Magical Venice!

Valdi was sweet,patient and almost charming! The lilt in the 'little' and the rolling 'R's in 'interrresting' were almost sexy.The room she gave us,was the secret chamber of Casanova,or so it seemed..because even after three bridges,and two false turns into alleys that leaded nowhere..no state oral polizia could spit it!
Well..we even had a secret view to the neighbourhood canal..incase we did need to run from the moral police !
The bridges were teeming with 'peeoppllle',mostly well-dressed,arm-in-arm in this piece of relic from another era..of Venetial boats..and amorous lovers!
The narrow cobblestone bylanes(a pomp and glow version of the Jew town,back in Kochi) lead us to our room.The trinket shopowners on the roads did have a wink in their eyes.."We let you go today,but tomorrow we get your money!"
Well..they didin't get any because we spent our day seeing Doge's palazzio!The Doge had a really good deal! He was the elected-for-life Archbishop/King of Venezzia, elected by the Serenessimo(Warlords) and had infinite power over common people.So, he built a magnifico Palazzio ,gilded ceilings.Renaissance paintings,fine wooden furniture and an attached prison!
But the best of all was the location,right on the edge of the Adriatic..looking out.
The Piazza at San Marco was alive at night..Viennese Waltz,classical and operatic performances,by shamefully good looking and gushing women in the audience.
We danced.
We sputtered.
We fell.
We kissed.
We had pizza
And we went back 'home' :)

Its the 29th today.
Bon Giorno!
Time to say ciao-ciao to Venezzia!
Its almost a miracle that this relic has lived this long though now,its a complete tourist experience(the only industry being tourism!) and looked like a giant ancient Disneyworld, or Vegas.
And to prove a point,as if..they actually built the Casino del Venezzia.
Hmmmph!!:)

Bavarian notes from Raju's diary...

Fichtelberg,19th May 2007

Had one amazing and awkward experience at the spa in Fichtelberg,half an hour from Floss.The place is an organic/natural healing center.Thermal baths from natural springs,Kneipp methods,aromatherapy(lavender,jasmine,orange aufguss or sprays while in a 80deg C sauna!)..the idea is that the aroma inhaled hits the brains and has potential benefits!
Thats the awesome part.
The awkward part was that no one wore clothes and you had to follow suit.
I was thinking aloud and telling Sam, that we should actually collect money! These Bavarians dont get to see this exotic brown and olive skin..and now,thanks to you and me..their eyes are having a feast!:)
But the resort was fantastic. A beautiful view of the rolling hills and red tiled roofs,multiple pools,food and drinks,and the saunas.
And an all day entry to enjoy these was EUR 15 !!!!!!

Tegernsee and Lenggries, 20th May 2007

Went to the foothills of the Bavarian Alps,to a place called Tegernsee. A pristine turquoise lake,with mountains surrounding it.The little village has old fashioned huts and stores. Lots of locals still wear the traditional Bavarian outfit. Drank 'Weisbier' and took a steamer ride on the lake.
Next we stopped at a place called Lenggries,just at the foor of the Alps.Sunday. Empty and deserted. Sam did some 'YashRaj presents'...sequences(thank God she wasn't wearing her sexy chiffons,and more importantly didn't want me to be a SRK!),and we rolled on the soft grass and the wildflowers till we got tired!
Headed back to Floss by train.

Falkenberg, 21st May 2007

Falkenberg Castle. A tiny well maintained medieval castle,nestled on a wierd looking rock. The castle was rented out for a wedding,but we barged in and saw the interiors,nevertheless! The place looked like a setting of 'The prisoner of Zenda' with tiny window holes,cellars,huge banquet rooms,and wierd attics.
We also walked around the Waldnabtal,a picturesque valley like the National Parks in the US.
Went mountain biking in the evening,around Floss through gorgeous Bavarian landscapes. Almost 20kms,with two expert bikers in Matthias and Kirsten. Trying to slow down their speed to mine was an experiment in endurance for them..am sure :)
Typical Bavarian fare for dinner,courtesy Kirsten.
'Totsch'-a preperation with potato patties and red cabbage soaked in vinegar. Rhubarb pie bound with flaxseed and spevia for dessert.Organic,they said :)

Raman

Raman wrote this to me, from Delhi in August of 1999.Emailing was not so popular during 'those' times! This was typed,printed out,sealed in an envelope and dropped off at the local post-office,which delivered it to me a week later.

"My dear Sam,
Finally.
After days of waiting!
It has rained.
Ooooohh!
I got up today morning.Sunday morning. At abt 8.30.
Everything around had changed. It was raining. U know that soft monsoon rain,which rains quietly for hours.Even days. It was beautiful. There seemed a strange freshness in everything around.The colours were looking fresher. Even the sky looked beautiful.
I went out today.
Just for the sake of it.
I got wet.I walked on the dirty roads,wearing my slippers,shorts,my worries,my "heavyness". I got wet. The coolness hugged me and I walked on.At times I looked up towards it.As if trying to initiate a conversation. Or to say "I understand". Or to say "I don't know what". Drops hit my eyes. With a lot of gravity.
I looked around. At the people. Everybody was out.To enjoy the rain.They had waited for long. The general order of the day seems to be "fun". I also felt good.
I took my hand across my hair. My wet hair. It felt so good. No sense of sweat. No sense of heat. I got drenched.Absolutely. For about an hour. My feet got dirty. Some cars even splashed mucky water.But strangely with all this,I still,felt clean. As if the rain was constantly washing me. And... I let it.

