2023-12-12 10:55
A man called Ove by Fredrik Backman was Let's
Talk English Book Club's November read.
Swedish author, blogger and writer debuted with
"A man called Ove" in 2012. The book was transl… Read More
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Rains , rains and rains and a picnic to Chikmagalur, India in the rains....
2023-11-21 03:56
The full import of the lines
on the Title page of the book “On the Beach” is felt as we finish the book and
sit back and think about the climax.
Moira Davidson swallows the… Read More
2023-09-09 10:41
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus was Let’s
Talk - English book club's read for the month of September.
The book is Garmus’s debut novel and is an easy
read. You can… Read More
2023-06-30 05:19
"The Moonstone"
by Wilkie Collins
was Let's Talk - English book club's June 2023 read.
My first
encounter with Wilkie Collins was when I read his "The Woman in
White" a couple o… Read More
2023-06-01 11:15
The Sun was setting, and the slanting
rays of the Sun were golden as we drove to Raghurajpura from Konark. Having seen
a vlog on Raghurajpura I put it on our itinerary to make it a holisti… Read More
2023-04-27 04:58
We have just finished discussing “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” by
Rebecca Skloot in our Let's Talk English book club. The book was suggested, and the discussion wa… Read More
2023-04-16 05:33
The joys of a self-curated trip are numerous. Right from
researching the destinations, the planning with Google maps for the most
optimum route, looking up the hotels and so much more. If th… Read More
2023-03-31 06:00
Ashoka won the Kalinga war but lost his ambition for more wars. Daya river had
turned red with blood and an appalled and distraught Ashoka embraced Buddhism
at Dhaulagiri on the banks of thi… Read More
2023-02-28 09:31
The Abbey of Bliss the English translation of the Bengali historical novel, Anandamath, written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay was our read for Feb , the first book of 2023 for… Read More
2023-01-10 05:48
Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly was our Jan 2023 read for Let's Talk English club. And it proved to be a very inspiring read. Left to me I would make it mandatory reading in Sc… Read More
2022-11-15 08:43
Ana Johns an investigative journalist's debut novel "The Woman in the White Kimono" is a tale set in Japan of the 1950s. World war II had ended, the Korean war had begun, U… Read More
2022-10-19 00:49
Cormac McCarthy's structuring of "No country for old men" is not an easy read. Cormac McCarthy uses minimum punctuation and is interested in life and death alone as plots. He is a writer wh… Read More
2022-10-05 08:33
Madam Bovary is a French novel and Gustave Flaubert's debut novel. It was serialized in 1856 but Flaubert was dragged to court because of obscenity. He is acquitted in 1857 and the book was… Read More
2022-09-07 07:09
The next morning, we lazed over our bath in hot water in Leh and set out for rafting on the Indus River. River Indus meets Zanskar 40 kms from Leh on NH-1, the Zanskar- Srinagar highway. M… Read More
2022-08-30 06:16
We fled Tso Moriri because of the freezing cold next morning and set out after seeing a 300-year-old monastery situated right opposite the hotel. A monk had opened the door and blown two hug… Read More
2022-08-24 00:44
Tso moriri was supposed to be freezing cold, so bundled in layers we set out, breakfast done and armed with lunch. The drive was across less spectacular mountains but ever so often we… Read More
2022-08-23 06:51
The world is very dynamic and challenging due to emerging technologies, shift in the mindset of the younger generation and the new age job market requirements. Unless a youngster is optimall… Read More
2022-07-29 00:23
We woke up from under mountains of bedclothes like the mountains outside the next morning in Pangong. Once upon a time driving along the east/west coast was my dream. And today we drove alon… Read More
2022-07-22 01:16
The wind howled in the night and we thought the tent would fly away leaving us unexposed to nature. Then the dogs setup a chorus and barked all around. Taking a cue from the master artists… Read More
