The Bold and De Brassy

Trip to India - all about the fashion....and a little bit of culture...

2011-10-22T02:06:00.001-07:00

with the uber cool - Rohit Bal at the FDCI venue...

Guddu (Rohit Bal) and me striking a pose......

With designer Gauri of the Gauri Nanika duo, super talented girls...

With designer Hemant Trevedi at Sheetal....he took time off to speak to the girls for nearly 3 hours..., showed them his work, photographs etc. Special thanks to Dhiren Shah of Sheetal.

Just returned from a trip to India with VCU- Q students from Qatar Foundation. We started our trip in Delhi, with the first two days of Fashion Week in Delhi, with Wills India Fashion Week. Saw the shows of Malini Ramani, Gauri/Nanika. Simply fab and a whole host of others. Visited good freind's Rohit Bal, and Tarun Tahiliani. Met up with JJ Valaya as well...

Then we visited Agra- the Taj Mahal, and Kohinoor Jewellers. The jewellers to the Mughal's. They have collected and preserved the works of India's top embroider Mr. Shemshudin. He was felicitated by the Indian Govt, and received the Padma Vibushan for being a living legend. He was instrumental of bringing back and keeping the art of Zardozi alive. One of his works, Lord Jesus Christ the shepard, took him 9 years to embroider, and then he lost his eyesight.

We left for Jaipur, and in the morning went for an elephant ride up to Amber fort. We also visited, Anokhi museum by Faith Singh, which was instrumental in the revival of block printing in India and the markets near the Palace.

We left for Ahmedabad, and visited the Calico Museum in the morning, and the National Institute of Design in the evening.

We caught a connecting flight to Mumbai, and visited good freinds Shahab Durazi in the morning and Hemant Trevedi and Sheetal design studio in the evening.

And then back to Doha.

London in August

2011-09-17T03:53:00.000-07:00

A rare pic of Keith with the London Bridge as the background....

The British Museum....

The Tower of London....

with my favourite picture in the Tate Modern- Boom by Roy Leichestien

The famous Egyptian escalater at Harrods....

Parlaiment house

The London Eye

Okay, had to do the tourist shot of Buckingham Palace.

From the balconey outside the Tate Modern...yes yes I loved the place

Keith and me went off for a short vacation to London. The weather Gods were smiling down at us, and it was simply superb. We had a lovely stay full of museums, the Tate Modern being my all time favourite, went back there three times. The famous pub crawl along the banks of the river Thames. The only regret is that we could not get a show, but we will leave it for next time. I highly recommend it to one and all, and NO I did not visit the Madame Tussads...however did got to the Victoria and Albert Museum- to see the Tippu Sultans original Tiger clock and the National Museum to have a look at the Rosetta stone..and yes they both lived upto to thier expectations.

Dubai....Feb 2011

2011-03-27T11:34:00.000-07:00

Dubai Mall, water feature....really stunning

The Gold Souq

Keith with the Burj Khalifa as a backdrop....difficult to capture

At the aqaurium at the Dubai mall

At the base of the Burj Khalifa at night, listening to a band from Shillong playing at the Dubai music festival, after a lovely meal at the Mango Tree.....surreal...

Keith and me zipped off to Dubai for a short getaway in Feb. The weather was superb. Dubai has always been one of my favourite cities to visit and it did not disappoint. We were lucky because be were staying right in the middle of town...translation...Sheikh Zayed Road, so conveniently located for us to travel by the metro or taxi at a short notice. The food, at Mango Tree, at the Souq Bahar, and the Irish Village is fantastic....but it was the Burj Khalifa, that both of us were fascinated by. We were very close to Dubai Mall, and though the aqaurium is not a patch on the one in Singapore, it was well worth a visit. ...Will I go back, most definitely!!

VCUQ show from 2010 - article in Abode magazine

2011-02-08T23:52:00.000-08:00

Fashion

Front to Back

Two Among Many ... perspectives from VCUQ’s Annual Fashion show

Front Row Tessa Jeffers

At one of the year’s most celebrated events, the Virginia Commonwealth University-Qatar fashion design students practiced one of the foremost preached world initiatives for their 11th annual fashion showcase. The chosen theme, “One of Many,” operated on many levels, including a conscious effort to breathe new life into old garments, turning them into innovative creations. “This year I asked my students to be responsible and that entailed sustainability and recycling, so most of what you will see from the students’ collections tonight are made from something that was old, and now it’s new again,” said Sandra Bell Wilkins, the show’s executive producer and also the head of VCUQ’s fashion design department.

