I’ve grown up admiring Polo; for this is a sport like no other, and think all you might of equestrian sports being frou frou – polo isn’t for the weak hearted or the uninitiated. It’s a sport for those with a knack to appreciate the finer things in life, but also for those who understand and respect the underlying fatality of a sport of this nature. Had you asked me what I wanted to be even at the ripe old age of 21, I’d have told you I wanted to be a polo player in Argentina. Ofcourse, life had other plans, as it often does, and I restricted my desire to watching live matches at Delhi’s Jaipur Polo Grounds over the winter session.  In the course of many such balmy afternoons spent by the grounds, I couldn’t help but notice a player who exhibited immense zeal, power and control on the field; I was curious to know who this rising talent was, and just how good he might have been to have made it to our top polo teams {Jindal’s, Sahara’s, among others}. Luckily, by virtue of being part of LBBD, I finally had the chance to meet with one of India’s polo prodigies, Gaurav Sahgal. In my brief, but revelatory chat, I’ve attempted to draw inspiration from his experience with the great sport.

If you haven’t heard of him, here’s why you ought to pay attention. He’s all of 22, but has been playing competitive polo for 10 years now. He has an impressive handicap of 3—that he earned just last year—which places him in the league of the top players in the region, and has enabled him to be a part of the Indian Polo Team. No small feat, that. He has won 3 gold medals and has been awarded multiple other achievements for his sport. By virtue of being part of the Indian team, he has played in 7 countries and will, hopefully, see many more such opportunities in his career. He hit the international polo scene at 16, and captained the winning Indian junior polo team in 2008 against England and won the Most Valuable Player award.

Gaurav attributes his place in the sport to his father, whom he reveals has been playing the sport for 30 years. Their family are prominent race horse breeders and a keen interest in anything and everything to do with horses is inherent in Sahgal’s DNA. He may have picked up the sport from his father, but Gaurav is proud to admit that his game is mostly self taught.

He played his first match at Jaipur and thus, holds the place close to his heart. Although, now, his playing trajectory can be traced to New Zealand, Argentina, Italy, England, Barbados, South Africa and ofcourse, Delhi, Jaipur, Jodhpur and Bombay. Quiz him on a polo venue in the country that he recommends the most for both a spectator and a player, and he’s prompt to suggest Jodhpur. He suggests one must visit during the start of the season in December and soak in the rich culture of the sport in Jodhpur {which is still actively patronised by Prince Shivraj}. Of course, when speaking of playing internationally, he concurs with the commonly held belief of Argentina strongly upholding the grand tradition of the sport and offering the best facilities, competitive environment and players.

Polo, over any other equestrian sport.

For the uninitiated, the beauty of this game and its allure lies in its origin. While, the game originally traces its history to Persia, the modern game of polo, though formalised and popularised by the British, is derived from Manipur, where the game was known as ‘Sagol Kangjei,’ ‘Kanjai-bazee’, or ‘Pulu.’ The first polo club was established in the town of Silchar in Assam, India, in 1834. The oldest polo ground in the world is the Imphal Polo Ground in Manipur State. In 1862, the first polo club, Calcutta Polo Club, was established by two British officers, who later spread the game to their peers in England. The British are credited with spreading polo worldwide in the late 19th century and the early 20th century. Ultimately, reintroducing the sport’s format to our country, during their reign; thus, explaining the strong military tradition of the game, which is still practiced in India by the 61^st Cavalry.

The arduous journey of getting there..

Gaurav’s journey began with training at the Army Equestrian Centre {AEC} in the Delhi Cantonment area. He took his time to hone his game, but practised regularly for a year or so. He then started playing at different clubs – Haryana Polo Club, Army Polo & Riding Club {APRC} and others. He played his first competitive game between the age of 12 and 14 years, and there’s been no looking back ever since.

As to why he is so passionate about a sport that is considered one of the most dangerous sports in the World, he’s quick to clarify that it stems from “a deep seated love for the animal, for the game and for the insane rush it provides.” He rightly states, that the speed you play and manoeuvre at ensures that no other sport can provide a similar rush, or the raw appeal of handling a powerful animal alongside.

Of course, with great sporting talent comes the need for perseverance, long hours of training and a lot of preparation time. Polo ponies require special training to respond to the pace and requirements of the game. The horse’s muscle toning, schooling, behaviour modification and other training is all directed towards the requirements of performing well in the game. The player too has the added responsibility of getting familiar with his/her horse, partaking in the long process of training it {although, conducted by special horse trainers}, understanding and working with the animal’s temperament {including having a slight talent for horse whispering} and eventually, developing a strong rapport with the animal.

{Gaurav in action}

On Polo being a sport for the rich & famous..

For all the beauty and rush of the game, there’s no denying that polo is an expensive and often elitist sport, which would seem out of reach for most that do not come from privileged backgrounds. Sahgal admits that notion stands true, but emphasises that the situation is slowly changing. There are considerable costs involved in learning, playing and maintaining horses for the sport, not including other ancillary expenses of playing the game {equipment, etc}. While top Indian players can make upto 1.5 lacs per week during the season, the costs of owning and maintaining a horse often far exceed that. A trained polo pony could cost anything between 5 to 7 lacs {or more} while, semi-trained horses cost only marginally lesser. Maintenance of the animal could cost upward of INR 10,000 per month. Add to this the costs of coaching and training and you’re possibly conjuring the thought of a white elephant!

Sahgal attempts to dispel that notion by suggesting, “With the surge of corporate sponsorship and the rising popularity of the game, new players can hope to be better funded and can seek better facilities too. Alternatively, one can also balance a full-fledged career alongside the game, as many of the first generation professionals have done, but it would require great focus, time management and effort on the part of the individual.” “Not impossible though,” as he reiterates, given he manages his father’s stud farm alongside his polo duties.

He’s happy to see the rising popularity of the sport in the country and how it has opened up in more ways than one; be it the inclusion of foreign players in our local teams or of the changing demographic of the spectators. He only hopes though that this increased corporate sponsorship and publicity trickles down more effectively to benefit the players, clubs, horse training facilities, etc.

So, it seems Polo isn’t for most of us?

You may not be convinced to play it, but that shouldn’t mean you can’t atleast watch it. It’s important to bust the myth that the polo matches held in the city are restricted to invitees/page 3 crowd only and require a strict dress code—On the contrary, these matches are free for public viewing and are not bound by any strict decorum {unless you’re hankering for free booze at the journalist-ridden high tea stands!}. So the next time you feel like catching a match at the polo grounds and/or APRC – feel free to just waltz right in. If you can’t play, be a spectator.