2022-07-15 00:18
The defense forces are glamorous from far but seeing them in their posts, in the kind of terrain they work, the context of everything you have read about the country's borders come rushing t… Read More
2022-07-08 01:07
The sun rises at 4 am here and the white tent is alight as I sit snug on the bed typing this. We drove from Leh to Hunder in Nubra valley yesterday. The climb to Khardung La, the top o… Read More
2022-06-30 23:24
I am facing a range of snow covered hills fronted by barren hills as I continue this. We are in Leh and Indus has kept us company throughout. The driver had been very generous and had… Read More
2022-06-30 05:41
Hindu temple styles and architecture - a primer was Sucheta Gautham's first talk in Let's Talk - art, culture, travel and more club. Listen in. The talk spanned the below contents: Hin… Read More
2022-06-24 03:27
Day had dawned and we had seen tourists doing the early morning ride on the Shikhara. Birds flitted in and out of the water plants. For long I had wanted to see the Shankaracharya temple in… Read More
2022-06-17 09:50
I did a 11 day trip across Ladhak recently and shared the travelogue live. We did Srinagar- Sonamarg-Drass-Kargil-Leh-Khardung la-Nubra valley-Turtuk- Shyok valley- Pangong Tso-Hanle-T… Read More
2022-06-10 03:27
A look at how the Indian film history came into existence through silent era to talkies in Hindustani & Kannada. Sit back and enjoy the talk by Trivikram Sonni on "Indian Cinema - a few… Read More
2022-05-21 15:35
Enigmatic, Enchanting, Eternal. The abode of the Lord who creates and destroys. Tales from mythology inspire us and we are at awe of not only His power but also of his wife and sons. The … Read More
2022-04-30 09:37
Let's Talk - art, culture, travel and more club held its first open house on 26nd Feb 2022 at 5 PM. Sucheta Gautham took us on an adventure on the Silk road and we discover… Read More
2022-02-07 04:34
Let's Talk is a club of clubs. If you are fifty and above and passionate about art, culture, travel and more and wish to share deeply felt experiences, anecdotes, thoughts and engage in stim… Read More
2020-11-27 10:58
I stood at the threshold and looked back, deep into the house. Memories of my grandmother and her sister in law [my grand aunt] talking in the living room in the afternoon bubbled up. This g… Read More
2020-11-27 10:56
Moole Shankareshwara is a tiered ShivalingaKala BhairavaHole in the eastern wall The priest seeing us offBeterayaswamy temple towerBeterayaswamy legendNura ondhu templeShri Achalananda… Read More
2020-09-12 11:16
I looked at the wide open ground opposite Basavannana Gudi. At its deep end was my Cousin's school. I remember going to it once. Was it for the lunch on Beterayaswamy's Rathotsava [Ch… Read More
2020-08-26 12:38
Stone Bell in the Mantapa Front view of the Yali and the Bell Who goes there? Friend or foe?  &hell…Read More
2020-08-26 12:37
Gangadhareshwara Turuvekere is a panchayat town and Taluk in Tumkur district in the Indianstate of Karnataka. Turuvekere was once an "Agrahara" or "Rent-Free Village" grant… Read More
2020-06-01 13:01
Gateway to Bahu Begum Ka MaqbaraMantosh made quick work of the six kms to Faizabad and we were at Bahu Begum Ka Maqbara in 15 minutes. A shut huge wooden arched gate embedded in a dirty but… Read More
2020-06-01 13:01
Bara Imambara Chota Imambara Gateway to Bahu Begum Ka Maqbara ASI protected Monument Fluted Dome on inverted p… Read More
2020-05-11 11:49
Allahabad was preparing for the Kumbh in Feb next and I kept thinking of the Pontoons stacked up near the Fort. Mahato had pointed them out saying bridges would be built with them… Read More
2020-03-22 13:37
We were zipping out of Varanasi to Allahabad, but my mind kept playing out our tryst with it and my Amma woke me out of my reverie as she remarked "we never saw the temple in entirety from o… Read More
2020-03-22 13:36
Beautifully aligned pillars of Rang MahalRang Mahal another view Civilian and army boats We set offBoats, boatsMore boatsZoom the picture to see the Triveni Sangam Waiting for custome… Read More
