An Attempt at Dissecting the Mallu Landscape

I just could not help taking a crack at it. The interpretation of course might work for some while others I am sure can throw a lot more insight into the above picture. The one above (with the red arrows) show the exhibits that I try to explain while if you click the below (unmarked) photo it will show the finer details of the same.

The setting is the Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Trivandrum. A truly great architectural wonder. And just as you step inside there is a board which goes something like “entry restricted to those who profess Hinduism”. Strictly speaking I should not have been allowed anywhere near the temple but the implicit assumption seems to be that appearances and skin color profess one’s religion. And so I entered.

As for the picture, let’s see. (If it’s too small just click on the below picture and it will blow up enough)

A. An attempt at modernization. Some genius official must have had the brainwave of computerizing the temple and put this utterly useless appendage of technology here.

B. And just in case you think the computer is wrong you can always clarify it with the person there:-). So who is redundant, man or machine?

C. A DYFI (Democratic Youth Federation of India, a communist party) red flag. Notice the buildings on the side of the roadway have political flags sticking out. Some communist. Some secular. And some right wing. But mind you only Hindus allowed inside the temple.

D. The ubiquitous mallu chetans. They are part of the landscape. Always.:-)

E. Cars owned by the new wave info tech / gulf return/ US nursing people.

All in all a very gently jostling of a lot of ideologies. And if you were there in person, you can also smell the curd rice and pappadums emanating from the agraharas (dwellings where the Brahmins live) around.

Visiting One's Relatives

Visiting relatives in Trivandrum during the late 80’s as a kid was just a matter of holding mom’s hand and running around a new household as the adults discussed worldly matters and sorted out serious family relations. Of course this was after the customary cheek pulling and the oh-he-has-changed-a-lot remarks. Then followed the snacks, mainly some biscuits (Milk Bikis, Marie etc.), a mug full of watery chaaya (in all my experiences the Trivandrum chaaya is the worst) and if one got lucky some Vaazhakkya (banana) chips. Then when the load shedding (compulsory power cuts in TVM) starts my parents suddenly remember that they have to be elsewhere and beat a hasty retreat.

Now that I am grown and old, visiting relatives has become trickier. I cannot wander about the new house at will, munch on goodies nor just ignore what was happening and browse the TV. I have to be part of the group discussion.

Recently I had gone visiting and was watching my nephews with envy as they both attacked the tray kept in front of them. And as there was no TV I was forced to listen to what was being discussed. The topics discussed were varied and I doubt if any of the participants had a point to make other than to wait till the tray was emptied by the kids.

The talks started with a detailed analysis of a legal agreement which all of the elders present decreed was fraudulent. On reaching this conclusion smug smiles passed between all and through no logical connect the interest of the group switched to Sudoku. Thankfully it was just a small digression before we all became fully animated in unearthing what was the latest fad in robbery. I had to listen twice to make sure I was hearing right but yes. It was robbery that these people were discussing. My aunt was absolutely convinced that the in- thing was daylight robbery when the owners were inside the house. My uncle and cousins were insistent that such acts were more fruitful if committed in the night and when the house is empty. Each had at least 2 examples to substantiate their views.

I decided to stay in the background as none of the matters discussed were my specialty. That the discussion was a means to reach 8:00 in the night was evidenced by the fact that the whole party stood up abruptly at the said time and started bidding byes to my uncle and gravitated towards the exit. I however could have been mistaken because exactly at 8 my cousin reached over acrobatically to polish off an unniappam (sweet dish) from the tray and found to her consternation that her sons were already digesting the unniappam.

Whatever be the reason I feel the small talk of the “adults” matter little and it’s the kids who dictate the time spent when visiting relatives.

Quote of the Year

They are not hiring too much intelligent people also!

- on the hiring process of a certain Bangalore based company

Leaving Singapore

Last night in this country and I feel I'll miss this place a lot. The past 7 months have taken me to places I never even knew existed and now I'm going back to India to journey back to the US. It pains me to say I do not look forward to that trip at all. Why?

1. Because I cant walk to a Kopitiam or 7 eleven and munch on something whenever I want.
2. The public transport in chapel hill is literally non existant.
3. No more curry chicken, pepper crab, chicken rice and ice coffe. No more spices!!!!
4. No more badminton and soccer.
5. I'll have to start looking for a job real seriously! :-)

Veeramaakaliamman Temple - Singapore

The first Hindu Temple that was built by the Indian Labourers in Singapore. Interestingly this was built by bengali convict-coolies who were brought to Singapore as cheap labour after being tried for their mutiny in 1857. Therefore the main deity is Durga. However the temple absorbed the Tamil influence over the centuries and now the bengali influence is hardly discernable.


