Two of a kind......

The only personality trait my boys share is that they are both incredibly sweet....other than that, there is almost nothing in common in their characters. 

Max is the ultra decent gentleman. He is completely human in his behavior ( except when he meets you for the first time or after a gap because then he is too excited to control himself and is jumping all over the place and on you! ) He is sensitive and very aware and is so so smart that he can spell 'walk' :-) He knows us so well, our moods and our happinesses and shares it all.....he gets very perturbed if Sai and I fight and comes to appeal for peace. He loves fruits but is a very selective eater. He eats only what he likes, apples and grapes without the skin, boiled eggs and milk and chicken! He is my darling baby.....I love his ego (he doesn't like being laughed at), I love the way he sulks (you should see him when hes ill!), I love it when hes all enthusiastic (oh God! the boundless energy!) and he can run as fast as a cheetah! 

Cocoa on the other hand makes you want to pull out your hair in frustration! He is the most lazy, selfish, gluttonous doggy on the planet! He is incredibly smart and decides when and where he should use all his smartness. His favorite activity is to lay in front of the kitchen door and wait for anything to fall to the ground while pretending to be asleep :-)  He is our 'watchdog'....if he hears a noise outside, he barks and barks and goes and calls Max and makes sure Max goes out to check what it is! He loooooves car rides more than walks and he can eat any anything, even banana peels! He adores new toys and he can walk around with both his and Maxis toy balls in his mouth at the same time..... Play time for him means running out to the foyer and then straight back in while Max does 2 rounds around the house. He loves us to bits and is a little baby....he craves attention and is all snuggly. He shows his love by nibbling at us. I cant imagine life without my Cocoa.... as crazy as he is, we all love him to bits! sweetest heart he is! 

I can go on and on about my boys! Now that I started writing about them, I can think of a 1000 and more anecdotes and stories that have made us who we are....... I cant express the amount of happiness they bring us and the way they both have enriched our lives.... my boys are the bestest!

Leena

Starting with happiness........

Its been a really long time since I last posted on this blog....too long actually. Every time I sit with a picture that makes me want to talk about it, something or the other comes up and I put it off for later. The 'later' is finally today!

These portraits are from a few months back. We were taking photos at the Bhoomi Puja or a new project and there was a group of young naughty boys hanging about outside and busy in their games. They were very curious about our cameras but when we went to take photos of theirs, they all ran off shyly! These 2 boys were the more brave ones but even they wouldnt pose for us! Finally Sai talked to them and showed them the snaps we had already clicked of their and they relented! Both of them gave him the biggest smiles for their portraits! Smiles full of abandon and filled with happiness and fun! The kind of smiles that make smile you when you see it.......

Leena

 Perfect......

The rains preceded us to Ooty that year and started again just as we left......the best thing about that was that Ooty was at its most beautiful best! Everything was so clean and sparkling and the landscape was bursting with the most gorgeous greens! 

We went for long walks and sat in quietly in the hotel garden benches soaking it all in. The weather was also fabulous.....perfect for long walks. It was cloudy and cold and made you long for a steaming cup of hot chocolate. 

We've been to Ooty innumerable times but this was the best ever. Perfect weather, perfect landscape, perfect hill station.........one of the most perfect holidays.....

Leena

Deja vous..........

Its funny but every time I see a lotus pond, I always have a vague recollection of lotuses when I was a child. Its very sketchy in my head and I don't remember how old I was. It was in India and elections were on and the BJP as part of their campaign was giving everyone on the road lotus flowers! I so wanted one and one of the party workers saw me struggling to come in front and came to me and gave one to me..... I was so happy! I think I skipped and hopped home with it and wouldn't let it go out of my sight! I don't know but I have a feeling I would have slept with the blossom too! I remember being that excited about it. 

I don't remember what happened to that flower afterward or what I did with it. Now that I am sitting and trying to recollect it, I am even beginning to wonder if it was all a dream and I remember it as an incident now......

It definitely has to be real....I remember the happiness vividly...I remember holding the lotus like it were the most precious thing.....such a happy memory......

Leena

A walk through the forest.....

