Vedasri Siddamsetty

If there is one place where the rural wins over the urban its got to be in England. The countryside is beautiful.

We experienced driving through the country-side, with our first stop at the Stonehenge. The ancient monument of blue-stones has a lot of mystery that surrounds it. Its actually nothing one may say, they wouldnt be entirely wrong. But if architecture is all about place-making then the Stonehenge is definitely architecture. As a place its significance is very strong and very rooted. The perfect English Meadow of green grass and blue skies is all over the horizon. The breeze here is spectacular and is Stonehenge is definitely a picnickers paradise. Not that the authorities will ever allow you to picnic there!

The drive is wonderful, my first in England! The GPRS was to the rescue as it even notified of the speed limits and the picture points. The infrastructure makes a world of a difference in the quality of the place.

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After the Stonehenge, we clearly wanted more of the countryside as we drove listlessly and intuitively we stumbled upon the city or Town of Bath. The road leads down-hill and slowly but certainly unfolds the Georgian town of Bath. The historic city looks so sublime and perfect. The mist in the air only enhanced the mysterious nature of the place. Its a slice of history all the way. Walking up to the Crescent, its a housing estate built on a hill in theb shape of a crescent one passes the house of Jane Austen. It looks modest yet inspiring. Mansfield Park, the novel was penned by Austen in the setting of Bath. A literature buff, its almost like treading onto the scene! The crescent though is spectacular. Simple housing, in function much like those seen in London but in soul its music.

Everything in Bath is within walking distance, if you can bear the weather then even better. The flowers were in bloom in July and impressions are made. The parks, the follies are all in place, a stage set for action! It stirs the creative energies whilst at the same time providing that much need relaxation and calming the nerves. If I ever had my way to choose a place to dissapear into for novel-writing or etching the canvas it would be Bath! For sure! The means, am not sure!

From its name, it even has the thermal Baths and a very stocked nature park. The day we spent at Bath was also the graduation day at the University. The whole town looked extremely festive with students in their cape and proud parents by their sides. At lunch we bumped into plenty of Graduation lunches and could almost read the conversation at every table! The parents, the graduates all ever-smiling, celebrating the moment and chirping about the future!  Oh what fun it is! It reminded me of my wonderful years at college and then graduation. Being there spontaneously was the best part of it. Bath wasnt on our itenary but it turned out to be so unforgettable.

Probably thats what a traveller really needs, an open mind! Then the journey is that much more fun and that much more spectacular. Lessons after an adventure!

Another lesson, Bath completely proves that architecture is indeed Frozen Music, complete with cresendos and diminuendos.

A journey is wonderful when it doesnt make you yearn for home and complete when it does make you want to go home! This one was surely wonderful.

It made me hum this tune all the way back!

Moon river, wider than a mile
I’m crossing you in style some day
Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker
Wherever you’re goin’, i’m goin’ your way

Two drifters, off to see the world
There’s such a lot of world to see
We’re after the same rainbow’s end, waitin’ ’round the bend
My huckleberry friend, moon river, and me

(moon river, wider than a mile)
(i’m crossin’ you in style some day)
Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker
Wherever you’re goin’, i’m goin’ your way

Two drifters, off to see the world
There’s such a lot of world to see
We’re after that same rainbow’s end, waitin’ ’round the bend
My huckleberry friend, moon river, and me

 

Of the Queen and Crown is London Town. As an English Literature buff its real easy and smooth to get along with London, its just as described by Mark Twain, Charles Dickens, Arthur Conan Doyle and countless others who have based their writing on this charming, warm and storybook city. London does not have a facade, it has a personality. Every street, every building, every person speaks a language and its called English! Its nothing short of a spectacular achievement considering how far and wide their empire really went. We all have rubbed shoulders with all British things all our life. Take the language for instance! The Romans are said to have founded Londonium and then Londonium has does really well for itself!

Flying in from Amsterdam, sitting on the right side of the aircraft and landing at Heathrow means that we have a blissful aerial tour of the city and its landmarks. The clear skies greeted a warm welcome as we saw the London Eye, the Westminster Abbey, the Big Ben, the Trafalgar Square, the Downing street and tried spotting the Shakespeare Globe theatre. Once in and walking round the city the very very inconvenient rain came and went as it wished. Good Lord! I would cry everytime I got soaked and waited to dry as the sun came out. Umbrellas were forgotten at home and thats the stupidest thing to do while in London. Harrruummpph! But the charm of the city inspite of the rain is sure to get to you. Hey Hey Harrods! The umpteen museums and parks make walking a real pleasure. The Kensington gardens along the Buckinham palace I liked a lot. Well it did have something to do with the fact that the quirky RCA is housed right there.

A peek into the street on nobility got a glance of the gates to Lakshmi Mittal’s house. That man’s success is inspiring when I say inspiring, I mean inspiring! King Albert’s hall is genius and the entire area is spelt POSH.

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A walk in the Park, we are reminded that the late Princess Diana spent her last years in the Kensington apartment and was often seen enjoying the gardens. Such stories and print media only spark off an imaginative cycle of people and places and standing right there I only tried my hugely effervescent imagination in action. The shops on the Kensington Avenue are so to speak – OFF limits!

