Good food and movies

Total relaxation. Wake up in the morning, go for a walk, return and go back to sleep. Wake up, eat, read papers, browse TV channels, sit in the sun drinking juice.
Saw one of the malls yesterday, impressive. And then saw a movie in the premium lounge. Wow! Total luxury! I think they are the chairs from the business lounge in a flight. Feet up, chair back, someone bringing you the tacos and glass after glass of juice followed with dinner and dessert. Well, its money well spent. And the movie - Bhagam Bhaag. Govinda and Akshay Kumar. Slapstick comedy and silly jokes. But it had us in splits. Just the movie I needed after all this time away.

Boring the world

Stories are never-ending. And I just cant seem to stop talking. There is so much to catch up on....episodes from over a year. What a variety of experiences! Mum-papa get the full blast - poor things. I'm seeing papa's retired version for the first time. He, amazingly enough, seems quite satisfied with the way life is unfolding. Mum, another story. Her singing has become - wow!! Hard work does pay - the time period may vary. I'm going to get back to my violin totally rejuvenated......

Reached!!

We're home! Yesterday went by in a haze of packing. The packers were, amazingly, through in a matter of 30 minutes inspite of Tweedledum's dire predictions about french efficiency. I've managed to send all my wine bottles bought from the Loire valley to London. I hope I still have them when I get there.

The second half of the day was Gare de Lyon, cab, checked in at the Etap, dinner at Courtepaille, good wine - Chateau de Bourg 2002, foie gras, baguette, cordon blue and chocolate cake with glace - the final meal in France. Off to the airport at 5 am for the 7:45 departure only to find the flight delayed. We were to be in Milan by 9-15. We left Paris at 8:45! Tweedledum and I were wriggling in our seats throughout - will we make it, will we not?? Landed in Milan at 10:40 with the certain feeling that the connecting fllight would have left. Have to say, after all the negatives I have heard about Alitalia, I was impressed. They had the flight on hold. We disembarkd at 10-35, they had someone waiting who rushed us to the next flight. We were on by 10-45 and had left Milan by 10-55. The scheduled departure had been 10-40 - hardly any delay! Of course we were sure that there was no way the luggage would make it. A slight detour from the flow of the day here. When we landed our bags were out before we were. They made it!!

As for the flight - what can I say. Had an interesting Italian juice called Canatal, red coloured orange juice. Till I tasted it, I was sure he had served me Pamplemousse or something. Service was decent, certainly not as bad as it was made out to be. Illusionist was an interesting enough movie for a flight - wonder if it a true story though. Eisenheim, hmmm. The view of the Alps from the flight was gorgeous to say the least as was the view of home from the sky. Home - mummy, papa - my glass, the taste of the water. The list of pleasures is never - ending.

France was great. Home is incomparable.

Day 4 - Monday

Found during the clean up - some other time perhaps.
La Table d'Oliver Leflaive.
Its open from 1st march to 30th November.
Location: Place du Monument - 21190, Puligny - Montrachet.
Yoo-hoo: 03 80 21 37 65.
Can also check www.olivier-leflaive.com. The card belonged to Pascal Wagner. The place comes highly recommended by Helen.

Day 3 - Sunday

The final discovery of Fontainebleau. After a round of shopping for family, Tweedledum and I headed off to the open market. The plan was to meet Thomson and Thomson there but by the time we reached, the paella was over and everyone was packing up:-( All we could manage was a grilled chicken and some aubergine paste for mum (have no idea how I'll carry it). No baguettes, no bread. Lunch at T&Ts and off home to at least start the packing. But, while Tweedledum started with his papers, I had to get dinner and the house ready. Our food for Christmas eve - Dal, Rogan Josh, Thai chicken with mixed vegetables, Aubergine in curry, Kottu and vegetable fried rice ending with besan halwa. By the time it was all cooked, I couldnt take the smell of food anymore.
Have downloaded a whole lot of music and pictures from T&T. And discovered Russel Peters (what a crackpot).
Item of the day - have bought a bag for 15 euros! It was urgent. Couln't return home with what I had. There were so many holes in the lining that if the hand goes in, it takes 5 minutes to find the way out again - that to without getting what you were looking for in the first place.