2020-02-01 13:49
Waiting for Sunrise The sky was grey, and the dull light was loathe to leave and hung around for Sunrise as we stepped out of the car and walked… Read More
2020-02-01 13:49
Dashashwamedha ghat Waiting for customers Capturing it all in a drawing The bustling ghats Bustling ghat another view The Sun appearsThe ghats recede Row,row your boat Repairs and construct… Read More
2020-01-04 11:43
"Mam, I will park here" Mantosh the driver announced after driving around in circles and asking a couple of people for directions. Breakfast done we had set out and now I looked a… Read More
2020-01-04 11:42
Ramcharitmanas fills the walls Ravana wounds Jatayu Jatayu being tended by Rama and Lakshmana The beginning of Ramacharitmanas Bharath Mata Temple Chaukandhi Stupa Buddha at the Thai templ… Read More
2019-12-15 12:38
I turned and followed the queue out of the Sanctum. A little ahead we walked into another shrine of Shiva. As we walked out, we saw the man in the Dhoti in front of us in the queue ou… Read More
2019-11-08 04:23
"Great! This lorry had to block the road now!" I exclaimed as the driver slowed down the car. A lorry was backing up in front. It was a narrow alley and the lorry was stuck. It w… Read More
2019-05-16 15:18
Preparing the MarigoldThe prayers beginAll of the priests praying at the startDhoop AartiMulti tiered Lamp Hooded Snake LampPeacock Feather FanYak Tail's FanOne last BhajanPrev: G… Read More
2019-05-16 15:17
In the beginning...."Jam lag gaya mam (there is traffic jam mam)" the driver said. I moved to the centre of the seat and looked out of the front windshield. We were approaching a huge… Read More
2019-04-21 16:02
There is something about waking up in an unknown place. They range from the mundane to the sublime. Is hot water available at the wee hour you have woken up? Has a bucket been… Read More
2019-04-21 16:01
Lotus in a ring of Marigold Lantern like pillar Small shop with antiques Daijokyo monasteryLion guarding the Karma monastery Richly coloured doorSiddhartha looking at his sleeping wife and s… Read More
2019-03-03 11:45
Finally we were off. The plane soared into the sky and mom and I settled into our seats. It was the last week of October last year and we were on our way to Patna enroute to Gaya. It h… Read More
2019-03-03 11:44
Clouds blanketing the view Patna, aerial view Jayaprakash Narayan Airport, Patna Durga Pandal Durga Pandal Durga Pandal Durga Pandal Durga Pandal Golden paddy Durga Pandal Vishnupad temple… Read More
2018-11-24 11:03
Disappointed at not being able to see the Se Cathedral I walked back to the bus. And we were off to the cruise on the Mandovi."Bhai dik nahi raha kya, hum queue mey khadey hain? [… Read More
2018-11-24 11:03
A work in progress bridge?Party cruiseThe Sun decides to setOk, I am going Sun rolling down the hillAlmost there Clearing the hills Hanging above the SeaSinking into the Sea A Cas… Read More
2018-11-24 11:02
Boats out fishing in the morning Catch of the day Russian Name board Entrance to Shantadurga temple Shivaji up close and personal Entrance of the Mahalasa temple Dhyanasthambha and Samai… Read More
2018-10-06 11:00
We took off our shoe, pressed our feet hard and stepped back. On the sands of Colva beach we had left our footprints reaffirming our friendship. We stood watching that circle. A me… Read More
2018-09-30 15:24
Braganza House Living room furniture Tortoise shell Wooden Cabinet Twin Coconut Stained glass windows Silver ware Chapel Monkey climbing the table legCrockery Monogrammed ChairsChairs gift… Read More
2018-08-23 04:46
Sofas and chairs made of broken porcelain on the grounds of Braganza house looked excitedly at us as we got off. They were waiting for a party to begin but we wouldn't oblige. We were… Read More
2018-08-23 04:45
Orange sky as we take off Crossing rivers The Sun rose as we touched down Legend at the entrance of Rachol Seminary Jesuits? Balcony Painting Wooden Roof in a roomJudgement Day? St. Francis… Read More
2018-07-29 10:03