The Buckingham Palace is not so though. But the Queen was not in ;). Amid the breezy showers stood the Palace Guards and long throngs of visitors. The irresistable charms were all playing their part. The Buckingham Palace looks shiny and new, the architects who revamped the Palace did a fabulous job I think. The Palace unlike all other palaces in the world had what I call a very engaging feel to it. Probably because its really lived-in and not trying too hard to impress or make a spectacle of itself. The downpour wasnt so gracious and I tried to absorb the Buckingham palace through my drenched hood while my jeans did all they could to absorb the chilly rain. Blah! The most awesome thing about London? The English Accent! Its epic. I listened carefully trying hard not to be bothered by rain as our “English” Guide filled us in with details of the place. The very recent wedding of Prince William familiarized us with the Palace, the Westminster Abbey and all else that comes it the way. The city unlike others has a very humane appeal to it. None of the buildings look old/weathered. I wonder why? Others think its because the city was never attacked, but for the Great Fire ofcourse which was very very long ago. The architecture is Marvellous, the Jacket Potatoes are yum. Slowly we were discovering London, by foot, by bus, by taxi and by the underground.

The underground is another story all-together. After months on the Singapore metro system the London tube is completely fictional. Dragging my luggage up and down was a nightmare. No elevators! And cobbly wobbly stairs with assymmetrical landings and sudden turns or exits. SO very story-book I tell you! And completely painful! But was not painful was the network, network wise its a dream. Reaching places was not in the least difficult. English Language I tell you.

So the next place I was dying to see in London was the Trafalgar Square. Though we couldnt walk through the square we walked around it. The reason? Harry Potter serie’s last movie was being preimeired somewhere there and people were camping for over 12 hours at that point. Jeez! The rain didnt deter their spirits as tents were pulled out and umbrellas were opened. The crowd however didnt budge. I wouldve been there for sure if I were a Londoner 😉 But am not, so I quietly checked out the fringes of the Square. The National museum along the square is a breeze. One of those grim yet artsy buildings in the area. Tate Modern was missed this time around. But there has to be something for the next time right?! Oh yes, also we donated quite an exorbitant sum for a perfectly pathetic umbrella on Trafalgar square. The stubborn thing wont open or close even today. Ive kept it, as a reminder of being fleeced in London town. 😛

Tons of museums, parks and glorious buildings testify of Englands gleaming history. There is so much for those interested in the past as there is for those who are interested in the future. Along the Thames and to the newer part of London we bumped into Bond Street, the Ghirkin,(for the non-architects, its the building by Sir Norman foster, its a nickname), Elm Street and so much more. At this point I have to say that Lord Norman Foster is my favorite starchitect, of them all. So back to my pount if youve read of its streets, London becomes truly a fantasy. And if not, then well it stirs your imagination. The city is very charming and can work its charm on you whatever your taste is. My dear Husband for instance is charmed by the London Stock Exchange, and to my joy the Shakespeare’s Globe theatre. All by the Thames. 

The next very predictable stop is  the Madame Tussauds museum. Let me tell you that not all the wax figures are akin to the people but its so much fun to have a glimpse of people who have left an indelible mark in the world. The Indian celebrities, Albert Einstein, Audrey Hepburn and Tom Cruise were to my liking. Ooh yes and Adolf Hitler. I have proof of repremanding him. He was so stunned that he didnt even blink an eye-lid :P. Lady Gaga I thought found her way into the museum so very soon! What was truly heart-beat stopping in the Madame Tussauds was the Scary House. It was pretty scary. Faint of heart my advice, dont even try it!!! And the dare-devils, go alone!

So after the scare, it was time for food. And we headed to London’s version of our cold storage. And then gorged on cheese sandwiches, pickled to perfection. The tarts and scrunches were only gladdly added on. Stocking up our reserves made us ready to hit the town again.

London, like it or not will easily grow on you. Its charm is irresistable. Wouldnt it be lovely, to spend a little chunk of a breezy existance, even on holiday in this classic city? Audrey Hepburn certainly thinks so. The tea-drinkers will find their taste, the shoppers will find their stores, the architects will find their buildings, the foot-ballers their teams, the readers will find their literature. In short London is certainly worth everyone’s salt.

And you can take my word for it.

Am for one not turning my back on, “theres always a next time” here.

There will be. 😉

 

Swiss are but a little bit French and a little bit German. The two collide, corride and compromise in just the right amounts, in a background so beautiful, in a way so effortless whilst adding a generous touch of themselves in a measure so delightful. So lucid is their being in the city called Lucerne.

With a Grand Central railway station, Lucerne is just about easily accessible from every part of Switzerland. On a two hour train ride from Engelberg we reached Lucerne in the late afternoon after a sumptuous lunch. Trains are efficient, on-time and rarely filled to the brim. The under-population in Switzerland is probably a boon, and travellers do get super-lucky in the bargain. But if you do want a relatively populous city that is warm and sunny, then I’d put my bets on Lucerne. Lucerne in July is hot!!! The idea is a bummer. The word hot I agree, seems ironical for Switzerland but thats how it was, sweltering heat that only the lake could satiate! Yes the lake, the crystal blue pretty lake that is host to numerous swans and cruisers! With jetties and waterfeatures the lake fits perfectly into the picture. Its the centre of Lucerne and quite remarkably so, with the City Museum of Contamporary Art on one Bank and the Old City on the other. A meagre bus-ride from the Train station to the Old Town blew 4 Euros off us, thats a lot considering it was just metaphorically one bridge away!

Of all the bridges in Lucerne, or Europe for that matter, the Kapell Bridge in Lucerne is mystifying and spectacular in all its wooden splendour. On a lake where the pride of swans glide at ease, one cant help but yearn to stand and watch, or rather stand and stare. The wooden Kappell bridge is a slice of the Swiss history. Dotting its sides are beautiful perennials that light up the bridge and call out pleasantries so very naturally. Its a sight, with some more time sitting on the bridge and watching the lake and the city is a very good idea. Once across one reaches the shopping centre of the city and the yachts that are marked for the evening cruise where you can enjoy and be filled in with the history of Lucerne and the architecture that surrounds.