The gopuram as you step into the temple. Typical Tamil Architecture.


Well I am from Madurai after all!


Devotees lining up to get the Dharisanam! This could be any temple in Tamil Nadu.

National Museum of Singapore

To understand the History of Singapore one has definitely got to visit the national museum of Singapore. How a land of coconut trees, marshes and natives full of villas surrounded by thick foliage has transformed into this bustling megapolis. The one reminder of those times (though fast disappearing) are the majestic trees that you find in Singapore.


The National Museum of Singapore, located right next to the Orchard multiplex in Dobhy Ghaut is just a short walk from City Hall MRT.


Where time stood still. The albums in the round tea tables contain some of the most wonderful pictures of early Singapore and Singaporean life.


And while at the National Museum be prepared to run into wedding shoots like this one. I think the dome makes for great diffused light and its a photographers treat (at least thats my completely baseless theory). I think this couple is Malay. I put the picture up in sepia because somehow i feel weddings should be timeless and colour brings a certain reality to the picture that diminishes that quality.

Little India Singapore

Little India is the Tamil concentrated area in Singapore. It is in direct contrast to the rest of the city, where traffic and pedestrian thoroughfare is very organized. Step into Little India and you get a taste of what we Indians can do to trafiic rules. Also located here is the famous Mustafa Center. A behemoth shopping center crammed with almost everything under the world. Watchout for the crowds during weekends though.



Shakuntalas in Serangoon Road on a cloudy day.

The Attack of The Machines

And as the unsuspecting human prey jaunts down the lane, to my horror, the bright yellow metallic fingers close in menacingly......


The brass flower. It has no fragrance.

The Grand Palace - Thailand

The grand palace in Thailand was a great experience for me. Anyone who loves the Ramayana should visit this palace. The murals that adorn the walls literally speak volumes through its pictures. Statues of Ravana(Totsakan in Thai), Hanuman and Garuda look down at the visitors from their man made perches.


Just in case you do go there, the one method that you can distinguish between the Vanaras and the Asuras is that the former do not wear shoes.

Phang Nga

The town of Phang Nga. Where time stopped. I am lazing out with the words. Its the best place to be in the world. Take me back there any time and I'll jump at the opportunity.


The famous Phang Nga Bay. This is the bay from where boats take you into the magical Andaman Ocean. Crystal Clear waters and limestone rocks. And a surreal(though slightly commercialized) village on stilts in the middle of the ocean.


The Thai Muang Beach Stretch. The nesting grounds for endangered turtles. The sandy beach stretches for miles and miles.


Suwanna Kuha (The Golden Cave)A cavernous temple with Budha statues. Very calm and quiet place to be.


The small town of Takua Pa is the closest town to Kao Lak. This town has chinese history dating back centuries from their trade relations with the Sino people.

Botanical Gardens

The botanical gardens of Singapore grow some of the most amazing plants from around the world. The orchids, a staple of the tropical countries, are a feast to the eyes. And if you go on weekends the whole atmosphere is amazing. People walking their dogs, kids playing and fitness freaks jogging their way to healthy living. A really awesome place to visit in Singapore.


A sweeping view of the garden.


Looks like Japan?


The famous orchids.

Singapore Jurong Bird Park

The famous Jurong bird park. The second time and the experience was better because I had a camera :-). Be careful! These birds bite.


I wonder why the birds dont fly away and they all stick to their own designated territories. Weird!!


This is sure to cause atleast one heart attack a day. And it was just a couple of feet above my head.


Banana Bird!

Those Singapore Days

Nothing captures my days in Singapore more than these picture. Sitting by the river, glory days with an uncertain future sitting alone on the river side, watching the sun set on the busy asian super city. Singapore certainly has set the standards on public safety and government credibility.

4 Korean Must See Movies

For a long time, having been bombarded with the (B/H)ollywood light romances, I got to watch 4 Korean light hearted movies. I just loved them. If you are looking for good movies here they are. All are available in youtube I think.

Yeopgijeogin geunyeo (My Sassy Girlfriend):

A real light romantic comedy. And mind you, I am not one who generally watches mush. But this really blew me away.

Oldeumiseu Daieori geukjang-pan (Old Miss Diary):

A really delightful movie. Mills and Boon type.