Having wanted to play the sport myself, irrespective of how that turned out, I ask him whether the sport’s environment in the country is conducive for a female player. Sahgal admits it really isn’t. My fierce “why-the-hell-not” expression and murmurs of chauvinism aside, I’m compelled to agree with him. As a woman considering pursuing the sport as more than just a hobby, I’m not quite sure we’re there yet. Our only notable player is Devyani Rao, and she too plays in Argentina, when not coaching here.

Moving on..

“Speaking of women… tell us more?” I prod, as I steer the discussion to lighter matters and wonder {aloud} how this talented youngster chooses to spend his free time. This draws a sheepish grin on his face, but he nonchalantly dismisses this, saying that he’s usually either in training or playing {during the season} and has little to no time for recreation. That said, he doesn’t rule out the ‘several possibilities’ for a young player such as himself. Ahem.

I bring up the idea that a horse lover is usually always a dog lover too, and it brings a huge smile to his face as he tells us about his “fat” labradors, Huva and Makyo, that occupy a lot of his free time too.

Speaking with Gaurav is a positive reinforcement of how polo as a sport and with its ancestry still finds pursuance amongst our generation. “The sport could really do with added participation and that it really is never too late to start. If you’re determined enough, a few years of learning and practising riding and then polo would be enough to open the professional avenue for just about anyone,” adds Sahgal. Additionally, membership to the Army clubs is minimal and easily affordable by all, once there, the onus is on you to take your game to whichever level you’d like.

On that parting note, I’m tempted to revisit my long held childhood ambition to not just be a spectator—this time, possibly saddle up and ride along too?

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If you too would like some more information regarding how to go about learning/playing the sport, refer to our notes below.

Notes in our Little Black Book |

Find a good coaching facility |

• Army Polo and Riding Club: B Squadron 61 Cavalry, Cariappa Marg {Delhi Cantonment}/ Contact: +91-11- 25699444, 25699555,25699666
  For more information, visit: http://www.armypoloclub.com/
• Beeya’s Riding Facility: Munirka Farms, Vasant Kunj,South Delhi/ Contact: +91-9810062736
• Children’s Riding Club: DID, Behind Safdarjung’s Tomb, Race Course, South Delhi/ Contact: +91-11-23012265/26519535/9003
• Janak Equestrian Club: Sushant Lok – Phase 3, Near Sector 57, Golf Course Extension Road, Gurgaon/ Contact: +91-9910458106
  For more information, visit: http://www.janakridingclub.com/Homepage.html

Find a good coach | It helps a great deal to have a good coach; while, you’d have to be very well connected to be trained by the likes of Roshan Sodhi {who, although, is very good, but unnecessarily elitist}, you could try the Army trainers, who’re  excellent too. For polo, you could very well contact any of the older professionals to coach you.  Or contact this gentleman at the APRC: Inderjit Singh Rao

Learn to ride | Learn to ride first, understand the horse, get comfortable with the sport and the animal; it could take 1-3 years depending on how much effort and resources you put in to it.

Give it time | It takes a year, at least, of riding everyday to progress to the next level. Even more, one you decide to play professionally, so if you’re serious about pursuing the sport – give it the time and effort it requires.

Watch and learn | A lot of players, including Sahgal, have honed their technique watching older, more experienced players on the field. Whatever be your level of interest, take time out during the season to watch as many matches as you can. The Delhi season starts by September and there are matches held almost every day of the week; don’t just look to be part of the Page-3 adorned finals, but watch the preliminary schedule too.

{image courtesy: http://racingworldindia.com; http://www.luxist.com; http://media2.intoday.in/indiatoday}

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There are days when you wake up and wonder why the hell you live in a place that has almost no access to international music acts, international documentaries and stuff that the ‘first world’ gets to gorge on. The 29^th of this month will not be one of those days.

Sony Music, HIT 95 FM and The Blue Frog Delhi are bringing Sound City to town for a screening. This is going to be epic and pretty loud… just how we like it!

So what is Sound City?  In 1969, a recording studio opened its doors in southern California.  Unknown, even to itself, was that it would become a legend. Musicians that have recorded there have described the interiors as bizarre and downright ugly, which is quite something coming from rock stars, but they all agree… there was something about Sound city. This ‘something’ may well have been the recording console. I’d rather not go into the details of it since that would be a bit of a spoiler but what you should know is that there are/were only 4 consoles like that in the world {all custom made} and it was called the Neve 8028.

Old school musicians reminisce about the days when music was still made and perfected with instruments played by humans. Humans that shared real relationships. Volatility. Emotion. Things that computers simply aren’t capable of. You’ve wondered why the new breed of rockers don’t sound the way Led zeppelin, The Who and The Beatles did. It’s simple. They never used computers to perfect and fine tune {read auto-tune} their music. There is literally no other reason. Sound City is an ode to this dying breed of musicians and their heartfelt music. You may hate rock and roll as genre of music but it is literally impossible to not acknowledge the effort its artists put into the music, the cultures and sub-cultures it has influenced and the world of entertainment that it has created. The studio in the film, which was an unsung hero so far, is one of the reasons rock and roll sounded that way. I can’t help but imagine what Smells like teen spirit would have sounded like if it wasn’t recorded at Sound City. Or where else Fleetwood Mac would have recorded volatile and path breaking music like they did at Sound city,

Do not miss this screening. It will only happen once and if you have been to the Blue Frog you know how good it will sound even if you don’t end up enjoying the film! Tickets are available on bookmyshow.com and the trailer will tell you a little bit about the film.

Directed by Dave Grohl

When | 29^th May, 2013

Where | The Blue Frog, New Delhi

Tickets | http://in.bookmyshow.com/events/Soundcity-The-Dave-Grohl-Documentary-Exclusive-Screening-A/ET00015201

See you there!

The post Sound City | Finally in Delhi appeared first on Little Black Book, Delhi.

There’s something about Rajasthan. Its ethnicity doesn’t get overbearing, the prints don’t get boring, the colors are never too bright and the style never gets old! Most of us make the mistake of being presumptuous that all things block-print is Jaipur and there’s suddenly a picture in our head of an over-ethnic jhola on a college student’s shoulder. I think it’s safe to say that over the years, that belief has changed and being someone who loves the revolution that entrants-old and new- have brought about, I find a bit of Jaipur in my own life.

To our delight, there are many ways and addresses in our city to experience and stock up on the lovely styles and products inspired from Rajasthan, and here are our favorites:

RATAN TEXTILES

With the most welcoming home furnishings, Ratan Textiles has been a favourite for many, including my entire family, to stock up on summer blankets, ‘dohars’, rugs, pillowcases, hand printed silk cushions and whatever else pleases your house! They also have super-cool stationery and travel accessories.