Lucerne is one of the cities in Switzerland that holds the old and the new in a delectable quantity. The very Swiss architecture in the past was marked by opulant facades and deep interiors, the new architecture is marked by glass facades that allow in the much needed warm sunlight and steel structures that are less opulant but very much smart. Take for instance the Modern art Museum that I spoke earlier of, its so new-age Swiss. The precision, the crispness and the warmth. Who said glass is cold? It never is and never was me thinks.

The picture of the Lion city of Lucerne has a crystalline quality. The city gets its name from the lion figure sculpted on a rock. Legend has it that the artist was never paid in full for his work. Thereby prompting him to further the rock-art to be enclosed in a pig cut-out! So what we see today is a dying Lion, as brave as can be in the shape that resembles a pig! So much for a scorned artist! The city though kept its name from the brave Lion and calls itself Lucerne.

There are plenty of watch shops, by now Tissot has a Mac Donald’s feel to it in Switzerland, its always there right around the corner! Cycles seem to be a popular mode of transport and walking an even better option! In the warm summer the temperatures are hardly cool, but the sky is blue, the lake is blue and Lucerne is simply a hue!

Tons of memories and lots of inspiration are what you are sure to get from the Schweiss.

Get Natural they say. And they so make you want to be.

Its a beautiful world out there.

All the way!

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On Top of the World youre sure to feel dizzy but on Top of Europe its just a wee bit tizzy. Going by the hordes of people visiting atop the peak each year, its moderately assumable to find chaos and a mess created by over-population. But stunningly its not so, not so at all.

From the beautiful town Interlaken the peak Jungfrau is accessible by  a cog-wheel train and it entails two stops. A part of the Bernese Alps the Jungfraujoch is a col or a saddle between the Monch and Jungfrau. It’s railway station at 3454 m high is the highest railway station in Europe while the Sphinx on Jungfraujoch at 3571 is where the Alps summit. A trip there is paramount when in Schweiss. There are no two ways about it. In June the harsh sun on the Alps actually make the mountains beautiful and bearable. Its that one time in the year were you really can dance like the tinsel town heroines in chiffon sarees without turning ice!

The ride to the train station is pleasant, and gets even better once on the “cog-wheel” train making way up to the alps. The train goes through three tunnels to be precise. These tunnels are more like caves and are freezing cold. With viewpoints at the three stations in the tunnels its only a preview to what lays ahead. The clouds on the glass of the view-windows almost seem smashed on and hardly leave a sight to view. The altitudinal stops are actually useful to get the lungs to accustom to the rarified mountain air. Walk-slowly, Talk-less and Be calmer, the children were being told such again and again. I could make do with a lot of advice as I started moving in slow motion too! After Ladakh, in the Himalayas, Ladakh is also at a similar altitude, I was acquainted to the thinner air once again. Fat is so much more comforting! In air, atleast!

Once up, the built spaces and the pure white gleaming snow are sights to reckon with. Eating options are plenty, the Swiss I assume play all their cards right, from Indian food, to Chinese food they have a decent collection of food to satiate the various palates even at this height. But trail-blazers that we are, we chose to go the Swiss way! Rosti it was! For those who love cheese and potato the Rosti spells a blissful encounter. Grated potato mixed with cheese, flattened and fried, served with sour cream. Now this is what I call “Happy food”! Trusting the mountain air implicitly to burn the extra calories, I gorged on traditional Swiss Rosti happily. It was worth it as later I discovered the challenges snow poses to simply walk on it.

Following the yellow path from the station the Husband and I made way to the fun-filled activity zone in the alps. Here’s where one can zip-line through the alps with depths of snow in the valley below. Sunglassed most of the time, I discovered the glaring whiteness of the snow every now and then, and then I was smitten by the Alps! Zip-lining was crazy fun, but walking back all the way in the snow just did what I expected the mountain air to do. It left me voraciously hungry again and completely breathless. An ensuing walk across the caves and across the station is the Ice Plateau. Perfect for pictures, we posed and clicked for others. Some people brought their lovely canine friends along. There are few sights as handsome as a alpine canine creature in the wake of gleaming white snow. The dogs were getting their bone of the bliss that entails Swiss!

Then we trugded along to the last sight on our schedule, the Sphinx. Its technically the Top of Europe. A sign at the Ice-cave is a proof. Penguin figures dot the path. They are made of ice and look impeccable. Ironically they looked warm and fuzzy. It was the eyes I swear! With a good sense of humour one can really slide on the ice in these caves. Slipping up on ice however, is not the best case scenario. Jungfraujoch is truly spectacular, and I would put all my coins on it. So what if the air tires you out. Zip-lining through the Alps is an experience in itself. So much so I cant stop gushing about it! With three trails to follow, lots of things to do, comfortable eating options, many many tourists, like they say, its merrier with the more,its a ball at the Alps! The day at Jungfraujoch, the snow-pelting, watching the endless Alps ended, the happy happy food, the glorious moments, like all others in Switzerland, so very reluctantly!

In continum of the Swiss-Bliss series brings me to write about the crisp and picturesque city of Interlaken, a very well-known municipality of the tourist-loved Berne Oberland. One look at the town and you know why every tourist’s heart melts here. Its so very wonderland like. The open parks, the central fields, not lonely, not empty but filled to the right degree and speaking of so many things to do.

This town is practically flooded with luxury watch shops, Victorinox outlets and all other things that the Swiss are famous for. There are hotels, boutique shops, supermarkets, restaurants and the very Swiss plazas that are besotted by the lovely Alps in the background. With the shuttle of buses and the train stations in the vicinity it feels connected and active all the time.