Just looking at this photo brings back so many memories! A trip long back with friends and Ooty looking so so beautiful. It had rained a week before and everything was clean and fresh.....the earth smelled so amazing! We all stayed at the Sherlock and the weather was so inviting that we had to go for a walk..... Along the way, someone told us that there was a shortcut to the Doodabetta peak through the forest uphill from the hotel and we decided to walk there. 

The villages along the way and the quaint villas were absolutely beautiful and we were all in high spirits when we entered the forest. We didnt care that the ground was slippery and that the tall trees were blocking out the light and also that we had stopped to take so many photos and admire so many things on the way that it was getting late.....

Gaurav was focused on the walk while the rest of us were slowly making our way. He was the first to see it.....and me after him. Gaurav saw the whole bison, stopped in his tracks and did a 180 turn immediately! I didnt see the whole bison....just its back crossing our path and I thought it was a small elephant! Sai and Sonali making up the rear didnt see it at all and didnt believe us.....and when they did, they wanted to take photos of it! At that time we didnt know it was a Bison, only that it was a lone animal and Gaurav and I were freaked that it would attack us. The decision to turn about and leave the forest as soon as we could was made by the Bison - he let out a loud enough protest to us being there and we all but ran for our lives making sure that we didnt slip and fall in the mud! 

Its only after we got out of the forest and back in the hotel that we figured what we had encountered was a Bison and thank God we all ran back because bisons are apparently dangerous when alone and angry and are known to even overturn vehicles when threatened. We with our cameras and loud banter would have looked threatening enough and whats more we would have all been like bowling pins if the bison did want to 'overturn' us! 

I'm smiling wide as I'm reading this again to myself....the memory of it, our comic reactions and the fun we had reliving that story throughout the trip......great company, fabulous times, beautiful memories....time for another trip :-)

Leena

Pretty and wild......

Walking carefree through a meadow filled with flowers and a bubbly stream flowing nearby is what dreams are made of. And that dream turned into reality for me in Destiny! Only, Destiny was prettier than I had dreamed of. Its not manicured lawns and beautiful trees but meandering paths teeming with beautiful flowers and chirping birds, velvety caterpillars and a beautiful lake gleaming in the afternoon sun......

Remembering the place is making me want to go back again.....hopefully soon.....

Leena

Busy bee......

I've always wondered about the phrase.....why are only bees considered busy? I can think of a thousand other beings which are always busy. 

But the first words that came to mind when I was uploading this image is 'busy bee' . The little sparrow was so busy building her nest. She was scuttling quickly and efficiently between her nook in the roof and the trees to build her nest and collect twigs for it. Back and forth, back and forth and resting in between for seconds. I would love to have staged and watched the whole nest being built but we had to leave and the sparrow unaware of her spectators was a very very busy little bee!

Leena

Faith......

I was going through some old photos last week and found this image. Its been one of my favourites. 

Saw this idol on a corn vendors cart in Besant Nagar beach in Chennai and I found it absolutely arresting! The colours and the way the Ganesha is decorated is so beautiful and so simple. Its most definitely an old idol but one that the vendor loves, one that has protected the vendor for a long long time. He had prime position at the head of the cart.....sitting majestically and watching over the vendor from amongst all the corn. 

Wonder if He'll still be there at the beach, on the cart with the corn vendor, protecting and blessing everyone......

Leena

Happiness.....

Happiness is contagious! Especially if its a childs......they laugh and you cant help but smile back. Maybe its the innocence in the laugh, maybe its the unadulterated joy, maybe its the tinkling sound but I have seen people who normally are not moved by most things crack a smile when they see a baby laughing. 

I love the sound of baby laugh....its one of the most beautiful sounds on Earth! I remember so vividly the sound of Tiya, a friends daughter, laughing and running along the beach.....I thought it was one of the most beautiful sounds then and now 4 years later I still smile everytime I think of it.....

Leena

Precious pet.......

It is always a wonderful feeling to see the joy that pets can bring. Witnessed it recently and I am so glad I did! 

A little kitten that few kids in the street have adopted as their own. It was such a warm feeling to see the kitten scuttling between the kids and running all around them! Into their t-shirts and over their heads! The children too had forgotten all about survival and were busy playing and laughing with the kitten. 