Day 2 - Saturday

Packing has still not started. When are we going to begin!? Just keep looking at each other and passing the tension around. Went family shopping today. Have bought some stuff but nothing seems good enough for my father. He would like some interesting stationary, I think, and that thought took me to the corresponding section at the arcade. So there I was, surrounded by grandfather looking individuals shopping for their children/ grandchildren and me for my dad:-)..will keep looking. Am still not satisfied with what I have.
Dinner was a spread! Sambhar, Spinach rice, Chick peas, Assortment of vegetables and kheer - all finger licking yummy. After yesterday's dinner, and then again today, I really feel I'm getting spoilt. Ravpramin always have a delectable table.
Must cook tomorrow.....

Countdown begins - Friday

A brilliant beginning to the day. We were fast asleep when the door bell rang for the first time ever. A sleepy Tweedledum walks all the way to the gate to find a huge packers and movers truck all ready to start with our packing. No call, no mail - they just walk in. These dudes are simply amazing! We say - 'Can you come back tomorrow' - Ca n'est pas possible. 'How about today evening' - Ca n'est pas possible. 'In two hours' (we'll try and rush with getting our things together) - Ca n'est pas possible. Thats when both of us lost it - practically shouted - 'Then screw you' but I guess they would just have repeated - Ca n'est pas possible.

Graduation!

So this was it. The culmination of a year. To hear 'With distinction - Tweedledum' - the pleasure was immense. I was so lost trying to get some pictures that I didnt even get to look. Almost went into depression till Hema M, who I have hereby renamed Thomson of the Thomson and Thomson fame (love their leather jackets), reminded me that she has recorded it. God Bless!! Initially kept searching for Tweedledum, till I realised that I was almost sitting over him. No wonder I couldnt see our man. Had to walk across to the other side to capture him on pixels.
And then the cocktails. It was just farewells, farewells and more farewells. I wonder how many of these people who have been such an important part of this year for me, I will ever see again. Its been a learning year, a year of change. When I think of the people we were when we came and the things we have learned in this year, it is amusing. But then, now, we can afford to laugh. Dude, great effort!!

For remembrance, the celebration was in a chateau at Versailles. Beautiful! Best prof was the same man again. He must be really good, seems to be the undisputed winner.

Immediate circle was not in the mood for the graduation party, post graduation, and we went off for our celebratory dinner to Melun. Thomson and Thomson, Progressive Rock with better half and the two of us. Good food, nostalgia and home.

Btw, worth recording for the day - drove on the french highway for the first time today. To the airport with Tweedledum following, that is with me giving directions, while simultaneously driving!! AND keeping an eye on him in the rearview. And hats off to him for being right behind me, inspite of the traffic and the highway speeds, whenever I looked. Its a wonder we are alive and the cars are alive!!

No regrets from France now - have done all I could have wanted to do......

Home Sweet Home

These are some of the memorable moments of the trip which deserve special mention. Like all the beer ... that we found along the drinking route in Madrid. The Egyptians are from the free tapas joint close to Plaza de la Toledo, the trumpet from Zahara, the penguin from Cervesceria Cruz

Blanco in Chueca, just before we left for the station. Photo credits to Rajni.

The beer is a different moment in time - our first round of paella and beer, soaking up the sun on the beach in Barcelona.

Barcelona

Just the names as I clear up my papers. First port of call - Ronda Universtat. Lunch at La Fitora, Port Olimpic. Plaza de Palau, Plaza Catalunya, Las Ramblas, La Boqueria, Teatre del Liceu, Palau de la Musica, Beethoven, Gracia (Casa vicens, Casa fuster, Casa ramos), Tibidabo, Cafe the, Sarria, the gothic Monestir de Pedralbes, Palau Reail (with a Gaudi fountain;-)), FC Barcelona!, the Diagonal, Pans and Company, Plaza d'Espanya, fountain by Jujol, Palau Nacional, MNAC - Musee Nacional d' Art de Catalunya, Montjuic hill, Caixa Forum, Poble Espanol, Anella Olimpica - the Olympic ring and the football match, Miredor de colom, Santa Maria del Mar, Barri Gothic or the Gothic quarter built on the old city ruins, cathedral, plaza reail, , palau de la generalitat, las ramblas again

Beautiful! Wacko! Gaud(y)?

How can an entire post not be dedicated to the man who still rules Barcelona. Feel like reading more and more and more about him just to understand how his brain worked. How could anyone come up with the Nativity facade of the Sagrada Familia. Melted wax, for sure. The intricacies and the attention to detail both in the facade as well as the four entrances, remarkable. The design of the Star of David! I hope I can someday see the finished version and I can only hope and pray that hereafter they stick to his design rather than letting it be someone else's artistic expression. While I appreciated the Passion facade immensely too, at Sagrada Familia would have preferred to see what Gaudi wanted.
The stained glass windows inside, the blues, the colours, the 'trees', the variety of stones and the explanation provided for their usage - absobloodylutely amazing! Also amazing, the depiction of Christ and the cross at the Passion facade. Have never seen the sinews of the man or felt the pain of Christ as a man as here, or even the new balance of the cross. Couldn't get a close up.