Personal favorites | the To-do List Notepad {this has seriously organized my life like none other!}, waterproof toilet bags and the extremely comfortable and beautiful cotton kurtas and tops that take me from work to drinks through the summer.

Where | Ratan Textiles, N-8, Gk N Block Market

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ANOKHI

Bridging the traditional and city fashion, Anokhi has been iconic in representing Rajasthani style in Delhi. Ethnic hand block-prints inspired from the rich culture of Rajasthan, infused with contemporary styling, their USP lies in fail proof designs, although we do wish they came up with newer designs more often. While they are mostly popular for their applique embroidered furnishings and flowy clothes, they also stock some great silver jewelry.

Personal favorites | Printed cotton trousers and tablecloths, kids’ clothing and cotton nightwear.

Where | Anokhi, 32 Khan Market, N-16 GK N Block Market, Santushti Shopping Market, DLF Promenade Mall Vasant Kunj.

P.s. They have a discount store at Nizamuddin East Market

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SOMA

Situated in the lovely Meherchand Market, Soma stocks Rajasthani cottons in Jaipuri block print designs. What sets this store apart is that their designs and prints change every season, which is a rarity in most such stores. Their USP is that everything in the store is hand-done, not machine-made. Their style is in sync with western markets while being sensitive to the requirements of the modern Indian consumer.

Personal favorites | The table linen, mal-mal, chiffon & maheshwari sarees.

Where |  46-47 Meherchand Market, Lodhi Colony

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More stores around town that stock similar products {please feel free to send us more recommendations on editors@littleblackbookdelhi.com} :

• Kilol {GK N Block Market}
• Cottons {Gk N Block Market}
• Fab India {Connaught Place, GK}
• Vasansi, {R Block, GK}

Image courtesy: https://www.facebook.com/ratantextiles?fref=ts, https://www.facebook.com/AnokhiIndia?fref=ts, https://www.facebook.com/SomaBlockprints?fref=ts

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Written in 1925, The Great Gatsby is considered F. Scott Fitzgerald’s magnum opus, a “timeless, relatable plotline within the historical context of the era.” Fitzgerald gives his readers an insight into the decadence and garishness of society in the 1920’s – the criminal activity that brought about unprecedented wealth, and the evolution of jazz music and bootlegging. He sets, in this context, the story of the rather mysterious and surprisingly young Jay Gatsby, a millionaire criminal who centers his entire existence on the woman he loves – Daisy Buchanan.

Narrated from the point of view of Yale graduate and war veteran Nick Caraway, who is also Daisy’s cousin and ends up renting a cottage next to Gatsby’s mansion, the novel has been described as having been written from a deep understanding of the sad and unfulfilled lives of rich American society, corrupted by greed. Jay Gatsby has been called “one of American literature’s most powerful characters.”

As the story unfolds beyond the wealth and parties, it has been said that what hits home with remarkable clarity is that beneath all the fanciful facades, “Gatsby is really nothing more than a man desperate for love.”

The intricacies of Jay Gatsby’s character and his demeanor towards Daisy, even after all these years, make for rather interesting debates. Moreover, with the current release of it’s movie adaptation, it would be interesting to discuss parallels between the mediums. We look forward to sharing these and with you, our readers.

Looking forward to seeing you!

Date | 15th June, 2013

Time | 4:30 pm onwards

Venue | To be decided

If you’d like to be a part of our Book Club, please send us an email on contactus@littleblackbookdelhi.com.

Featured Image Courtesy: classiclitgeek.wordpress.com

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Both Muskan and I have been, or try often enough to be, “healthy foodies.” Well at least for most part of the year, because Delhi winter comes with 2 months spent hibernating beneath blankets and five layers of sweaters and jackets, no exercise, and careless consumption of empty calories.

There’s this notion that healthy living implies not eating much food, or consuming food that begins and ends with lettuce leaves. We take great pleasure in bursting this bubble for all you foodies out there – this is not true! There’s a big difference between dieting and mindful eating, and having done both, I can promise you this – when I eat according to my body’s needs and not wants, not only do I have copious amounts of energy to take me from a 6.30 am yoga class to a 1 am writing/editing project, but it’s also really helped me sort out skin problems, major digestion issues {too much information?} and deal with stress.

Sure, we both love our share of cupcakes and wine. If you come to the LBBD office pantry, you’ll find everything from methi khakra and soy chips, to chocolate covered digestive biscuits, wafers and nachos. But you’ll also see lots of grub like dried figs, granola, oatmeal and raisin cookies and nuts. They’re simple substitutes for fried chips, chocolate and other junk – which in our office tend to get wiped clean by our in-house junk food addicts, Salman and Upasana. The point is, it doesn’t take much apart from mindful choices to make a change in your food consumption. Our lunches now feature quinoa with spinach and soy, fish tikka wraps and burgers made with healthy ingredients. In fact LBBD’s Upasana, who’s incredible genes allow her to happily devour pasta with copious amounts of cheese and desserts like no one else, tried one of the lunches I brought to office and loved it!

There’s no need to eat bland and boring food when all you’ve got to do is stock up on a few simple ingredients to get cooking in the kitchen, or just assemble a meal at your dining table. These 3 recipes will take you from breakfast to dinner, and make room for snacks in between, and hey – if I can make them, you’ve got nothing to worry about.

1. TURKEY WRAP

The best part about a turkey wrap? It takes less than 5 minutes to put together, and uses ingredients that you can easily find in your fridge. It makes for an ideal lunch, and given your own dietary preferences you can put whatever fillings you like. What you need is:

• Wholewheat wrap {readymade, available at most convenience stores} or make a chapatti using ragi flour
• Turkey ham or sliced turkey breast
• Tomato, sliced
• Lettuce or spinach; washed and dipped in ice-cold water
• Hung yogurt as a substitute for cheese. Add chopped parsley, celery and a pinch of salt to this
• Green chutney {homemade is ideal. Else, readymade from a convenience store}

Steps: Spread the yogurt dip and green chutney on the wholewheat wrap or chapatti. Next, add leaves of lettuce, followed by the turkey and tomatoes. Roll it all together, and you’re done. Seriously! To make sure the ingredients are held together, refrigerate it for a bit, and you’re good to go! This high protein, high-fibre roll is my go-to lunch.

