The old man

Late night sketches are the best !!!!

A closer look at the face, I was quite happy with the result !!

*pats back*

The red head

I like to use poster colors like oil paints !

Learning French: Day 16

C'est où ? - Where is it?
Pronunciation: Seh oo

Santé ! - Cheers !
Pronunciation: Son-teh

Lady in red

An extremely over used n clichéd title for the post...but I think my creativity went into making the picture so...

 Thoda idhar-udhar ho gaya....but I kinda like it. I've always liked black n red !

Learning French: Day 15

Am in a rush today, lots of work...so simple words again.

Qui? - Who?
Pronunciation: Kee

Au revoir ! - Goodbye
Pronunciation: Oh rvwahr

Have a good weekend and practice your French *note to self*

A tent by the lake in Rajasthan

I was just reading up on the Jaipur Literary Fest when I chanced upon this link and I have already added this to my imaginary travel wish-list.

The place is just gorgeous ! Set atop an unused dam, The Chhatra Sagar is a beautiful site that offers more than just a view. It offers birdwatching trails, as there are about 200 species of birds that are found in and around the camp. The accommodation is simple yet comfortable water-facing tents.

Take a look at the pictures:

"The tent"

Just look at the luxurious bathrooms in a tent !!

Decorations in progress

Bonfire in the evenings !

Just look at the view...breathtaking !

Now I didn't say it would be cheap, did I? Double occupancy would cost you 19,800, inclusive of all meals, tours and activities !
All pictures are from their website. Do visit Chhatra Sagar for more details.

The Moon

I took this shot day before yesterday. It looked like a bright shiny dot on the canvas of the twilight sky.

A camera really cant capture the beauty !

Learning French: Day 14

Quand? - When?
Pronunciation: kah(n) - a very nasal sound!

Où? - Where?
Pronunciation: oo - i think this is the simplest :D

Only questioning words today !

Making of something new

After many days of sketching I thought I'll get back to paints. This one is taking me a long, long time coz it has a lot of detailing, something I really love ! Here are a few pictures of the unfinished product:

I hope it turns out well !

Learning French: Day 13

Il pleut -It's raining. Am sure it will start soon !
Pronunciation: eel pluh

Avec plaisir ! - It's my pleasure !
Pronunciation: Ahvehk pleh-zeer

New Meal Plan

I found this really interesting 7-day meal plan on The Nest. It has a lot of variety and even includes a serving of dark chocolate :) So I think I'm gonna try this out next week ! :)

Happy eating !!

Tagged :)

I wasn't really, really tagged...as usual I stole it ! but it was very interesting ! This is from the Mad Momma's blog ! Do go check it out, she writes too beautifully for words !

20 years ago I . . .
1. was in LKG i suppose, can't remember so far back !
2. was totally in love with my daddy (still am) !
3. was extremely, extremely shy !

10 years ago I . . .
1. was in 10th grade and having loads of fun !
2. was also stressing about acne/boys/love etc.
3. had big dreams about topping my school (i came 3rd) and becoming an engineer (can't even imagine WHY) :P

5 years ago I . . .
1. had just fallen in love :)
2. was feeling very independent coz of my part time job.
3. wasn't sure about where my life was headed !

3 years ago I . . .
1. I was in Ahemdabad if I remember correctly and celebrated my first Uttarayan. Those tukkals (kites with candles) were beautiful !
2. I was quite immature and didn't handle things very well.
3. I had got blonde streaks in my hair which I miss a lot, but they screwed up my hair quality so badly !

1 year ago I . . .
1. was gearing up for my first international vacation (Hong Kong n Macau).
2. was at least 5 pounds heavier.
3. had just started training and was having a great time at work..still am !

So far this year I . . .
1. have gotten back to art and really immersed myself in it.
2. am planning my second holiday abroad - Singapore.
3. am very different a person than I was last year, for not so good reasons !

Yesterday I . . .
1. went for a jog for the second time this year. Yay !
2. was feeling very creative and excited about Art School.
3. was planning the coming week :) :)

Today I . . .
1. am feeling very pretty and cheerful. I hope it stays.
2. saw my bro-in-law's pics on the net and I think he's gonna be a celebrity soon !
3. woke up early and had breakfast at home !

Tomorrow I will . . .
1. complete that painting and start another one.
2. start reading again.
3. maybe watch 127 hours.

In the next year I will . . .
1. be half-done with art school and boy, will I be happy !
2. maybe get engaged :)
3. have done a lot more traveling than last year !

Wow, that wasn't as easy as I thought it would be ! My memory isn't as good, must eat more badam from tomorrow :D !!! Tag yourself people !

Christmas Getaway

To a land of sun and sand...and waves and water sports.

We made a quick trip to Revdanda, Kashid and Alibagh for Christmas. The weather was perfect, not too sunny and slightly cold in the mornings. Visiting a beach after almost 6 months, I thoroughly enjoyed myself. The surprise factor of S joining us, was what made the trip "prefect".

This is the sight that greeted me, and I couldn't have been happier.

Awww..the cutest lil puppy, playful and naughty !


We were staying at this guesthouse in Revdanda, about 12 kms from Kashid and this was the view early morning. It felt more like a hill station than a beach vacation !

Slowly, the sun started to rise while we drove to the beach. Spot the moon saying its last goodbyes.

A bullock cart makes its way through the foggy path.

Here comes the sun !

My usual, lone tree shot !

It must have been really cold at night :)

The beach, finally !

Ahh....happy feet :)

Happy feet: part 2, taking a break for food !