Housed in the midst of Lake Brienz to the east and Lake Thun to the west its the best place to connoisseur the larger-than-life lakes of Switzerland. Populated and pretty the lakes are a swell here. Considering the lakes arent too far to behest theyre hardly a matter of inconvenience.

Built between the lakes the city too regards of well-spent time. The chocolate brown houses with cream walls, red windows and white flowers are iconic and if attached to a barn and stocking logs of wood they are a vision. Most of the buildings in Interlaken are such. So pretty, so chic and so very stylish. For once the style quotient in Switzerland meets the peak of its nature quotient. And as they waltz in style one in drawn in by all might. Without fussy art and garish decos Interlaken is modern and very young with a huge dose of the Swiss traditional. Of an area of 4.4sq km it is also very petite. The Aare river flows through the town and connects its two marvellous lakes. Spectacular views of the Jungfrau mountain are got from this town. The Jungfrau peak is the highest peak of the Alps mountains.

The very first thing that struck me while walking on the streets of Interlaken were the street lights. Unlike the usual standing on the footpath ones they were suspeded mid-street up in the air, taking support from the 2nd storey of the buildings. That left the cobbled stone paths clear and free for a spill of chairs from a bistro, hand-marked signages and pretty baskets and caskets of flowers. The division of the buildings were simple, very much the mixed-use housing type that is seen in urban fringes of many cities. A business place on the ground floor was topped by residences on the upper levels. The upper levels never exceeded 2 or3 storeys at the maximum. Peeping into a unit, I saw the signboard that said Solicitors, inside was a man intently gazing into his papers. I wonder what work lawyers have in Switzerland! But apparently they are swarmed, by the looks of that gentleman!

Looking up, on the first level was a practical balcony with a garden table and chairs, some plants in pots and a clothes line. An open book and a jar of cookies made the place look so real and used. There was work in progress.The scene looked homely and professional at the same time.

Interwining the streets for a little longer, munching on fruit seemed like a good idea. Stepping into the Coop supermarket, it turned out then was not just good, but a great idea! Into the basket went plums, plumes, strawberries, raspberries, apples, confectionary, sandwiches and some juice. Used to picking fruit in general, in Switzerland one can shut the eye-lids and use one’s whims to buy fruit. Chances of finding sour fruit is equal to nil. And Coop is another was to beat the hunger blues without raging a fire in the pocket! With packets of fresh fruit and an almost complete picnic basket we hunted for a place to sit and relish our find.

Gardens and the open fields are a good idea in general and in search of one we stumbled upon a plaza that had benches and local interactive sculptures. It was so matter-of-fact and was nothing that boasted of artsy-matters. It suited the purpose intented. The fruits were delicious, succulent and felt healthy. The piano sculpture made me strike the black and white chords before settling in to listen to the commentary from the artists. It was just a part of a piano and had precisely one chord, that surmise 7 white keys and 5 black ones. The keys are at different levels and some at perfect anthropometric heights for sitting.  Ofcourse little swiss kids made use of them for jumping about. In architecture school we were taught that every design decision should be backed by 2 logically sound reasons. Atleast two they said, if not more. The Swiss have employed the strategy very effectively I find. The sculpture doubles up as seating, a visual attraction, the plaza as a meeting point, a junction for the streets.

One road out of the plaza led to an open field. At the periphery of the field were Acorn trees and well-spaced garden benches. The large field was marked by a two-meter wide loose-pebble walkway which was further dotted with planters and the like steeped with july-bloom colorful flowers!

What was sighted next was just incredible. Up in the sky were several dozens of Para-gliders, who looked like pretty birds flying up so high. As they loomed across the sky the head refused to look down and straight again. All professional and none on tandem. So adorned the sky looked, as if the colors of the rainbow decided to spilt ways all for our merriment and then came back together all for our bewilderment. Can they actually do that I thought?!

With the stage set in an abundant selection of blue and green every other color in Interlaken is a welcome vibrance. Whether in flowers or clothing all the color adds to the festive look of this small, tweeny municipality.

As the time for sun-set loomed in the horizon the professionals began their descent onto the biosphere. One after the other they began to twirl and twirl before choosing a spot to land on. And the volumnous colored canvas followed suit as it came slowly down to finds its area of earth. Each man landed, spread the cloth and began wrapping it all up for the day. Each looked contended and glad, for us on land it was certainly a sight. People suspended in air and prancing about was a sight! After all that, a walk back through the streets meant dodging  round two of enticement from the Tissots, the Bertoluccis, the Louis Vuittons, the Van Cleef & Arpels and the likes! Must say it was a pretty good dodge!!

With busy(relatively) roads, lively houses, alive restaurants, breezy plazas, working people, blissfully serene lakes Interlaken is certainly a place that gives you the essence of Switzerland in a well-branded and sincerely marketed package. And considering its proximity to the top-of-Europe experience it may well be the perfect place to stay-put as a tourist!

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“If you dont mind, it doesnt matter,” goes a wise saying. Apart from the deep truth it holds, its a key to a life of less worry, no stress and great satisfaction. The line could very well be a jest for life in Switzerland.

The Alps are the prettiest mountain ranges ever and the terrain of Switzerland is extremely beautiful. Driving into Switzerland the first town welcoming is Basel. The city of beautiful churches, sunshine and the River Rhine flowing in its tiffany blue spectacle. Getting past Basel is not easy, its charismatic, luring and beckons one with its rich diversity and sparkling eaves. The River Rhine is no less persistant. But all derived was a drive through Basel and food in Auto-Grill!

