Made the girls jealous,
and the boys sway in madness
now, a wall hanger.
I came across this piece of handiwork on a trip to Kodaikanal. We drove along the famous Kodaikanal lake and saw that plenty of shops lined the streets. We walked into one, and there sat this piece of repurposed material. The hair was so black and so shiny, it made me jealous. I couldn’t leave without capturing it.
With his eyes focussed,
weaving precise strokes with care,
works graceful cobbler.
I found this cobbler making custom slippers in Pondicherry. He observed the leather between his fingers with such an intense focus, impervious even to the vehicles and people that rushed by his side.
Nothing beats the streaming sun on a cold November morning, even before you’ve sipped your first cup of coffee. So it was in one if the most popular coffee houses in Pondicherry: The Lé Café.
There are fancier and pricier coffee shops in Pondy, but this one’s always close to my heart. It overlooks the beach, grandest attraction of Pondicherry. The ambience of the cafe is mesmerising, during the sunrises and the sunsets, in particular.
I was glad to be there, staring at the sun and sipping my Cortado.
December 26, 2004 — a great Tsunami wrecked everything in and around the Indian Ocean. The calm sea rose above crashing into the lives of those who revered the ocean as their god.
2005 dawned unwelcome as millions mourned the loss of their love, life, and lifestyle. And yet, 12 years later, the sea shows no sign of the monstrous face it displayed then. It looks as calm as ever, unthreatening and loveable.
I wonder if there’s anything as resilient as the sea. It transcends its limits, transforming into a fierce beast, only to go back to its calm and unassuming state.
What a year it’s been. 2016 was difficult and, yet, unforgettable for so many different reasons. This year I explored a variety of paths. Some were adventurous, some were tiring, but almost all were fun.
This year, I saw snow for the first time.
This year, I walked through forests a lot of times.
This year, I went high above sea level, looking down at massive land mass.
I’ve had cold breeze gushing behind my ears, the blinding sun warming my spine, and cooling greenery chilling my soul.
It’s been a good year.
I don’t know which path I will head off to in 2017, but I hope it’s as good as the ones in 2016.
Or better, that’s fine too.
The Chaos Within 