India outside my window

?Do you know any Kannada songs'? This was a question put to me by my Kannada teacher. The answer was yes, I know many Kannada songs. ?Which ones'? she then asked. How to tell her which songs I know' I have no clue of their titles, don't understand the lyrics (apart from a few words) and am completely unfamiliar with the popular singers or Kannada movies. So the only way to let her know which

From my kitchen window I've been watching the progress of the construction of a new building over the past few months. This morning I watched as this painter was putting some finishing touches on the newly painted façade. As you can see, he's seated on a wooden platform attached to a rope which descends from the roof. On the roof is someone securing the rope. The painter yelled ?DOWN!? (in

I still don't know what to make of Goa. I've been there on three occasions which has not been enough for me to decide whether I like it or not. With some places it's love at first sight ? but Goa seems to take some getting to know. Maybe it's because I'm not a beach person and Goa is mostly about beaches. I mean, I like the sea and I like the beach, but I like hills, gardens, landscapes and

I love getting letters in the post because they've become such a rarity. Especially if the address is written by hand and there's postage stamps stuck on the envelope. Unfortunately handwritten ?letters' bearing news and affection from far-off friends and family have become almost extinct. We don't even take the time to write emails these days with chat, facebook and skype at our constant

A few weeks ago I spent three days in a temple on the outskirts of Hyderabad. I had gone there during the temple's Brahmotsavam (annual festivities). I was especially interested in seeing the dance rituals which are performed here during this time. This is something I'll be writing about in more detail in my other blog.The temple was an oasis of calm in a once rural area which is quickly becoming

Last week I got my first brand-new 10-rupee coin. I'm trying to remember where I got it. Maybe at the supermarket. I got maybe three or four at a time. I used one to pay the ironing man. He looked at it with surprise ? it was the first time he was seeing one too.I noticed that there have been many new coins introduced lately. So many that I have to carefully go through my coins so I don't confuse

Today I got a kind message from the editor of the Go Overseas website. They have selected India Outside My Window as a ?Top Blog'. The message said:?I loved reading India Outside My Window, and the editorial staff at GO! Overseas has selected it as one of the top blogs in India. We loved the photographs you have taken to supplement the words in your blog. My personal favorites are the ones of the

Bellur village, KarnatakaRussell Market, BangaloreRaghurajpur, OrissaMandu, Madhya PradeshKaraikudi, Tamil NaduPondicherryShivajinagar, BangaloreRussell Market, Bangalore