One of the most exciting examples of this saw the traditional abaya re-imagined and transformed into an array of evening “little black dress” spinoffs. Two other collections

– the “Tailored Collection” and the “Children’s Wear” collection – were conceptualized and constructed entirely with used clothing and materials such as men’s shirts, denim, curtains and table covers. A fitting show starter, “Children’s Wear,” immediately enthused the crowd as the youngsters yielded charming curtsies. The sophomore class chose a “Closet Raiders 2020” theme inspired by three concepts: the silhouette of the 1920s, the future or the year 2020 and closet raiders, or kids who invade their parents’ closets to play dress up. The pieces were made with recycled men’s shirts, stripes and mismatched plaid paired with denim, and plenty of hats to go around. The futuristic portion took on an edgy Martians-meet-the-police robotic air, with black military inspired getups, hard hats and blinking neon lights.

A personal favorite of the entire show was something I nicknamed the “Polished Pajama Party.” Shaikha Al Sowaidi’s “It’s Not Just a Man’s World” was inspired by men’s garments, yet she set the fabrics with women’s features. For example, a suit jacket paired with a pin-striped button-up shirt, accented with a bow tie and cropped capris. This funky feminist fashion was innately playful with its gender swap, but also in the bold fabrics and colors. It managed to carry an Eastern spice, and the harem pants and island fabrics become even more interesting when punctuated with dressier tailored suit pieces.

Perhaps the collection with the most pizzazz was the impeccably designed chaos of Selina Farooqui’s “Indian Adventure.” Three-quarter and half-length jackets with tube tops and skirts were paired with blouses and apron-like vests. Her use of hand-made details like rope belts and the variety of colors, materials and cuts gave her collection an evolved feel with a modern and

impressive, well-edited vision. It is immediately wearable, yet one-of-a-kind. “I want my clothes to transport you somewhere ... with a hint of fantasy and dream; it’s fashion as an escape,” Farooqi says of her collection. Hats off to her for

not only succeeding in her goal, but producing a fashion line that made me write “I like everything” in my notes. It is fitting that she was presented with an award for “Outstanding Collection.” Another show-stealer was “The Unseen” by Esra Kazem, whose hidden underworld theme transpired into an interesting sporty gladiator-meets-gothic creature fantasy filled with golden body shields, and metallic showpieces. The choice of colors complimented her style, with neon yellow lining accenting purple, gray and green outfits. But the silver lining so to speak, was the key for Malak Al Mahmoud’s highly conceptualized “Constructing a Dream” collection. She said she used an “art nouveax” style that was conducive to her expressions of mind travel. Coil-shaped materials embellished her neutral-colored gowns and pant suits made from soft sheer organza. The transparency and overall soft feel of the collection was enhanced by her strategically gathered and bunched fabrics in paradoxical flowing or enclosed ways. The most interesting backstory goes to Joanna Milaszius-Dallimore because it has a real-life premise and a predetermined future. “My collection was dedicated to my sister, who is getting married on Halloween,” she said after the show. “The last dress was her wedding dress.” Her entire collection is a Victorian interpretation of the gothic tradition, with bridesmaids jackets laced in black and topped with fur. The bride’s dress is rebelliously bold and fun, an orange (a close shade to the designer’s hair) and gray silk number with a fur topping. Milaszius-Dallimore has been an active force in VCUQ’s fashion program the past four years, and coincidentally conceived this year’s theme. “In my artist’s statement I wrote that I’m a daughter, I’m a wife, I’m a sister, I’m a fashion designer. I am one of many things,” she told ABODE after receiving an award for her role in producing the show. “There’s so many of us, but we’re all one of many. We’re all individuals but we’re all part of this group that has to work together, so that’s what it’s about.”

44 ABODE

ThE mOST INTERESTING BACkSTORY GOES TO JOANNA mILASzIUS-dALLImORE BECAUSE IT hAS A REAL-LIFE pREmISE ANd A pREdETERmINEd FUTURE. “mY COLLECTION wAS dEdICATEd TO mY SISTER, whO IS GETTING mARRIEd ON hALLOwEEN.”

ABODE 45

Fashion

“NOw, ThE mOST ImpORTANT pART OF mY NIGhT: TEARING Up mY CUE ShEET.” ThROwING AwAY ThE pIECES ANd hIGh-FIvING ThE CREw, ShE LOOkEd OvER hER ShOULdER ANd SAId, “I USEd TO BE REALLY hYpER.”