Il Mare: This is one of the best shot mush movies. The original from which "The Lakehouse" was adapted. And I am quite delighted to say that Hollywood as usual screwed the original by steamrolling all the subtleties and depth of the movie. Well, with Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock in the american version you know what to expect.

The whole world is melting. Quite literally. That’s what the elite are hysteric about. Picture yourself the apocalyptic movies that regularly are released in Hollywood (where of course it’s always NY that’s submerged in a huge deluge of tsunamic waves). They are of course talking about Global Warming.

Well at the risk of sounding outright stupid and myopic I don’t think India and China ought to give a hoot about it. If not this there is some other impending disaster. And I think the argument that the developing giants India and China put forward is quite valid. You contributed to the pollution. You better clean up. When we reach developed status we will think about it. Meanwhile enact laws that show us how to do it.

It is laughable that the US, a major polluter (in every sense of the word) is always engaged in talks to save the world, and is yet too smart to commit to anything concrete before the G20 summit in Copenhagen this coming December.

This though is a very myopic and impassioned view to take. However the way I see it, there is a lot that these countries have to contend with. The least important being global warming. It’s a question of providing for the needy now, or for our grandchildren. Well the answer quite simply is to take care of our own needy right now and then join the developed countries in saving the green earth after 50 years.

Titas Ekti Nadir Naam

(Ao Nam Mao, Thailand)

Ayuthaya - A trip to relive the Centuries

When I first started out to travel to Ayutthaya by land, a journey almost a 1000 kms, I had my misgivings as to how much I would enjoy the journey. On hindsight, I am very glad that I took it up.

Ayutthaya is named after Ayodhya and hence is filled with rich cultural layers of history if you know anything about Indian and South East Asian mythologies. Every structure was so exquisite even in its ruin that you just can’t help but try envisioning it during it’s hey days. The whole city must have been built like the mythical universe, with Mount Meru at the center and the seven seas surrounding it. All adorned by thousands of Buddha sculptures in various states of decay. The decay though touches only the stone. Not the expression of the idols. It does send a sense of disquiet when even after centuries of ravages by humans and elements the statues still smile gracefully at the visitors. I think they win in the end. Not even nature but the statues.

This trip has aroused in me a real desire to take a look at Angkor Wat. If for nothing else but to see how megalomania and grandeur combine into heady art. No man can describe what they think when they walk alone amongst these ruins. Before I get philosophical let me post a couple of pictures that I took that I liked during the trip.

Lychees and Bao Tse in Bangkok

The rest have been gobbled up. These Lychees are just delicious. And Bao Tse, that dish that my good friend Shen Jen introduced me and Pradeep to just melts in your mouth. This one is for all the steaming we did in Alta Springs!!
By the way. Bangkok and Suwarnabhumi are way better than our Indian airports again. Damn I'm feeling sad about our airports. I am kicking myself not to have taken pictures of Suwarnabhumi. I think I'll take it when I leave Bangkok.The other thing that struck me was the absence of oppressive touts dragging customers to their cabs outside the airport.
In Bangalore or in Chennai it would be impossible to get a decent cab ride from the airport to anywhere without getting swindled if you do not know the language or the lay of the land.

Curry Chicken!

I saw this dish first when Neha was hogging it down at "Aunty's Wok" and I reluctantly tasted a spoonful of it. And that was enough to get me hooked onto it. Its delicious. Its creamy, has coconut and well cooked chicken and potatos. Malaysian cooking rocks. If ever travelling to the east please please do not hesitate to try this dish out. Even for the non adventurous Indian (who always flock around the only Indian Stall in a food court because they think everyone else eats squishy fishy stuff) this is a must try!

Changi Airport

People who have not been to India think its this scalding hot juggernaut of an economy which is unstoppable. Oh boy are they wrong! I just stepped into a plane from the airport in Chennai and arrived in Singapore Changi airport and the difference is huge. I really doubt Indian's abilities to maintain an airport this big this clean. In fact I would go so far and say it is not going to happen in the next 10 years. I bet my worthless life on it.
This is changi Airport and the only people I found squatting around on the floor was an Indian Family!!

Camera Atlast!!

Atlast! I have a camera. A Singapore Mustafa product. Its quite a nice little thing. Now I think I have an incentive to post. What used to take me an hour to describe I now just click and put it up!So much for my writing skills. But as my time is a wee little crunched I just might have to stick to clicking pictures and annotating them with comments. How I wish I could write something "intense". Well maybe till I get the mood I'll just click and frame my travels. You guys might see what my eyes missed. Dont expect world class photography. This is just me and my pocket gadget and some random pics.