Merry Christmas by Sriram Raghavan! When you watch a movie and instantly remember the source of inspiration. You know exactly what the result would be and how the story would unfold. But, at the same time you always feel the Book would be better! I remember Reading the book last year. And a while later Realised the simplicity of the story. This is a slow burn, French Noir But having been adapted to the screen it could have been a little more edgier. The story is about two strangers who meet each other. One who is revisiting his home after 7 Years And the other who is out for dinner. They both go to the latter’s house and enjoy a drink! Then she remembers she has forgotten something and they go looking for it and are back home only to discover that her husband is killed ! This is when the story unfolds… And then this incident happens again With another man The plot thickens and slowly the mystery unravels. Merry Christmas is an inspiration and adaption of Bird in a Cage by Fredrick Dard a French noir writer and the film is now streaming on A popular Ott platform.
It might seem The southern part of India is my favourite. But, even I am not sure, what influences me to travel to that part of the country!
It was work for one part of it, It was sightseeing the Other Time and it was food and rejuvenation for this time.
All the sides of the South have so much to offer! Just like the other states of India! But, the flavours in the South are all so different.
While the common element remains the coconut in the flavours, Pepper and Masala in each of these states enhance the taste of the food.
South Indian Food
Kochi! Was such a food experience. The freshness of seafood, The softness of meat & Pork. The sharpness of Pepper and Rice and fullness of Appams was a treat every meal!
Backwaters Calmness and quietness through the journey in the boat was an experience of Stillness in a world of technology.
The Night at the Allepy snoozed us at 10 after another meal of Fish & Vegetable Stews!
The next morning we were back from the shores, not sure if we were ready to travel back into reality!
The heritage property where we stayed for another day in the city, was a museum with Vintage Cars, Camera, Projectors and an antique Radio system!
The whole Kochi experience wouldn’t have been complete without exploring Art Galleries & Independent stores that had so much to offer!
In terms of coffee, the Monsoon Malabar Roast is something you would enjoy the most. The Saltiness coming from the moisture in the air is what makes the coffee flavourful with the spice & nutty notes.
Stay:
Bloom Boutique hotel
Kumarakom Lake Resort & Boat
Eat:
Kashi Art Cafe: Asian Food & Eggs
Pandhal Cafe : Pizza, Tacos, Desserts, Coffee and Berry lemonade.
Brunton Boatyard: For South India food
Jew Town Cafe : Cold Coffee
French Toast : Coffee & Desserts
Shop:
David Hall
Pepper House
Jew Town
Hampi!
Virupaksha Temple, Hampi
Another city in the South was more about architecture and History with beautiful historic temples like Virupaksha Temple, Hemakuta Hill and Hazara Rama Temple are a must-visit on your visit to Hampi.
The Eco-friendly hotel at Hampi, felt like a restored heritage hotel, but in fact, was designed from scratch.
At Hampi, we were truly a tourist in our incredible India.
Hampi, had suddenly seen a spike of interest globally even the G20 was hosted in the city in 2023.
Stay:
Evolve Back Hotel
Bangalore!
Bangalore Palace
The IT hub! The widest roads in a metro city!
Where the joke for the city is.
IT professionals travel for about an hour on average to make apps and work for companies that promise delivery within 10 min.
The City, that’s clean & Green! A metro you would like to stay in if you have a choice!
The food options are many to choose from!
Andra-style south Indian food being our favourite.
But, the dessert and baking goods are one of the best in the city!
The city has a palace, whose architectural structure is like a British-style castle.
Book that was recommended by a friend, who was reading The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida A Booker Prize winner book by the author. The author of Chinaman too!
The moment I heard about the title! The Australian bowler Brad Hogg came to my mind a bowler who is known as the chinaman bowler.
The book was indeed the concept of the spin Balling and Bowler but in contemporary fiction writing.
Chinaman is a story about a retired sportsman W.G Karunsena who is dying.
He spends his final months drinking arrack. ( A traditional alcohol from Sri Lanka) upsetting his wife, ignoring his son & tracking down Pradeep Matthew an elusive spin bowler whom he considers the greatest Cricketer in the world.
On his Quest to find this unsung genius, W.G. uncovers a coach with six fingers, a secret bunker below a famous stadium, an LTTE warlord and startling truths about Sri Lanka, Cricket and himself.
The Book is one of the best books on Cricket and Sri Lanka I have come across and read.
Explaining, the whole concept of the game. The rules and the type of delivery bowled by a spinner.
The writer also believes what a perfect team should look like by giving his breakdown.
A perfect team should be:
Two solid openers
Three Aggressive batsman
Two genuine all-rounders
One Agile Wicketkeeper
Two unplayable fast bowlers
One Genius Spinner
The book is thought-provoking for a fan, reader and as a player from the sport. On the value and respect the sport offers.
“But, once in a while, the very best of them will bowl a ball and bring an entire nation to its feet. There isn’t any practical use in that, but there is certainly value “
The book also touches upon The Superstitions in cricket , the Betting & fixing.
The way he describes a single over is like a team going to war.
“An over is six bullets in a gun! I don’t mind firing some into the sky if one hits the target”
The struggles to keep dreams and hope alive for the sport We play because we have talent & passion.
But, talent will leave the game if you earn no money
With the pressure, outsiders have to deal with to prove themselves , Tamils have to be twice as good as Sinhalese to be recognised
A few true incidents in the sport are highlighted too one of them being the use of
Aluminium Bat by Dennis Lillee an Australian cricketer in 1978 Ashes used an aluminium bat.