Auto-Grill is something that makes driving in Switzerland so much more comfortable. Much like the Swiss restaurant Marche, the Auto-Grills here are places with a variety of food options and even scrumtuous desserts.  The strawberry tart gets a full on 10 for its taste, asthetics and crunch. Its not expensive and well, that makes it taste a wee bit better! Coffee is on the house, ofcourse with the tart.

After burning the tyres a couple of hours more we reached the sleepy little hamlet of Engelberg. Nestled in the Alps this town of 3000 people is much more than what meets the eye. The motto or tagline of the Alpine country of Switzerland is “Get Natural”,  and Switzerland does not get more natural than Engelberg. The drive was made even more beautiful with cloudy skies, picturesque mountains, impeccable roads and breezy encounters. After the brief shower and the lovely drive we were greeted by a dainty rainbow on arrival. Ofcourse I have seen rainbows before, but this one has been the clearest, picturesque and perfectly storybook rainbow ever. At the Treff’s hotel our cosy corner room was spaciously flooded with ambient light, I think sunlight in Schweiz is ambient in nature! And a privy balcony, that was more like a terrace. Need I say anymore about the view from there? It’s sufficient to say that though I normally prefer beaches, an encounter with Engelberg was all it tookfor hearting the mountains! The mountains are still, changing, tussling with the clouds, holding the rain and are responsible for rainbows.

Time seems to be frozen here in Engelberg, and despite the feeling, the Swiss clocks chime away with precision every single minute and second. The train station at a stone’s throw, making all of Switzerland seem just moments away! The sleepy Engelberg is infact the base of the Mount Titlis. Changing a serie of cable cars the mountain is accessible and without the rarification of air its a breeze. At Engelberg though there are a host of hotels but staying in a Bed and Breakfast makes more sense I would think. If not Treff’s hotel should be your choice. Manned between 7 30 am and 9 00 pm its just like a home. Carry the front door keys if you think you will be late, the sign said. Wow what trust levels! Then I realised that such trust levels were only a way of life in Switzerland. Breakfast at this humble hotel was simple with a generous supply of cheese. Different types and various kinds of cheese and bread dotted the table with their usual accomplices and satiated the hunger developed by the clear mountain air.

On the way, everywhere are seen the very good-looking swiss cows! Grazing all day wearing their trade-mark bells and enjoying the weather, its just another day for them. Some are decorated and others bare. Yet they all serve the same purpose and await the same fate. Against the green grass and the alpine flowers they make a very pretty picture.

First stop on the way to Mount Titlis has the hiking paradise of Trubsee, all equipped with a lake. Hiking, rowing, climbing are all popular sports with the Swiss. Pretty women, Handsome men, Young and Old, everyone hikes here and if they cant (which in itself is a rarity) they will walk. That and ample amounts of cheese, chocolate results in their rosy cheeks, clear complexion and God-given Blue-as-the-sky-eyes. Every person if not every second person is blessed with cheery blue eyes that are lucid and crystalline in quality. We shared our cable ride with a Swiss family on their way to Trubsee for a much-enjoyed hike. As they got off we continued our way up but decided to come back to Trubsee in a short while. The Mount Titlis was going to be the first stop. The last of the cable cars to change is the Rotair, the worlds first rotating cable car. A rotating car was something that gives us a bit more of the much-loved Alps!

Up on Titlis there are a range of activities. From snow-boarding to skiing, from sledging to traditional dressing there is a lot to do. Taking the Ice-Flyer we first made our way to the ski-zone. The views from the Flyer are spectacular, suspended on a precarious looking seat with the armrest as guard, that moves scarily and the alps at our feet. Moments that cannot be captured and feelings that will never be forgotten! The dangerousness of the Alps caused several of those heart-beat moments. The wedges, crevices the deep cuts and swerves in the white white snow, all glaring back at the camera, as if rightly saying that they can never be captured in a single frame. Riding the flyer with the Alps some thousands of feet below is a far image of the houses of Engelberg. Some on the hill, some at the base, looking pretty and feeling peaceful. The ride is very delectable, calm with hardly any sound than that of the steel rope that runs the pulley.

Once on the mountain its snow-time fun on a roll! The feet sink into the fresh snow(we were literally the first ones to land on the mountain that day) our footsteps or rather footsloshes remained. If you thought walking on sand and running on the beach sand was difficult the snow is much much worse! Did I forget to mention Kajol and Shah Rukh Khan?! How could I! On Mount Titlis are huge life size cut-outs of the two cine-stars in their “Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge” costumes. The movie that was shot in the midst of the Alps and features a lot of this country has been solely responsible for a mercurial peak of tourism in the last 16 years. So innumerable Indians dot this place every year! Skipping the predictables we headed to the snow-sports!

Sledging, snowboarding on about 5 types of boards took the next couple of hours. So much so that I wouldnt be wrong to say that by the end of the adventure I had several candid moments(not just dashing, but bouncing, falling  and whooshing through the snow), tanned a zillion shades and was utterly famished. But it was such great fun. Snow-fights I proclaim are the most glamorous way to fight ever! Once we slide down the slope, we each have to carry the boards and make our way to the walkalator that helps us back to the top from where we slide again, and again and again and agian! As more people poured in all the boarding got funner and more and more exciting. It was sad to leave but with all else waiting it was finally time to head base.

