South India Reading

fsg

At present I am reading Monsoon Diary by Shoba Narayan. I am just at the beginning chapters, and have not quite worked out what era she is reminiscing about, however the methods of cooking shopping etc as just what our landlady does, she has the huge grinder stone bowl, with the pestle on a stick, and daily makes the chutneys.
A couple of years back the 'modern' grinder broke down of motor failure. It took 2 weeks to mend, meanwhile the daughters in law and patti took turns about to grind the dosha mix.

It is a very traditional family home, even the kollams should not have the bright colours of 'modern ' houses, ours are always white and brown.

I will find the book more interesting as I progress.

BTW this book is available in 'cooking' section

Another book I saw is
The Smile of Murugan by Michael Wood 1996?.............. He describes his journeys in Tamil Nad by a video bus..........[my curses on them as they spoil conversation].

I used his book as basis for a trip a few years back,starting at Tala Cauvery, when at the festival a bubble is supposed to appear with the life force of the river, {at 5.30 am what on earth would you see} but as everywhere in India is is amazing to see the confidence of the devotees.

It is an interesting route to follow,as most Murugan temples are on hill tops but there is Trichendur by the sea. The route I did was all by bus, and everyone I met on the way was helpful, suggesting tips about the next place on my list.

Never once did I book ahead, and always found accommodation easily, and the bus conductors very helpful showing me the way to a connecting bus.

However now Tamil Nad roads suffer greatly from neglect, pot holes are not mended in this town from one year to the next, so what of country roads.

The joy of Indian peoples is their kindness and helpfulness, and interest........ OK there are lots of rouges out there......as there are in any country, he skill is in separating the wheat from the chaff.

Digital Drifter

eh?

Nick, is the post of yours related to the first post? Apart from the common theme of reading, that is?

I don't quite follow what you were trying to say or were you simply musing on te things you read?

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Nick-H

Nope...

I think I thought I was somewhere else

I'll move the post.

Which is why people won't be able to find it now!


<a few minutes later>

There. It's gone

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travelswithmyghds

For anyone living in Chennai/wanting an alternative view on the whole caste politics thing, I would suggest reading 'No onions nor garlic' by Srividya Natarajan. Very witty take on the system here in Chennai, centred around Madras University. A little oddly written in parts, but definately worth a read if you're looking for a few (informative) laughs.

bijapuri

re: 1996 roads and vdo coaches
10 years later, Tamil Nadu has some of the best roads in India, and VDO coaches are a small percentage of the bus trade.

As for books, "the red carpet" is pretty good:
http://www.readinggroupguides.com/gu...ed_carpet1.asp

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groovy grandma

thanks for the suggestion, No onions, no garlic, to read. I will. I just returned from chennai and am interested in their caste system.