Column: The Good Life: for Mint Lounge
Train diary No.1: we’re all in it together for Mint Lounge
Nothing matches the high drama of a train departure. Where else can you run beside the train, holding on to hand, finger, then little finger, then scarf, before letting go and waving till the train disappears. You certainly cannot run after an airline; and you’d bump into the passing cow if you tried this stunt in inter-city buses. Trains are designed for our sort of goodbye. Everyone is running, sobbing, yelling out instructions, and then frantically waving goodbyes and asking the traveller to call the moment the train reaches destination.
Serendipity
In shrinking urban spaces, there are a few locations that bring together intellectuals and ideas on a daily basis. In Bangalore, Koshy’s, the much loved coffee shop, is one such location. Cobalt Blue, a new shared-office space, aspires to be another. Part of the reason you visit these spaces is because you don’t know whom you will meet or what you will encounter. Of course, some of these encounters can be unnerving—the classic one being when you run into your ex at a location that was special to you.
For The National Abu Dhabi on Pittsburgh
This steel city has a lot going on in food, shopping and culture.
For Silverkris on Aikido
Digital magazines are getting better and better. Silverkris has a nice section called "Been There," which talks about activities and locations. I am working on two pieces for this section. Here is the first one on a martial art that is close to my heart: Aikido. You can read it in the gorgeous magazine here. Or clicking the link below. They have me on the Contributors page here. Been There Aikido
The unfairness of airline food descriptions: for Mint Lounge
This was published in Mint using verb-consonant. An attentive read, said "Surely you mean vowel, not verb." Indeed. ‘Mor kuzhambu’ or ‘kadhi’: the name game Menu descriptions are an art, somewhat like matrimonial ad descriptions Shoba Narayan Travelling without moving The name of the dish matters. Photo: Thinkstock The unfairness of menu descriptions struck me on a recent flight. Here is the menu that was handed out to us on British Airways. “Seared fillet of British lamb with béarnaise sauce, roasted potatoes, runner beans and butternut squash.” I am vegetarian but the sound of this got my saliva [...]
Defending Alia Bhatt
In which I defend Alia Bhatt. Listen here or below
Robin Williams
Even though he was over the top and occasionally overwrought in his movies, we each have our Robin Williams favorites. Whether it was the charismatic professor of Dead Poet’s Society; or the husband who dressed up as a housekeeper in Mrs. Doubtfire; or the suburban Dad leading his family on an RV vacation; Williams outplayed his costars and sucked up oxygen on screen.
Perfectionist children
Of course, the below can be seen as a long-winded excuse from a non-perfectionist. :) Failure is an important stopover on the road to success Shoba Narayan August 19, 2014 Updated: August 19, 2014 05:49 PM Are children these days becoming perfectionists? Whether it’s playing water polo or learning Spanish, I watch children attempt an activity, quickly calibrate if they will be good at it and then decide whether to continue with it. “I am not good at it,” is an often-given reason for not pursuing a skill, talent or musical instrument. I read the book, The Confidence Code: The Science [...]
Musicians and Nakhras
My kind of artiste is a little more emotional; a little more frail and temperamental; full of insecurities and ideologies about what music can and should do. My kind of artiste is not a perfectly “cracked vessel”, like the Korean celadon glazes. Today’s artistes and musicians are this way: just cracked enough to be interesting; with just enough ego to be taken seriously; and professional enough to schedule multiple performances in multiple continents with discipline and rigour.
From thin to fat
Both my brother and I were painfully thin while growing up, which in Chennai was a bad thing. My Mom gave us strange concoctions to fatten us up-- raw eggs with milk was the worst-- to no effect. Now I am finally confronting my slowing metabolism with wonder (I've gained weight!) and shock. And finally, I am exercising. I’m going to keep up my fitness regime, even if it kills me Shoba Narayan August 12, 2014 Updated: August 12, 2014 05:34 PM The women in my kick-boxing class generate a lot of oestrogen. Or is it testosterone that is created [...]