Must do in Kerala, Mumbai and Vadodara( Baroda)

Kerala
Cochin
Take the ferry to Ernakulum
Stay at Tad Und Nacht- wonderful Keralan Breakfasts
Go to Gujrati Street
Eat at Annapurna
Eat at Grand Hotel Ernakulum
Backwater trip
Eat at Malabar
Early Mornings Best
Afternoons Hot and Humid
If going to Trivandrum travel by train
Watch Kathakali Show
	I kiss this red earth where Gandhi Walked, Krishna danced, Mother Teresa swept
	and Buddha thought
	Orange smiles here are infectious. Worshipping places abound. Jostles included
	Is Yoga yellow? It started here. Meditation too attracting throngs
	Ayurveda and spices
Trivandrum
Visit Vyopilly Samskriti Bhavan
Visit Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple      ( only Indians allowed in though wearing a Lungi)
Day trip from Tourist Office to Kanyakumari
Eat at Taj Vivanta
Eat at Coffee House
Visit Napier Museum( Sculpture dating back 2000 BC)
	Bright green swishes in fabrics, plants, palms, mountains and balconies
	Where ragas for morning noon and night were born
	Listen. Get shivers down your spine. Where light blue is dance partner to Indigo
	Your navy blue will wake up- so will pink and so will gold
	But do not expect ease and western suburban comforts. To find your navy blue
	a small price is extracted
Maharashtra
Mumbai
South Mumbai
Eat at Thackers on Chowpatty Beach
Eat Pani Puri on Chowpatty Beach
Eat at Taj
Visit The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, formerly POW Museum
Walk on Marine Parade
Go to Bhuleshwar
Go to Chor Bazzar
Take a day trip with Priyadarshini( all women taxi service) to show highlights
Visit Jehangir Art Gallery
Go to Elephanta Caves
Tea at Oberoi
Mumbai other
Eat Pani Puri at Juhu Beach
Eat at Olive restaurant Bandra
Travel by commuter train ( only after 10 am)
	Listen to numerous orators spreading purple- most done as grace and favour
	expecting little
Gujrat
Vadodara( Baroda)
Stay at Welcome Hotel
Visit Old Vadodara
Visit Baroda Palace
Walk everywhere- The town will speak to you
Visit Art School
Visit Sarjan Art Gallery
Visit Dakor
	Connect connect connect  to gold and then white…in worship in Bharat Natyam in Sufi
	and contemplation

What Colour is Sunday?

I ask you?

Sunday to me is a kind of pink purple. Purple as it is a day of devotion for many. Pink as it is day of family, friends, food, repose….

I like the term Sunday Best. Should it also apply to demeanour

In India it is almost the only day of rest. Bhupen Khakhar the famous painter started as a Sunday painter. During the week he was an accountant. You can see why I feel Pink surfaces here.

Sunday in the Park with George captures this essence of life. Based on a painting by Seurat it gives depth to the figures we see in the painting depicting a Sunday scene at a park in Paris.

Central Park in NYC, Hyde Park in London and others have this Pink feeling even on wintry Grey days. People feed ducks( Buddha says it is good to give) again the Pink surfacing

There are spirits, ghosts and psychics in this world. Do they rest on Sundays? I wonder. Is up there different on Sunday? Sunday was however created by man. Someone remarked recently that the Universe just seems to be there without a purpose. Man invented Sunday- a good invention

In India there is a lot of promenading in the Sunday best. One couple I know all wear white. And the family of four in white is beguiling.

The hymns in churches, the breathing in Monasteries, the silence in Monasteries, the calls to prayers…ah Sunday.

To state the obvious, it has the Sun in it..

