Rekkai Mullaithen from Sundarapandian

• It is a beautiful Sunday afternoon, here. It drizzled, a midst the shining sun. Lovely, was the sight.
• Shopping for my Deepavali saree later in the evening, my my mom and sister. I am like, 70% sure I am buying that yellow and green cotton saree. And, there after, a stop over to my tailor. Chaya time, to top it off.
• 1 month, 2 weeks and 3 days to go? God, that seems so far away. Hmm - if only September would end today. October had only 5 days. And, the days after November 9th had 72 hours, a day - I would be EUPHORIC.
• Raagamaliga's Duet series ended this morning. The Ramesh-Vijayalakshmi team, won, as expected. They are awesome singers. What was not (expected), though, is that the win was a tie with Sachin-Pratiba. I found it unjust. Unwarranted. But, as they say, the judges decision is final, and final, it shall be.
• My wardrobe is a mess. And, right after I finish with my post, I am heading to get it in order. I like them neat and orderly.
• Managed to drag my sister to temple yesterday, evening. I have been having a growing adoration for Goddess Kali. The past 5 months and so. Spent about 15 minutes at Her temple near to my home. Also, dropped by a Ranganathar Temple. The first of four Saturdays in the month of Puratasi, it was.
• I am still reading Elizabeth Gilbert's, "Eat, Pray, Love". It is such an awesome read. Love every word in it. She puts life into words. She makes you imagine all that she writes. I am still in her musings about Italy. Yet to step into India and Indonesia.
• Life has been super hectic. Work has become never ending, despite me attempting to clear them up. I have got to draw a plan so that I will not leave anything unresolved before my long vacation.
• Have you had iced milk coffee at night ? I have been. Of lately. Find it, simply refreshing. Give it a try, ya !!!!!
• And, here we are at the 10th bullet. It sounds violent. This song isn't - thankfully. I am signing off. And, I am signing off with a prayer for each and everyone of us. May our days and weeks and months and years ahead, be blessed by the Almighty. Have fun !!!

Engengu Nee Sendra Bothum from Ninaikka Therintha Maname

Hello, once again. Pretty spirited, ain't I ? Two posts in a week. India, is responsible. The notion that there is less than 60 days before I touch the land where my soul resides, is inspiring and thrilling. Have you ever heard the Smurf's theme song ? The one that goes, "Lala Lalalala Lalalalala.." Well, my heart is thumping exactly, that. In, ecstatic mode.
I decided late last night, as I was heading to bed, that today was going to be 'Pictorial Day' over here, on my blog. And, I guess I am, somewhat rightly prepared. So, here goes.
p/s - The song of the day, is Engengu Nee Sendra Bothum from Ninaikka Therintha Maname. Scroll down to listen to this super romantic number, but don't skip what I have written. So much of energy and effort spent by yours truly. Give it a try. It is not those long winding ones that would lullaby you to sleep, but, rather, ones, that would put a silly grin on your face, and a little twinkle in your eye. And, ya, I bet, by the time, you finish reading this, you will be humming my song of the day..... 

•  This is the ONLY picture on my bedside table. My late father and me, when I was say 4 or 5. Girl's are always dad's favourite, as boys are with mum. My father, my everything. The one who taught me to appreciate the little things of life and always remain humble and compassionate, to and about others. I still hold on to every word of advice he has given me. Not a day passes by without me, thinking of him. Not a day without me, missing him. And, yes, I would give up everything in life, to have him hug me, just like old times. And, yes, yes, I have tears trickling down my face, this very moment, because I miss you tremendously, my darling Appa. For being the greatest - I will always love you !!!!!

•  I love architecture. Buildings, despite being inanimate, are beautiful. This is one of Whiteaways Arcade in Penang. It has that classic colonial feel. If we would just take a minute to appreciate the amount of diligence and travail people have actually invested in making it stand. 

• The colours of India. White, green and orange. This is staple accessory during my every visit to my motherland. I am a proud Indian enthusiast. During one visit, while I was in Vellore Golden Temple, and the nation was celebrating Republic Day, I waited for half an hour, to get hold of the Tiranga flag brooch. I had it pinned on my churidhar the whole day. Still have it. 

 
•  I LOVE books and can drown in them. These are what I have at the moment. Most, done with. A book, a cup of chilled coffee and a seafront sounds perfect. Care to agree ?????

• The bright pink chrysanthemums that I bought this morning. Don't they look, hmmm, vivacious? A stalk sits beautifully in a clear vase at my home's Satya Sai's altar. 

•  I love elephants. There is a certain attachment I feel for them. I fancy anything to do with them. From mugs to soft toys to fabrics to movies. Encountered a real one during a drive pass Satyamangalam, Erode. Too bad that the driver did not let me go have a closer look. There is a new upcoming movie titled 'Kumki' and it revolves an elephant caretaker. The songs are awesome. 