46 ABODE

Backstage by Kathleen Flood

On the evening of May 6, the night of VCUQ’s 11th annual fashion show, the fashion department graciously honored my request to report from backstage, in order to witness the chaotic climate of production. About an hour before the show started I was ushered backstage and brought to Sandra Bell Wilkins, the chair of the fashion department, who was having her makeup applied. She suggested I speak to Alexandre Aquino, the Executive Director for the Brazilian fashion label, Maria Bonita, set to open the VCUQ show. He explained that the collection of 15 dresses were made especially for this event and were inspired by the arid climate of Qatar.

Looking closer, I could see how the lovely organza maxi dresses, were hand-painted and individually hand-scrunched. Alexandre pointed out that the spaghetti straps, made from 18-carat gold, were

strung with beads and stones native to Brazil. After a brief conversation, everyone but the models and dressers were ushered out of the dressing (class) rooms, and I wandered the deserted hallway

that was soon to become the apex of the action. I observed the order of show taped to the wall and signs declaring “women only territory” as stylists from GLOW, armed with cans of hairspray, set up their touch-up station.

Soon Sakala Debrass, the Show Coordinator and Model Trainer, bustled down the hallway announcing: “There are only two people allowed to scream,” referring to herself and Melanie McClintock, the Backstage Manager (and assistant professor at VCUQ), as she shushed excited models lining up in the Maria Bonita designs. After realizing what I was doing there she nodded and said that backstage is, “always the best perspective.”

She kissed each model on the cheek before beckoning me into the production room on the other side of the stage where DJ Lulu, and the lighting and sound crews were set up. “I’m always nervous before a show,” she said, her ice cold hand grasping my wrist.

As the curtain drew nearer, Sakala explained the order of the show, and as Sandra walked past ready to announce the guest designer’s collection she remarked, “The head of fashion, she always has to look like a million bucks.” Sakala’s cool and collected audience presence over the speaker system

instantly changed to a highly-energetic stage whisper as she cued lights, sound and finally...”GO.”

During the fast-paced show, Sakala, a former runway model and Miss India runner up 1991, managed to simultaneously announce cues, comment on the show’s progress and give models the final look-over before they walked onstage. She silently applauded when the models hit their cues, stomped her foot when they didn’t, flapped her cue packet at the television screen when the models walked too slow, and then specifically pointed out one woman, a mother of

two: “You should see her walk, so calm, so beautiful,” she said to me shaking her head.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the stage in the once quiet hallway, dressers de-pantsed models, tikkas were applied moments before models exited to the runway and earrings fell tumbling to the ground, neglected for time. Sakala addressed a model: “Don’t forget

the peel off [modeling technique] and are you chewing gum?” Then she explained the reasoning behind the gold armor of Esra Kazem’s collection, “I think she’s a jewelry designer.” It seemed as though my presence backstage didn’t cause a flinch – I even came in handy with my pen a couple of times.

As the audience’s claps drowned out the music, Sakala declared: “Now, the most important part of my night: tearing up my cue sheet.” Throwing away the pieces and high-fiving the crew, she looked over her shoulder and said, “I used to be really hyper.”

ABODE 47

Fashion

maria Bonita

Hailing from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the visiting designer fashion house Maria Bonita kicked off the show with a dress collection designed by Danielle Jensen and inspired by Anna Mariani’s pictures taken over 15 years in seven states of the Brazilian northeast. The gowns’ icy pastel quilt work in shades of baby blue, green, yellow, purple and mauve breathed the epitome of elegance. The colors of the 15 dresses were painted on the fabric by hand and even from a few rows back you could feel their softness by the precious look of the silk organza fabric. The models looked regal in confident, their beautiful bared backs embellished lightly but ever so stylishly with straps that were more jewelry than support, encased in gold and studded by gemstones, chocolate diamonds and onyx. They were the frames to the fabric canvasses. The strap cuts were creatively varied, from criss-cross to V-cut to asymmetrical single straps draping in uncommon places. Like a breeze in the Spanish countryside, the dress designs had a form-fitting quality yet were airy enough that you wondered if they could fall off.

48 ABODE

OUTLOOK magazine Dec 2010

2011-01-04T01:50:00.000-08:00

Just got posted this link, now will try and get my hands on this copy. I have to thank Prabhudo, the most brilliant photographer in India for this......

http://photo.outlookindia.com/default.aspx?pt=8&ptv=238....titled supermodels of the nineties.....