And when they all got up to leave, the kitten was wrapped up in a little blanket and carried away like a queen......

Leena

Beautifully laid to rest......

I have always found cemeteries so so beautiful......the serenity, the locations, the flowers, the cravings, all of it fills me with a sense of beauty. I've chances up on stunning cemeteries in a lot of trips....and amazingly, I vividly remember all of them! 

The St Georges Cemetery behind the Oxford Press in Chennai, the quaint little stone church and the cemetery up the hill in Munnar, the cemetery behind the Trinity Church in Ooty with gorgeously adorned tombstones dating as far back as the 1830s, another ancient cemetery in Coonoor, the Pattoor Cemetery in Trivandrum and yesterday the St John's Cemetery in Kalpalli Bangalore. 

Just realised that I have visited a lot of cemeteries! I dont know if that is a creepy thing but I really do love the tranquility and peace in a cemetery..... 

Leena

The rose garden.....

Well it wasn't exactly a garden, more a farm I guess. We've been passing by this place for nearly 6 months now and I have always wanted to get down and take snaps but never managed till now. Its either been in the middle of the day with he sun washing everything out or later in the evenings with all the flowers cloaked in darkness. A few days back we managed to get there perfectly on time and it was beautiful! 

Rows and rows of red roses all full of buds and flowers just about to open out! My mother would have absolutely loved it! I didn't know where to turn and take photos! I can only imagine how it will look with all the flowers in bloom. I will need to time a visit perfectly for that. I am sure all the half open flowers will be in full glory by morning and they will harvest it to take to the market. Maybe one of these days, we will make a trip early in the morning, just for the roses........

Leena 

                                                 

Tipu's Fort.......

I have been to Tipu Sultan's Fort in Palakad with my parents when I was a kid. I have a vague memory of that.....but the fort I remember and what we saw this time was different. It could be that I was young then and my sense of scale and the way I saw the fort would have been in a very different light or the ASI has done extensive work in the preservation of the Fort and deemed it unrecognisable! 

Whatever it is, it was a good experience and I am glad we took the time out to go there. Palakad was very very hot but there was a beautiful cool breeze blowing in the evening and the huge huge trees and the open spaces enhanced the breeze around the fort. The fort also houses a temple. That and the children's park in the compound makes it a popular space for everyone in Palakad. 

What impressed me most about the Fort was the moat running all around it....they have maintained it very well. The waters are teeming with little turtles. With the number of people visiting I expected to see lots of garbage thrown in but the waters were quite clean.

Wonder if Tipu had ever thought that such a mighty fort would be a such a popular spot in Palakad one day.....

Leena

The mighty tree.......

A large part of my memories of a place are about the trees there. Whenever I think of my college, the first thing that comes to mind is the beautiful trees and the road shaded by their canopies. Trivandrum for me is more about the frangipanis in the Napier Museum and powder puff and jacaranda trees lining the Palayam road than anything else.

So when we went inside Tipu Sultans fort in Palakad and saw this gorgeous mango tree, both Sai and I were in awe! The lawns inside were a perfect setting for the tree. The most amazing thing about it was the one branch which had swooped down and grown back up as another tree from the ground. Wonder how it fell....wonder if it was part of the wars fought in the fort or a much less exciting story.....

There was another humongous tree on the other side of the fort with the most interesting trunk. It was almost like a sculpture. We wanted to take photos but we were already late and the guards did not want to get into trouble having us there for longer. ..... 

This particular tree was interesting for another reason....there were at least 2 'just-married' couples being photographed sitting on its low branches. It was such a cute sight to see! Such a perfect location to start a new life from.....wonder how many have.....
Leena

Unni and his grandmother.........

You meet the most interesting people by sheer chance. We had gone to a small village near Palakad for a wedding. It was really really hot and the car left in the sun was an oven! All of us sat on the porch of a nearby home waiting for the car to cool down a little - the home was Unni's. He was a little vary of us initially but prodded on by his grandmother, he warmed up a little and even gave his ball to Ally (my daughter) to play with.  We sat there and talked while Ally entertained everyone around. Thankfully she did very sweetly give the ball back to Unni when it was time for us to leave.