2. QUINOA MIX WITH SPINACH+SOY

Quinoa is the only grain, per se, I’ve been eating for the past month. This is primarily because wheat just does not suit me. But I’ve found quinoa to not only satiate my appetite faster and for longer, but that it’s high fibre and low carb content makes it a superb wheat substitute. I’ve made my colleague Upasana, who despises ‘diet food’, try it and she loved it!

Sautéed Spinach+Soy | Roast cumin, add green chilli & chopped onions – fry for 2-3 minutes. Wash & cut spinach & boil in water+salt for 3-5 minutes. Blanch this in cold water immediately. Boil soy nodules in water in a bit of salt for 5 minutes. Once it’s cooked, drain and squeeze out water, and rinse in cold water. Add the blanched spinach and soy to roasted zeera+onions. This is packed with iron and protein!

Quinoa Mix | Cook a bowl of Quinoa using this simple way. Once cooked, add chopped red, yellow and green bell peppers and diced onion to the quinoa, and toss it around so the ingredients mix nicely. If, like me, you love paneer/cottage cheese, roast a slice of paneer in a little bit of olive oil, dice it, and add to the quinoa mix.

3. LEMON- VANILLA BERRY PARFAIT

From Muskan’s Kitchen

I harbor a ‘secret’ sweet tooth. Aah – feels good to finally have that secret out of the closet! But there is nothing more satisfying than something fresh, sweet and sticky to end a long day at work. We often get lost in the whole ‘too much sugar isn’t good for you’ syndrome. Truth is though, if consumed in small quantities, and in healthy variations {that are ofcourse, still delicious}, then you’re really doing yourself no harm. This parfait is fat free and full of calcium and antioxidants. Also, it’s easy-peasy-yum!

What you’ll need:

• 1 cup plain low-fat yogurt
• 1.5 to 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons honey
• Zest of 1 lemon
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 3 cups mixed berries {such as blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries}
• Fresh mint leaves {optional}

In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the yogurt and vanilla extract; set aside. Then, in a medium-sized mixing bowl, stir the honey, lemon zest, and lemon juice until combined. Add the mixed berries, and gently stir with a rubber spatula to coat them with the honey mixture. Lastly, assemble the parfaits in two dessert glasses/ bowls – using measuring spoons, scoop 3 tablespoons of the yogurt mixture into each glass. Top with 1/4 cup of the berries, then another 3 tablespoons of yogurt, and another 1/4 cup of berries. If you are a mint lover, like me, then use some to garnish. Devour immediately, or cover and refrigerate for up to 2 hours. Enjoy!

P.S The berries can be replaced with mangoes :)

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Putting the idea of good food on the back burner is not the healthy way to live. It’s all about finding substitutes that work for you.

And with these choices, we’re even making ‘dessert indulgences’ healthy!

Check out our Pinterest page here to see all the cool foodie bloggers we follow. Images sourced from here.

The post Under 20-Minute Mindful Meals appeared first on Little Black Book, Delhi.

ART

What| International Week of Arts Education consists of a series of workshops organized by the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art in collaboration with NCERT and Sahitya Kala Parishad. The event kicks off today with a workshop on ‘Live Art /Performance through Dance and Movement’ conducted by Tripura Kashyap.

On the following days there will be workshops on – Appreciating Art through Story Telling by Manas Ranjan, Exploring Creativity through Collage Making by Roobina Karode & Saumya Bhatt, Threading Art / Weaving Dreams by Gopika Nath and a Press conference on Art Education.

When| 23^rd May to 27^th May, 2:30pm to 5:30pm

Where| Kiran Nadar Musuem of Art, Saket

Registration| Free

Details| Contact knma@shivnadarfoundation.org or call at 011-49160000 for registrations.

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THEATRE

What| Gandhi- the Play- This May, India International Center brings a brilliant stage performance based on the Father of the Nation – Mahatma Gandhi. Moving away from the popular images of Gandhi, the play is located in the immediate aftermath of post-partition India and the riots that followed. The production focuses on Gandhi’s efforts to heal the wounded hearts of the victims and his opposition to partition.

When| Thursday, 23^rd May, 6:30 pm

Where| India International Centre, 40 Max Mueller Marg, Lodhi Estate

Entry| Free

 {FRIDAY}

MUSIC

What| OMNIA is without doubt the most exciting and fast rising name to emerge from the progressive & trance scene in 2012. This young Ukrainian DJ / producer made it to the prestigious DJ Magazine Top 100 DJs at the end of October 2012 as the highest placed new trance DJ at #58.Having already made waves as a standout, festival rocking DJ in his homeland over the past couple of years, Omnia has now broken out as an in-demand producer on a global scale. Impressive playlist support from A-list DJs such as Armin van Buuren, Markus Schulz and Above & Beyond, culminated in several Omnia track inclusions in Armin’s ‘A State Of Trance Year Mix 2011′ compilation.

When| Friday, 24^th May, 9:00 pm

Where| Kitty Su, The LaLiT, Barakhamba Road

Tables and entry bookings| Call – 96504-00444, 011-4444-7666

Details| http://www.facebook.com/events/515693698498028/

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THEATRE

What| The Comedy Store Present – Best in Stand -up a show featuring three of the country’s best comics – Kunal Rao, Raghav Mandava and Amit Tandon. They bring their accomplished repertoire of making audiences laugh out loud through their uproarious brand of humour. Since the past two and a half years, The Comedy Store has provided some rib-tickling laughs and it continues to propagate the culture of stand-up, true to their tradition!

When| Friday, 24^th May, 8:30 pm – 10:30 pm

Where| Blue Frog, Mehrauli

Entry| Rs 600 per person. For further details contact – Book My Show – 022-39895050

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WEEKEND AWAY

What| Escape Festival- Three days and 2 stages, and you’re looking at multiple stages of sheer bliss- Bands and musicians at the 2013 festival bring everything under the sun, and more, to the two stages – from Faridkot and their ‘confused pop’ and the Skavengers rhythm blends that create high energy, danceable music; to Loopbaba’s lighter EDM style and even some Opera by Toshanbor Singh Nongbet. What’s more- White Collar Hippie are setting up a campsite here! Details ~ https://www.facebook.com/events/367612163345294/

When| 24th, 25th and 26th May, 2013

Where| Naukuchiatal, Uttarakhan

Details| http://littleblackbookdelhi.com/2013/05/16281/the-hills-are-alive-with-the-sound-of-music

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LEARN

What| Charcoal & Graphite Artworks Kids Workshop organized by the CMYK Bookstore in collaboration with “Hands On” aims to teach drawing, shading and blending techniques using charcoals & graphite to kids between the ages of 8-12 years.