And then on to La Perdera, Casa Batillo and Casa...

Spain - Hola Madrid!

This and the following blogs are all going to be in a retrospective frame of mind. Since I'm writing much later, I wonder if I'll be able to capture the wonder that I felt at that moment in time. Lets try - Viva Espagne!! We started from Fonty with Hema and me having debated and discussed the best mode of transport to Orly airport. The delay of the train from the first stop Avon put an end to all discussion, Orlyval was all we had time for. Baguettes at the airport and into the flight for 7 baguette-free days. First stop - Madrid!
(A view of the palace from Parke del Oeste)Mucho mucho bonito. The first view was by force the train stations and the metro. You dont find a speck of dirt or garbage. We were, of course, comparing with the metro in Paris. Arrive at Alonso Martinez with directions from Apartapartments. An example of their directions - 'Exit from Calle de Santa Engracia. Turn right. Cross the street from the zebra crossing' - ?!!? The office was surrounded by some beautiful buildings and we found our hopes gradually rising. The background to this was that H and I had realised 24 hours earlier that our apartment was in the gay area in Madrid and we were having some palpitations on that score (Tweedledum and Rajni a little more than us, perhaps:-)). Keys picked up, we start walking to the apartment. The gorgeous buildings slowly turn dingy, we start looking at each other but fortunately our luck held out. One turn and we were back to lovely boutiques, restaurants and then our apartment, which turned out to have two baths (they had only advertised one) - WOW!!
Enter apartment - fridge is loaded with beer! And Hema had carried a packet of spicy snacks!! What more could we possibly have needed at that moment!!! A comment here - they were GREAT company to have along. Just the sort of folks Tweedledum and I are most comfortable with. We could crack all the jokes we wanted as could they, they both have a great sense of humour. No tensions, no hang ups. Not a moment was dull. The first evening went off in getting a hang of the city - a walk to Gran Via, Puerto del Sol and the Plaza mayor. They all turned out to be within walking distance of our appt. On our first round of sangria and tapas we discovered pisto (God knows what the hell it is but it tastes great). One beautiful building after another and crowds on the street till 10 in the night - when do these guys sleep and when do they work...dinner that night was at a Mexican restaurant across the street. The most amazing nachos with guacamole and queso (cheese), tortillas and...hell, I dont remember. Will have to check with Rajni if he remembers. People were walking in for drinks till 2 (the time that we crashed). The first two guys we saw smooching had us staring in wonderment. After the 11th, I even gave up on counting.
Day 2 of holiday, all fresh and bright, we started off for some 'sight-seeing'. I was the guide for the day, a hilarious sight with the tourist map in one hand and confusion writ all over my face. El Retiro, Crystal palace (what a fraud), the lake and the statues - a rest session - a photo session - a little gossip - walk on to Plaza de Cibeles (beautiful) - the Communications building with its petit, vieux mailboxes for all the regions (Gorgeous!!! Who can possible think of it as a govt block) and then it was time for lunch. We walked past the Plaza de Neptune and chanced upon 'El Cochina de Neptune'. A Spanish menucard with noone speaking any english - should we, should we not? How do you check whats beef? I tried doing the moo moo bit but I guess thats not the sound their cows make - the woman looked like she wanted to call the cops. So, we just decided to take a chance and order. Fabulous value for money!! A glass of wine (beer for the others), Entree (pumpkin soup for me, chicken for R&H and Paella for T), Main (Burger with fries and whatnot for T, Rice, fish and sauce for the remaining three), Dessert (cafe and cakes) - and all this for 9 bucks a head! Before the dessert, we were actually debating if we had made a mistake and what the hit would be. Couldnt believe the addition when we got it. The food suddenly tasted even better! Anyway, after this rest, walked on to the Puerto del Sol. Along the route we thought we caught a statue of Cortez. I ran for a pic but it turned out to be Cervantes. Caught the 3 markers - the king, the beer and the berry tree and the Madrid clock. Stopped for some churros. Walked on to Palais Reail and the Church. The church was lovely - we caught the stain glass windows at the perfect moment. Exit and another round of beer. Walk along the Viaduct trying to catch the setting sun. And then - the most beautiful sight in Madrid - L'Eglise de San Francisco. I had read that the interiors were painted by Goya but wasn't sure what the entry fee would be. It was four euros and somehow everyone willingly agreed to go in. WOW!! I wont even try describing it. The first impact has to be experienced. Am hoping the pictures will do some justice to the place but somehow I doubt it. The place is highly recommended to anyone and everyone. Rejuvenated after the beauty inside, we moved on to Plaza de la Toledo. There was an interesting Cervesceria - the first to start Rajni's photo session of beer fountains. Our order was, of course, multiple rounds of beer but the dude man actually gave us 'FREE' tapas with it!!! Potato Fries, fried fish, etc etc etc - what more could we possibly have asked for. It was two hours of bliss where we continued on with jokes and 'serious' discussions. Believe me, the day was still not over - more sight seeing, more photo clicking (the Metropolis building above) and then we ended up at Zahara on the Gran Via. We must have sat there for three hours downing pitchers of Sangria and tapas. The conversation flowed on as did the laughs. And when we finally moved from there, it was only to the restaurant back in Chueca for dessert. But, well, sleeping is a necessity.
The next day was even more relaxed. First to the Plaza de Colon which turned out to be walking distance from our metro. There were a couple of interesting sights;-)...we got so lost in them that I made the group walk almost 1.5 km in search of the Torres de Colon. before realising hey were exactly where we had started from. Anyway walked back to a cafe for a cup of coffee and discovered that they serve a variety of breakfasts for dirt cheap prices. Tweedledum had an english breakfast for 3.5 euros! We pay 8GBP in London! All of us stuffed, we moved on to the bull fighting arena - Plaza de Las Ventas, then Plaza Espana, Temple of Deblod, loads of kadalai, fabulously crafted facades of a multitude of buildings, walk along the Gran Via, boot shopping, bag shopping, (they were great boots and dirt cheap prices but I can never get myself to spend somehow - not on a student budget, at least. I'll be back in Spain when I start earning)Cervescerias and beer, loads of tapas (one of them, potato fries served kebab style, on a platter with a variety of sauces and dips) and then on to the train station for our over nighter to Barcelona.