On racism
On changing rules:
Whites have been writing the rules for centuries. It’s time we added ours.
The writer also in the book compares cricket to other sports like Table tennis: You switch services every 5 points and race to 21.
Badminton: You fight for service. only service grants you points.
Tennis: Four units of 15 constitute a game.
Games accumulate into sets.
Some keywords of the game:
All arounder:
A genuine all-around should be able to make the team on either bowling and batting skill alone. A genuine one is as rare as a punctual Sri Lankan.
Maiden over: A over of six balls when there aren’t any runs scored.
Follow on: When the team can’t score the sufficient runs required for the other side to play.
Carrom Ball: The ball is released by flicking of finger between the thumb and a bent middle finger in order to impart spin.
Chinaman: Is considered to be a leg-spin delivery by a left-arm bowler
The Lissa Ball a type of delivery was invented by Clarrie Grimmet Aussie player in 1930. Snapped his fingers along the ball axis and made it skid off the pitch, keeping low and often connected with the wicket.
Floater: A Traditional chinaman, but bowled with an open chest and shrug of the shoulder causing the ball to linger in the air
Double Bounce Ball: The Mystery of Mystery Balls. A ball that bounces and changes direction twice.
In the Year 2023, I read a few books on Disability characters, And all of them have been written around in the last decade They all have had a personal connection with the author and the story.
The disability ranging from intellectual to physical disabilities. Have only made it more human to have a sense of fulfilment of how fortunate they are those who haven’t gone through any of these experiences, that challenges ones existence for a small task that seem simple to the ones who are completely mobile or have all their senses functioning to the fullest.
Whether it was The housekeeper and the professor. A story about a professor who has only 80 minutes of memory in a day and he likes to associate with numbers. To Elena a story about a missing daughter and a mothers struggle to find her daughter while the mother is suffering from Parkinson’s.
To the injustice the disabled have to deal with in the “disability visibility by Alice Wong.”
To a child who suffers from autism is being curious about a dogs death and how he associates certain daily activities for his day or week to go by.
“True Biz about Deafness “in a world that can see. Through sign language one could learn to communicate with another deaf person.
“Tomorrow Tomorrow Tomorrow “protagonist who has been physically hurt by an accident. And how he has to bring certain changes into his life.
These stories have been pushing the acceptance of what these disabilities are and why one shouldn’t take advantage and be more considerate to the ones who have to deal with so much from the ones around them.
These stories aren’t just about children, but also about Adults who have more challenges to face than the younger ones.
While these are the books! The question that comes to mind is Films and television.
What controls them & stops them from adapting these stories, that could have a wider reach and be more influential in accepting disabilities?
These books out there only have pushed the boundaries of acceptance of the existence of disabilities that we haven’t made any arrangements for.
Best Books on Disability: I have Read
Disability Visibility by Alice Wong
Elena Knows by Claudia Pinerio
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the night-time by Mark Haddon
Is another city altogether. With quite a few hotel options and so many restaurants and places to choose from.
Goa has tried balancing the two sides very well!
Even the MOPA airport has been done up so well! With shopping options and food options available at the airport.
On my recent visit from Nashik to North Goa.
I was impressed with Goa. It had been years since I visited as a tourist. And being a complete foodie! I did not miss any of the restaurants that were on the other side of Goa.
I had a completely new list of places to explore in north Goa.
Some of the places, that we managed to explore and enjoy in our 48 Hrs In Goa.
Hosa: A Coastal cuisine restaurant in Goa that
is beautifully done up in a 100-year-old Portuguese Villa that was restored by the same hospitality group that also has Indian Accent and Comorin under them. Two very popular restaurants they have been listed as one of the best places to Eat & drink annually in the world best.
The Muttonpepper Ghee Roast and coconut Shrimp were the two things we tasted and enjoyed from the menu.
A sure shot must visit during your visit to Goa.
Assa House:
A French restaurant in North Goa that shouldn’t be missed by any foodie!
The menu is done by French Chef Alexis Gielbaum who was the chef at Souffle & Slink & Bardot.
Both of the restaurants that I had visited and had meals too.
The Onion French soup at Soufle and the interiors of Slink & Bardot would remind you a lot of it at Assa House. The Baked Alaska, The Clams in Pesto Butter Sauce, The Sea Bass and the Pork Belly were so good! A perfect recommendation for a light meal with a great ambience.
Sakana Goa: A Japanese Restaurant that has been opened by an Israeli-Israeli-Japanese couple is a must-visit for Japanese food. The interiors can be enjoyed during the day as well as at night with green gardens and trees around as you walk in. The Miso Calamari was a different palate but a great combination. The Pork belly Zucchini roll wais s soft & smooth they just melted right away. The Sea Bass in Teriyaki sauce two combinations that we couldn’t get enough of.
These are all not to be missed. Burger Factory: Juicy meaty or leafy burgers. Burger Factory Burger will remind you of the typical American burgers and fries. The Zucchini fries were crispy and yummy! The Pork Cheddar bacon burger, Avocado and truffle and BBQ Pork Bacon were so well made!
Babka: A cafe that was tiny, but packed with surprises. The Tiramisu & the Salted Eclaris were so Good! Only if we were not dripping in the heat! We would have had more! G-Shot:A coffee space more than bakes! The Vegan Vietnamese Coffee with Cashew Butter! Had heard so much about the space! And with coffee, it did not fail.
A K H I L N A N D A 