A Sunday Gujrati  Breakfast:

Bananas

Puris

Mango Pickle

Jalebis

Gathia ( a savoury made from Chick Pea Flour)

Small Green Chili pickle with Mustard Seeds

Yogurt

Indian Masala Tea

Lyrics from Sunday – Sunday in the park with George

Sunday, by the blue purple yellow red water
On the green purple yellow red grass
Let us pass through our perfect park
Pausing on a Sunday

By the cool blue triangular water
On the soft green elliptical grass
As we pass through arrangements of shadow
Toward the verticals of trees
Forever

By the blue purple yellow red water
On the green orange violet mass of the grass
In our perfect park

Made of flecks of light
And dark
And parasols
Bum bum bum bum bum bum
Bum bum bum

People strolling through the trees
Of a small suburban park
On an island in the river
On and ordinary Sunday
Sunday
Sunday 

The Perfect* Christmas Lunch

A tree of dry Australian bush smiling

Presents below awaiting glee

The purple wrapping paper twinkling

Twinkle in the red tree lights touching our soul

Multicoloured crepe paper and balls delighting

The chorus from Aida and Madame Butterfly, electrifying

The river road listening, the rain just right for us         

                                                Home  made Blini with Beetroot and Smoked Salmon. Champagne

Less talk more music is the theme. We eat gently, gratefully 

The host who has been somewhat ill conducting the Hi Fi. Mahler 2 Movement 2. It starts. He describes the setting. Royal Albert Hall. 250 in the chorus, waiting almost an hour and a half for the second movement. Our host waves his hand so that the invisible chorus can see him. Time stops. Voices start. Like soft cool light blue air at a beach

                                             Turkey, ham, numerous greens, sweet pink pumpkin. Homemade cordon bleu gravy….red wine…water

The talk ceases. We eat …the choir and music envelopes us. We truly are on a magic carpet

B H

E A

A R

U M

T O

Y NY

Calm, rain, softness. The lights on the tree smiling. A soporific pattern…..for us

We listen. They sing. The Host gently conducting the HI FI

It’s almost 3.30 pm. The bells start indicating the resurrection, we breathe, we wake to the brightness… the finish…we tread softly.

                     Butterscotch schnapps bottle on table. Voluptuous. Chocolate and nut baked Pudding winking….chocolate sauce sparkling …Mahler 8 waiting. Other guests arrive bringing Kylie and soul. Dancing….softly

This special day entering our psyche…deeply , without ceremony…. Mahler maybe smiling  …a plan to chant at Aloka in Peats Ridge for NYE hatching….Mahler maybe smiling

                                                                   B H

E A

A R

U M

T O

Y NY

Thank You Peter..

A wedding in Goa and Mumbai

I recently attended a beautiful wedding in India. My thoughts follow

ShastriShaheaven

white surf, pure gold, purple flowers, gold mithai, pink mandap pink theme,
pink saris, navy blue suits, bright indigo blue, light blue skies,
the green palms,  orange jalebi,  yellow frangipani,
red kum kum, red saris,  orange smiles,  yellow kurtas,
green lawns, light blue sea,
indigo blue shehnai, navy blue luxury, pink roses, gold Marriott,
purple gold laughter, white style,
gold Shahs,purple delicacy,gold Shastris,
navy blue relaxation, indigo blue sincerity, light blue river,
green exqisity, yellow blossoms, orange brightness, red mantras,
red richness, orange dupattas, yellow sunshine, dazzling green,
light blue of the delicate, with indigo blue charm, navy blue goodness
with pink high energy parties, golden organisation
golden mehendi, purple patterns,
gold warmth, of white, gold Malhans
purple sophistication, gold presents, pink chairs,
navy blue pleasure, indigo blue beauty, light blue lines,
attractive green, yellow stirring music, orange magic, red delight,
red Gujarat, orange Karnatka, yellow ladoos,green giving Goa,light blue essence, indigo blue songs,navy blue sparkle,
pink with gold, purple symmetry,  gold Aryan, white jodhpurs,
purple sherwanis, and golden Varuna,
gold Prateek, pink dance steps, navy blue blessings,indigo blue friendships,
light blue care, deep green, orange decorations, yellow desserts,
red peace, red love, orange beauty, yellow saffron,
of green and light blue evenings,indigo blue shine,
navy blue food arrangements, pink of pinks, of gold golds, purple purple,
gold friends, openness,  white jasmine  and gold Mansi and Nikhil,
 purple kindness, purple songs, gold and permanent pink happy thoughts and memories, navy blue joy, indigo blue fun,
dense green rest, orange birds of paradise, happiness,  red steps, red strong fireworks,.

