Column: The Good Life: for Mint Lounge
Habit Formation
Whatever you wish for this year, try to make it a habit Shoba Narayan December 31, 2013 Updated: December 31, 2013 19:12:00 In his book, The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do, and How to Change, author Charles Duhigg interviews an army major based in Iraq. As Mr Duhigg notes, the US military (or any military for that matter) is based on habit formation. It teaches soldiers how to think, shoot and communicate under fire. Related ■ Abu Dhabi hotel guests returned to the ‘80s to usher in 2014 Comment Telling stories allows us to connect with [...]
25 things to feel happy about
What's your list? Thank you, Manish Sabharwal, Nitin Pai, Narayan Ramachandran, and Nikhil Mehra for the suggestions/contributions Sat, Dec 28 2013. 12 34 AM IST The Contrarian View | 25 things to feel happy about Performing chief ministers, a successful move to explore Mars, a TV show that didn’t make us wince and more. Who says it was all gloom and doom this year? Deepika Padukone 1 Anjali Tendulkar gets to see more of her husband. 2 Deepika Padukone is a bona-fide stactress (star-actress). Six years old. Nearly a dozen endorsements and four `100 crore-plus hits this year. And she [...]
Devyani Khobragade
Or how Preet Bharara jeopardised Indo-US relationships by showing off. Only the US has the power to calm its dispute with India Shoba Narayan December 22, 2013 Updated: December 22, 2013 18:25:00 The continuing diplomatic row between the US and India over the Devyani Khobragade case is a lose-lose situation for both countries. From the US point of view, Ms Khobragade is accused of exploiting her nanny by paying her lower than the minimum wage and then lying about it on a visa application. She stands charged with visa fraud. From the Indian point of view, the US has violated [...]
Travelling with kids on the Nile river for The National Abu Dhabi
I have started a new contributing gig, which is right up my alley. I've sent a series of essays under the title "Travelling with kids." Here is the first one. Travelling with kids: gods, mummies, kings and origami in Egypt Shoba Narayan December 19, 2013 Updated: December 19, 2013 17:25:00 We’re at the foot of the Pyramids, discussing gods, mummies, kings and the Arab Spring. Our guide, Ahmed, had driven us through downtown Cairo, pointing out Tahrir Square and other points of protest, all of which interests my husband but not my daughters. Finally, at the Pyramids, Ahmed tells [...]
History of perfumes
Opinion Comment Great perfumes affix the mind to a specific place and time Shoba Narayan December 16, 2013 Updated: December 16, 2013 18:42:00 No people understand perfumes better than Arabs, who instinctively and unconsciously layer scents using oils and attars. As the new year approaches, it is perhaps a good time to think about perfumes: the gifting and giving of them. The great thing about gifting perfumes to your loved ones is that it is deeply symbolic and perishable. Unlike a pashmina shawl or even a book, perfume does not last forever. Even if your great-aunt doesn’t like the Amouage [...]
Delhi’s fetid desire, Mumbai’s petrol fumes: inspired by Mahmoud Darwish
Whose writing I adore. A niche brand of perfume called Carlos Huber makes a scent based on a boutonniere Delhi’s fetid desire, Mumbai’s petrol fumes Can you smell the ‘garam masala’ and greed in Delhi? Photo: Pradeep Gaur/Mint The best writing on scent comes from the late Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish, who writes, not about the “scent of a woman” or a man, but about cities. It is so evocative that I am compelled to quote it: “Cities are smells: Acre is the smell of iodine and spices. Haifa is the smell of pine and wrinkled sheets. Moscow is the [...]
Recovering from Super Typhoon Haiyan for The National Abu Dhabi
This was a daunting piece to write. I didn't think I could interview everyone globally-- and on deadline-- on this topic. Which just goes to show that with the Internet and things like Skype, the world is indeed a small place. As the Philippines continues to recover from Haiyan, disaster experts tell us how we can improve December 19, 2013 Updated: December 19, 2013 11:51:00 Shoba Narayan Days merge into nights for Athena Denise Gepte, the emergency response coordinator for the Philippine NGO Accord, who is based in Tacloban, one of the cities hit hardest by Super Typhoon Haiyan. Gepte [...]
Cultural Immersion
A while ago, Ravi Bapna, a professor at the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota, asked me to do "cultural immersion" module for his visiting MBA class. I created four PowerPoint presentations but the sessions ended up being highly interactive. They learnt about Indian culture, learned how to wear a sari or dhoti, sing (Vande Mataram) or any other song. I demonstrated a kolam (rangoli); answered lots of questions about culture, art, poverty, beggars, and the economy. This time, students from Cornell's Johnson school of management visited. I got a call asking if I would do it. [...]
Sparkling wine: how does it work: for Mint Lounge
I wanted to meet two sisters in the food and wine business. Their elderflower juice was so aromatic. FIRST PUBLISHED: SAT, DEC 14 2013. 01 18 AM ISTHOME» LEISURE» THE GOOD LIFE Wines, economy and culture preservation What kind of wines would you put together for an office party? Shoba Narayan Mail Me Wines, economy and culture preservation Juliette (right) and Marie Mommousseau were in Bangalore recently. Photo: Aniruddha Chowdhury/Mint A reader wants to know: What kind of wines would you put together for an office party, assuming a budget of Rs.2,000 per bottle? I put this question to Juliette [...]
For The National Abu Dhabi on Kerala
In The National, Abu Dhabi Thiruvananthapuram is India's evergreen destination Shoba Narayan December 5, 2013 Updated: December 5, 2013 16:52:00 With its lush green foliage, balmy weather and quiet streets, Thiruvananthapuram, previously called Trivandrum, provides a genteel and serene counterpoint to the frenetic chaos of India. The temple was recently in the news when chambers containing US$15 billion (Dh55bn) worth of jewels, gold and other religious objects were discovered. An ancient coastal city with a history going back to 1000 BC, this capital of Kerala state attracted traders and kings through the ages, including King Solomon, who is believed to [...]