When| Friday, 24th May, 11:00 am to 1:00 pm

Where| CMYK Bookstore, 15 -16 Meharchand Market , Lodhi Road,

Details| Cost: Rupees 1800

RSVP: 9810703890 / 011- 24641881
Email: cmyk@rolibooks.com

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{SATURDAY}

THEATRE

What| Miyan Biwi aur Manto – This play is a collection of five short stories from the pen of ‘Saadat Hassan Manto’.  The stories portrayed in this play are entirely different from the genre, he’s well known for. He wrote these stories when he had no proper source of income and had to fulfill his hunger. These tales depict a comical take on the sweet-sour relationship shared by husband and wife.

When| Saturday, 25^th May, 7:30 pm

Where| Amphitheater, India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road

Ticket| Rs. 100

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MUSIC

What| Jay Lumen: The Hungarian’s musical journey has seen him come a long way, from classical violin training at 8 years old to now being one of the world’s leading driving forces behind the tech house and techno movements. His DJ sets showcase his signature sound which ranges from house to techno, but always maintains pulsating and dynamic grooves. Full of energy and full of belief in his own sound, Jay Lumen has struck the unique balance of bringing the underground to a large scale audience

When| Saturday, 25^th May, 10:30 pm

Where| Blue Frog, Mehrauli

Entry| Rs 650 per head

Details| http://www.bluefrog.co.in/events/jay-lumen-hungary

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WALKS

What| Walking tour to monuments in Hauz Khas Village & Deer Park – This walk is organized by the ‘Delhi Heritage Walks’  and explores the medieval ruins in Hauz Khas village & Deer Park. The royal madrasa and tomb of Sultan Firuz Shah Tughluq are unique among monuments in Delhi. The Deer Park too has some massive buildings with incredible names like ‘the dome in the garden of the world’ & ‘the gifted dome’.

When| Saturday, 25^th May, 5:15 pm to 7:15 pm

Meeting point| Entry to Deer Park in Hauz Khas village

Charges| Rs 400 per person

Details| To register visit: http://www.delhiheritagewalks.com/online-booking-regular.html

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{SUNDAY}

What| DIFF Screenings: 1/2 Revolution by Omar Shargavi- Proud partners of the Dharamshala International Film Festival, this month blueFROG Delhi screens a heart-wrenching tale of the revolutionary images of the Tahrir Square movement from 2011. Banned and censored in various locations, this movie was the first one that claimed that 2011 was just the beginning. {content courtesy- http://www.bluefrog.co.in/events/diff-screenings-12-revolution-omar-shargawi}

When| Sunday, 26^th May, 7:00 pm- 10:30 pm

Where| Blue Frog, Mehrauli

Entry| Free

Details| http://www.bluefrog.co.in/events/diff-screenings-12-revolution-omar-shargawi

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EAT

What| Three Windows @ Khoj Sunday Brunch- Enjoy the delicious food, lovely music and chilled atmosphere at Khoj. For Rs 700 order a side, main course, a dessert and one drink.

When| Sunday, 26^th May, 11:30 am – 3:30 pm

Where| Three Windows at Khoj, S-17 Khirkee Extension, Malviya Nagar

Details| Please call 91 9871309111 for reservations

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NEXT WEEK

What| Soundcity: The Dave Grohl Documentary – Exclusive Screening- BlueFROG in association with Sony Music and Hit 95 FM brings together an exclusive screening of ‘Soundcity’ – A Documentary by the legendary Dave Grohl. SOUND CITY is a feature length documentary, directed by Dave Grohl {Nirvana, Foo Fighters}, about the human element of music, the lost art of analog recording, and the history of America’s greatest unsung recording studio, Sound City. Featuring a legendary, one-of-a-kind Neve recording console, and arguably the best tracking room in America, many of the seminal albums of the ‘70’s, ‘80’s and ‘90’s were put on tape within these walls: Classics by Fleetwood Mac, Neil Young, Tom Petty, Metallica, Nirvana… The list is staggering.

When| Wednesday, 29th May, 8pm

Where| Blue Frog, Mehrauli

Tickets| http://in.bookmyshow.com/events/Soundcity-The-Dave-Grohl-Documentary-Exclusive-Screening-A/ET00015201 

 **

Enjoy the weekend, Delhi!

The post The Weekend Checklist appeared first on Little Black Book, Delhi.

After winning his first two academy awards for Annie Hall, Woody Allen said, “This year I am a star, but what will I be next year? A black hole?” Well, 36 years down the line, he has written and directed 36 more films {his 37^th film since, and 43^rd overall is due for release later this summer}, earned 21 more Academy award nominations, won 2 more and never bothered to receive or acknowledge any of them – he is still a star, shining brighter than ever before.

He has always been an independent filmmaker, has written all his films, and never dealt with issues like having to fight over the final cut or casting.  Maybe that’s the secret of his longevity as an artist and the extraordinary depth and width of his work?  Or maybe it’s the fact that he is very detached from his art – “I do the movies just for myself like an institutionalized person who basket-weaves. Busy fingers are happy fingers. I don’t care about the films. I don’t care if they’re flushed down the toilet after I die.”

Well, be that as it may, but Mr. Allen’s work has had a supremely profound effect on me, in many different ways.  What’s most special about his work is its timeless relevance.  Ever since the beginning of his career, he has kept on poking at the same existential dilemmas – mortality, the fleeting nature of love and happiness, the meaning of life, religious aspirations of people – its always been about starting a dialogue, something which leaves the audience with something to think about and talk about, much after they have finished watching the film.  His direction is also focused around facilitating meaningful conversation – for instance, there are no intense close-ups or quick-cuts. In short, there are no unnecessary gimmicks. Throughout his career he has relied heavily on long shots, which include all the characters in a given scene, in the same frame, rather than cutting back and forth from one character to the other.  Another quality, which makes his films magical, is his understanding and use of music – which is either western classical or jazz – used entirely from his personal collection.  He has not had any of his films scored since his second film.

And he did all this, while dishing out his personal brand of humour, which we have all come to love so much. While for many, this might be his biggest triumph as an artist – dealing with heavy existential dilemmas, with a wonderful dose of humour. However, Allen himself considers this very trait to be his biggest bane. In Robert Weide’s Woody Allen: A Documentary, he said that he wishes he could make tragedies like his idols Fellini and Bergman did, but unfortunately he has been cursed with a joker’s perspective on life. Woody Allen is the man who can create a joke out of anything, but wishes he didn’t – much like most of his lead characters.