Umbrellas were out. Girls were getting wet. Their dresses were sticking to their bodies.And revealing their curves and shapes. They too were feeling good. Saw a lot of guys smoking. Thought I would smoke. Did.

Everything made, is so beautiful.If we just look at it with that eye.
Rain was all over me. And all around me. Just as happiness is all over us and all around us. I let myself "feel" the rain.I think thats what we should do. "Feel".

My mood's fresh.
New plans are out.New strategies have been formed.(I am talking about my exams.)
Somehow I relate to everything as secret messages being thrown down to us from HIM above.
Its funny how HE communicates.The key is tune up to HIS frequency. The when thats done IT IS achieved.
Pardon me,I am just in THE mood today.

Sending rain,your way...
Love and hugs,
Raman"

I loved receiving these paper envelopes containing pages written in ink..pencil,black and blue feltpens at times...
Well..there are various colours and fonts today...
Sigh..what a compromise !

Caffeine cravings

A company interviewed me yesterday.
They liked me and my 'profile'!
I might even get an offer.
But,no..thank you.
The feeling is not mutual.
They make atrocious coffee!Period.
Laxmi Brooke. Not 'Fresh and Honest'..
And that ,makes so much and all of the difference.

Right after the interview, I dropped by at a friend's place. He stays in the next neighborhood. 5 minutes from the company that was interviewing me.
He seemed pretty amused,too! 'What??You don't like their coffee?' :)
Yess..yesss..its that serious!
My morning craving.Caffeine.Pure,unadulterated coffee.
Sigh! If only there was a Starbucks,here..to satiate my thirst.
I miss you..I miss you more than Forever-21,at times!

Hmm..so, my journey continues... :)
In the search for the perfect coffee bean..in a perfect coffee machine.. in a perfect office pantry..!

Mapled thoughts

We were at Mou's last Saturday.Amidst all the nonsense that usually is the highlight of such evenings..Mou decided on a game,that apparently had caught her attention the one time she had played it earlier.Raju aptly names it 'I praise you,and you praise me'! You think of any object,book,movie,food,beverage(O.B.M.F.B)..etc and then associate each person in the room with one such O.B.M.F.B! So,Utkal da can be a 'Shukto', while Gargi can be 'Jaipur',Jayasreedi can be 'Rajanigandha' and I can be 'tutti-frutti'!No, its not that simple..! You have to justify why he or she is so!Yess..and then, the protagonist(so,to say!) marks you,based on what he/she thinks is the best description and justification.
So, when I heard Raju saying I was a 'tutti-frutti', and justifying it with 'she has many layers(I sincerely HOPED he hadn't meant adipose!!!) to her'..I got thinking..
Am I really made of layers?
Have I never allowed anyone to penetrate beneath these layers of my discretion?
Do I taste different to different people?
Do I leave different after-tastes?
Have I been different with all my lovers?
Am I someone else when I am with Ma?
Do I put on a visage whenever I am with X?
Do I have an armour around me when I am with Y?
Do I become vulnerable when I am with Z?

More importantly, are all people like this?
Do they allow everyone to penetrate between these layers?

I flipped through the pages of an old journal of sorts I used to maintain..not expecting any solution, but using that as a catalyst to think even further..
Midway between the pages,I found one dried scarlet maple leaf,and on it was scribbled..

"Often I wonder,
who is this stranger
come into the season of my unfolding
gently reaching toward me
With a silently mouthed whisper?

I have traced the contours of your body with my fingers
I know your taste
and the smell of you.
And when we make love
I feel your language and watch the layers of your defenses become thinner.
Sometimes so fragile that
I could break through them completely
With a word,or
just the slight pressure of my kiss.

I choose not to.

My wish is not to conquer
but to share
The key to you always remains with you.
Any door you open
I shall gladly walk through.

As for myself...
My locks grow weaker!"

This piece of writing didn't have a date, nor a context.It's not mine. It seemed to be scribbled from somewhere, but definitely had a scarlet maple as an evidence.. :)
I did smile.
I guess, I did understand.
Over the years, I have discovered various layers in myself and the people I have been with.
It best to be honest with one's feelings.But, its these small mysteries about individuals that make you go back to them,isn't it?If you knew your opponent like a glass-bowl containing coconut water, familiar with even the refractive index, why would you go back to it,to quench your thirst,the next time? Wouldn't you rather have a Red Bull, instead? A composition you are not so familiar with?A taste you will discover and try rediscovering over and over again?
I hide. I love hiding my feelings.I love hiding my intentions and my pleasures. I take pride in the fact that no one can ever read me like an open book,unless I want him/her to.
No..I have been thinking a lot.
I dont want it otherwise. I want myself to be behind this mask of maple..forever.