When I think of doll festivals in India, Navarathri golu is the first thing that comes to my mind. When I was a kid I remember my mom dusting off a year’s worth of dust on dolls every year in October. You will find dolls and figurines in different, shapes and color depicting Tamil traditions, culture, festivals,…
Month: November 2016
Nutcrackers of Germany
Buying souvenirs for your friends and family back home when you go overseas is always more confusing than planning the trip itself. At least while planning you know what you would need. But when are on vacation abroad and are on a budget, buying a gift that is unique to a country might not always workout. Getting Belgian…
The art of manga
If you are someone who is following in my blog, you will note that I write a lot about manga. So what is so special about manga? They are just comics like Marvel or Amar Chitra Katha. Yes, they are just comics if you want to define it broadly. There is so much more to manga,…
A revolver, a bazooka and a wooden mallet
City hunter was my token of entry into the world of manga. I saw this anime about Tokyo’s underground hitman Saeba Ryo in 2012. Ryo is tall, well-built and usually seen in a red undershirt, black pant and a long white coat. He was attractive of course. He lives with his assistant Kaori Makimura, the…
Monks, me and an evening of revelations
When I see Buddhist monks, clad in maroon with shaved heads, I thought them to be polite, serious and courteous people who smile more than talk. Well they are courteous and polite but they crack jokes, have a good sense of humour and tech-savvy, I found out. It was a Saturday evening and I…
The day I ate an Espresso
Yes, you read it right. I did not drink an espresso but ate one with spoon today and it was amazing. Here is how I came across it. I had gone to interview the Italian coffee roaster in India, Lavazza, for my assignment. Official details aside, we started talking about coffee culture in Italy. After…
Theory of physics and Shintoism
What is it that comes to your mind when you think of Japan? The first thing that comes to my mind is their Shinto shrines. Those beautifully built temples, neat surroundings and story that goes with those temples had always fascinated me. It is very much like India, where temples had attracted many tourists due…
Japan, what happened to art of seduction from the time of Genji?
People who are following recent trends would be aware of falling birth rates and looming celibacy syndrome in Japan. For a country where adult diapers are sold more than children’s this is a grave concern indeed. This fear that clutches the country became widespread recently after a survey by Japan Family Planning Association (JFPA) found…
A novice guide to wine, sake and other spirits
Drinking, even social drinking, is frowned upon in a conservative society like India. In Indian States like Tamil Nadu, where the State Government owned liquor shops make a hay-day, drinking is considered a sin. And it is justified to some extent when you look at number of minors, as young as eight years, who consume…
A journalist's diary 