Johanna Quaas, the gymnast

I got this email about an 86 year old gymnast. At first, i thought this was one of those fraud emails but i did some research and found it to be 100% true.

At an age where most people can't walk without the help of a walking stick, she does headstands!

I am still amazed at this lady's spirit, courage, grit, grace and verve. Salute!

Rang Barse

My favorite holi song. Ever.



Here's wishing you a bright, colorful, fun-filled, crazy holi! 

Touch me, not.

So you noticed how phones were big, then they got smaller and now they seem to be getting bigger again. Like too big for your pockets big... you'd agree with me if you have seen the Samsung Galaxy Tote Note.

{Read Farhad Manjoo's article on Slate on garangutan phones}
{Wood-cut iPhone case found on moredesignplease}

PS: What's your mobile number then - as simple as it can get / Android / iPhone / BB / anything goes? Me, I am a Blackberry girl. The truth is, i just can't type right on a touch screen phone. But if i had to get a touch screen phone, i'd definitely go with the iPhone (in white, please).

Dear Prudence

I spent a little time a lot of time yesterday indulging my voyeuristic side - reading people's life dilemma's and Prudence aka Emily Yoffe's advice. She reminded me of Pearl  Padamsee's advice that she dished out in Femina many years ago that i couldn't wait to read.

Dishing out advice, with wit, without being disparaging, to unknown strangers must be pretty tough, or pretty easy, which?

{image from}
{if you'd like to read the problems / solutions that i liked reading}

PS: How cute is that red typewriter :)

PPS: I read on Dear Prudence that it's normal for women to not wash their underthings for weeks. Yikes! Do tell me if Am i over-reacting or is it how it is? And if you'd like to read it, it's here. 

Happy to you, from me

Happy Pongal / Sankranthi / Lohri / Bihu.

Cheers to the first festival of the year that celebrates the harvest.

Here's to good things, always.

XOXO

PS: This is Basava, who i got on our Coorg trip from Chennapatna.

UPDATE: If you are looking to make the festival food but don't know how... Aru has just posted Pongal recipes.

Teri-Meri Christmas

Forgetful me. Forgot to ask you.

How was your Christmas? Did Santa come-a-visiting with goodies? Or did Banta which is no-good? 

XOXO,
MaterialGirl

{Dear non-indian readers: Ignore the Banta bit. I am just being silly.}
{From Freeda's Radioactive Rasam}

Happy Holidays

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

With love from Happy, the other A and Me.

PS: Happy goes to our bedroom every day to look for me and not finding me there goes and sits on the diwan in the living room. 

Have you heard about the Christmas Planet?

Scientists have discovered a planet that could be the Earth's twin. It's 600 light years away, but conditions are pretty amenable for human life.

{Read more on Mashable}

Ooh, what a sexy tattoo

Sexy-gorgeous, isn't it?

Do you have a tattoo? Would you like to get one? Do tell... I have one and am itching to get another done.

{found on pinterest}

PS: Have a sexy-gorgeous delightful first week. The rest of the month will go by beautifully then.

39 happily ever afters

Ziona Chana heads a sect that allows him to marry as many times as he likes. He did that 39 times. He has as many as 94 children, 14 daughters in law and 33 grandchildren. He lives in a 100-room house in Mizoram.

While most men i know find it difficult to even live with one wife and two children, i wonder how this man and his 39 wives and the brood all manage to live together under one roof!

{pic and news from here} 

So, do you play Garba?

I have two left feet when it comes to dancing so dandiya / garba events never excite me. But for those who love to dance, the garba / dandiya nights are something to totally look forward to.

Then again, what's not to love. You get to dress like a princess in a traditional ghaghra wear tons of jewelry, dance the night through to the most foot-tapping heart-pumping numbers ever and get to meet lots of members of the opposite sex. So yes, it can be a lot of fun.

Here are some garba and dandiya  tutorials that you can learn from, if like me you don't know how. (i am aiming to go next year; by which time i hope not be a health hazard to anyone!)

1. Dandiya basics
2. Pragnesh Shah shows how to get the legwork right.
3. Chitra teaches how to play them - here.
4. This is a really good tutorial.

And this here, will take you to the best 5 dandiya moves in hindi movies.

Enjoy your Navratri - whether you are fasting or feasting.

PS: That's my cousin all dolled up to go dancing. I am loving her yellow and red ghaghra which is simple, yet eye-catching.

How do you pen a tribute?

