The Indian summer makes outdoor eating a rather difficult proposition, except during the winter. And when the setting is such, within the City Palace at Udaipur, how can you pass up the chance to grab a quick bite under the umbrella, enjoying theĀ people and the ambiance around you?
Tell us about a memorable meal from your travels!
Traditionally, the mantra Om Mani Padme Hum is written in Sanskrit on the outside of the wheel. Also sometimes depicted are Dakinis, Protectors and very often the 8 auspicious symbols Ashtamangala. According to the Tibetan Buddhist tradition based on the lineage texts regarding prayer wheels, spinning such a wheel will have much the same meritorious effect as orally reciting the prayers. – Wikipedia.com
From the back cover:
Servants of the Goddess weaves together the heartbreaking, yet paradoxically life affirming stories of five devadasis – Women, in the clutches of an ancient fertility cult, forced to serve the gods. Catherine Rubin Kermorgant sets out attempting to make a documentary film about the lives of present-day devadasis. Through her, we meet and get to know the devadasi women of Kalyana, a remote village in Karnataka. As they grow to trust Kermorgant and welcome her as an honorary sister, we hear their stories in their own words, stories of oppression and violence, but more importantly, of resistance and resilience. Kermorgant becomes a part of these stories and finds herself unwittingly enmeshed in a world of gender and caste bias which extends far beyond Kalyana, all the way to Paris, where the documentary is to be edited and produced. Servants of the Goddess is a testament to women’s strength and spirit and a remarkably astute analysis of gender and caste relations in today’s rural India.
The great fun of driving down to a hill station, for me, is those long, winding roads, when you look down and see a river winking back at you from far below. The clear water, rocky outcrops, dancing waves at intervalsā¦itās a sight to refresh you no matter how tired you are!
What refreshes you on a long drive?
More pictures and travel information for Lancedown
Imagine walking down a hilly road, admiring the trees and the plants, watching the road snake ahead of you.
Imagine coming around a bed as the sun is starting its descent.
Imagine seeing this little cottage in the middle of a small clearing abutting a church, surrounded by greenery, the area around it carpeted with flowers, the sun filtering through the trees.
Imagine sitting on the parapet that runs above the area, with the wind whistling through your hair, wondering what purpose the cottage serves.
Does it belong the fairies? Do they come there to play?
Does it belong to the gnomes? Have they hidden their gold in there?
Or does it belong to the church? Have they used it as the store house for broken pews and forgotten ephemera?
Take a look at some more pictures from Lancedown and read about the place
Happiness is a human birthright for everyone. ā The Dalai Lama
One way to be kind to ourselves is to be able to choose happinessā¦and the way to do that, I believe, is to choose positivity. We can focus on everything that is wrong around us ā the unfairness of a colleague getting promoted ahead of you, not having āenoughā friends (whatever enough means) ā or we can acknowledge those things, but focus on the things that are right ā having the time to do the things you love, perhaps.
If you take a few moments to think about it, youāll realize that there probably are a whole bunch of positive emotions or experiences that you arenāt even aware of. Thereās so much to be grateful for each and every dayā¦ each and every minuteā¦your very life, each breath, each action that you take for granted ā walking, talking, smelling, seeing ā is a miracle.Continue reading
āBuy this dress!ā āGo on this holiday!ā āLook at this shiny new gadget that will change your life!ā
Buy these things, the advertisements tell us, and youāll be breaking out of the ordinary.
But, whatās so bad with ordinary anyway?
Look behind those screaming advertisements. Thereās a case to be made for an ordinary life. A life filled with love, laughter, companionship. A life where you have the time and energy to be present with your loved ones. Where people matter more than material objects. Itās a life filled with contentment, love, play, friends, family.Continue reading
Located on Fifth Avenue between 40th and 42nd streets, The New York Public Library with its two stone lions guarding the entrance is an iconic building. Iād seen pictures of the library, and being book obsessed, I knew that it would make it to my list of places to visit in New York City.Continue reading
I was introduced to the concept of a personal mission statement at a corporate training years ago. At the time, I tried really hard to come up with a mission statement for my life. I failed.
Over the years, I’ve given it a try a couple of times. I’ve always failed.
Then I came across some awesome manifestos (like my personal favorite, the Holstein manifesto). While I found some of them inspiring, I never could come up with one that was ME.
This inability to come up with a manifesto for my life has made me feel like a failure of sorts.
It took a very wise man – the husband, in fact – to show (or rather tell) me why I have always failed at it.
The reason is simple. So simple that I feel like a fool for not seeing it for myself. Continue reading
Have you ever created a to-do list and then wondered how youāre going to ever get all of it done? I have. More times than I can count. At the height of my insanity, I had a to-do list that was a page long. Crazy? You betcha! {And in case youāre wondering, I never did manage to cross much off that list.}
I canāt remember the number of times Iāve made a huge-ass list and then felt exhausted just looking at it! To top it all, half of the things on that list would have to be repeated in a week or two. {Yes, I included things like buy groceries before the pantry is bare, and put in the laundry before we run out of clothes to wear.} Needless to say, I just about managed to do things when ignoring them was no longer an option.
Now, though, Iām the queen of conquering to-do lists {errā¦when it is my queenly desire to do so}. Itās quite simple, and seeing as I am in a benevolent mood, Iāll share my inspired process with you. You’re welcome.
Step 1: Create a master list. This one is going to be huge. On it, youāll list out everything your little heart desires to achieve. Keep adding to it; make it as long as you want. Do not look at it and panic. Move to step two.
Step 2: Create a ātoday listā. This one will stem from your master list. Make sure you donāt have more than 4-5 things on it. And ensure that at least 2 of them are fun things so you donāt feel like the biggest drudge on the face of the earth. Youāre welcome.
Ta-da! In no time at all, youāll be the queen of to-do lists!
Got your own to-do list inspiration to share?