We were gushing with happiness as the eight of us stood behind the driver in the shuttle to the plane. We huddled in renewed camaraderie. Decades ago we had done Engineering togeth… Read More
2018-06-09 13:05
Atwood began writing The Handmaid’s Tale in the ’80s, when she said second wave feminists had “sunk to the floor with exhaustion”. People were saying, “You&rs&hell…Read More
2018-05-26 03:46
With a type of Roti dunked in tea we finished breakfast the next morning and after a fond farewell drove out of Dublin and raced towards Savannah.The RVs were becoming a fixture i… Read More
2018-05-26 03:45
The Savannah flowed peacefully, close to my sister's house in Augusta, as we walked beside her beautiful banks the next day. The Waterworks looked at peace far away. I had… Read More
2018-05-26 03:43
Old Town Trolley, HOHO Coastal Georgia Center &nbs&hell…Read More
2018-05-26 03:39
Cartoons on display Savannah Wharf legend -8 Savannah Wharf legend… Read More
2018-05-01 17:26
Maize Pretty Flowers When is the Party? Market Mural on the General store Small Church Church Silhouette of a tree Mural Mural depicting the view from the frontNegro and the Constitution M… Read More
2018-04-09 00:03
The Sun was setting, and it had streaked the sky pink. I stood watching it as the Metro zipped through the stations. Slowly I went back to another evening, another Sunset when the clouds had… Read More
2018-04-08 11:47
Tapestry MemorabiliaLaurel and Hardy with Santa Frames Statues Obituary Poster Movie Cassettes Laurel and Hardy buried in the ground Gary Russeth Museum Laurel and Hardy in their car Memorab… Read More
2018-03-17 02:46
I stepped back after a picture of this visit's last Sunrise and caught something darting from the corner of my eye. Another movement and I stood still. I scanned the Parking lot and lo sitti… Read More
2017-12-25 12:48
Southwestern Bell Company Winding RiverwalkBeautiful Pots River centerRiverwalk planTour GuideChurch spire with CrossWomen resting on the steps of the La Villita Arts VillageWhat building is… Read More
2017-12-25 12:45
Omg these look just like snowflakes, snowflakes from all those novels I have read! I took a picture of the small white leaved plant. I walked in and took a picture of the Check in and Check… Read More
2017-11-04 11:40
Dallas Downtown … Read More
2017-11-04 11:40
The morning of the second Saturday we were at the Megabus station waiting for our bus to Austin. I remember it was a dull morning with a hint of a drizzle. The usual let's hurry… Read More
2017-10-01 13:22
Boy feeding a Lorikeet … Read More
2017-10-01 13:22
LorikeetFlamingosAnteaterCassowaryStraight out of Jurassic Park"Frog" seatSleeping SnakeTurtlesPhoto ArkMonorailFind the HippoPelicansWaterfallWhite AntelopeMandrillElephant mother and CalfG… Read More
2017-09-02 14:02
I looked at the long road. It was flanked by trees behind which were huge buildings. What was that big building at the end of the road? I stared at it. There seemed to be a fountain t… Read More
2017-09-02 14:00
Caruth Hall Innovation Lab Wireless Lab Laura Deb Blanton Building Cary M Macguire Stadium Dormitories Building Name?3D Movies Exhibits Fossil Evolution of Man Earthquake simulator Journey t… Read More
2017-07-22 14:18
I stood for a moment and looked at the room. The bed had a headrest and the sofa upholstery had changed. It was grey now. The hotel was being renovated. I walked to the window an… Read More
2017-06-10 22:56
Doha Skyline far away Doha skyline Buildings standing like the Stonehenge Brown buildings blending into the sand Reminded me of Sydney Opera house Jade green sea Jade gree… Read More
2017-06-10 22:56
Traveling to Dallas a second time and the decision to travel on a different route payed off. The first time I had traveled via Frankfurt on Lufthansa and this time it would be via Doha and… Read More
2017-03-29 15:08
The night was young as we stormed the small shop crammed to the ceilings with decorative items. Small beaded chandeliers hung from a wire and glinted in the light. "They would look good… Read More
2017-03-29 13:53
Celestial Beings with wings? Parvati temple Legend of Parvati temple Legend of Nanasaheb Panoramic view of Pune Baji Rao Mastani in the museum Nanasaheb Court in Shaniwar wada Ammunition st… Read More
