Birding: seeing versus hearing
In the beginning, with pig-headed ambition, I decided that I would memorize the Latin names for all the bird species that I saw. I have given up that endeavour now. It is complicated enough to keep track of the markings and learn the common names. This then is the other learning that will occur: spotting minor differences between birds that belong to the same species: White-cheeked Barbet, Grey-headed Barbet, Coppersmith barbet, Blue-throated Barbet, you get the picture. They all belong to the Megalaima species.
The Savage Beauty of Alexander McQueen: for Mint
Memories of the V&A and my Parisienne friend Elisabeth Guez are fresh in my mind. The V&A has another nice exhibit where they try to answer: "What is luxury?" Wish I could have seen the John Galliano retrospective also-- in [...]
Trees and birds
The best thing that is happened to me as a result of this year-long journey is the cliché: I feel connected with the universe. Let me be clear. I don't think you wake up one morning and suddenly feel at one with the cosmos. It is a gradual process of shedding layers of armor that you have built around yourself. The way it happened for me, and I am by no means there yet, has to do with connecting multiple species and seeing a greater whole.
How to bird-watch. How to watch birds
It begins with a pair of binoculars; and a balcony, if you have one. If there is some greenery visible from your balcony, even better. But you need binoculars to begin this voyage. Mine are Bushnell binoculars from Amazon for about $35. They have a magnification of 10X50, which didn’t mean anything to me except that it seemed better than the 8X40 advertised by other brands. I use them every day, except during travel, and even that, I want to change.
Radio New Zealand
I did my correspondent duty for Radio New Zealand last week here and embedded below http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/remote-player?id=201753346
Ambalapuzha, and yes, I know it is a tongue-twister for some.
Some time ago, I went to taste this most famous of payasams in Kerala. Here is an account of the experience at the new Mint on Sunday's page I loved taking the photos and videos, which are inserted in the page, [...]
My first Mint video
I was trying to channel Peter Jennings but I really want to channel Gini Moos of CNN. Will be doing more. Looking forward to it. I recorded this in Bangalore, forwarded MP3 to Delhi where they mixed it in. Finally, [...]
Sacred Food: Udupi: For Mint on Sunday
In which I talk about food and religion
Eudaemonia, Rahul and Kejriwal
Rahul Gandhi, Kejriwal and eudaemonia Rahul Gandhi could take a lesson from St Augustine of Hippo. Wait, before you roll your eyes, let me finish. St Augustine of Hippo was a remarkable man. Born a Berber, this Algerian-Roman philosopher began [...]
Creation hymns
Hari Ravikumar, author and musician talks to me about creation hymns here. In the below video, you have to scroll to the 9th and last show [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AhzuOxp4tU?list=PLZ83joYJYmWTSfVFUW82EtUiwpEuLyXUE&w=560&h=315]
Wish I knew Italian
At least to figure out what this post saying. rece_polatti_int
Astrology of the Apple Watch
The problem with the Apple Watch is that it aspires to be a timekeeper; a gadget amd a fashion accessory.