It amazes me how easily they welcomed us, total strangers, into their homes. Wonder if I would be so kind if someone just decides to park themselves on my porch.....something to ponder over.....

Leena

Peace.....

The face, the posture, the eyes, everything about a Buddha statue evokes serenity and peace. I've always wondered how the artisans manage to capture such a look of contentment on the face each and every time. Even the few I have seen lacking in detail have that quality of peace.If a statue can evoke an emotion like peace, I can only imagine what it would have been like to see and meet Gautam Buddha in real life. All I have to do when I am restless is look at even a photograph of the Buddha and I calm down. 

A quote by Buddha which summarizes everything I am saying, ' Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.' 

Leena

Together forever......

There are always moments in every wedding which makes it really really special. This was that moment for me in Gangadharan and Veena's wedding. The way Veena was smiling when the thali was being tied is beautiful - joy, excitement and a thousand other emotions running through her mind. 

Leena

A very friendly visitor.......

Bangalore has very few crows. Coming from Kerala where you see crows all over the place, I quite miss them here. So imagine my surprise when one landed in our backyard and seemed in no hurry to fly away and in no way scared of us! The crow had hurt his leg and had come to rest a little. I had the camera with me and wanted to take snaps but was worried that he would fly away if I went close. How wrong I was! I kept slowly edging closer to him and he just sat on the ground wondering what I was trying to do!

This shot was taken with a 50mm lens with me sitting right in front of the crow. I have to say, he was quite a poser! He didn't feel threatened by me or the camera in any way at all. 

I was hoping that my boys ( Max the boxer and Cocoa the lab) wouldn't come and see our visitor but that was hoping for too much! Max is most curious about anything which comes into his garden and of course wanted to find out what the crow was upto and play with it. Again, the crow was really calm about Max being around and started walking away only when Max got too close and started sniffing. Max just wouldn't let him rest though. He is not used to too many creatures not being scared of him and he kept going closer to figure out what was with the bird! The crow finally decided that our backyard wasn't the best place for him to get rest....he gave Max the dirtiest look and flew away to a nearby tree.....

Wonder if he'll come visiting again....

Leena

Through the lens.....

I am beginning to believe that the world we see through a camera lens is a lot more beautiful than with the naked eye! The most simple things can look beautiful. I don't think I would have looked so carefully and seen so much more beauty in ordinary things if it was not for the camera. 

The other day we were at a friends home and I was going around clicking pictures of her beautiful garden. I saw not just the most beautiful flowers but also the fillers and the leaves and the way the branches were swooping down and the little ant on top of the blade of grass! If it wasn't for the camera in my hand, I would most definitely have missed a lot of it. The garden had so much more meaning and beauty when I saw it through the lens....

Leena

The simple joys.......

I get amazed every time I see how  the smallest things can make a child happy. It was my nephews birthday last week and he had a great day doing the simplest things....having his favourite KFC lunch, going for a swim, playing with his sisters, getting gifts and a dinner out. 

Every time I see my daughter get delighted at things I've stopped being happy about long back, I wonder when I stopped being joyous about things like her. When I see it with her, it is fun, It is absolutely great to be chasing bubbles and scribbling on paper and splashing in water! Try it again.....

Leena

Happy!

Happy is such a perfect name for a puppy! They are all about happiness and their joy is so infectious. I remember when our pups were still all at home, it was such a treat to come downstairs every morning and be smothered by all the little paws jumping up at you! 

We met Happy, a 6 month old Shitzu, recently and it was sheer joy! He was as excited to meet us as we were meeting him. He was jumping and rolling and biting and everything at the same time. And in breaks he would lie down flat on the ground to give us time to pet him. He looks like a perfect rug when hes on the ground - total cuteness! 

Yesterday we met another pup, Tintin. Tintin has such a naughty look in his eyes and such an attitude for someone so small! Ally was also so happy playing with him. Spunky little Tintin is looking for a family who will give him as much happiness as he'll surely bring them.

Such joys all the doggies I know are!

Leena

On a sunny sunny day......

There is something about temples.....however crowded and busy the streets outside maybe, its so quiet and peaceful when you are inside. I've always wondered about that. 

