Evening Telegram » photos

in india

Nikhil — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 09:59:00 +0000

I’m finally settled in India, and have my first set of photos up on Flickr. There are quite a few shopping photos, as a colorful, brightly lit sari shop makes for a good test stage for iPhone photography. My cousin Rohit’s impending doo—er—wedding will make another good stage.

My family has arrived at my grandmother’s house in Kothrud (suburban Pune) in stages: I flew into Mumbai just after midnight Tuesday, waited SIX HOURS for my sister arriving from Cairo, and together with her taxi’d here. My parents got here early this morning, and various relatives on my cousin Rohit’s mom’s side have arrived for the upcoming festivities.

I’m a lot less overwhelmed by the influx of distant family than I was for Rohit’s brother’s wedding 7 1/2 years ago, and I think having gotten to know everyone the year I lived here definitely helped. Having an iPhone with a reliable data plan to retreat to helps, as well.

marathi jevan!

Nikhil — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 02:52:17 +0000

With my acquisition of a pressure cooker and its sundry auxilliary elements, I am finally able to cook a proper Marathi meal, almost like aai used to make. And still does. After the jump, my modest attempt at foodblogging.

First course: gobi chi bhaaji [cauliflower--erm--"curry", i guess], sadha varan [ plain lentils], limba che londche [spicy lime pickle], and a pocketless pita in place of a normal porli flatbread. Making the dough is more work than I’m going to put in on a weeknight.

Second Course: Varan-bhaat [lentils and rice]. That little pile of rice on the side? I have plans for him.

Third Course: A palate-cleansing dahee-bhaat [yogurt and rice].

Trust me, it’s way tastier than it looks in those anemic iPhone pictures. At heart, I’m still an Indian fellow dependent on periodic varan-bhaat for my basic survival, and this should keep me alive for a while longer.

the nationals’ new ballpark

Nikhil — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 02:35:24 +0000