:46:00.000-07:00

On the way to Niagara-on-the-Lake, a fairytale town in Ontario, Canada, I spotted this little beauty. This cute and tiny church is said to be the smallest in the world.

"Earth laughs in flowers..."

2011-10-31T10:12:00.000-07:00

Flowers bring peace to my heart, and a smile on my lips. Like sweet little babies, they look up at you from below with sunshine on their faces.

I clicked these beauties on a cool summer morning in the Garden of the Five Senses, quite close to where I live.

Life in a metro forces you to live in small apartments with just enough space for a few pots and plants. But I always tell myself that the luxury of nature is just a short drive away: here, in this lovely garden, birds sing and butterflies dance. Flowers bloom, nodding their approval when the breeze blows.

Here are some of my favourite quotations about flowers:

I will be the gladdest thing under the sun! I will touch a hundred flowers and not pick one. - Edna St. Vincent Millay

Be like the flower, turn your faces to the sun.- Kahlil Gibran
Bread feeds the body, indeed, but flowers also feed the soul. - The Koran

An irresistible blog

2011-10-29T08:58:00.000-07:00

These days, I'm thinking a lot about choices. Especially the what-to-do-and-where-to-go-next variety. My restless search took me to a blog written by Steve Pavlina.

Wikipedia tells me this man was once arrested for grand theft. He's worn many interesting hats over the years, and the result is this absolutely knock-your-socks-off blog.

Pavlina claims to be getting a million+ hits on his blog, and earning a handsome amount from it. After reading some of his writings, I totally believe him.

Here is one particular post I would urge you to read and enjoy (who knows, it might even inspire you to think about making drastic changes in your life):

http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2006/07/10-reasons-you-should-never-get-a-job/

Room with a Whew!

2011-10-29T04:02:00.000-07:00

This was the view from my room at the Coast Prince Rupert Hotel, Prince Rupert Island, British Columbia.

Need I say more?!

How to bake Rosemary Roast Potatoes

2011-10-28T19:28:00.000-07:00

Tonight, I'm going to serve up a family favourite: rosemary roast potatoes, with garlic toast and a steaming cuppa soup.

I love potatoes, and of course fries and aloo-chaat are yummy, but they make you feel sooo guilty...

These roast potatoes, on the other hand, fill you up without loading you with calories. They begin awakening the tastebuds even before they're out of the oven--just inhale!

Here's the recipe:

Take:

4 medium-sized potatoes

Crushed garlic (as much as you like. I like lots of it)

Red pepper flakes (to taste)

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil or vegetable oil

Coarse sea salt (to taste)

Dried rosemary sprigs: a heaped teaspoon

Now:

Wash, peel and chop potatoes into thick wedges

Pour the oil into a clean baking tray

Put the garlic, rosemary, chilli and salt into the oil, and mix well.

Slide the potatoes into the tray, and gently toss around to coat nicely with the oil and spices and herbs.

Let the potatoes sit for a while, soaking in the marinade.

Roast them on your oven’s highest setting, until the aroma wafting off the oven leads you by the nose—this should take anywhere between 10 and 15 minutes, depending on how good your oven is.

Slide the potatoes out, and serve hot.

Rainy Day

2011-10-28T05:40:00.000-07:00

I took this photo at India Gate on a rainy day. It touched me to see how this man quickly cocooned his little snack shop to shield it from the showers.

A romantic movie that made me reflect...

2011-10-28T05:35:00.000-07:00

Today, while pounding the treadmill at the gym, I watched this movie called 'Sundays at Tiffany's.' It held my interest, which helped extend my walk upto 50 minutes!  

The story is, surprise, by James Patterson, who usually writes these breathless thrillers starring detective Alex Cross. It's a very simple premise: a little girl with an over-busy mom thinks up an imaginary friend called Michael. He brings her happiness, but bids her goodbye on her 10th birthday. Girl grows up and is about to marry this super-successful cardiologist, when Michael reappears. His job this time is to make her realize her what she really wants from life. 

Sometimes, simple can be refreshingly nice. I didn't watch the predictable ending, but there was a lot I took from the film. Watch it if you get a chance, and you might, like me, find yourself searching for answers to the questions that really matter.

Why I thought Ra.One was fun

2011-10-28T00:25:00.000-07:00

So, did you notice my almost apologetic heading for this post? That is thanks to all the negative reviews that have been floating around. The cruellest of them was 'Bollywood's most expensive mid-life crisis."

I saw the film today, and actually quite enjoyed it--the pre-interval part was cool. The background music struck the right chord. It worked for me because I decided to watch the film in the spirit with which it was made--obviously for kids, and deliberately illogical/naughty in places. It's a sincere effort to match international special-effect standards.

So, if you're going to worry about:

Did Shahrukh direct this film by proxy?
Is he insecure/losing it?
What was the logic of Kareena specialising in abuses/Rajnikanth's cameo...
How could the robot be so mushy/quote such crap/dance to Chhammak Challo

Then forget it! But if you're up for some cool kinda fun, book your tickets.

Go, G.One!