So making our way down we decided to stop by at Trubsee where earlier our cable-mates got off. At Trubsee we were enamoured by the peaceful and beautiful lake. The paths of stone, naturally made, sidelays of grass with cows grazing, bells chiming and the placid waters. What a view! The lake for your information comes with row boats. The boats with first-aid kits, life-jackets and oars are clipped to the jetty and are free to use. Simple pleasures of life, rowing away to the centre of a lake that is bare minimum, so very natural and utterly beautiful. We sighted a couple of others on the lake having great family moments. This lake connects to two others, their shades of blue mingling, their air tingling and bells of cows jingling. The naturalness of Switzerland is at its best here. For once in Switzerland time freezes and we dont. 😉

After the balmyness of a lake its time for lunch. Note that all activity in the Alps stirs hunger, burns calories and leaves behind on you happiness and joy! You cannot help smiling and feeling as fresh as that Alpine flower in the midst of July. Any guess what the Alpine flower is? Never mind shall break it to you soon! For now its time to head to the Cheese Factory.

At Engelberg is an old cheese factory that is attached to the monastry. I had heard a lot about Swiss Guards but Swiss Monks? Well apparently they are a cut above the rest too. Walking through the streets of Engelberg we passed by a wayside stream and a young bella having her lunch. Lunch by the stream, among the flowers. Summer in Schweiz is a stunner. She looked so happy to have the sun in her eyes while she munched on what looked like a sandwich. Such Bliss!

The monastry is sombre yet playful from the outside. It employs wooden construct with large windows, sloped roofs and all else. Very much like the Swiss Architecture. Theres no room for tackiness in Swiss architecture, its crisp, intelligent and though ancient has deep shades of modernity. The slopes of the roofs on the houses, the church, the quarters are all the same here and all different from the other parts of Europe. The wooden construction is often built upon and intermediated with stone. While today the modern swiss architects like Peter Zumthor have exhibited a remarkable mastership over concrete and stone. The flowers dot the monastry in their bright colors and brilliant arrangements. Its actually all over the country, the flowers, on streetlights, on window-sills and in the planters on the foot-paths. The walk through the monastry is an experience. Cheeses are of plenty types, we got to see the making of the Brie variety. After curdling, setting it takes about 8 days for the cheese to happen! The making of cheese is quite magical and thats why I use the word happen.

A chef works in continuity making cheese while we eat a srumptuous cheese salad with olives, lettuce and tomatoes. For dessert its a local pastry delicacy of raspberries. The meal and calories were much a necessity after a thrilling morning! Then we walk to the church that the monastry is attached to. A couple of lads skate-board outside the church. The church is so calm, so pretty and so Baroque! One wouldnt expect the inside after the exterior. As the church bells gong we lit candles, said our prayers and then  headed out to the streets of Engelberg!

The good part is that the weather here never makes you tired. Atleast in July it doesnt. In Engelberg you hardly can spot people and that makes the vacation so much more privy. The streets are quaint and stylish while the goods are uber expensive. One simple haircut is priced at 95 euros! Good Lord! Work or no work people have 35hrs/week work-hours. After 5 30 they are off. No matter who they may be! In Engelberg the pubs and bars are open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, the rest of the time they are simply arent! 😉 Oh well maybe they are open but only till 5 30 ;). But on these specific days the place is transformed. There is then an influx of people, incessant chattering is in the air and the town literally comes alive. On these days the places stay open till wee hours in the morning. Going by all that I think that Engelbergians work only on Monday, Wednesday and Friday!

The house-keeping lady at the hotel comes in during the same hours and this one lady handles the 20-odd rooms of the hotel. The one receptionist does mailing, booking, is the concierge and all else. The Swiss dont believe in wasting, be it time, money or resources, mostly in that order. Architecture embodies all what the Swiss believe in, its simple, its modern, devoid of anything that would waste resource and most importantly very very intelligent. If there is one attribute to the architecture of modern and ancient Swiss architecture, its intelligence. Coupled with the scenery and the surrounds its pretty and super-natural. Tensile roofs are employed at all the places wherein shade or roof is required, so intelligent and so environment friendly. The Swiss dont really construct unless they really need to. The house, the stream and the mountains, the pictures I drew first, we all drew first in our books are what Switzerland is all about. The chimney-house, the sloped roof, the attic window, wooden doors, the stream, the snow covered mountains, the rising sun, the rainbow they are all here and all reminscent of first standard drawing lessons in school.

The pretty Alpine flowers I spoke of earlier that dot the landscape are Edelweiss. Dont I simply love them! It is the unofficial national flower of Switzerland. The tune from Sound of Music fills the air as the hummable number fills my head,

Edelweiss, edelweiss, every morning you greet me.
Small and white,
Clean and bright,
You look happy to meet me.
Blossom of snow
May you bloom and grow,
Bloom and grow forever.
Edelweiss, edelweiss, bless my homeland forever

Small and white,

Clean and bright,
You look happy to meet me.
Blossom of snow
May you bloom and grow,
Bloom and grow forever.
Edelweiss, edelweiss, bless my homeland forever

In Schweiz, its mind over matter all the way!

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The most wondrous and the greatest Italian city  is by far Rome. It was certainly not built in a day, not commissioned by one emperor and certainly not envisioned by one architect. All roads lead to Rome the say, it’s hard to imagine why not. Our road led to Rome as I sat transfixed taking in the architecture piece by piece from the fringes to the centre. The architecture of Rome as is their art is impeccable, it speaks of Vinci’s proportions, stone by stone. There is enough, the scale, the proportions, the illusions, enough to take one’s breath away, at every turn, at every cross.