2017-02-12 04:47
Maharishi Vishwamitra wrings his hands in despair and sheds tears as he bemoans "However hard I tried I couldn't end this poem on a happy note". This is all Bhyrappa writes as an introductio… Read More
2017-01-22 08:55
On the way to Sinhagad Sinhagad Map Turret? Balladeer Fort wall finally Raja Dinanath Kelkar Lamps Yali Dowry Chest Lord Rama and family Queen? Mastani Mahal Beautifully carved door Sinhagad… Read More
2017-01-22 08:55
This wasn't Lemon tree was it we thought as we checked into Shreyas. It was a utilitarian and basic lodging close to Deccan Gymkhana the heart of Pune and close to Chitale Bandhu who sold au… Read More
2016-12-18 08:59
What a nice way to people empty corridors I thought as I read "If at first you don't succeed call it version 1.0". Printed over a T-Shirt and stuck to a wall it looked so cute. I read the ne… Read More
2016-12-18 08:58
More "People"Jokes in the rest room :) Jokes in the corridor Daulatabad Fort Info Fort entrance Cannons in the Fort More Cannons Door to nowhere Step wel… Read More
2016-12-10 13:32
Kailash Temple Elephants and Lions holding up the templeRamayanaMahabharathShiva loses the gameHari HaraArdhaneshwariSheshashayanaVishnu on GarudaVaraha AvatarShiva marrying Parvati.Rama Bra… Read More
2016-12-10 13:30
Miffed at having been duped royally we left Ajanta for Ellora. The awe of the caves had been replaced by the enormity of the swindle and we cribbed endlessly about it :( A quick lunch… Read More
2016-11-13 12:52
What lovely upholstery I thought as I sank on the sofa. I leaned back.It had lovely blue flowers on a white background. It looked very elegant on the black furniture. I gently ra… Read More
2016-11-13 12:52
Ajanta details Lapis Lazuli design blue and brightCarpet like design on the roof Cave 2 infoBuddha in prayer Cave 9 infoCave 9 facade Cave 10 infoCave 10 facade Thousand Buddhas?Seven morta… Read More
2016-11-06 00:34
Lunch done we got into the car and headed towards Bibi Ka Maqbara. We stepped out umbrella in hand but the rains had stopped. A couple of us joined the queue for the tickets while a few of u… Read More
2016-11-05 17:14
Picking this year's destination was a no brainer. Ever since we saw the huge pillar of Kailash temple at Ellora in the picture sent by Sil we had been wowed. So Ajanta, Ellora it had to be… Read More
2016-11-05 17:13
Main entrance First glimpse of the Maqbara Main entrance from the MaqbaraBalconies inside the Maqbara Maqbara Ceiling Library Maqbara Minaret Side view of the Maqbara What are these near t… Read More
2016-10-16 03:07
I sat amidst purses, shoes, cardigans, chocolates, souvenirs etc etc all around me. They had come out for the nth time from four suitcases including a cabin luggage. They wouldn't go in… Read More
2016-10-13 19:50
Atlanta AirportAnother flight in airAscent at AtlantaA view of the Flyovers Silhouette of the wing...Sunrise at 30k! Train to the gate at FrankfurtFrankfurt Airport Ascent at FrankfurtCloud… Read More
2016-10-13 19:11
Good morning" the driver said as we entered the bus. "Good morning" I replied as I settled on a seat. With clockwork precision she drove us to the Old town Station in nineteen minu… Read More
2016-10-13 19:08
Victoria's secretsSwing?Buy back schemeMade of Porcelain?Multiplex?Where are the children?Framed :)The cap shopRoses Magnolia tree Magnolia Which Wich?Art work by childrenNext: The… Read More
2016-10-13 19:05
"It was a tell all” shop I thought as a I wandered around Victoria's Secret. Secrets were revealed in leaps and bounds. They were overflowing on the counters, leapt at you from posters… Read More
2016-10-13 19:02
Sunday morning, up with the larkI think I'll take a walk in the park.... Sunday six thirty AM and I was out exploring the little world I now called home :) What was that big bus i… Read More
2016-10-13 19:00
The Pool Crows, my friends :)Mulch Vista Ridge MallSixth Floor museumJohn F Kennedy's picture zoomed inJackie Kennedy's picture zoomed inView from top of Sixth floorTrain coach Prev:… Read More
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