Interesting to see, how now the context of this pic was....and yes I am the only one NOT smoking...thank you very much

Happy New Year one and all....

2010-11-09T05:26:00.000-08:00

On this fabulous change in the weather....I wanted to share some of the best video's of doggies......always brings a smile to my face.....ENJOY

HONGKONG

2010-10-01T01:47:00.001-07:00

Come Sept, Keith and me zipped off to meet freinds in Hongkong.....one of Keiths favourite places.

The Iconic skyline of Hongkong

The first night we went out for a great dinner and then drinks...

Friends....

Though thoroughly jet lagged and sleep deprived, we had swell evening. It was raining non stop, actually quite a pleasant change from hot Doha. We started the evening with fantastic Chinese food, in a quaint old part of town. By the end of the evening, all the waiters were fawning over us...

Celebrating Keiths birthday....

The next night we met up with my old classmate Ranoo and her husband. I was meeting her after 27 years, and it was like time stood still.

The architecture of Hongkong is fantastic. The city is not flat, and there are lots of very steep roads, which kind of took us by surprise.

One of the iconic buidings of Hongkong, the HSBC head office in downtown HK, shot on a rainy day.

At Stanley Park, the rain did not dampen my shopping spree. To say you can shop till you drop is an understatement...I would have shopped more, if my husband had agreed to carry my shopping!!

Save the Tiger.....

2010-08-11T03:43:00.000-07:00

Just sharing a link with you. Please log in and click your application. Spread the word if you can. We need to save this beautiful creature.

http://www.saveourtigers.com/JoinTheRoar.php

Denmark- good food, good weather and great company

2010-08-09T12:22:00.000-07:00

The beautiful countryside of Denmark. A view of one of the farms we drove past

Aunty Lynn, Keith, myself and Uncle Benny outside in the Town Hall garden, please note Uncle Benny wearing shorts and me wearing a jacket!!!

Just finished shopping near the walking street in Copenhagen. Had to rest our feet.....

The first day at Aalborg....I was freezing....

picnicking with Aunty Lynn and Uncle Benny

A World War II bunker

Skagen (pronounced Skain)- the most picture perfect little town in the North. All the houses are painted a sunny yellow

The bridge over the fyord- between the islands.

Outside the Tivoli

At the walking street at night...absolutely beautiful, it had just rained.

Hamlets castle....so named after the tale by Shakespere

Outside Hamlets castle ....the canons that gaurd the castle

Lynn, Benny and me stopping for a lovely lunch outside the Palace

The weather wane at Court house....the girl on the bike comes out when its sunny and the boy on the cycle when it rains.

The Church near the main Palace

Changing of the gaurds at the main Palace in Copenhagen

One of our stops....on the edge of the canal in Copenhagen

Girls chilling on the coolest boat ever...in the canals....

Out side the BizBaz restaurant in Copenhagen. A lovely vegetarian restaurant. It was freezing...

The Tall Ships....at Aalborg ...a series of ships, that left port and sailed out to Norway...

Keith in front of the disappearing lighthouse, the dunes are shifting

View of Aalborg from the top of the lookout tower

the Contemporary and Modern art museum in Aalborg

Outside the Town hall of Aalborg

Tivoli in Copenhagen....

outside the Palace

In Copenhagen

Outside the Viking museum
Keith and me outside Hans Christian Anderson's house
in the museum with the marble bust of Hans Christian Anderson

Just returned from a ten day holiday in Denmark. I fell in love with the place. The Danes are voted the happiest people in the world, and you can see why. They have a brilliant sense of humour, love food, and have great weather. What more can you ask for!!?? All Keith and my resolutions were thrown out of the window, because we were eating non stop. We landed in Denmark at Copenhagen airport and flew straight to Aalborg. At Aalborg, we stayed with Keith's Uncle and Aunt Benny and Lynn. One of the good things of going in summer (though coming from 45 degrees I froze), is the very long days. The sun would set at around 10 every night. Benny and Lynn are exceptional hosts, we were driven all over Denmark, and according to Lynn, had not yet seen half of the country! The Danes love nature, very evident in the countryside. The flowers covered the entire countryside, for as far as the eye could see. What was disappointing was that we did not get to see the Little Mermaid....she was also at the Shanghai World Trade Fair. But the whole city of Copenhagen has beautiful sculptures, well manicured gardens, and was clean. People follow rules, pleasant change from the rest of the world.