I could go on talking about Woody Allen, his films, and what makes him so special, but I’d rather let his films do the talking. To the uninitiated, here are some of his films that  do not get talked about as much as his much popular masterpieces like Annie Hall, Manhattan, or from among his recent ones Midnight in Paris, but are every bit, as unique and important {at least to me}.

Zelig | Leonard Zelig {played by Allen, himself} is a human chameleon – he can look and act like whomever he’s around.  This film has been shot in the form of a documentary, and is a very unique take on the various facades and masks we put on, everyday in our lives, to seem more agreeable to people around us.  Leave Allen’s repertoire aside, this will be unlike anything you have ever seen before.

Crimes and Misdemeanors | Perhaps one of his most substantial works – this film is as dark and shocking as it is charming. This is a story involving the parallel lives of two men, one of them, Judah Rosenthal {played superbly by Martin Landau},is a well-respected doctor, happily married, in the winter of his life, but is being threatened by his younger mistress. The other, Cliff Stern {played by Allen} – a poor, struggling documentary filmmaker, unhappily married, and infatuated by another woman.  This film is a testament to his incredible skill as an artist – the writing, his visual tactics, his direction, and even his acting, will have you wanting for more.

Deconstructing Harry | “We all know the same truth; our lives consist of how we choose to distort it.” Woody Allen summed up his views on life perfectly, with this beautiful line in the movie.  Deconstructing Harry is the story of Harry Block, a writer struggling with writer’s block {no prizes for guessing who played this character}. During the course of the movie, he remembers his past, and we meet characters from his stories as though they existed in real life {which they did}.  It is the story of a man who has alienated everyone in his life, but no one can hate him as much as he hates himself.

There are of course many more films to talk about, and perhaps we’ll come to those some other time.I do have one surprise left for you– apart from being a comedian, a writer, a filmmaker, and an actor, Woody is also an accomplished clarinet player and leads a jazz band, which tours frequently.  Wild Man Blues is a wonderful documentary, which covers Woody and his band while they are on tour in Europe!

Woody Allen is one of the gems of cinema and he is often ignored and taken for granted, for reasons completely unrelated to his art. All I can say is that I look forward to many more years of being enchanted by his films.

The post The Magic of Woody Allen appeared first on Little Black Book, Delhi.

Returning from my two week sojourn to reality, I couldn’t help but let my mind give way to thoughts of wanderlust again. Summer time has its own charm and everybody seems to have so much more fun. All and sundry have plans to either travel to some exotic locale or find their very own summer adventure. As for the lesser mortals with no time or dime to enjoy the fancier things in life, a weekend getaway is the perfect escape. Speaking of, for all the music aficionados out there looking for an alternative to longer travel tales, the Escape Festival proves to be a stellar choice. Spanning over three days, at a picturesque resort in Naukuchiatal, Escape promises to break you away from mundane routine and offers a bite of the extraordinary. Mind you, it isn’t meant for the faint hearted. Escape Festival goers embark on a magical journey that allows them to embrace and explore and find freedom and self expression in art, music, culture amidst the beauty of  Himalayan wilderness.

While a few of my friends are busy packing up for their very own ‘escape’, I decided to share with all of you a few must haves for any outdoor music festival. After all, everyone knows the second best part of festival going {after seeing the bands of course} is playing dress-up.  Bringing a little Coachella style quotient back home, it is easy to look eye popping, for both men and women alike. Rule numero uno at a music festival: Anything goes. There are, however, several staples that must be packed when asking what to wear to a music festival. If you have these items on your checklist, you are sure to enhance your music festival experience.

1. Boho-chic | This is a no brainer. Long, flowy skirts and shirts full of tie-dye and color are an obvious must pack. There are endless possibilities when it comes to color, cut and fabric. You can’t do festival attire without these.

2. Hats off to you | Block the sun from your eyes and keep your head cool while looking totally rad. So you can either go fedora or be the 70’s flower child. Given the heat of the music and the surrounding, this piece is totally of-the-moment and a definite must pack.

3. Sunny side up | A pair of statement sunglasses is essential when creating a stylish summer look while also keeping the rays out of your eyes. Go groovy or Lenon with your style.

4. Tribal that’s too cool for school | I don’t know why this is such a festival rage! Aztec/ Native American prints have been a recurring theme at music festivals across the globe. Gentlemen, pair your Aztec printed shirt with a muted pair of shorts or loose pants. As for the ladies, wear them as skirts, maxi dresses or shorts with a loose fitted top.

5. These boots were made for walking | While I totally profess heels and wedges for all kinds of occasions, when it comes to music festivals you need a more comfortable alternative- flats. You can still look cool in a pair of sandals that let you show off your taste and personality a bit. Team them with your dress, shorts or a vibrant skirt.

6. Short{y}, get low | Again, a no brainer. Shorts are men and women’s saviour at any festival, especially if you spend a good chunk of time sitting on dusty/ muddy ground in between sets. You’ll be thankful you’re wearing them. Denim or Linen, the choices are endless. Shorts have a flamboyant rock ‘n’ roll vibe which is perfect for any festival.

7. Not just a bag | Hands free is the best way to enjoy any set. An across-the-body bag is an essential. You need something big enough to fit all your necessities so that you’re hassle free to cheer on your favourite band.

8. Skin saver | All day exposure to the sun calls for a sunscreen that won’t run off as you frolic around an open field. Pick up one that allows you to apply it to wet skin, which is particularly helpful if you like to dance {and sweat} up a storm.

9. Decorative Decals | Celebs like Vanessa Hudgens like to sport cute face decals when they’re at music festivals. Wish to do the same? Pick up a kit that includes stencils and spray make-up so you and your friends can create your own custom look. In a pinch, the star stickers your fourth grade teacher put on your books will do the trick. In addition, remember to carry wet wipes and sanitizer for a quick clean up. Accessorise your subtle yet trendy outfits with floral head pieces or long bohemian earrings. Channel your inner 70’s wild child with a range of add-ons.

10. Environmentally Friendly | Countless hours outdoors can take a toll on you if you don’t stay hydrated. Do yourself a favour; instead of buying multiple bottles of water, fill up a reusable bottle for those times you’re waiting for a set and don’t want to miss the start. As for the more risqué ones, you could always double this as a hip flask for convenience.

Music festivals strip us away from our world’s confines, throw us in the open and tell us to forget it all for a while. For all those reading this and not attending any festivals this summer, head to your local park, outdoor venue, or friend’s rooftop and host your own mini music fest! You don’t need reasons to have fun and play a little dress up. For all those with their bags packed-stay hydrated, stay hidden from the sun and have an amazing time listening to the ridiculously great line up amidst jungle madness. Keep your party groove on at all times, I say.

