Japan-Kamakura

Kamakura boasts a heritage comparable with that of Kyoto and Nara. You can experience the charm of many ancient temples and shrines, including the famous Great Buddha statue. It can be reached by train in 30min. from Yokohama.So after reaching Shiz's house in Yokohama,me and Shiz headed out to Kamakura.The huge Buddha statue was lovely and it was great to walk around all the lovely temples,cookie stores and the highlight of the while trip was the jinrikisha which is a rikshaw being pulled by a person.There are no jinrikisha's in Japan anymore and it was quite an experience to sit in the traditional mode of transport and see the historical town.

Japan-Shiz's Family-Home away from home.

One of the weekend's I went to Yokohama,thats where Shizuka stays.I started in the morning and within two hours I was in Yokohama.Shizuka was at the station waiting to pick me up.We headed straight home and met Kumi,Shiz's mom.Pretty and adorable-just like all the lovely mom's Ive met.We had a lovely lunch of miso soup-my fav and some salad and rice and beef.
After lunch we headed to Kamakura.By the time we came back from Kamakura we were quite tired so we headed home.After some lovely green tea we were quite rejuvenated to join the family for dinner.Being invited to Shiz's place had me quite excited.I hadnt been home in over a year.And just the thought of having dinner with a family was quite overwhelming.After I met her dad and her sis and bro I was missing home so bad.Her dad was sweet and we spoke about the Indian flute music that he likes and cute,sweet and shy Mi-chan spoke about kendo at school and Kazuki,Shiz's bro was quiet but when it came to music he had loads to tell.He is a DJ and was interested in Goa Psychedelic trance which even I wasnt sure about ：）.
Me and Shiz headed out for a drink and came back very late to find Kumi waiting for us.I felt quite gulity and quickly went to bed.Woke up late the next day to see that the whole family was waiting for me to wake up so that we could have breakfast together.Ouch..Guilt strikes again.
I had a great time.Love that family.That was my home away from home.
Thank you Otosan,Kumi,Mi-chan,Kazuki and Shiz.
Otosan has promise to trek Fuji san with me.Remember Otosan?
Miss you all.

Love the Japanese Yukata -



Yukata is a much simpliifed version of the Japanese Kimono.It is basically simple summer cotton kimono.Much simpler to wear and much more comfortable to walk in.
I had taken a fascination for the Yukatas and Zori（wodden chappals）while in Japan.I actually bought them with me when i came back.Havent had much ocassions to wear the Yukata except office Japanese functions but I have been using a lot of the Zori.Quite trendy I must say.Looks awesome and goes very well with any kind of dressing.They actually go "clank-clank".Though you so have to get used to the chappals before you can walk on the roads with potholes ：）

Food I ve tested ,tried and liked - Egyptian,Turkish and Tanzanian

Egyptian food was great.Loved the Falafal and Humus and egyptian bread by the river Nile in Cairo.

Turkish meal of Shish Kebap and Kashkek are unbeatable.Lots of meat but very delicious in the tiny cobbled street shop of Istanbul.Wash it all down with Raki-Turkish Spirit or Turkish Tea.Your choice.Both are as good.Tanzanian Food-Food all over Africa ia almost similar.Dip into the Ugali or cassava or rice or other dish with the three fingers of the right hand, and once you have mastered this you will find the taste of the food quite different. You discover how to "work" the stew and vegetables into a loose ball of the right texture so that you can bring it to your mouth without dripping.

Ethopian Food is a mix of African and Middle eastern food.The spicy vegetables and the kik alicha are delicious.Beef and lamb stews flavored with a rousing dark-red hot sauce, and wonderful vegetarian dishes seasoned with complex spice blends, all eaten with pieces of injera, a spongy flat bread with the enticing flavor of sourdough.

Food I ve tested ,tried and liked -Japanese

Lets talk about food.My favourite topic :)
Indian food is any day my favourite but Japanese comes a close second.I always like trying food of that country ,in that country.Coz nothing beats that authenticity.Indian food in India is unbeatable obviously.

Japanese food was the most interesting cuisine I tried.I love Sushi especially the fresh Oyster Sushi.I was a frequent visitor to the Sushi Bars in Tokyo.Ramen(Noodles in soup) was my daily dinner for about a year and I am a great fan of the same.Tempura(fried Veggies and seafood) and Nabe.Yum!Love Osaka for Okonomiyaki(large, savory pancakes made with diced seafood, meat and vegetables) and Takoyaki(Made chopped boiled octopus, pickled ginger, scallions, and rice crispies).

Natto - Stinky fermented beans which have long sticky white substannce oozing out of it and which smells of stinky socks is a hot favourite in Japan but was just not for me.

Edamame-raw green pea sods are great with beer.Raw chopped octopus with mint leaves are a great to go along with original Japanese beer and sake.

Beaten eels on sticks and packed cute bento lunches...miss em all.

I can go on endlessly about Japanese food.Love it completely.

My best form of expression-My Paintings -

I have been painting for a while.I used to do water earlier and then moved to oils.
I dont paint much in a year but I do paint whenever I feel strongly about something or somebody.I have painted when I have been very hurt ,very angry,very happy or very in love.Its the only form of expression that helps me vent out whatever is caged in me. If I am very happy all I can do is jump,smile for a while and then I dont know what to do to let that happiness come out.So I paint.And after I have painted,It just feels like my happiness is all over and all around me and I feel so contented.When I am upset or angry,its the same story,If i speak I ll speak rubbish and there is no way I can express what I am feeling to anybody and I dont expect anybody to be able to understand what and how and why about my feelings and thoughts running in my head at that point of time and so I paint.After the painting is complete,I feel like I have expressed myself the best I could and my ire just poofs away. And then there are times when I am very very hurt or very touched,overwhelmed by some feeling,overwhelmed by some person,action,thoughts.At such times,I might be able to describe what I am feeling but I feel that nobody would understand how profound the hurt or the importance of that person or relationship in my life is;and so I paint.I paint about that feeling,about that relationship,about those thoughts.I paint for that person or for that dream which/who affects me so deeply.

The paintings I have made in Bangalore are `Calm Rage` ,one of my favourites which I made when i was trying to get back to my equanimity after a terrible fit of rage.Then there is something called `Tears`,dont have to explain much about that I am sure.Then there is the optimistic `Life goes on`.
And then I have some very personal paintings,Soul Mesh,Ittaikan-this means oneness or togetherness,then there is Jim Morrison and Grateful dead.
Soul Mesh is a set of 2 paintings called `soul mesh`.Both of them together form what I wanted to depict there. I did not name them when I painted them or even after I painted them.I did not name them 6 months after I painted them.I named them last night.
Currently I am working on the biggest and most important painting I have ever made,not just in size but in thought and time.In this painting I am trying to evince my past one year and the thoughts and my relationship with the most important person in my life.Hope it turns out well.