Like in Paris none of the streets cross perpendicularly, I wonder why? Heading right into Rome, into the city centre one stumbles into the Trevi fountain. The fountain is one of the examples of the very Roman feature of the “Aquaduct”. Water was carried through this Acqua Vergine into the Baths of Agrippa for about 400 years. The Trevi Fountain is an end to the aquaduct, a practice that the Romans employed for all their aquaducts. Its just that this fountain is the grandest, and whats better it grants three wishes. For a price ofcourse. Throw a coin into the clear pool of water from your right hand and over your left shoulder. One for coming back to Rome, one for luck and one for love. I threw mine earnestly. The crowd at the fountain are not baffling, nor are the cents, pence, paisas, that rest on the base of the cryctal clear water. The fountain is sparkling just like the water. The Trevi fountain I just realised was only a brief of what was to follow.

The Romans are a different set of people. Very different from their Italian counterparts. *wink*

The trees that flank the streets are called umbrella pines. And clearly thats beacause the pines are shaped to look like umbrellas. They make for pretty foregrounds with the Roman Ruins in the back. No matter where in Rome one is sure to bump into a sprinkle of ruins here and there. The ancient buildings seem so natural in the Roman settings and the the air so sublime, that it spells bounds the viewer as the city narrates a tale. Remus and Romanus two brothers were set to sail as infants in a basket by their father who feared that like said in their fate, they would turn quarrelsome, and split the empire. Found and raised by a sheppard, they grew up only to seal their fate. Together they built the city of Rome, sculpture by sculpture and paver by paver, yet they fought. Romanus killed Remus and named the city after himself. Someone once said that well-behaved people hardly make history. The statement clearly fits the bill here.

Rome is located on the River Tiber and encircles the holy city-state of the Vatican. The seat of Catholic power, the home of the Pope and the host to the most incredible square in the world. Though named such the St Peters Square that hosts the Pope, the Basilica and the Catholic greats is not a square. It is infact an oval. The Basilica on the east is much like the usual Basilicas except for the fact that its much larger, much grander and houses the greatest talents that any building could have ever boasted of. Bernini envisioned and drew the plans, the construction process passed through several other hands before reaching Michelangelo. Who then finished the dome, and painted the Sistine Chapel. The Swiss guards, guard the compound in 1 hr shifts. Their dressing reminded me of jokers in a circus, but they should straight and still, valiant and strong. The Pope gets nothing but the best I gather. Inside the Basilica among all other Pope’s lay the Pope John Paul II waiting to attain sainthood. The church is a display of the greatest Baroque art on its ceiling. Adorned with the usual Rose windows, they let in light and fill the place with Godliness.

After our religious encounters it was time to see what Rome was all about. The Colosseum. If you ever get past the numerous ruins of the citadel the shopping quarters, the commercial quarters and the old streets you walk into the Wonder called the Colosseum. While all the other ruins stand half-sunk into the ground, the Colosseum stands on the ground. Two earthquakes have dismembered the building quite a bit but even with whats left of it, it takes the cake. All of it. Romans loved to watch fights when they were not fighting I gathered. The complex structure of the Colosseum in its underground channels is exciting. Well I must say if wasnt for the motion picture, Gladiator I wouldve have so completely been blown over by visiting the Colosseum. In this age, we had to make do with costumed warriors who took victory pictures with us and gladly accepted a sum, that was a bomb! Its hard for me to believe that the Colosseum was once covered in white Carrara Marble. Its better this way I think. Atleast its mystyfying if not elusive. The large iron clamps that held the marble onto the stone and brick structure were removed making deep holes in the building. But the Colosseum as it stands today is warm, inspiring and gratifying. It doesnt speak of riches, nor does it speak of rags. Its simply above all that. Thats all.

The Colosseum is flanked by an Arc, it certainly was the father of the Arc de Triumph and the India-Gate as the resemblence is uncanny. The cobbled streets are very wide, considering the century they were built in. Ahead of the Arc is a hill. Rome is a city built on seven hills. The hill by the Colosseum is the most important one, the Palatine hill, from where Roma had her humble beginnings.

Finally for the architects, art-lovers I have one suggestion. The pantheon. Dont go by the surface. This building, the temple to the Gods, has been my personal favorite in Rome. It is the most perfectly proportioned building. Proportioned not with the human scale in mind, but the scale of God. Think of all the basic shapes we were taught in architecture school? Well they are all found here, in perfect balance and order. Unfortunately it hasnt been conserved in the most deserved manner, but it showcases a peak, in the world of architecture. Built by Hadrian in 126 AD it is old, 43.3 m tall and round. With an occulus of light and a dome to match it is inspiring. Centuries old, this building, piece of architecture does not tell a tale, unlike its contemporaries, it sings an epic.

Many centuries later one thing about Rome is the Vespa and the other thing is the movie the Roman Holiday. Both do great justice to this delible city. Youve got to drive a Vespa and watch Ms Hepburn atleast once to truly delect this city. With a scalding nose and burnt hair I suggest a scarf and sunblock in addition. Lest Roma turns you into what the painters call, burnt sienna.

The Gleaming Leaning Tower of Pisa enrobed in white Carrara marble stands inclined on the town that is about a 100 kms from Florence. The drive through the Italian state of Tuscany is just as described by Frances Mayes in her book Under the Tuscan Sun. The town is just short of being sleepy! With a more subtle ambience and quietly magnificient houses, Pisa has more than just the Leaning Tower. Though the tower is quite a wonder for the way it stands. Precarious, yes, doubtful, no.

The Tower was built in 1173 AD and is actually the bell-tower of the cathedral of the city of Pisa. It was never intended to lean! Soon after the commencement of the construction the soil began to give way. This caused the then 2-storeyed tower to sink, miraculously just about enough to prevent a collapse! The builders unfazed by the soil spell, stopped for a couple of decades before continuing to build the unfinished tower. The stopping of the construction is touted as the reason the tower didnt completely collapse as time is said to have allowed the half complete tower to settle into the soil conditions. The construction of the tower is said to have been halted on several other occasions during which Pisa was busy fighting wars. It was in the late 1300s that the tower saw final completion! In the 19th century several conservation and strengthening efforts were made on the tower. The conservationists did a good job I must say. Cause today the tower stands tall, is gleaming white and it bends over.

