June 8 2008 Delhi

Couldn't write my Blog last week-end, because we travelled to Bangalore and Mysore.Both were nice and cool,with plenty of rains.
Our arrival in Bangalore coincided with the Swearing ofthe first BJP Govt South of the Vindhyas.Our Flt landed at the new airport on Bangalore - Hyderabad road, a good hour's drive from the city. Tried to enter the city to meet a friend for dinner, but gave up half -way, beacuse of traffic jams caused by jubilant BJP supporters flocking the city from the rural areas.Stayed at the Jalahalli BEL Guest House set out in a beautifully designed garden. Went out to eat at Neelam resturant close to Ramaiah( Engineering & Medical) College, especialising in Andhra cuisine . It was packed with students and tourists, guzzling beer and tucking in heaps of hot Andhra curries poured over steamed rice on a late Friday evening.

The drive from Bangalore to Mysore early next morning was pleasant with our usual halt for " Tiffin" at Kamath restaurant midway setb in a pleasing rural ambience. It was packed with almost 200 customers being served by 'Dhoti Kurta'- clad waiters with various south Indian delicacies.
It was almost noon by the time we reached the Farmhouse on Mysore -Hunsur ( Mangalore) road on the outskirts of Mysore,where my father in law lives with his son and family. The Essar petrol station started by my brother in law about one year ago was locked up . It could not cope with the highly subsidised rates at which the Govt owned gas stations sell petrol and diesel. The garden and my brother- in- law's "aviary" and dog kennels were however, doing well,as also the rest of the family trying to lead their Kanpur life in the deep south.

On Sunday, I went around some nearby Nurseries, ate farm fresh fruits and rested at my "Sasural". Early Monday morning,set out for Bangalore and came back to Delhi late evening.

Delhi weather continues to be very unusual, with a persiestent cloud cover and intermittent rain.

Yesterday(Saturday) Shailey and I spent almost three hours in Jan- Path and CP, shopping and looking around. Picked up some music CDs. The Cottage Industries Emporium continues to be our favourite place. Some one selecting the merchandise there, still does a good job of a government enterprise, in the most un- govt activity- selling handicrafts. It is one of the oldest relics of Delhi's attempts to show case the arts and crafts of India, soon after Independence. I feel proud that our family contibuted to this effort in no small measure with Ratna Ji and her husband Mr Fabri designing the interiors of the Cottage Industries Emporium for several years since its inception in the early Fifties.Old Delhiites will remember that the sophisticated and artistically inclined met at the CIE in the fifties thu seventies.


Today ( Sunday), we saw "Sarkar Raj",the new Ram Gopal Verma release starring the entire Bachchan family, minus Jaya, at the City Walk PVR in Saket, after a south Indian meal at "Naivaidyam" in Hauz Khas Village. The outing was with the Sawhney's our Samdhis,thanks to the energy & initiative of Shubhi, their young daughter.
" Sarkar Raj" very well acted ,but the story line was weak . So it tended to drag.

Sorry no photos this time,although the city panorama over Delhi looks very green and fresh. But I have the Langda mangoes, Muzzaffar Pur Leechis and Bombay Alphonsoes to look forward to the coming week.

A very happy week ahead.

Love