We went to the Ranganathaswamy temple this sunday and I noticed one more thing - temples are always cool no matter the weather outside! The stone floors and the pillared hallways keep you refreshingly cool. We finished our darshan and could have left but sat there for a long time enjoying the breeze and the calmness of the place. 

My daughter hates heat! She sweats and gets all cranky but in the temple premises, she was happily running all about......not a care in the world!

There is something about temples......

Leena

Divine......

Seeing the lime diyas lit in front of the Attukal Temple in Trivandrum during our visit this time brought back a lot of memories.....

As kids, every year we used to come to Kerala for our vacations and every vacation one day we would  go to the nearby temple to light 101 lime diyas. I used to be all excited about it because all my cousins and aunts used to come to help my mother out and it was a fun day! We would all have lunch at my house and then carry the limes, oil, cotton to light the diya, matches and knifes and head out to the temple.

I was usually in charge of squeezing out the juice from the cut limes and what fun it was! I would race to squeeze all the juice out and pass the limes onto my aunt to turn them inside out and pour oil in them. By late evening we would be done....having placed all the limes in front of the deity, oil poured in each one and the cotton threads ready to be lit. And then we would light them as the priest recited the evening prayers......I still have a vivid memory of the smell of incense and flowers, the sounds of bells ringing and birds fluttering back to their trees and the beautiful light from all the lamps lit...... 

Returning home all happy and sticky from the lime juice and glowing from the prayers, I used to wait for the same day next year......

Leena

One............

Time flies..... I always feel that but the last one year has been the fastest ever! Its just gone by so so fast and the quiet little bundle I held last March is now a little whirlwind with a fierce personality of her own! Sigh!
As I am typing this I am trying to remember all the little times and all the little things she and I have shared over the last year and its truly overwhelming....such beautiful times....such joy.....such precious moments.....
And the best part, I remember each and every second! I know what I felt and how she laughed and how we hugged and kissed......
One of the very best years of my life.....motherhood is truly a blessing....
Leena

Beautiful beautiful things......

It is so difficult to walk by seeing the most gorgeous colours and wares displayed all around you and not buy all of it! Happens to me everywhere but in Goa, all those things are comparatively cheaper and it took so much effort on my part to just walk away....

The most amazing part about all the markets in Goa are the vendors. The ladies dressed in chiffon sarees with pallus over their heads speak everything from English to Finnish and Konkani to Tamil! I was shocked and impressed by the ease with which they switched between languages and all so fluently!

I will go to Goa once with a budget just to shop away and come home laden with everything beautiful in the flea markets and roads of Goa! One day.....
Leena

 The Basilica calls again and again.....

The first time I visited the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Goa was when I was in school....I dont remember exactly but I think I was in my 9th or 10th grade and that would be in 1997-98. I thought it was beautiful then but I was too overwhelmed by the heat and travel and all I wanted more was to get back to the beach....
The next time was when I was in college. Our thesis trip in 2004. I saw the church in a more architectural light then and was in absolute awe at the magnificent structure! The beautiful laterite masonry and the majestic buttresses.

After those 2 visits, I have gone to Goa many many times but never managed to visit The Basilica. This trip I really wanted to visit it and as luck would have it, we did. Every time I visit, my wonder at the structure just increases! I was just as awe struck this time especially looking at it through my lens. To imagine it being built so long ago is just absolutely amazing!

I know I'll go back again......wonder what my reaction will be the next time.....

Leena

Quintessential Kovalam.....

This image, the Light house on the hill is what Kovalam is for me....When ever I think of Kovalam, this is the picture that comes to mind, the coconut palms framing the light house and the little hillock reaching out to the blue blue sea.
Kovalam with its green, abundant palms, beautiful stretches of beaches, perfect rocky hillocks and steep climb down is one of my favourite beach destinations. Somehow though, I have never gone in for a dip. Just always walked along the waters edge and maximum ventured in knee deep.
This year when we made our annual pilgrimage to this famed beach we didnt get to see a spectacular sunset. But the water did turn golden in the setting sun and the amazing beauty of the beach awed us as always.....
Leena

Grandparents in love......

There is something really special about the love that a grandparent showers on their grandchildren. Its so unique and so amazingly innocent and caring. The grandparents become little kids themselves and it is such fun to see them with her! All the laughing and playing and concern.....
Such joy they bring each other.....such a wonderful, beautiful relationship.....
Leena

Work is worship....