Like this, i guess. 

RIP Nawabsaheb.

{pic via}

North Vs. South aka Shahana opened a Pandora's box.

I love my India. But rather than feel terrible about the North-South mud-slinging blog fight that is doing the round on the Internet i am totally loving it.

Broken Mornings - Shahana has written an extremely funny but true post on the North (read Delhi) way of life. Go on read it, it will totally make your day.

BasioMeusPuga has jumped into the fray muscles rippling, but it's kind of lacking the punch Broken Mornings has managed. Worth a read nevertheless.

Round 1 goes to Shahana. Here's hoping for more fireworks...

Why are you still here? Go read those posts.

Stamp pic from Amsterdamned. 

Update: Found another post on the topic where MadMomma dishes it out.
Another update: Woo hoo! This one's getting crazier. Read this.
And another one where Chickwit has this to say.

Happy Onam

I look forward to visiting the Gods' Own Country when it's Onam - the Malayalee people's New Year.

And watch the snake boat race and a Kathakali performance. How elaborate are the costumes and the make up! How colorful and visually stunning. Let's hope I get to watch one soon...

Here's wishing my Mallu readers a Happy Onam and a joyful year. Here's wishing my non-Mallu readers a Happy Onam and a joyful year.

PS: Have you seen a Kathakali performance ever?
PPS: I know a few Malayalam words which the other A has taught me - Chechi, Cheta, Monna, and Vellum Adikyam. The last is the most important for all men on vacation. Actually for all people on vacation.

Pic from

Indigo Airlines

I travel quite a bit and have travelled most of the airlines that cater to the Indian domestic passengers. I used to love Kingfisher till a year back till I started travelling IndiGo. In terms of service and schedule, they are simply the best. I have travelled about 6-7 times by Indigo and never has a flight been delayed. In fact, they are always bang on time and most often at least ten minutes before. The staff is efficient and the in-flight magazine called 6E is entertaining. The food is not bad (the best airline fare actually) and even the products on sale on board are quite interesting. 

Yes, they are good. But the reason behind this post is a fantastic experience i had recently. The other A and i had travelled to Bangalore and onwards to Coorg this weekend and on our return back to Bangalore from Coorg, we got stuck in the Bangalore traffic. We reached the airport for a 7:15 at 6:43. I ran to the booking counter while the other A got our luggage out. We had already thought we may have to take the next flight which was at 10:00 since check in counters close 45 minutes prior to departure. (And I have had this experience where I had to reschedule because of an Air Deccan goof up and the 45 minute rule). 

To our surprise and delight, Munmun, the lady at the IndiGo ticket counter just handed me the boarding passes and asked us to go inside and check in our baggage. Just like that. Without any to-do. How often does that happen? 

Every experience I have had with IndiGo has been delightful so far. And it takes a lot for me to say this (considering that i have worked in Customer Service and have this terrible habit of nit picking).

Go IndiGo, i say. They are the best airline for domestic travel (and possibly better than a few of the International ones too - Emirates, Thai, AI, etc.)

My favorite colors

hope you had a lovely long weekend and enjoyed the free time. jai hind.

Cake pops.

Dear Arundati,

Can we make these sometime soon? Please.

Love,
Ambica

PS: The recipe is here.

Celebrating Freedom

The American flag inside a cake. What a lovely way to celebrate being American.

Happy Independence Day America!

Cake recipe on 17 and cooking. (and picture from there too!)

TJ's

TJ's is a brand that retails paintings, snacks, biscuits and cookies, mustard oil, stationery, phenyl, apparel, furniture, furnishings and more.

Here are two paintings from TJ's.

 A wooden sofa

Cookies

Durrie and Bedspread

What is special about TJ? 

That's what you are thinking right...

Think hard. 

No clue yet?

It's an acronym for Tihar Jail.

And the products that are retailed under the brand name TJ's 

are made by those incarcerated in the prison. 

Made in Tihar products had a turnover 

of Rs. 11,00,00,000 last fiscal year!

I am still awed and amazed by this venture of the Indian Government. 

Click here to read more about TJ's on their website. 

I think it's a brilliant idea. 

What say you?

3900 weekends only?

A lifetime has only 3900 weekends.

And I think I have gone through 1500 +, working through most of them. Ouch.

I am going to make this weekend special... maybe another photo walk or a train ride to somewhere... I don't know yet, but IAMGOINGTODOSOMETHINGINTERESTING.

Want to join me?