• Of ferry rides and Penang Island. Yes, the service can be horrid at times, with a waiting period of more than 30 minutes, but on a breezy day, believe me, it is an out of the world experience. 15 dreamy minutes if you are on vacation. If you are a daily user, hmmm, you might not appreciate them as much. Nevertheless, I do. I enjoy my ferry rides. My daily dreamy ferry rides. 

•  This was our visible treasure trove, back then. My siblings and mine. We flipped through them every day, enjoying every word and fancying every picture. We would have REALLY loved them - that's why they are still in tip top condition. My parents gift to the 3 of us. My love for reading was due to them.

• This is the full moon in August 2012. Over here, in my hometown - Sungai Petani, Kedah. It was big, bright and beautiful. And, it lit my entire garden, whimsically. 384,400kms away and yet it delivers that magical feeling. The Late Neil Amstrong, how I envy you.

•  I so love ice creams. My fondness for the gelato is huge. I can have them any time of the day, without a drop of guilt. Midnight. When I am having a bad flu. On a super rainy day. The snack that I just cannot say no to. This was a treat by my sister, at Swensen's Gurney Plaza, Penang. Vanilla cone ice cream dipped in pistachios. Hmm.. Ice cream date anyone ?? I am free - anytime. LOL.

• What I had this morning for breakfast. Lemon curd rice with spicy potatoes. Purely vegetarian.They were so delicious, I ate them in lunch portions. In other words, I had breakfast like an Emperor. Ya. I did. 

• What's on my bed right now ? A large fluffy foot rest cushion, my beige Charles and Keith bag, my Acer netbook's cover, the book I am currrently reading (and loving) and my Philips MP3. They are taking rest for now.... My turn comes later.

• Tadaaa.... And, here they are. My International Passport. The old one. Cancelled. The new one. Ready. 52 days more to go. I love you, Malaysia. And, I love you, India. Every nook and corner. 

• Today. 17th September 2012. The first day of Puratasi. At 7.45am. A lit lamp. My blooming thulasi plant. The one which shares my innermost feelings. The month when Lord Vishnu resides on earth, with us fellow mortals. Ask Him anything you want. He shall answer.....

• The angry (haangiri - if said Vadivelu style) clouds of Sungai Petani minutes before it rained cats and dogs last Friday. No matter how immense the storm is, the sun shines - eventually. Life - alike. Tears and joy complete the circle of life.

• Local roses from Amma's garden. In full bloom. You should have seen them in real. They were so, so picturesque. Vivid. Trimming and constant caring keeps them happily blooming. Attention, is the magic word. 

• This is a hand down saree from Amma. A cousin gave it to her last year. She has never tied it. She gave it to me, this morning. It is silk and comes in beautiful milk white and blood red colour. Mum just amplified my passion for sarees. 

• Me, in a ocean blue and brick red Kanchipuram Pattu from India during a close girlfriend's engagement. I love the colour. It was a gift from an uncle in India. Matching steel bangles to top it all off. 

• I am a Starbuck's fan. Not Coffee Bean's. Starbuck's is bitter. Coffee Bean's is sweet. My favourite cuppa is a light caramel macchiato. Or the iced latte. And a piping hot pie with chicken and mushroom filling. And, yes, I love to laze around in their oh-so-cozy lounges. 

• Inspired by former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Mu. Karunanidhi. Like really ???? Yes. REALLY. No jokes. I think the thick black frames makes one look, stylish and impressive. It creates a kind of dominance. I wear them on my casual outings. The one on top is powerless. The one below is not. 

• This was a steal at Malaysian Ringgit, Thirty only. Fell in love with it, at first sight. My Deepavali saree needs to revolve around this centre piece. So, I am looking for something which has a green border or a sufficient amount of green on it. Like baby pink and green. Or orange and green. Or saffron or green. Something bright and bold. It will be indeed, the festival of lights and a dull hue, is not going to be my choice. If you have a colour combi that is running on your mind, leave me a comment. It will be appreciated, for sure.

• And, at last, here it is. My washing machine. No more hand laundry except for the delicate ones. My  source of joy on a Friday evening - knowing I do not need to drag myself out of bed before 8am and  take part in manual washing, rinsing and spinning. LOL. For the first time ever, we are using top load. It has been good to us so far (2 weeks, now). 

• Two recent Tamil movies that would be worth your time. Naan Ee and Naan. I want to be tight lipped about both. Go watch. You will not regret. That is all I can say. Entertaining. Mind boggling. Zealot recommended.

• And, finally - here it is. My confirmed tickets to the land I so, so love. Penang - Kuala Lumpur - Chennai, and return. The anticipation is overwhelming. Pray it will all go well... 

And, now - at last ..... Enjoy. The song. The week ahead. The minutes of the day. The God given life. The beautiful family. The peace and nature.....

God bless....... Shalu, signing off, with love to each and every one of you!!!!