It was a great 2 day trip. The water sports were scary but exciting. I even rode a horse on the beach (wasn't as much fun as it looks like in the movies) and ate some delicious Malvani food.

Learning French: Day 11

Vite ! - Hurry!
Pronunciation: Veet

Au secours ! - Help !
Pronunciation: Oh suhkoor!

Finished

My second attempt ...and this is the final product. Im not too happy, but it's something !

Learning French: Day 10

Je ne parle pas le Français - I don't speak French. I wouldn't really like to say this, but in dire straits, I think I may !
Pronunciation: zhuh nuh pahrl pah luh frah(n)seh

D'accord - Okay
Pronunciation: Dah-kohr

New year gifts

For myself :) :)

I love Jhumkas :)

My first pair of owl earrings.. they r just too pretty ! The eyes are made of turquoise !

Bought some more bangles :)

A 1000 piece puzzle of the Louvre :) :)

And this last one is for my mom :) Aren't they so pretty ! Love the color combo !

Try this

I found this list of interesting things to do:

1. Pretend you’ve never met, then loudly try out lame pickup lines in a swanky bar. Act like they worked.
2. Go on a walking journey and every fifteen feet draw a chalk arrow in the direction you’re going. At the end of the trip, leave a big pile of chalk.
3. Create photo evidence suggesting that you went on an adventure that didn’t really happen
4. Go for a drive. You can only make right-hand turns. When you finally get stuck, turn around and then you can only make left-hand turns. Repeat until you find something interesting. Take pictures along the way!
5. Build forts out of furniture and blankets, and wage war with paper airplanes.
6. Go to a major chain bookstore, and leave notes to future readers in copies of your favorite books
7. Write a piece of fiction together. Outside at a cafe. Ask strangers when you get stuck.
8. Try and visit as many people as you can in one night, and turn as many things inside their apartment upside down as you can, without them noticing.
9. Do the lamest tourist thing in your area that you have both secretly wanted to do forever. Have an unabashed good time!
10. Hide and seek in the park
11. Go around the city with sidewalk chalk and draw hearts with equations inside on random things
12. Drive somewhere unknown and have dinner in a city you’ve never been to. With fake names.
13. Go for a drive with the passenger blindfolded, choosing directions at random. see where you end up
14. Dress up as pirates, commandeer shopping carts, and have a war upon the high seas.. er, parking lot.
15. Go on a search for as many good climbing trees as possible, climb as high as you both can in all of them, compile photo evidence
16. Rent a movie you’ve never seen before. Set on mute and improvise dialogue.
17. Dress up as pirates and go parrot shopping at local pet stores
18. Go to the airport, get the cheapest, soonest departing flight to anywhere when you show up, and stay there for a weekend.
19. Walk around a city and perform short silent plays in front of security cameras
20. In the middle of the night, drive to the beach, so you arrive just as the sun is rising. Have a breakfast picnic, then fall asleep together. Bring a sun umbrella.
21. Dress up as superheros and stop at least one petty crime “ie. jaywalking, littering….”
22. Go to a minor league baseball game under the stars. Tell each other stories about how bad you are at athletics. Randomly cheer for both teams. Eat lots of Cracker Jack.
23. With camera and pair of boots, make photolog of a day in the life of the invisible man.
24. Walk around the city all night and find a place to eat breakfast at dawn
25. Go to a restaurant and convince the cook to create something completely new for you.

Hain na interesting !! I am waiting to try some of them !!

Learning French: Day 9

Je t'aime - I love you
Pronunciation: Zhuh taymuh

Je t'adore - I adore you
Pronunciation: zhuh tah-dohr

Words of endearment today :) :)

New Stuff :)

Oh, I went shopping again and this time I spent big bucks. There was a sale at all the big brands - Mango, ALDO, Promod etc so I went and splurged. This was the first time I bought anything from these stores, usually they are just too damn expensive.

Im dying to wear the red booties.....I Loveeee them !

Learning French: Day 8

Pardon, Monsieur - Excuse me, sir
Pronunciation: Pahrdoh(n), muhsyuh

Oui - Yes
Peonunciation: Wee

Very simple stuff today coz I'm really busy !

Boticca

One of my fav style bloggers was featured on their site and I thought I'd pick out some of my favorites too. It was hard to choose 5, coz everything is so pretty.

Their site is fully of awesome jewelery ~! The rings are sooo pretty, I didn't know what to choose ! Do go feast your eyes ---> Boticca

Learning French: Day 7

Je suis désolée - I'm sorry. It's desolée if you are a girl and just desolé, if you are a guy.
Pronunciation: zhuh-swee-day-zoh-lay

Laissez-moi ! - Leave me alone ! Perfect for when some prick is bothering you.
Pronunciation: Lihsay-mwah

Art Class: Day 2

This was tougher. Firstly, because it was a picture of a very beautiful lady and secondly it had hands in the picture. Uff, I could not complete it, so I got it home and will work on it in the week.

Here is what it looks like, as of now:

I'm hoping this one turns out good !

Learning French: Day 6

And we are back. Here goes:

Qui est la? - Who's there. This would be the response to knock knock !
Pronunciation: kee-ay-laa

Chouette - Great ! It also means owl :-/
Pronunciation: shweht

Done !

Dublin

I was just browsing the National Geographic site, one of my favorite pass-times, and was deciding which city to check out next. I randomly picked Dublin.

Here are some of the pictures that stood out:

Old Library, Trinity College: Wow, I would love to spend hours here !

European cities are so charming ! The Liffey River divides the city into two parts.

St. Patrick's Cathedral, where Jonathan Swift's grave lies.

I must get back to work..so check out National Geographic for more.