Column: The Good Life: for Mint Lounge
Hotel Mercer, Barcelona
Now that the Barcelona piece is out, I thought I'd upload some photos. Writers are closet photographers.
For Eat Stay Love on Barcelona
Barcelona is the gateway to the rich Catalan culture and cuisine
Old age
What’s the best way to navigate your way through old age? Shoba Narayan October 15, 2014 Updated: October 15, 2014 06:31 PM My mind has recently been full of sobering thoughts about death, taxes and ageing and the question of how to age gracefully? The literature on ageing lists many activities that can help us as we get older. Exercise is an obvious one, as is developing a close and nurturing group of friends and family. There is one virtue, however, that is underplayed in many studies about ageing and that is cultivating a passion. This is difficult to do, [...]
The big brooming business: for Mint Lounge
The big brooming business An acquaintance of mine, Chantal, called from New York the other day with a request: she needed brooms; lots of them. Could I source them from India? Chantal is a gaunt French-Algerian chain smoker. She says merde (shit) a lot; wears Dior rouge lipstick, and lots of moody grey Chanel eyeshadow. She used to be a hand model but now specializes in department store windows. Her job, she says, is to make mannequins “look like models”.Over Skype, Chantal explained her idea. She would decorate an entire department store with brooms. She had watched Prime Minister Narendra [...]
HumRaag
Chitra Srikrishna is a classical carnatic singer. She spent many years in the Bay area, which is why you haven't heard of her. She is a fantastic concert-level performer. Chitra and I collaborate on a show/performance called Hum Raag. The basic concept is "From film songs to classical music." What's it about? Okay, let me describe the scene. Chitra is sitting on the stage with a violinist and mridangist (drummer) on either side. I am the sutradhar-- standing on the side with my laptop. There is a projector and screen behind Chitra for my Powerpoint presentation. We start with a [...]
Procrastination
I have learnt how to procrastinate with furious efficiency Shoba Narayan October 7, 2014 Updated: October 7, 2014 05:40 PM It began innocently enough and took a fairly standard trajectory. Prodded by stray comments from the spouse, a sibling, a friend and a parent, I virtuously decided to make yet another effort to improve my life. As always, I began with grandiose plans that had no chance of being implemented. I would not begin my day by checking email. I would instead hug a child, a spouse, or at least a stuffed animal. I wouldn’t lie in a somnolent stupor [...]
What is Chitra Kavya?
I don't know about you, but I know precious little about Indian poetry. I have heard of Kalidasa but that's pretty much it. As a matter of fact, I don't know very much about poetry--let alone Indian poetry. In the last few months, I have embarked on this project to rectify that. Here is my first attempt. The history of Indian poetics goes back to 200 B.C. when Bharatha Muni compiled the Natyashastra. Poetry was accorded a high status in India. Poets were understood, enjoyed and venerated. Bharateeya Kavyashastra as it is called is replete with poets, critics, and connoisseurs [...]
Train Diary 4
The last of my beloved train diaries. For now. Train diary No.4: strangers and friends There are two types of people who travel on Indian trains: extrovert and introvert Shoba Narayan There are two types of people who travel on Indian trains: extrovert and introvert. Every compartment usually has both. There are the silent types who stare unblinkingly as you enter their compartment. There are others who smile and make room; and just when you are thinking of them as good prospects for sharing the night’s dinner, they ask you to exchange their upper berth for your lower one. That [...]
For British Airways magazine on Diwali Food
What Indians feast on during Diwali.
Train Diary 3 for Mint Lounge
Why do so few people talk to their fellow travellers on planes and why do some many talk to their neighbours on trains? I think it is because we view planes as mobile offices while train travel is time away from work; more like a vacation; a time to exhale and take stock; a time for diffused thought rather than focus; a time to relax. Planes produce the opposite effect. With no interruptions from colleagues or relatives, we pull out our computers and phones and get work done.