Evening, Vancouver

2011-10-28T00:19:00.000-07:00

Some places in this world are truly special, and Vancouver is one of them. Even in the peak rush hours of Monday, this is what you see.

 
 This is English Bay, where evening after evening, the setting sun puts up a stunning stageshow. Sitting here, watching the clouds wither into vermillion ribbons, you realize how easy it is to live in the moment. And how simple happiness can be.

Delhi's Got a New, Delish Secret!

2011-10-26T20:15:00.000-07:00

And it's called Amour.

I was at the launch party of this resto-cafe-bar last week, and here's why I feel compelled to tell you about the place: it is h-u-g-e!

Located in the narrow gully at the mouth of HKV, Amour's facade gives no clue to what lies inside, or rather, above. There's a really small, slow lift that takes you up 4 floors. But step out, and you'll gape! It's a sweeping space that goes on and on, leading into a big terrace, and then another one, with wide open views of the lake below and the city beyond.

Just the perfect spot for a romantic evening out, or chilling with friends! I believe they have an Italian chef, so that's a bonus. At the risk of sounding like their PR person, I'd say, try it out tonight!

I was soooo bored today...

2011-10-26T04:19:00.000-07:00

Does it ever happen to you? The day seems suddenly empty. Everyone you know is too busy for you. You don't have a good book to read. You don't want to watch any more TV or mindlessly surf the Net. You are, in short, bored out of your skull. And the day shows no signs of ending just yet.

I was so bored today that I actually burst into tears. The result: I feel wonderful now! Cleansed. I've booked tickets for Ra.One for tomorrow. I'm going to write two chapters of my magnum-opus-in-progress, my novel. The evening holds the promise of firecrackers, pooja, and Mom's yummy aloo-poori. It's Diwali, after all!

Moral of the story: don't beat yourself up for being bored to tears. It happens, and it's kinda refreshing sometimes!

Today I discovered... a Gifted Writer

2011-10-25T23:43:00.000-07:00

"Have you ever seen an Italian in his native environment, left to his own sartorial devices? He will pair a Day-Glo-orange cycling jersey with a checked suit (double-breasted, of course) and ivory suede moccasins. He will swathe himself in a veritable gelato shop of pastels. He will make Björk look pragmatic. ...

...Yet around the planet, Italian men are revered for their fashion sense. Why? Because no matter how ridiculous they look, they are impervious to embarrassment. When you own your goofiness as Europeans do, the world is your catwalk."

I just love that last line!

Peter Jon Lindberg is a pleasure to read, indeed. This Harvard Graduate serves as
Editor-at-Large for Travel & Leisure magazine, and 'leaves town for a living.' Do check out his blog http://www.peterjonlindberg.com/PJL.com/Man_in_a_Suitcase.html

To The Lighthouse...

2011-10-24T21:20:00.000-07:00

Okay, so here's one more addition to my travel wishlist: a night inside a lighthouse. I've even picked the one I want. Here it is:

This is the Wicklow Head Lighthouse. Deep in the heart of Ireland (which itself toplines my wishlist), with stunning views of the Irish Sea. An octagonal bedroom, with arched windows set into metre-thick walls, designed to keep the howling winds at bay. I can already feel the goosebumps awaken along my arms.

A pre-stay regret, though: I won't get, a la the baddies in Famous Five, to wave a lantern at smugglers heading toward the shore!

Meet George Bailey of Canada

2011-10-24T18:59:00.000-07:00

At 68, George Bailey is one of most youthful men I've met. He has escorted President Jimmy Carter and Princess Diana on personal tours of Niagara Falls, where he has lived as a boy. Today, he drives journalists like me around the region, making us feel no less special than VIPs.

George's day is busier than mine.

He writes the Tourism Ministry's official blog. http://www.niagarafallstourismblog.com/george-bailey-biography.html

He writes books. He is a freelance travel writer and photographer, too. And next year, he is welcoming the new love of his life into his warm, wonderful home.

Alexander Pope: A Staggering Talent

2011-10-24T10:43:00.000-07:00

This man, who struggled with a 'personal deformity', penned some of the wittiest, most quotable lines in English poetry. Yes, he could spit fire and spew vitriol. But each time I read his gems of gentle wit, I am moved to the core.

"Nature to all things fix'd the limits fit,
And wisely curb'd proud man's pretending wit.
As on the land while here the ocean gains,
In other parts it leaves wide sandy plains;
Thus in the soul while Memory prevails,
The solid power of Understanding fails;
Where beams of warm Imagination play,
The Memory's soft figures melt away.
One Science only will one genius fit;
So vast is Art, so narrow human wit."

Prince Rupert Island, Canada: Where Deer Dare

2011-10-23T22:03:00.000-07:00

Prince Rupert Island sits like a jewel in the heart of British Columbia. The greatest source of stress for residents here are cheeky deer nibbling away at leaves in their lawns. Light mist wraps the earth like a scarf. The air is always lightly wet and cool, lavishing the people of the island with glowing complexion.

How wonderful to be able to call such a lovely place home!