Devious Maids: I love!

''Keep your friends close but keep your maids closer''  There's an uproar about the representation of Latinas in Eva Longoria's new production Devious Maids. Just watched the very first episode and I'm hooked! Stereotypes DO exist, the media feeds on stereotypes, we need to deal with that and this show does NOT in any way try to degrade these women neither does it glorify any latina stereotypes. On the contrary, instead of talking about lawyers, doctors, advertisers, the show is giving a chance to maids to tell their story and not losing out on the entertainment factor! I absolutely LOVE the story-line and the cast! If you were a fan of Desperate Housewives, you are going to lurve this show  ENJOY!!!!

Amsterdam: Dutch produce

I'm blessed with friends who live in different places of the world. Amsterdam is one of my favorite cities. My friend M. moved here a year ago from France and she was kind enough to invite me for a few days. There are many things I've noticed from a non-touristy point of view on this trip. For one, Dutch produce is so much cheaper than the one in France. I've tried to study the Dutch names for each of the fruits and vegetables present here. I love the colours and the wood combination. So rustic and pretty. 

How beautifully said by YSL

Nothing is more beautiful than a nude body. The most beautiful clothes that can dress a woman are the hands of a man that she loves. But for those who don't have the chance to find such luck, I am there. YSL :)

Black and White takes: Les Alpes

In the Alps: La Clusaz and Cheese and Crêpes

The French Alps! The food here is just so amazing and fatty. I love it. French people in the Alps are so kind and generous! This farmer just welcomed us into his cheesemaking kingdom. And the next minute we're discovering the cheese making process for free from a very cute cheesemaker. This holiday just took a new turn  

Get a load of this caramel salted butter crêpe. Ahh! Not good for the heart, but so good for the soul!!

Poème magnifique! De Jacques Prévert

Etranges étrangers de Jacques Prévert 

Kabyles de la Chapelle et des quais de Javel
hommes des pays loin
cobayes des colonies
Doux petits musiciens

soleils adolescents de la porte d’Italie
Boumians de la porte de Saint-Ouen
Apatrides d’Aubervilliers
brûleurs des grandes ordures de la ville de Paris
ébouillanteurs des bêtes trouvées mortes sur pied
au beau milieu des rues
Tunisiens de Grenelle
embauchés débauchés
manœuvres désœuvrés
Polacks du Marais du Temple des Rosiers

Cordonniers de Cordoue soutiers de Barcelone
pêcheurs des Baléares ou bien du Finisterre
rescapés de Franco
et déportés de France et de Navarre
pour avoir défendu en souvenir de la vôtre
la liberté des autres

Esclaves noirs de Fréjus
tiraillés et parqués
au bord d’une petite mer
où peu vous vous baignez

Esclaves noirs de Fréjus
qui évoquez chaque soir
dans les locaux disciplinaires
avec une vieille boîte à cigares
et quelques bouts de fil de fer
tous les échos de vos villages
tous les oiseaux de vos forêts
et ne venez dans la capitale
que pour fêter au pas cadencé
la prise de la Bastille le quatorze juillet

Enfants du Sénégal
dépatriés expatriés et naturalisés

Enfants indochinois
jongleurs aux innocents couteaux
qui vendiez autrefois aux terrasses des cafés
de jolis dragons d’or faits de papier plié
Enfants trop tôt grandis et si vite en allés
qui dormez aujourd’hui de retour au pays
le visage dans la terre
et des bombes incendiaires labourant vos rizières

On vous a renvoyé
la monnaie de vos papiers dorés
on vous a retourné
vos petits couteaux dans le dos

Étranges étrangers
Vous êtes de la ville
vous êtes de sa vie
même si mal en vivez
même si vous en mourez.

Spring things: Ile-de-France

Too pretty to leave of trees. Spring (heart)

Grande Mosquée de Paris | Grand Mosque of Paris

Situated at 39, rue Sainte Hilaire in Paris, this is a must-see monument. I was so thrilled to see the beautiful mosaics and wooden architecture at the Grand mosque. The ambience was so peaceful, I just didn't want to leave!

Spring weeds :)

French gourmet tea: Mariage Frères

I had seen this shop a couple times in Paris but somehow was apprehensive to go in. Today I did and boy was it an experience! The decor and the service was splendid but I wonder how my fellow Indians feel about Indian tea priced at 10 times more than the Indian price.

Passengers

All of us are at best mere passengers aboard a train called life..

Tea things

I'm really so happy the academic year is coming to an end. I will have less money but more time to do things I love eg. take photographs of tea :) Here are my four favourite tea flavours this month. From left to right, Darjeeling tea, four citrus fruits tea, Chinese green tea and Chinese jasmine tea.

Film: Syngué Sabour | The Patience Stone

The Patience Stone- La pierre de la patience: Afghanistan/France 2013. One of the most spectacular films I have ever seen!! Exposes the wretched existence of Afghan women in a world of extreme militia. A beautiful young wife sits vigil over her comatose really old Jihadist husband. Unable to cope with the stress of frequent assaults from weapons and soldiers, she decides to reveal her secrets to her patience stone i.e her husband. What follows is a shocking, moving and courageous tale of this nameless woman trying to survive in a society stricken by religious, political and sexual indignities. Please go and see if it's playing in cinemas near you! 

Conversations

Me to pregnant friend: So what are you craving?
She: Indian food, Sometimes I just want sugars, cakes, jams, pastry, can get quite ugly actually, I once slapped my husband for touching my scone! 
Me: OMG I do all of that without being pregnant. What will I be when I actually am??
Little voice in head: A monster!

Anne Brontë and marriage

It's 3am and I'm reading a striking text, written nearly 2 centuries ago. I've even highlighted it. Please read Anne Brontë's code for women considering marriage or if you're already married, keep this in mind for your next marriage. Moreover, if this text has existed for the past 200 years, why have so many women been doing exactly the opposite of what's written here?! Anne must be livid!

Camera love: Exakta IIb

So Macklemore isn't the only one who's been thrift shopping. Look at this beauty I found in Maastricht. An Exakta Varex IIb, made in East Germany in 1963. In love.

Bring forth your best self

Think about the good times my friend,
Think not of the deaths, the pains, of the terrors.
A new day has started to form,
On the horizon, we can see new light, sparks,
No one will forget the stars in our eyes, the nights we lit,
No one will take away our glory.

Shine, dear friend, or foe, with the goodness in you,
Shine out the renewed hope and bless you being.
A new way has been created for you.
Step on it with doubt but not suspicion,
Step on it with kindness and determination.

Bring forth your best self, for that is all we need,
Bring forth your love and your imagination.
Dare not attack my zeal, our zeal and freedom.
Precious is this road we have built, nutured,
Precious are our dreams, our glorious ways.

Grasp your life with all you have my friend, or foe,
Grasp the love and infuse it into your veins like oxygen.
Think not of the hurt, think of the dream.
Who are they? They don't belong on our path.
They are deaths, pains and terrors.
They are vanquished.

Gibraltar's most famous resident.

It's the Barbary Macaque! During WWII, there was a hue and cry when the population of the macaque was reduced to only 7 individuals! Winston Churchill, ordered that more macaques be brought in from Africa IMMEDIATELY. You know why? Legend has it that if the barbary macaques disappear from the island, Gibraltar will no longer remain a British Territory and Spain will rightfully take over. Because as you can see below, Gibraltar is rightfully a Spanish region but the British came along and never left. So if the macaques go, so will the British! ha!

Well a trip to Gibraltar shouldn't be on your priority list. If you're not interested in seeing the replenished number of monkeys and buying cheap cigarettes and booze, you could give this a pass!

On the road..