Half Year Resolutions.

2010-07-17T00:27:00.000-07:00

We all just finished June, and then I found a peice of paper, written in 2001, about my resolutions. One of them, was to visit a new country every year....so this year, apart from Indonesia, we will be going some where else, some where new.

I firmly believe, that one must see as much as the world can offer, sometimes off the beaten path, to broaden ones horizon and outlook. Part of travel for me, is to have new cuisines. I enjoy local food, where ever I go. ...Will keep you posted.

Also there is the travel to places visited earlier, as later on this year we will be going back to one of Keith's favourite places.....no no I aint telling...look out for the photographs.

Blast from the past.....

2010-05-24T09:32:00.000-07:00

The year was May 1994....the place is China... Festival of India fashion shows in Beijing, Shanghai and Tiangin.....We wore, JJ Vallaya, Ashish Soni, Ritu Kumar, Rohit Bal, Geetanjali Kashyap, Hemant Trivedi, who was also the choreographer of the show.

The models were, Noyonika Chatterjee, Anu Ahuja, Achala Sachdev, Zarine Lord, Colleen Khan, Farheen Khan, Shika Swaroop, Svetlana Casper, Lynn Saldana, Pressanna Pandarinathan, Shyla Lopez, Pooja Batra, and Aishwarya Rai, who had won Miss India and was on to the Miss World competition.

Bali....Hai

2010-05-21T11:12:00.000-07:00

The beach outside my hotel with its own private temple....the Melia Bali, in Nusa Dua, near Kuta

The morning Opera that we went to see, with the story of good over evil.

At the volcano. It was covered by fog.

At the Goa temple. The caves.

The entrance of the Goa or Gufa cave temple for Lord Ganesha

My home for 6 days. Melia Bali

You could have your massage down on the beach.

Dad getting his pedicure by FISH.....

one of the lovely temples we visited

Indonesian food is remarkable, highly recommended, Nasi Goreng, Mai Goreng, Satay.....oooh.

The Monkey forest and its inhabitants.

Turtle island.....a conservation project in Bali run by the government

Feeding fish on the way to Turtle Island.

The temple on the sea front with natural spring water.

One lovely temple on the rocks.

One of the many birds on Turtle island.

the land lizard.

My Dad took us four...that is Mom, Dad, Sis and me down to Bali to celebrate Mom and Dad's 50th anniversary and my Mom's 69th birthday. Both in May, I had a blast. The sea food is excellent and the island is beautiful. Though a long trip, with a long wait in K. L airport for our return, it was very nice.

Maria Bonita - Brazil's top fashion house - fashion show

2010-05-21T11:03:00.000-07:00

In May we had the opportunity to work with the design house of Maria Bonita -Alexandro, and his team. They are Brazil's top fashion house, very down to earth- lovely people. Here are a few pictures I share with you from the show at VCU.

NEW BLOG

2010-03-04T08:01:00.000-08:00

Hey Guys...I have another blog ...http://talesofcoorg.blogspot.com... Please read it and come back to me. Its a work in progress.. This is my 2010 resolution, to start writing a blog on what I know so well, COORG...Enjoy.

Art for art's sake....some of my paintings.

2010-01-27T01:51:00.000-08:00

Shibu Arakkal - photographer- bought on line from Indian Art collectors.

Tribute to Tyeb- a collage made by Raghu Wodeyar, a new artist discovered by Charles Saatchi.

As I write this and look around the room, I start smiling. One of my first impressions of Mumbai, was visiting this media baron's house in South Mumbai and looking at the wall covered in Hussains, Raza's and artists of such ilk. The gentleman was very knowledgeable and so was his wife, who painstakingly collected art, she knew the provenance, style, etc of each artist. I was bitten, but being a struggling model, whose priority was to pay her monthly rent, art took a back seat. I have over the years- 14 to be precise, collected some works by good artists. For me its a good combination of price point, name and work that I look for. Here I am sharing some of my collection with you.....

Totha Vaikuntam's - Telengana Man - bought in Bangalore - at Renaissance art gallery.

Totha Vaikuntam- Telengana woman bought from Renaissance art gallery in Bangalore.

Ranjit Kurmi- bought online from Saffronart.com. I fell in love with the colours.

The first Badri Narayan I bought in 1999, from Pundole Art Gallery, Mumbai. I am fascinted by Lord Ganesha....as is half of India.

Badri - again bought in 1999. My husbands gifts to me.

