Meenakshi Reddy Madhavan's Blog, page 116
July 26, 2016
Today in Photo
Morning consultation, covering all bases I am. #yoda #smallgods #delhidiary (also yay prisma for Android!)
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Today in Photo
How much did I enjoy this book? SO MUCH. I found a pile of books at the second hand market that had obviously been sold from some beleaguered books editor's desk, so this uncorrected proof was among them. Still feeling a bit weak which is also a great excuse to lie around another day and just read. Definitely pick this up though, just released this month and I serendipitously found it. #bookstagram #mrmbookclub #nowreading #250in2016 #readingchallenge
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July 24, 2016
Today in Photo
Sick day with Marian Keyes and karela chips. I love love love Ms Keyes ever since someone gave me a copy of This Charming Man and to this day, I think she's the finest commercial fiction writer I've read, I've reread most of her books several times. Her books are light hearted with heavy themes so you'll read about depression, alcoholism, domestic violence etc while also reading about a young single girl in a big city. Perfect for cheering up an incumbent flu. #bookstagram #mrmbookclub
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Today in Photo
Afternoon well spent at the Daryagunj book market, tradition for my mother and I since I was about three and could stagger home under a pile of Amar Chitra Katha's. I've grown pickier as the years go by (three of these are presents) but we always end with lunch at Karim's. Maaaybe we'll wander back and look at the few stalls we've missed? Maybe? Probably. Ok we're going back in. #bookstagram #secondhand #usedbooks
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July 23, 2016
Today in Photo
Wearing my Slytherin colours for a talk I'm giving to a Harry Potter themed creative writing class. My topic is A Certain Kind of Feminism: on Hermione Granger. (I'll put it up on the blog soon!) Also trying not to look like I've been laid low by a cold and sore throat all day in a new dress and make up. Is it working? I hope so. K in the background ENGROSSED in my speech. #writinglife
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July 22, 2016
Today in Photo
When life gives you dough that refuses to rise, make flatbread. Have been dying to bake my own bread for ages and this new book makes me think like I can (just had a long Twitter exchange with the author troubleshooting my loaf.) but, as every home baker knows, bread is the toughest thing to get right. We'll be eating a lot of flatbread until I can make the perfect sandwich loaf, but who's complaining? Not I. #baking #domesticgoddess
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July 21, 2016
Today in Photo
Wednesday night persuading Nirvaan to smile for me, we're now deeply in love (well, I am, it might just be a flirtation on his part.) After drinks and dinner with his parents, he made an appearance, demanding a night cap and was made to wait until Aunty got her fill of cuddles.
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July 20, 2016
Today in Photo
DAMN this book is SO good. Full of treasures, each story stays with you like a gift long after it's finished. In a short stories mood these days so have acquired several collections, but nothing beats a good mystery story, right? #nowreading #250in2016 #readingchallenge #bookstagram #mrmbookclub
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July 18, 2016
Newsletter: eM's Quick Guide To Being Stylish In Jaipur
Two weeks ago, I was in the city courtesy of my friend Shrayana, who was going on work ANYWAY, and asked me to come along. (This came out as my newsletter also two weeks ago, so subscribe if you'd like more up-to-date thingies) Those of you who know me well enough also know that I always say "yes" when the question is "do you want to go out of town this weekend?" Jaipur and I have an old history however--being the Delhi relatives on my NRI cousins' pit stop, I've done Jaipur and Agra more times than I can count. Post those years, there's the lit fest, which I attend with regularity, so I was pretty sure the Pink City would hold no surprises. However! What I had not taken into account was the fact that during the lit fest we do lit fest-y things, which are nice enough, but not quite representative. This time, armed with lists and recommendations, we ate at a new fancy place for every meal, swanned about gorgeous boutiques and took several photos for Instagram. (Well, only me, as Shrayana seems to have a deep distrust for most smart phone apps.)
Looking up at the Anokhi museum roof + showing off my dress (fabric was a present + had it made)
Here are my Jaipur picks real quick:
The view from 1135 with rolling storm cloudsWhere to eat: ** 1135, at the top of Amer Fort. Gorgeous location, only if you're going off season time during lunch, you WILL be the only patrons. However, the laal maas was excellent. ** Jaipur Modern, a cute little organic cafe set into a fancy store that sells designers that make raggedy looking cotton clothes that are nevertheless extremely well fitting and expensive. The cafe had a whole quinoa menu, which S ordered off of, but I inherently distrust Food Of The Weeks, so I got a tandoori shawarma which was--alas--just a plain old kathi roll. Good coffee though! ** Anokhi Cafe, which you already probably know about, but which is very nice and deserves a mention nevertheless.
