Flossy Ideas, Meetups and Views
Collection of Stories, Perspective and Ideas for Coffee Meets
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| Beer and Music Fest ( Indian version of October Fest) |
Another beer extravaganza is happening right now at Bangalore’s palace grounds. Kingfisher is not sparing any media to promote this beer-o-rock show. Show tickets for the October weekend are going around Rs 400, plus all the beer you consume. I bet the whole of Bangalore’s beer and rock lovers will wind at Palace ground.
Last night I was at Extreme Sports Bar, Indira Nagar. Just as I left by 11:30 I saw a scuffle between a young chap and a cop. This fellow in an inebriated state was shouting and a merciless cop was punching him like a gym bag. I felt very bad for this youngster and felt pity for the rouge behavior of the cop. While you can blame the dunk, cops(law keepers) should exercise restraint before he uses his fist on a young fella who come to unwind on a Friday night.
Who’s to blame. I put it squarely on this stupid law. Well then we support such stupid law making Govt to stay on and on… Thank God, it’s a banana republic.
Blame it on me. I didn’t Vote.
There’s going to a big get-together of one of the most gregarious, fun loving, fashionable community in India – Anglo Indians. It’s their Jamboree at Palace grounds, Bangalore ( 26 -30th October). I’m excited b’cos my wife is setting up a stall in the venue ( Palace Grounds, Bangalore). During these 5 day event, the organizers has lined up all types of activities to make this dashing & memorable. As on the opening song goes, come to Bangalore for the Jamboree.
Ads on Kerala as a travel destination is being promoted in all grandeur by kerala tourism department. You can’t miss it in TV’s, in digital media and even in iphones. But all this glossy images come to naught when you land in God’s own country. Roads are full of portholes, dirty public loos, lecherous men like me, random strikes for some goddamn reason are just few ills.
If you’re visiting Kerala, I suggest you to look for natural gems in the tropical hills, open beaches and relish the open backwaters of this golden state.
Just as I was waiting at the traffic light, an ambulance came in with a dead body. The body was draped tightly & neatly in a white cloth. I was expected an old person, but as the truck moved the face showed of a young healthy man. Even in his dead, he had a graceful face with thick bushy mustache. But then why was he alone in his last journey.
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| Villager in TVS Moped at an open train level cross |
I took the shot while traveling from Trivandrum to Bangalore in Garib Rath. The recent rain has given a green cover to the dry lands of Tamil Nadu. As I clicked away, I go this picture.
TVS MOPED – Icon of Tamil Nadu
This is the first moped that came before bigger cousins swanky kinetic Honda and other wheeler. With the arrival of new automatic two-wheelers, popularity of TVS moped has died down in Kerala. Now kerala women has long abandoned the use of TVS mope, instead they have embraced fuel gushing, big vehicles from Honda’s and other big companies.
But TVS is still an essential moped for most folks in TamilNadu. I wonder why TVS moped has become inseparable with the landscape of Tamil folks. Why do they prefer to use this vehicle, despite its old design?
I think there are more reasons why people still stick to this brand. It’s a marketing case study for experts. Maybe, it can shed more light on how marketing or product can evolve with the traits of a demographic class
This pic reminds me of the numerous coffee I’ve shared with the boys at Coffee house in the heart land of “gods own country”. Now in Bangalore, these little cups of joy seems so distant and grayed as my hair.
Branded “coffee Day’s” and “Barista’s” of today don’t offer these little banana nuggets but their line-up includes more on western . “Lot more can happen over a cup of coffee” punch line seems so alienated in these sterile coffee shops.
There’s something natural about the small shops that serves hot coffee/tea. Early mornings these small tea shops are buzz with people sprouting Marxian thoughts and a hot doze of stale politics over a steaming cup of tea. I think secret to kerala’s literacy mushroomed from these little discussion groups centered around these tea shacks.
Vazhakappam ( banana fry), this ( Kadi) item served along with is another delicacy that I miss in Bangalore. These yellow slices of ripe banana, dipped in flour syrup and fried in oil is one of the best accompaniment to my evening coffee chat.
How to make banana fry ( Kerala style)
Banana(ripe) – 2 nos
Flour(Maida) – 1 cup
Sugar – 1 – 2 tsp
Oil for deep frying
Banana fry recipe:
Mix together maida, tumeric, sugar and water to make a thick batter with a dropping consistency. Mix well, clear all lumps .
Slice the bananas to two halves and then each halves to vertically thin pieces.
Dip the slices of banana in the batter and coat it with the batter.
Heat oil in a deep-fry pan and fry slices one by one,(both sides).
Watch till the fry turns golden brown. Remove and Keep it on a tissue paper to remove excess oil.
Serve hot with Tea/coffee
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| A gentleman at Koshy’s |
Coffee – Famed beverage at Koshy’s
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| Koshy’s Restaurant – Street View |
I hope it moves with the change, at the same time retains the laid back warmth to all the patrons under its roof.
If you’re reading this post and looking for a coffee partner at Koshy, then don’t hesitate. During weekends, I’ll free to join for a coffee & chit-chat.
This pic was taken inside St Patrick’s Church, Bangalore. Taken after I atttened the late evening, Sunday
Epitaph:
I fell in love with Epitaphs reading it from the news dailies. Those carefully written beautifully verse mostly touched up the survivor’s grief & regrets.
Whenever I read an epitaph, I ask myself, “How did this person live his/her life”, What did they accomplish in Did they touch other people’s lives in a positive or negative way? Did they leave behind something of value for others, will the people miss this person?
Some verse are very touching, some just reflect the year, time and age. The one I like are those, which reflect the grief, the bond left by the departed.
Few months back, I went to Hosur Cemetry, Bangalore and captured many of the old rustic graves of old settlers of Bangalore. The moment I spend around shooting took me back in time when these loved ones were lovered to the 7 feet grave. How was it back in that time?
Soon, we too will follow to a grave, to be left to share the tales with the old folks
Flossy Ideas, Meetups and Views 