The following year in 2000- I bought two more Badirnarayan's from Pundole, making it a set of four.

This is the second one.

This Badrinarayan, was called "Burial at sea" (TBC), was my Mom's gift to me bought in 2006.

Also in my collection are a nude by Laxma Goud, J M S Mani's - Badami woman, Krishnappa's - flute player, and Jiaur Rehman's - Sea Scape and then the late Bimal Das Guptas series of 4 paintings of Sea scapes. The list goes on....but that is for another day.....

The KINGS of our house- Nandu and Sox

2009-12-31T01:04:00.000-08:00

This one is Soxu, showing off his water drinking abilities.....from the bottle no less!!

The lovely Eames Chair that Sox has taken over and NO one is allowed to sit on it.

Nandu wanted to be part of the conversation, so decided to climb onto my Chinese chair!

Nandu, testing my patience and love for him by sleeping on the forbidden sofa....okay it was during Christmas, you know the season to forgive.....

They both love freshly made beds....and if possible our pillows.

This post is all about the two dee-ple (thats short form for Dog people who have made such a difference to our lives). My two rescued dogs, Nandu and Sox.

The Roman Holiday.........

2009-09-21T12:22:00.000-07:00

Keith and me inside the Vatican
The Vatican museums
The Vatican museum
The bronze statue of Hercules
The famous Sistine Chapel
Vatican museum- Thinking Man- RodinIn front of the Vatican
The famous Castle St. Angelo

The Spanish Steps

From the roof of the Vatican dome.

Trevi fountain
Keiths favourite building in all of Rome- the Colleseum- breathtaking

The Pietta statue- by Micheal Angelo
My checklist continues, as I tick off another destination I loved. A must see, Rome is all about history. The old and new live together very well.

A city more than 2000 years old, and still living very well. The women are fashionable and sexy and the men fashionable and bronzed. Food was good. Will I go back, most definitely. Feet still pain, as I walked all over the place.

We visited the Vatican musuems of course, me being this art buff... and its everything they tell you, you coulvad spend days there, its soo vast. Took the famous Roman Holiday walk, down from the Vatican, down the banks of the river Tiber, past Castle Saint Angelo, to the Spanish Steps, and then to the Trevi Fountain, had a gelato a shop. The walk is beautiful, and lots of cobble stone footpaths(not very good for your feet).

Will I go back, most definitely.

Checklist of places to see before we die.....

2009-07-28T00:12:00.000-07:00

Just going to put it down on paper...a checklist of places to see before we die..
The places in the world you gotta go to..

1) The Taj Mahal- Agra- Obviously I am Indian...been there about 5 times..love it every time, and good for the Archeological Survey of India for cleaning up the place and making all the vehicles battery operated
2) Petra- Jordan- Breathtaking bas relief sculptures of the Roman garrison's stronghold...In fact the whole of Jordan, be it the Dead Sea, Jarash, Aqaba, Wadi Rumm, etc is beautiful.
3) Giza- Egypt the Pyramids and the Sphinx- sail down the Nile, go to Luxor, and the Valley of the Kings and of course the port city of Alexandria
4)CN Towers- Toronto- Canada, like a needle in the sky, if you are scared of heights, you need to be warned..its scary
5) Niagara Falls- from the Canadian side, the American side has nothing...lovely, breathtaking, Mother Nature at her best.
6) Petronas Towers- Malaysia- Was once the Worlds tallest towers, featured in countless movies, absolutely lovely architecture.
7) Sears Tower - Chicago- USA- Dont forget to go to the restaurant on the top, one floor below the top, and get a spectacular view of Chicago for miles on end.
8) Bahubali statue at Shravanbelogola- the tallest monolith statue carved out of one rock, the Jains biggest monument
9) Tokyo Towers, - kind of like the CN Towers in Canada, the only difference in Tokyo, with the old and the new right next to each other it not surprising that this structure exists in the land of earthquakes.
10) The sleeping Buddha's statue in Bangkok, covered in gold leaf this statue of the Buddha, is the biggest.
11) Safari's either in Kenya or South Africa
12) Safari either in Jim Corbett, Nagarhole or Ranthambore- anything to see the INDIAN TIGER

Now the agenda of the next ones to see

1) Rome, and the Vatican- for obvious reasons - now done
2) Greece- specifically the islands of Mykinos
3) Paris- France- the Arc de Trompe and the Museum
4) NY- Guegenhiem Museum
5) Mount Everest- or the Kanchanjunga...either or

Countdown begins.........