A word of recommendation for the brave - Do not Take The Train!!!!! They say the bus is even worse. I cant think of anything more uncomfortable......but then I had memories of Madrid to put me to sleep.
Tweedledum and Rajni met up with a local on the train who gave them quite a few downloads on Barcelona while simultaneously displaying a great understanding of our culture. In fact, it came as a suprise that he had never visited home. The knowledge came only from observing friends. I wonder if our actual travels give us the same depth and understanding he displayed.

Final consolidation

Today was to be dedicated to finalising the little pending details before we leave and catching up with mes amies but...I made the mistake of going for lunch with some friends. They happened to be joined by the Human Excrement. He made some really idiotic statements but then you cant expect any better from him. From what I've heard about the character, he will be failing the year, he was kicked out of his summer internship, part of the world has been told that he is an Indian prince, another part that he was part of some airforce which bombed Iraq and still another that his girlfriend is some super model thing in India. How can you bother about a person like that - he defines a Type II. Still, for one of his statements about my appetite, a friend felt I should have retaliated. My opinion was that he is just a stranger but this friend and his wife seem to spend all their time monitoring what I eat, when I eat and how I eat. Pleeaase! And then another friend who started off on my Monday fast. As per him, I keep a fast for Tweedledum and c'est pour ca that he is in Mc. Felt like telling him - Dude, if that worked, your wife would have stopped eating in January itself. Shallow conversations - I think I really am ready to move on.

Hopefully dinner will be a little, no, a whole lot more pleasant.

So this is Cabaret

An excellent idea! At the end of an extremely strenuous year (for some), this is an interesting closure. The ballet was a work of art as was, in an altogether different vein, the pole dancers wit their version of Dancing Queen.

So too the juggler, certainly not an amateur.

Pon-d may not be the best lyricist in the world but she certainly had very soothing music. And the drummer - he's good!
The guitarists and the vocalists - were jokes.

Tweedledum has displayed a very strong, well-hidden aspect of his personality during this year. When they were playing, was suprised to not see him squirming in his chair. I have seen him compose, play and sing far superior stuff just off the cuff. Still remember his impromtu rendition of 'Smoke on the water' at our last school when the world came and asked where Deep Purple had played that particular live version. They wanted to get a copy;-)

And this I like - 'Life is a sexually transmitted disease with a 100% mortality rate'

Waiting to post the links....