red lights , orange Thacker’s catering, orange panki, orange sanjori, yellow sparkle, green hariyalli chilla, light blue celebration, indigo blue NSCI, navy blue blessings, pink presents, gold Mansi, purple charm, gold Nikhil, white sparkle*, happy new families

A small blue Fiat. London 1979. A wedding in Goa 2012. A loyal friendship. Thank you Bhavna and Hemendra!

Allan Prayers

For a Pink Pearl

Pink is one of the gateways to true understanding

and you thought it was light

red merges with white to create pink

orange love is essential for this

and only yellow true connections make this happen

the Allan pink pearl also has green fingers

producing pink flowers of food, people, thoughts and joy

with an ever soft touch

 encouraging breezy light blue words, indigo blue listening and navy blue repose

enter Pink for the pink pearl

and gold has to come

pink does lead to gold believe it or not

purple is always so relaxed here

watching white merging with pink

to be continued

white sea

gold sunshine

purple jacaranda

gold on the green river

pink pearls

navy blue ferries

indigo blue soothing sounds of green river

light blue laughter

green river

yellow tinnies

orange cruisers

red mast lights

For a White Sea

Ah yes, brilliant white, sparkling white, pure white, loyal white

Of the sea

Merging with pink

Thoughtful white, caring white

Who purple admires

Gold adores

Pink worships

And navy blue trusts

Enchanting Darjeeling Express sounds so Indigo blue in the Allan Household

Never a high note in the Light Blue sounds

As the bush and the garden around whisper

Subtle Yellow Generosity  to cave dwellers and bachelors

And a red kangaroo in this pink pearl white sea habitat

To be continued

 DO I hear a Woof, a golden woof?

red mast lights

orange cruisers

yellow tinnies

green river

light blue laughter

indigo blue soothing sounds of green river

navy blue ferries

pink pearls

gold on the green river

purple jacaranda

gold sunshine

white sea

Finding true Peace.....

OK what is peace? Hiding from everything in a forest? Keeping cool when negative thoughts invade you? Avoiding anger?

People rush here and there in search of it but what is it?

My view is that it is an internal thing. We all have to live. Be part of the world. Stay in your bed for many days and you will get bored and restless. No peace there.

Jesus had peace as he went about his duties. Can you? And how to nurture?

Buddha’s teachings are one of the most practical ways of attaining some tranquillity. All it needs is 20 minutes. Then go about your daily duties

Give more than you receive during the day…if you are following Buddha’s teachings this kind of comes naturally

Have empathy for others. Hard to apply when you are a victim of Road Rage or other abuse..

There are so many books which help to nurture goodness in one’s life….but which is the best and the simplest? Are these written for money or for world’s benefit? Questions which may help to identify the one…

Keep your word….is another natural way it seems

But let Buddha start you off….all about deep relaxation

Your Birthday Today?- Give a dollar....

Giving brings benefits. The more one gives the more one receives. What do you do on your birthday? Give or receive. If every person in the world donated just $1 on their birthday to something it could make a big difference. Work it out- population of the world multiplied by a dollar……

Yes you may say that third world countries do not have appropriate income bases. They can give a portion of income. Those in developed countries could make it $2 a day. And just think if this became $5/day………

Having said all this, these ideas have been sitting in the world’s consciousness for many years….and not much has happened. Quite simple but not done.

At least if it is your birthday today I want to wish you sparkle. What would be a sparkling breakfast to serve you?

Fresh coconut with a silver straw

Marzipan with edible silver

Jackfruit and Ras Goolas

Rice with curried taro

A white bean salad with white pepper

Bananas

Chinese shortbread and white sugar

A coconut moose

Sugar cane slices

And a cake

Everything served on solid silver….