Something old and something new.......

2009-07-04T10:01:00.000-07:00

A little nostalgic .....my favourite picture shot by the legendary Prabhudo Das Gupta....with Nayanika Chatterjee now Singh, Mehr jessia now Rampal and Madhu Sapre. In Rohit Khosla, in the middle of a jungle in Delhi.

It appears in a book on the late Rohit Khosla, and to me this epitomises fashion.

HARLEY DAVIDSON CLUB- VROOOM

2009-05-22T03:24:00.000-07:00

Despite the 47 degrees in the sun and all wearing black, the Qatar Chapter of the Harley Davidson club came to Mesaieed, with some splendid display of beautiful bikes and good riding. I fell in love with a particular bike, custom built, custom fit and custom painted white bike of Sheikh Khaled, which made all the women go WOW!! Keith liked the more mellow Fat Boys on display...and his 40th birthday coming up, it may be a good gift dont you think!!!

The bikes have sound that is now we were told is the patented sound of the HARLEY....VROOOM

Visit to the Qatar Islamic Museum

2009-03-21T06:44:00.000-07:00

Keith, Philippe and me went to the beautiful Qatar Islamic Museum last Saturday. The building is designed by I. M Pei- world reknowned architect.

Trip in Jan/Goa-Mysore-Singapore-Thailand-Malaysia

2009-03-09T09:43:00.000-07:00

They say a picture speaks a thousand words....journey started in Goa...7th of Jan, went onto Mysore - 12 th Jan, then left for Singapore, spent two days, went on a cruise with the Royal Carribean - Legends of the Sea, sailed to Phuket, Thailand, then Port Kalang, Malaysia, visited KL, then back to Singapore, on day 5, stayed in Singpore for anohter 2 days, met up with classmates from school, Yatch club buddies and family. Left for Bangkok for the final leg of the journey, spent two days in Thail

and

JORDAN - A MUST SEE

2008-12-26T07:55:00.000-08:00

Keith took me to Jordan for a surprise holiday on the 16th of Dec. We landed in Amman the capital, and then left for an ancient town called Jarash in the north. We then drove down to Petra, the ancient capital of the Nebetians, and a key part of the trade route from and to Asia. We first went to Petra - by night, the whole route lit up with little candles, all the 1200 metres of the road.We visited Petra the next day, walking all the way right up to the Monastary on the top of steep climb into the hill.

The next day we left for Wadi Musa, the last place Moses lived and Bethany, where he saw the promised land. We visited Jordan river and the precise place that Jesus Christ got baptised by John the baptist. The last city of Madaba where he lived, and now famous for very intricately made glass, stoneware.
The last day we went to the Dead Sea resort, next to the Dead Sea. I had a traditional hot mud spa treatment, and Keith had a spa treatment next to the sea, where he was covered with the mud from the Dead sea, then it dries, and then he takes a dip in the Dead Sea, I say dip because there was not very much he could do but float.

Diwali Party at Manoj and Geeta's house

2008-11-19T23:24:00.000-08:00

This Diwali, Keith and me attended a spate of parties. Really exhausting. But the one I really enjoyed was Manoj and Geeta's party at their house. Here are a few pics from the do. Yes, I know some were very filmi....

ReUnion in Delhi- School 25th Year

2008-09-03T00:30:00.000-07:00

On August 14th 2008, the batch of 82 - Bal Bharati Air Force School met up in Delhi. This was a first for a lot of people, who had not met, not kept in touch. Most of the guys and girls and changed beyond recognition. Some like me totally.

My good friend Ranjit put the entire thing together. The reunion brought back a lot of memories, there was a lot of happiness to see some of my classmates.

Here are a few pics of that reunion.

Canada Trip - May 17th to June 11th

2008-06-14T07:37:00.000-07:00

Keith and me had a month long vacation in Canada. Here are a few pictures of the trip.

MANISH ARORA IN DOHA - QATAR

2008-04-13T03:00:00.000-07:00

My old freind designer Manish Arora dropped in to Doha, on a visit to VCU- Q (the College of Fashion here) to speak to the students of the college. He was brought in by popular request from the students, because they think he is COOL, CRAZY and FAB (agree on all three). Later he had a one on one at Zai boutique at the Al Sharq Spa - a high end boutique there owned by Sheikha Hanadi, and the clothes just flew off the rack. Painstakingly embroidered, bright hues, beautiful weaves (he personally goes to Benares to the weavers) for each and every peice.