Emotional roller-coaster

My life has come to an end - Net Value's butter chicken is over. A la fin, we practically licked the gravy off the box....:-(((
And at another end of the emotional spectrum, Hema Malini and I were working on plans for Spain with Tata Steel on the neighbouring comp, blogging (btw, this after a good two hours of whole-hearted 'tadka lagage' gossip)...I look up and what do I see...Tata Steel on my blog! A missed heartbeat. Thoughts race through the head - 'What have I written?? Who have I named?' and then I took the split second decision to play it cool. The convo went:
Me: 'Hey, another Insead blog? Who is it this time - lets read..'
TS: 'Its about desi week'
Me: 'Hmm...'
TS: 'Seems like a desi'
Me: 'Hmmm...'
We are both reading. Silence till I suddenly reached the orange juice experience. I had been talking of it just 10 minutes back...TS looks up - 'Is this yours'....
So now if I hear someone talking about having been caught bare, I will go shake hands - 'I know exactly what you mean'...:-)

On another subject, this is the beginning of the end of Insead - Shy person leaves tomorrow, Inca on Wednesday..the list goes on....

...Comp goes back to tweedledum now...we'll talk of Italian coffee another day.

Interesting phrases

The name of the book made me curious, 'More France please, we're British'. Its written by a woman named Helena Frith Powell, Brit who migrated to France with husband and one kid. The family is now a five-some and she is sharing some of the learnings culled during her stay. Here's some of the stuff from her book that I would have liked to get at the start of my stay. Similar words in the two languages meaning different things:
Actuellement - In french, this is current or presently - Je travaille actuellement - I am currently working. The english actually meaning in fact would be 'en fait', 'en realite', 'a vrai dire'. Actual which means real or true would be reel, veritable, positif or concret.
Affaire - Business, matter, deal, trnsaction or scandal. It is similar to the english affair only in the sense of event or concern. A love affair is une affaire d'amour, une aventure amoureuse.
Une affluence - a crowd of people. The english meaning lot or profusion is eg. affluent society - l'ere de l'opulence or une abondance.
Agonie - Death pangs or mortal agony. The english agony or sevre pain is angoisse, supplice.
Arroser - Water, spray. The english arose is survenir, se presenter, s'elever.
Assiter a - To attend to eg. j'ai assite a la conference. Assist as we know it is aider.
Avertissement - Warning or caution (avertir). Advertisement is une publicite, un spot publicitaire, une reclame.
Blesser - Wound, injure or offend. Bless is benir with an acute on the e.
Bras - Arm. The other is soutien gorge (Yikes!)
Une bride - is a bridle not une mariee (the groom's bride)
Candide - Naive or ingenuous. The other is franc, sincere.
Car - Because not voiture.
Caractere - The caracter or temperament of a person or thing. This distinction is little subtle eg. Donald Duck is a famous character is personnage celebre.
Caution - This is more afinancial term meaning guarantee, security, bail or backing. The other is prudence, circonspection, avertissement.
Celibataire - A noun meaning Bachelor/ unmarried (note the difference with the english usage). Celibate is the adjective form.
Chaine - A chain, production line, mountian range, TV channel, stereo. A noun and a verb - enchainer
Chance - Luck. The other is un hasard, une possibilite, une occasion
Facon - The way or the manner;fashion is mode or vogue
Facteur - Factor/ postman/ maillman/ maker. Factor can also be un element, un indice.
Figure - Face/ Illustrated mathematical or illustrated figure; The other is chiffre as in numbers and for a person it is forme, silhouette
Napkin - Serviette de table. Just serviette is a towel
Parcelle - Bit/ fragment, parcel of land. Parcel is colis or paquet
Particulier - Equivalent to the english particular, specific, characteristic, distinctive, special or private
Pays - Country; he pays me cash would be il me paie en liquide (payer)
Personne - As pronoun can be anyone; elle le connait mieux que personne
Phrase - Sentence; the english is une expression or locution
Piece - The same as english only for broken pieces else its room, sheet of paper, coin or play. The english version is une tranche, un morceau
Prejudice - Loss, harm, damage; english meaning is prejuge or prevention. I'm missing out on the words because of lack of acutes and graves but one can get a rough idea....
Saler - to salt; Sale is vente or solde
Secret - Can also be used to refer to a person who is reserved or reticent
Sensible - Used for sensitive and even nervous people; pas recommande aux sensibles; the other is sense, raisonnable, sage
Souvenir - Besides un souvenir, its also to remember
Spectacle - Any sort of exhibition; un spectacle de danse; le spectacle de la rue (bustle on the street); even tu t'es donne en spectacle - you made a spectacle of yourself
Supporter - Support/ hold up/ endure/ put up; commonly used soutenir...