Here are some ideas for stores to hit before you take off this weekend |

1.  Hats | FCUK, Mango, www.catbird.com, www.us.asos.com, Forever 21
2. Shorts | Vero Moda, Forever 21, Zara, www.net-a-porter.com, www.freepeople.com, www.hm.com , Roxy {Quicksilver}
3. Flat Sandals | www.shopbob.com, www.matikoshoes.com, Zara, D&A, Carlton London
4. Bags | www.urbanoutfitters.com, www.hurley.com, Mango, Janpath Stalls {for more Indian looking sacks}, Zara, FCUK
5. Aztec Prints/ Maxi Dresses |Forever 21, Zara, Mango, Promod, www.freepeople.com, www.nastygal.com, www.us.asos.com
6. Accessories | Zara, Forever 21, Miss Jo, www.nordstorm.com
7. Face paint | www.sephora.com , www.urbandecay.com

The post The Last Song appeared first on Little Black Book, Delhi.

I seek your indulgence if and while you read this as this isn’t a descriptive travel piece, nor a lowdown of what to do in Ladakh. It’s exactly how I wrote it down in a torn notebook and just thought it might be nice to keep it raw, for a change.. simply because no travelogue, article or essay can do justice to the barren beauty of the wonder that is Ladakh..

There’s comfort in the deafening silence, chaos in the silent sky, mysteries in silver in the blue distance and beauty in barren moon-like grounds. There’s peace in monasteries and Gurudwaras, childishness in ghost stories in bed, thrill in a newfound friend and understanding in things unsaid.

All I can see are clouds. Our plane is drifting, floating in a pool called sky, outlined by a golden line- sunrise. There isn’t much feeling apart from the gentle touch of blue and the rigid eyes of the hills on every emotion I feel. The sun beautifully highlighting bits of brown, turning it to purple as we hit every curve of the barren state of Ladakh.

In restless dreams and anxious realities, I travelled yet again to find the answer, the only familiar thing being a faithful leather jacket. I feel the sun on my neck and hope that the flags carry my prayers along. I’m reminded of a childhood tale; darker than we realized it to be when we were reading it, called Beauty and the Beast. Not much different from where I am now. Such contrast, yet so spectacularly aligned.

Countless shades of blue- Walking through Pangong. The drive to Pangong leads up to one of those ‘wow’ moments. Amidst crater like mountains, after driving for 4 hours and wondering if the sight to come is going to be worth it, an electric blue greets the eye and increases as we approach it. An endorheic lake, I’m surprised how this isn’t included in one of the wonders of the world. Pangong- yes, the lake at the end of 3 Idiots, the lake with more shades of blue than the sky.

It tells me nothing; it shows me what I already know. The fluttering of the flags when the wind hits, a glistening sun, the coolness of the lake, the harshness of the rocks, the sound of gentle waves, the comfort within, the sturdy mountains and the ever-changing water. They don’t speak to each other, the mountains and the lake, yet they co-exist in perfect harmony and one would be ordinary if not for the other. I walked through the shallow, and its strange how with the colour, even the sound of the lake changes. I find myself enveloped with a fear as I walked deeper into it. The most spectacular lake, the most unusual.

The next night… the bridge I’ll never forget. Close to an eco-lodge, is one of the many bridges in Leh, laden with prayer flags, with fantastic views from both sides and a tiny ledge to sit and chill.

Where are we, I asked. Somewhere, he said. And we drove into the nothingness. Where did we go? I asked again. Somewhere, he said, this time with a cheeky smile. I turned around to my brother, sitting at the back of the jeep and asked him, Is my hair in your face? ‘Baal nahi, only maal aa raha hai!’ replied my brother, and the boy at the front of the jeep half-smiled again. We hopped across the hanging bridge, the only light coming from the stars and some from someone’s eyes, of course. And we climbed over a ledge. Underneath us, silently rushed the dark river, surrounded by the stillness of Ladakh, the only other movement the prayer flags and the wind in my hair. And I didn’t want to get up and leave. Still holding on to the faithful leather, leaning into nothingness.

I closed my eyes to push away the creeping annoying guilt of under delivering at the many other things in life. It seemed to help a bit, a short-lived high.

The next morning.

Hola chica! And he smiled from across the courtyard, greeting me pleasantly. I felt shabby, as I always do, but it was just breakfast. Coffee to go and packed breakfast, and we drove to ‘my spot at the bridge’, the morning glorifying the view so much more. A few apple cheeked locals, tea and a breather and today I was less emotional, perhaps thanks to Geetika- who I love inexplicably- being a cheery mood.

Riding down 17586 feet.. Changla Pass, the third highest motorable road in the world, one of the coldest parts we crossed, with a tiny tin hut serving tea and coffee.

I met a bike boy. At the third highest cafeteria in the world at Changla Pass. I know I was in Ladakh and living the dream blah, so on and etc. But there was a tiny part of me, the part that dominates most of my actions in life, that screamed out and said- you need to sit on a bike and go down the mountains, to feel the silence and the madness of this place. And so this stranger’s pillion was thrown into our car and I was put on the Enfield. Inversely proportional to the altitude, the rush went up my spine and into my head. In that moment, I knew I was living, not breathing, traveling, not holidaying and feeling, not faking.

The last evening.. Spent at a cafe in Changspa Market- the street in Leh where you can find cafes, restaurant, tea and momo shops.

My last evening in the place short of oxygen, still giving me more space to breathe than anywhere else, was as mellow as yellow could get. An evening at Changspa, a drink at a Cafe run by a Delhiite, it was perfect. Live music from among the crowd, a bonfire at my feet, flames that danced to the fire. I miss dancing, I thought. The stars filling up the night sky, the sky so much fuller than the ground here .

I drove in the hills, a tiny car, something I hadn’t thought I’d ever do. The mood was set. Staring down at the valley, I was reminded of how small I am, but not insignificant.

I want to stay, I thought. When are you coming to Delhi? I asked him. Soon.., he replied, ofcourse another open-ended, ambiguous, cheeky reply.

I don’t want to leave, I thought. But I don’t think it heard me, the airplane. It rose right above the wonder, as the skies grayed in goodbye.

Notes in our Little Black Book 

Best Time to Visit | Between April and August

Attractions I loved | Pangong Lake, Magnetic Hill, Gurudwara Pather Sahib, K-Top, Changspa Market.

Stay | The Grand Dragon- Undoubtedly the best place to stay in Leh. Great service, unmatched quality of accommodation and f&b, lovely staff.