Kannadasa Kannadasa from Thavam

This post is plain, impromptu. The main reason I am here, is this song. Solely. For its befitting lyrics (and, catchy tune). Today, while it played on my sister's car audio player, this song, lit me like a dynamite. I have heard it plenty of times. But, its radius today, is simply mystifying. Note, that I have used, is - present tense. It still, is.....
I realized that I like things written in point form. It is the lazy person's version of a paragraph, but, is gets the message or the idea, faster and precise. At least for me. So, stick with me, cause these next few weeks are going to be all about pointers and bullets. 
Excuse me, can I start ?????

• I spent half of last Sunday at my town's Immigration Department. Was renewing my International Passport. The queue receipt they provided me, read, "Serving No. 1088, now." Mine was 1188. One hundred people ahead of me. When my turn came, it was nearly 3pm. Two things saved my day. My MP3 and the thought of India. 
• I have finished reading Alice Sebold's "Lovely Bones". It was a moderate read. I am now engrossed in Elizabeth Gilbert's "Eat, Pray, Love" and find it a Super Wow Wow book. Love the way she puts life into words. Of the 108 beaded japamalas, 36 tales each in Italy, Indonesia and India, and India (intentionally mentioned twice).
• I am a churidhar freak. An intensely growing churidhar freak, to be precise. Got two more pieces today. One in baby pink, and the other in bright saffron. This comes less than two weeks after a dark blue piece, a multi coloured striped piece and a dark brown with large orange flowers piece. I find them traditionally, alluring. In fact, while we were shopping today I was swept of my feet by this gorgeous checked orange and green lightweight cotton saree. My target by month end.
• Today, I was a passenger in my sister's car. Zero conversation. This song of the day, playing in the background. And, tadaaaa - I hear every line of its lyrics. In detail. Moral of the story, you appreciate songs more in two situations. When, you are the driver and the only one in the car. And, when your are being driven, in silent conversation. Hmmm, I must be a mushy romantic, at heart.
• Imman Annachi is one guy, who makes me laugh like a senseless, nut. Have you seen his expression ? No, I wouldn't mind dating him. Seriously. A guy who makes a girl laugh genuinely, is a keepsake. 
• I need a personal ticker. For ???? For my countdown to the country where my soul resides. Yes, yes, yes. My soul lives in India. All over. It travels across all of its 28 states and 7 union territories. And, you know what ???? We are celebrating Deepavali in Pondicherry, where my maternal grandma lives. with a whole battalion of relations. Looking forward to a mega boisterous Festival of Lights.
• I have been doing huge amounts of research. It has been ages since I invested so much of energy into a level of analysis, as this.  No. Not for any thesis or project paper. For my vacation to India. Places I would like to visit. Things I would like to do. Ones I have yet to. Like stopping over at Kanathur Jaganath Temple along ECR. Hop over to Guindy National Park. Unwind at Sowkhya Ayurvedic Spa. Have breakfast at Balaji's Sandwich Stall opposite Elsa Mall in Egmore. Watch "Neethane En Ponvasantham" at Satyam's (oh, puhleez GVM.... hopefully a Deepavali release, with fingers crossed) Plenty more..... (will keep you all updated)
• It is 1.41am here in Sungai Petani, Kedah, Malaysia. My hometown. I have an early day tomorrow. It is the first day of the Tamil month of Puratasi, the holy month associated with my Lord Vishnu. And, yes, I am pure vegan for the next 30 days. So, good night..... God bless !!!!

Idicha Pacharisi from Uthama Puthiran

A super, super early Sunday morning for me. Rose at 6.15am and was out by 7.30am. A close gal pal of mine got hitched this morning. The semi hitch - the engagement, and it was in a temple on the island. I made it in time, despite a slight delay. Tying the saree, especially the "paatu" kind is not easy, mind you.... 

After the ceremony, we went back to her apartments and had breakfast. The place was happily, boisterous. A dose of what I needed more of. 

Stopped by a renowned temple on the mainland. Have been wanting to go there for months now. Glad I finally, made it. 

And, had mutton briyani for lunch, before heading back home..... 

This song brings a smile to the heart, and a flutter to the lips. No, you did not read it wrong. Intentionally written that way. Love is, indeed, as nutty as a fruit cake. 

These lines are constantly trailing my sanity. 

"என்னோட நீ சிரிச்சா, கண்ணீரை நீ துடைச்சா.....
வேறேதும் வேணாமே,  அது போதும்.....

ஏய் வீடு திரும்பையில, வாச தொறக்கையில.....
மஞ்சள் முகம் சிரிச்சா அதுபோதும்....."

Beautiful, is not it ? 

Off for a date. With the guy who makes me laugh for a whole hour. His name, is Iman Annachi and he comes on air at 4.30pm Malaysian time, on Adiyta Channel.

Have a beautiful week..... Keep smiling, keep rocking.....

God bless !!!!!