I have to continue with the rest of the interesting bits from the book, tired though I am, because all books have to go back to the library now - end of year approaching.....

Some wine terms: Bouchonne - The off taste in wines because of an imperfect cork. It produces a strange woody, mouldy smell and taste and prhaps even oxidation of wine.
The other was 'negociant' - no details required here.

This was good - typical phrases you would hear from french workmen. I wont write the spin she put on each but suffice to say they were very interesting, someone who has learnt the hard way:
Je ferai le maximum - I'll do my best
Ce n'est pas normal - This is most unusual
Je vais vou envoyer un devis - I'll send you a quote
Je vais passer en debut d'apres-midi - I'll be there early afternoon
Je vais passer dans la semaine - I'll be there this week
Je vais reflechir - I'll think about it. Just for this one, her interpretation - I'll think about it for the next ten years, by which time I shall be retired

Je ferai le maximum

The last day

Lets be honest - I'm writing this the next day. Sitting on the couch, my body feels like it has been through one hell of a wringer. We got back home around 4 last night - after non-stop dancing all night! This is what I generally do for New Years! Danced and danced with Tweedledum. Its amazing! After almost a decade, we are finally moving to the same beat. Desi music, bhangra rock, club, hip-hop - you name it. What made me happiest was that there was so much of enthusiasm in the air, the evening passed without any alchohol:-) Just didnt feel like drinking inspite of the unending supply of Kingfisher. Must have downed about 5 glasses of orange juice in a single gulp, though. Stood in front of the counter, bottoms up, extend glass, bottoms up, extend glass......There was a lucky draw for tickets to India. Wasabi won it! That was perfect. She is already so much into India.
Another interesting observation from the party was watching who dances with who. Thats the male psyche. Irrespective of whether they are married or not (so long as the wife is not here) every guy wants to be associated with the babe of the batch - show the others, she could be interested in me. There is one female in the new promotion - good dancer, above average looker and very friendly. Am sure there is a long line of admirers. Yesterday, they were all trying their best to be the one dancing with her - even our good friend! It amazed me at one point because he was hanging around not dancing just watching out and then he saw her and woosh - straight to the floor with smiles. What was I doing watching all this - thats the fun of a party - dance and keep a lookout for all the masala:-)
The dinner too seems to have been a huge success. Amazing cooks, these girls - they actually managed 200 people. And everyone is raving about the food! Just had to include a picture of the cooks getting an ovation.
...And that is the end of desi week.

Bollywood Dhamaka

I know I haven't attended too many of the National Week events but thats because quite a few just didn't interest me. Memories - the Arabian week had some fabulous food tastings (BAKLAVA!), the Chinese week had, well, chinese food, Latin American week had caipirinhas in the lawns, Iberia (which I didnt attend but know from Tweedledum's active particpation) had porto tasting and paella, Heart of Europe had Oktoberfest (the mugs will be a memory forever). The ones I didnt register were the Israeli week, Australia and the Vikings.
They all pale in comparison now - the bollywood dhamaka had to be seen to be believed! There were seven teams participating. A non-Indian girl, who danced to 'Chuneri Chuneri' - she was brilliant - Shakira meets Ash meets Madhuri. We had Mahi ve, a medley, 4 non-indians in a punjabi number - I must post the pictures when I lay my hands on them. And then in the interim between the peformances and the results, it was a dance floor with everyone going mad, sorry, 'dancing'. The grand finale was the bhangra dancers from the gurudwara in Paris. Have been told they will have a repeat performance at the party on Friday.

Today is a holi performance and then the cultural night.

A must do - I have to pick up the party tickets for tomorrow.

Btw, tried grilling the chicken with the tandoori paste - it was brilliant!

Desi week begins!

The Tri-colour flying at the camembert has been the most awesome sight at Insead!

The bar area is equally spectacular. Radiating from the center, they have almost covered the ceiling with sarees. Its seeming like a Jaipuri den with the myriad colours. At the entrance there are two hand made elephants in black and gold.

On the glass windows, there are pictures (hand drawn) of Buddha, the Taj Mahal and other icons of India.

One corner has an elaborate rangoli and another a dholaki wala and a dancer made of paper and cloth on hard board.

What amazing talent! One of the most oft repeated names I keep hearing is a girl named Veena. Anything beautiful you see and ask - 'Who made this' - and the answer is her. Wow!