Loved his collection- hope to see more of him around.

Doha Dairy

2008-01-27T10:00:00.000-08:00

Doha Dairy - Qatar Open Golf tournament had a few big names from India - Jyoti Randhawa and Jeev Milkha Singh among others. Also a whole host of celebritys were invited for the event. Bipasha Basu and Shilpa Shetty from India. Omar Sharif from Egypt. Carl Lewis from the US. Natalie Imbraglui from Australia. Anna Kornikova - from Russia. ....yes yes I saw them, met few and if you dont believe me here is the proof ( I have to admit I cheated I know Bipasha from long back , you know modelling days)

Trip to the Old/New Souq in Doha

2007-12-18T01:43:00.000-08:00

Keith and me spent a wonderful evening, walking around the Old/ New Souk opposite to the HSBC building on the Corniche. Painstakingly designed to look like the very old souqs of Marrakesh or Cairo, its a lovely experience to see, henna hand painting, antique , shops selling antique weapons, photos of Qatar in the bygone days. We then went had an early dinner in the Al Bandar restaurant sitting on the cobbled street, under umbrellas, sipping hot tea and having the most delicious and obviously heavy meal consisting of freshly baked khuboos bread and various accompaniments. We then did what I call my favourite past time- people watching, and just enjoyed the view. Later we sauntered down the road, and my freind Alison bought a crepe with Nutella stuffing, freshly made, and Keith had fresh homemade icecream at the La Cremerie, he said it was simply divine, and recommends to all. The first thing you notice in the Souq is the level of safety and of course the smells of bread being freshly baked just draws you down the road.

2007-12-02T08:53:00.000-08:00

Our family dogs in Goa with the Admiral and Mrs. Debrass

last Christmas

Nandu and Sox pics

2007-11-27T09:07:00.000-08:00

OUR FAMILY OBSESSIONS

Where ART thou?

2007-10-14T03:33:00.002-07:00

Just posting a few of my favourite paintings from my collection. I have to thank Bombay for introducing me to this lovely hobby. And the best part of it is I tell my husband its an investment!

Here are two by Vaikuntams - Telegana Man and Woman

Scuba Diving - I am hooked

2007-10-14T03:00:00.000-07:00

This Eid Keith and me took the advantage of the long break and decided to go Scuba diving in the waters of Qatar. I was going back to the water after a long time, so I wanted to dive in an old familiar place - we chose Old Club reef, a man made reef created painstakingly by the Doha Sub Aqua Club over years. It is off one of the busiest beaches of Qatar.

The sea was full of hundreds of jelly fish (thank God for my 3mm wet suit, and hood), and it would have been really unpleasant to be stung by one of them. But after 6 meters they disappeared. We saw hundreds of Angel fish, whose lovely colours never stop to amaze me, some baby Hamour, and of course clams, and sponge corals and other corals. Visibility was not great, only 3 meters, but it was great to be down below again. We dived to a maximum of 14.5 meters. You have to try diving, courses are offered by BSAC, PADI other courses.

Coorg - the land of Coffee, Cardomom and mad people

2007-10-02T10:26:00.000-07:00

For all of you who never knew a Coorg (no its not Coorgi - like Murgi), you do not what you missed. We were made famous - my grandmothers generation by Field Marshall Cariappa, and General Thimiah, my generation has produced a lot of famous athletes - M. M. Somaya- the Arjuna award winning Hockey captain of India, Ashwini Nachappa - our answer to P.T. Usha, and now of course Robin Utapa - the new boy wonder in the India Twenty 20 cricket team (who helped us WIN). We are considered the Rajputs of the south, good looking, tall, snooty and beautiful women (ahem). It has a growing tourist industry - some expensive places to stay like Orange County, or you could try the new trend, where you go and live with a Coorg family ( who are exceptional hosts), and get to see estate life first hand, from the coffee plucking, to honey collecting etc. Most Coorgs have what we call a Ballia Mane (literal translation- Big House), belonging to each and every Coorg family. It is where how we look after our old or poor people. The patron Goddess of Coorg is Kaveri or Cauvery, the river she looks after us, and every family has one daughter named after her ( I am). We live large, and well. We are very house proud, proud of all things traditional- cooking, clothing, jewellery.

(Pic shown is my Dads family home in Coorg)

The Husbands - the band

2007-10-02T09:38:00.000-07:00

On Halloween this year The Husbands played at the Doha Sub Aqua Club. and had the whole club rocking.