Where to drink:
INSIDE A TRAIN**Steam at the Rambagh Palace is inside a literal TRAIN and this made me very happy. Unfortunately I was feeling slightly under the weather so could not linger for very long, but I loved it. A TRAIN. I like bars---as I told S later--that have special theme-y things, more props if they're actually built INSIDE a replica of the theme. This may not be very adult, but drinking is adult, so I feel like that makes up for it. ** Bar Palladio at Narain Niwas is a revelation, it's all blue walls and pretty lights. The wait staff stuck us in a brightly lit back room at first, but we made a fuss and so they grumpily moved us to the front and after we ordered a bottle of (excellent) wine, they were positively cheerful.
Bar Palladio. Super trendy & run by an Italian so great foodLovely place. Very Wes Anderson. **
Where to shop: I did not do much shopping, except for a gorgeous maxi dress from Cottons, but S bought herself a shift maxi dress (Rasa) and a chiffon sari (Rukhmani). Since we also had a running gag that we were two old British ladies called Lavender (her) and Marigold (me), she also bought me and herself two pairs of lovely soft sleeping shorts from Anokhi, in each other's colours.
And one last word on Jaipur before I move on, compared to drinking in Delhi (I'm looking at you Perch and Piano Man!) it was positively cheap.
Song of the week: Since I was thinking so much of old Wes and Darjeeling Limited, here's Typewriter Tip Tip Tip Tip from the OST. Zindagi ki har kahani likhta hai.
Interesting links: **Arundhati Roy talks to Elle about gymming and other things.** Everyone is all BIRA BEER, which is very hipster but also everyone is drinking it so less hipster and here's a story about how they have more demand than they can handle.** Related. Also WHYYY IS THIS HAPPENINGGG TO MEEEE **
"Hitler's favourite Maggi" and other Indian restaurant food trends. ** Comics illustrating people who are awkward around babies.**
(Oldies but goodies: eM's Quick Guide To Delhi Nightlife, eM's Quick Guide to Womankind, eM's Quick Guide to Being Fabulous Even With A Recession On, eM's Quick Guide To Fighting Loneliness.)
Looking up at the Anokhi museum roof + showing off my dress (fabric was a present + had it made)Here are my Jaipur picks real quick:
The view from 1135 with rolling storm cloudsWhere to eat: ** 1135, at the top of Amer Fort. Gorgeous location, only if you're going off season time during lunch, you WILL be the only patrons. However, the laal maas was excellent. ** Jaipur Modern, a cute little organic cafe set into a fancy store that sells designers that make raggedy looking cotton clothes that are nevertheless extremely well fitting and expensive. The cafe had a whole quinoa menu, which S ordered off of, but I inherently distrust Food Of The Weeks, so I got a tandoori shawarma which was--alas--just a plain old kathi roll. Good coffee though! ** Anokhi Cafe, which you already probably know about, but which is very nice and deserves a mention nevertheless.Where to drink:
INSIDE A TRAIN**Steam at the Rambagh Palace is inside a literal TRAIN and this made me very happy. Unfortunately I was feeling slightly under the weather so could not linger for very long, but I loved it. A TRAIN. I like bars---as I told S later--that have special theme-y things, more props if they're actually built INSIDE a replica of the theme. This may not be very adult, but drinking is adult, so I feel like that makes up for it. ** Bar Palladio at Narain Niwas is a revelation, it's all blue walls and pretty lights. The wait staff stuck us in a brightly lit back room at first, but we made a fuss and so they grumpily moved us to the front and after we ordered a bottle of (excellent) wine, they were positively cheerful.
Bar Palladio. Super trendy & run by an Italian so great foodLovely place. Very Wes Anderson. **Where to shop: I did not do much shopping, except for a gorgeous maxi dress from Cottons, but S bought herself a shift maxi dress (Rasa) and a chiffon sari (Rukhmani). Since we also had a running gag that we were two old British ladies called Lavender (her) and Marigold (me), she also bought me and herself two pairs of lovely soft sleeping shorts from Anokhi, in each other's colours.
And one last word on Jaipur before I move on, compared to drinking in Delhi (I'm looking at you Perch and Piano Man!) it was positively cheap.
Song of the week: Since I was thinking so much of old Wes and Darjeeling Limited, here's Typewriter Tip Tip Tip Tip from the OST. Zindagi ki har kahani likhta hai.
Interesting links: **Arundhati Roy talks to Elle about gymming and other things.** Everyone is all BIRA BEER, which is very hipster but also everyone is drinking it so less hipster and here's a story about how they have more demand than they can handle.** Related. Also WHYYY IS THIS HAPPENINGGG TO MEEEE **
"Hitler's favourite Maggi" and other Indian restaurant food trends. ** Comics illustrating people who are awkward around babies.**
(Oldies but goodies: eM's Quick Guide To Delhi Nightlife, eM's Quick Guide to Womankind, eM's Quick Guide to Being Fabulous Even With A Recession On, eM's Quick Guide To Fighting Loneliness.)
