Growing Out or Outgrowing

You grow out of many things, or outgrow many things- like your clothes.

Your tastes change- in food, for instance. I never liked pumpkin when I was young. Now I enjoy the vegetable- yeah, I know, I am giving away secrets. Eggplant Moussaka, I grew into, when I had it in Greece-it is yummy, if you haven't tried it.

In music, they haven't changed a lot. No, that's not right. In (Hindi) film music they haven't changed. Kishore Kumar is there still, right at the top. In non-film music, they have. Jagjit Singh, Ghulam Ali, Mehdi Hasan, Pankaj Udhas, they all came later in life and became life-long friends. The radio remains a favourite medium to listen to music, though the karaoke mike helps for self-expression at times.

Writing by hand is almost forgotten, and typing it is, for now, until thought-readers come in.

Photography is still a hobby, but with a know-all camera where I rarely set anything (aperture, focal length), except the zoom, maybe. The selfie, I am still trying to learn (Shraddha, you have to be patient!).

Taste in people has remained more or less the same- genuine people, of any age. They have all enriched me in various ways. And yes, people who smile more than scowl.

I have outgrown, largely, the lecture method of teaching..never liked it much, with rare exceptions of one or two teachers who had my attention during college/school years.

Writing, I may never outgrow- I am a complete addict. So watch out, readers..

Death Unexpected

We are sure about meeting it one day, only we are not certain when. But sometimes, it catches us unawares when someone goes before his time, for some reasons unknown. Had to face such a moment recently, when my wife's brother who was 52, passed away unexpectedly. Ganesh had been a great help when we drove from Hyderabad (where I worked), to Harihar (where I was going with family). And several other times. I remember him running around during my wedding too, looking after the arrangements, as the event was in their house in Pune, in 1988.

He also visited us in the U.S. where I was getting a Ph.D. (with my ma-in-law). He is second from left in the pic below, from that trip.

Good memories, of times spent well. He lived in Mumbai, but got busy and we had not met in a while. And then, this..

Foodventures of Bahu Bali- Of Coconut ice creams Warungs and More

Foodventures of Bahu Bali- Of Coconut ice creams and Warungs and More

A Warung is a small café or restaurant with a limited menu, and is easier to set up than a restaurant. There are lots of them, and we went to one overlooking a rice field. They had Thai and Indian curries in a set menu. At another place, there was coconut ice cream with a twist. The coconut served as the cup- a big one, into which different ice creams were served. Have a look…while on food, Gula is the name for sugar and Merica for white pepper, Garam Kounsunsi Beriodium for iodised salt.

Batik is a print unique to Indonesia, or at least it is famous here in many forms used for wear by men and women. We also saw a very interesting performance called the Barong dance, where Good triumphs over evil, performed in a small open theatre. The artists gamely posed for pictures with the tourists at the end. 

The cup in the first pic is of the Luwak coffee, and other glasses are of exotic teas and coffees.

(Above) the mascot of this Warung..

the young ladies who were waiting on us..

The coconut ice cream with its lovely vendor..
and (below) beautiful old ladies selling fruits..

Giant-sized coconuts at a restaurant near a waterfall, and

 lunch at a restaurant at the end of a volcano (Douglas Adams, apologies).

Adventures of Bahu Bali Part 3- Tanah Lot and Ulun Danu

Adventures of Bahu Bali Part 3- Tanah Lot and Ulun Danu

The second, Ulun Danu, is a temple on a lake (Beratan lake) dedicated to the Trimurti (Bramha, Vishnu, Mahesh). The drive takes you through many villages, and a Luwak coffee centre is never too far away. The Coffee talk a little later, because the other two will take your breath away, just for their majestic locations. Sights that are hard to beat, anywhere in the world. Don’t believe me? See for yourself, and multiply the Beauty Quotient by ten times..

Wherever you go, the warm and smiling people are a constant, and some Hindu temple ceremonies are always in progress or being readied. The traditional sarong has to be worn in some temples, and we did that too, so as not to miss the tradition! The design of their temples is very different from what we see in India, and you will find an open plan with two arms rising heavenwards in most. The carving is also unique, and statues of Hindu deities abound everywhere but inside the temples. No main idol as in ours. Gods are everywhere..

Tanah Lot in the first pic, and Ulun Danu on the lake Beratan in the lower two.

Tanah Lot again, in its lovely sea-kissed location, again.

Tried competing with this laughing guy! Lol!

Adventures of Bahu Bali Part 2- Tegenungan Falls

Bali Adventures- Tegenungan Falls

I have been a fan of Jog Falls, which I have visited four to five times. Pataalpani near Indore is another interesting one. But the beauty of this fall is unique. Among lush greenery, the water jumps forth in joy, and is a joy to behold. You can go for a dip in it, and enjoy the cool waters first-hand. It is safe, and lots of people take a dip coz it’s irresistible! It is again in the Ubud area, and you can combine it with a trip to the Batuan temple, and an old palace, part of which is open to visitors. We did these three, and it was great fun.

If you can spot me in any of the pics, you get a free trip to the nearest waterfall :)