Eat | Bon Apetit {My favorite place in town. Love their Pizzas & Sangria}, Cafe Nirvana {evening}, Tibetan Kitchen, Chopsticks Noodle Bar, Pumpernickel German Bakery {breakfast}

Tips | Please keep a day to acclimatize {the day you reach Leh should be spent in your hotel, drinking water, garlic soup and eating chocolate}, Carry warm clothes no matter how hot you think the day might be- it gets cold at night, Keep yourself hydrated, Arrange your car and driver in advance to each of the attractions because the hotel needs to get permits for you to visit most of them.

**

Buenos Viajes..

The post Rambling on the Moon | Ladakh appeared first on Little Black Book, Delhi.

The past few centuries have seen a subtle, yet profoundly suggestive shift in how we, you and I, think of travel. There have been plenty of narratives to guide us towards the essence of travel – Dante’s journey through the three realms of dead comes to mind, along with Homer’s odyssey. Yet, unfortunately, it seems that travel, for journey’s sake, has fallen out of being fashionable. While we do hold the capability to travel all around the world, that too in a very short span, travel is rarely valued for its own sake. The pleasure of travel is eclipsed by the anticipation of checking off all the destinations on our personal version of “The Tourist List”.

But I think we need to, at times if not mostly, make a conscious choice to decelerate, and transpose time into an article of abundance instead of inadequacy. Our travels connote flashes of light between tunnels, angled glimpses of the sky and plenty of scope for headaches. But slowing down helps us to form an individual relationship, or reshape our existing ones, with places and spaces. It also encourages us to interact more intimately with the diverse communities that we encounter, and through which we travel. The journey itself becomes a state of mind. It is about having the courage to not go the way of the crowd. Popular wisdom may suggest that a first visit to Italy must necessarily include Venice, Florence and other ‘must-see’ spots. But I personally feel that there are no ‘must-see’ destinations. Now I am not saying you should not visit these places at least once, but there is much more to any region than the most popular spots. We go after the beautifully shot colored pictures in glossy travel magazines. Tour operators and public relations agencies hype cities and regions, resorts and restaurants. And modern tourists progress from place to place, ticking off countries, cities and communities as staging posts in a pilgrimage of mass consumption.

I would rather abandon the false credibility bred of shared chatter about “My Greece experience” and instead take to the back streets, linger longer and perhaps try to understand what makes a community live the way it does. I usually try and stick to locally owned cafes, eat good {at times not-so-good} regional produce, use local transport and visit places teeming with locals. These are, more often, not necessarily the same as the bigger and more popular tourist sights. Sites of historical and cultural significance are great to see, but if it’s culture you’re after, I personally feel that it goes beyond a 2000-year-old tomb or the made-for-tourists dance performances. Checking out those attractions is great, not knocking them at all, but they only illuminate one side of a nation’s culture, the ancient, not the living, breathing, present. One of the defining elements of slowing down is the opportunity to become part of local life and to connect to a place and its people. It is about my, and hopefully yours as well, personal conversation with the culture there.

Sitting on an unobtrusive bench in the plaza outside the most common tourist location in Istanbul allowed me to soak in the daily grind of the locals there. I could see their animated reactions every time a horde of tourists that would arrive, and their tired expressions when all by themselves. I spent an entire day in that plaza, and by the end of the day, I was friendly with many of the vendors, most of them peddling guides to Istanbul in various languages. Friendly enough for one of them to invite me to her house for dinner with her family for a traditional Turkish meal, and their traditional drink, the taste of which I still fondly, or mostly coldly {due to the aftermath} recall. Friendly enough for another to take me to the Asian {the non-touristy} side across the Bosphorous strait in a small boat, as opposed to the big ferries {which is what most tourists use}, thus letting me experience the crossing from a completely different point of view. There, like-minded people allowed for a simplicity of lifestyle, as opposed to the agitated dynamism on the European side. Now I am not saying be completely trusting and careless and follow people you do not know. You hear of enough scams to be wary of such movement. But I am sure that, with enough applied common sense, you will be able to avoid uncomfortable situations.

As an architect, I find the process of experiencing a place essentially phenomenological. I tend to look for the “Spirit of the Place”, or Genius Loci, if you will, which basically means the sum total of all experiences, both tangible {architecture, styles, views, monuments} and invisible {culture, history, belief, memory and even stories}. For example, it would mean the experience of seeing a multitude of sky-scrapers at a particular place, combined with the feeling of the wind caused by the tunnel effect ruffling through your hair. Many a time, that means I end up visiting spaces that are off the main tourist route.

The main city centers, or even smaller scaled neighborhood nodes, were hardly designed as a place for tourists, but rather the context of everyday lives, the collision and collusion of commonplace and daily routine of the residents.  This act in itself is handed down from generation to generation, in the social and societal evolution, and is called tradition. Hence, such places deserve more than a casual glance, or a customary photograph of out-of-context architectural styles. Such cityscapes are there to be studied and perceived in detail. They deserve your deliberate observation, the type you can only do when you stop and sit down somewhere, and take in all the aspects of the place, instead of just focusing on areas that every tourist photographs. They are spurs to meditation, and only much later can words flow.

But approaching the world in this particular mode is not the prerogative of anybody in particular, nor can anyone claim any ownership over the notion, this notion of “unhurried travel”. These ideas have been within the overall symphony of orchestrated travel thought for decades. Eminent people like Vidal de La Blache immersed themselves in the environments they studied. It is only now that these ideas of slowing down are being discovered by the general population.

Slowly moving through a place need not take much time, just more time than usual. Enough time for people to open up to you and call you thier friend. One of the most beautiful aspects of travel is the element of surprise. Slow down your pace where most people wouldn’t to uncover treasures that otherwise would have gone unseen. This type of travel reinvigorates our habits of perception, taunting us to look more deeply into that we thought we already knew. And at its best it reintroduces a welcome measure of uncertainty into travel. But for some travellers, that very uncertainty is disquieting. Fast lives demand confirmed arrival times. Slow travellers delight in the magic of the unexpected. Théophile Gaultier, that nineteenth-century French travel writer, regretted that even in his day there was little adventure left in travel. The absence of the unexpected breeds only a numbing boredom which makes Moscow and Madrid seem indistinguishable. “What charm can there be in a journey,” asks Gautier, “when one is always sure to arrive and find horses ready, a downy bed, an excellent supper and all the comforts that one enjoys at home?”

So try it the next time you travel. Take the quiet side street, slow down and observe — casually find the details that exist — they will be there.

image courtesy: http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/

The post Unhurried Travel appeared first on Little Black Book, Delhi.