That is the first thought that comes to mind when I see this image. The light, the setting and the expression on the fishermans face - all hold a very sacred quality for me.
The depths of the Ashtamudi Lake are rich in mussels and the local fishermen row out in their little wooden boats (vanjis) and dive to the bottom to collect them. The mussels are a local delicacy and fetch a mighty price according to our boatsman.
A boat full of mussels, this fisherman is either winding up for the day or rowing to a different spot.....
Leena

God's very own....

A very busy 8 days in Kerala this time and we tried to fit in as many photo oppurtunities as possible in between catching up with friends and meeting relatives and talking endlessly with my mom (thats only me and not Sai!). We were really kicked about going to Kovalam Beach to see the sunset and as luck would have it, we got to see only clouds and a 5 minute appearance by the Sun just before he sank into the sea.
But lady luck was not mean! We went for an overnight trip to a quaint resort on the banks of the Ashtamudi Lake and witnessed one of the most beautiful sunsets ever! The coconut trees, the houseboat, the backwaters, the sprinkling of clouds in the sky all added to the magic.....now I know why Kerala is God's own!
Leena

Precious moments.....
Dhiru and Miriam got married in the prettiest little chapel! A simple, beautiful wedding with so many poignant and romantic moments......This image captures one of those special moments.
It was during the church wedding and I love the way Miriam so sweetly adjusts the rose on Dhiru's lapel.... a beautiful moment frozen.....
Leena

One big happy family.....

When I got back in touch with my friends from school and realised that a lot of them were in Bangalore, I was totally excited! And then the more I thought about it, the more vary I became. We had not met in ages and all of us would have changed a lot. Would we still be able to connect with each other? By the time I was done thinking and thinking about us meeting, I was a quite nervous and was convinced that we were all going to hate each other! Despite my apprehensions though, I still decided to go along and meet them anyways.....
That would have to be one of the bestest decisions I made! It was the same school magic at first sight! All of us took to each other like there had been no gap at all.....in fact, it was better than school!
Now, I so look forward to us catching up. We dont meet often enough but each time its so amazing, we're all so comfortable with each other....its like being with my family. And in a way that is what we are, one big happy family :-)
Leena

The temple bell.....

There was a time when you take either Sai and me to an antiques shop and we would not come out without picking up loads of stuff...... Even now we are more or less the same but at least we are a lot more restrained :-)
We were driving from Thrissur to Coonoor around 4 years back and chanced by an antiques godown on the highway just before Coimbatore. Of course we had to stop and take a look! The thing with Sai and me taking 'a look' is that we lose all sense of time in bookstores and stores with antiques. And our one look must have easily lasted at least 3-4 hours! But 3-4 very well spent hours because we loved most of the stuff he had and managed to pick up some wonderful pieces like this bell.
It hangs at the entrance of one of our projects (Temple Bells) now and it looks stunning there. A perfect setting for the piece.
Leena

At the right place at the right time.....

Beautiful things happen every day, every hour, every second.....to be at the right place at the right time witnessing it is just plain luck! Sai and I were very lucky a few days back on our way to site. We wanted to take a look at the site as they were winding up work for the day and so headed out just as dusk was setting in. We reached the Horamavu Lake at the perfect time to see this amazing view. Sai just stopped the car in  the middle of the road, jumped out and froze the moment.
Leena

Tiny little Minnie.....

Whenever I think of  Minnie, the picture in my head is the way I saw her for the very first time.....a tiny tiny little mouse, all big eyes and sleepy :-) She is the tiniest pup I ever held then and I was mesmerized!
It was soon after I moved to Bangalore and one of my first few client meetings. Arati and Sundaresh had just got Minnie home. I dont remember how old she was then but she was tiny, tiny tiny! She slept during the whole meeting nestled warmly in my palm. And I sat as motionless as possible so that she wouldnt wake up. She fit so perfectly in my palm and she slept so peacefully......
Now when i meet her, shes all grown up and  a confident, fiesty young lady.....and my first thoughts are always of her sleeping in my palm. A memory I'll forever treasure.
Leena