The corinthian capitals encircling the tower on every storey are striking features apart from the fact that it leans. With an accessible top of the tower, the view of old Pisa is reminiscent of the charming old town scenario. At about 55 meters tall the height of the tower does not tower over the Basilica and the Baptistry. The trio lie within a compounded area with an expanse of garden which is a different.

Carrara marble against the blue blue skies makes for a pretty picture. A kid or two is seen running into the sprinklers in the lawn for that much needed heat relief. The fact that the lawns are off-limits doesnt seem to matter. The atmosphere in Pisa is serene but around the Leaning tower its playful. People of Pisa are seen to have a healthy sense of humor as they not only tolerated but nutured the quirky tower. Demolishing the tower as it sunk during its 2nd storey of construction apparently never once crossed their mind. Rebuilding as per plan never crossed anyone’s mind. They went with the flow then and improvised a situation. Many generations ahead the easy-going nature of the Pisanos still holds good. Pisanos are true blooded Italianos!  Without freaking out on a freakily 3degree angled tower they gave themselves, not the tallest, not the costliest but the most quirkily cool tower in the world.

The calmness of a great place is felt here.

Numerous tourist kiosks line the compound that sell Italian leather, souveniers and lots more. Narrow lanes lead from the compound into the city of Pisa, the old town and the new. There is no dearth of food here too, a gelato is right around the corner and you can always expect a tranquil Pizza in Pisa. Less competitive than the Florentines, the Pisanos drive politely, smile incesantly and get along easily!

From the Miracle square in Pisa one is certain that the Lord smiles down on this cool little city in Italiano. As the Pisanos most conveniently believe in miracles.

Vegetable Florentine was my favorite dish as a young girl. I feel nostalgic now to reminisence of the restaurant Palace Heights where it was once made of an impeccable standard. What I didnt quite know then was how it was made or where it came from. Many years later I discovered the cheesy creamy spinach dish comes from Florence, and the city like its namesake dish is unbelievably delicious.

Its the city in which Renaissance peaked, art and architecture of the Renaissance age are at their Sunday best here. Its also the city thats home to one of the world’s most gifted architect, painter and sculptor – Michelangelo Buonarroti. The great artist signed off only one of his works, the Pieta, on which he wrote Miguel Ángel de Florencia, translating to Michelangelo of Florence.

Piazzele Michelangelo is on a hill along the south bank of the Arno River in Florence. It offers a stunning view of the city. On the piazzele is the statue of David. Not the original ofcourse but a huge metal work on similar proportions. The sculpted man David is considered by many as the symbol of a “Perfect Man”. The piazzele offers the skyline that constitutes of the Duomo, the Campanile and the Baptistry. The three ingredients of the Catholic churches. Looking down at the clear blue skies and the burnt sienna roofs supplemented by stone facades the picturesque quality of the piazzale is premium. Art is sold on the street in Florence. Am not talking of poster prints or else, its the oil paintings of a brilliant standard, all sold for paltry prices of 5 for 10 dollars if you get lucky. Getting lucky also means not getting caught with such possessions. It is illegal now to buy art off the streets of Florence.

A pretty picture is a picture of Florence with sunflower fields in the foreground. Italian fields tend to acres and acres of sunflower fields. They are so yellow and so optimistic. Like it is believed it was incrdible to see them turn towards the sun. Water-colors, Oils, stone sculptures and all things of the Renaissance age are everywhere in Florence. Some you can see, some you can feel and plenty you can buy. As a fine art conoisseuer there is a feast for one’s senses in this age-old Magnificient city. One remarkable quality I personally found in Florence is its state of timelessness. The Buildings of Florence do not look old, or if they do they aged very very gracefully. It is one of those cities that manages to look young and ever fresh as a daisy.

The piazzale done we were now all set to meet our guide Mark, sorry Marco, at the Duomo just after lunch.

Lunch was delicious. If one thing Italians know how to do very well, its cooking. They are masters in many trades. Pasta is at its best here. For a while I scouted for vegetarian pasta at the Cafe Duomo, right across the Duomo. So happy to find an array of veggie options, my plate was stuffed with gourmet Italian fanfare upto the very brim. I dont remember well enough the names of the dishes I got to eat. But I assure you it doesnt matter cause everything you get to eat in Italy is bound to be out of the world. One of the pastas on my plate was Spinach agnoletti, the other a tomato based Fusili. A hearty Italian meal I say! To top it off with a cut fruit drink. Unfortunately I cannot remember the name but will give you a description. A large mug is filled with cut fruits of watermelon, melons, apples, cherries, plums, blackcurrants and like. Cool water is poured in the glass upto half. The water from the fruits trickles into the rest. The result is this refreshing fruity drink/fruits that is a saviour in the harsh Italian Summer!

Marco, our guide, waited with us as we queued to the Duomo. The Duomo like its contemporaries is oriented in the east-west direction. The Baptistry to the duomo heading west to east while the bell-tower or the Campanile is flanked to the northern  side of the Duomo. The Duomo is very densely decorated on its outside with rather stark and simple interiors. False windows and irregular sized of columns are used in the Duomo. Legend goes that the Duomo was built as a competition to the one in Sienna. People wanted to build a bigger and better Duomo than the one in Sienna. Hence they kept improvising on the original plans as and how they were constructing. Renaissance churches serve as pictorial books. Christianity is propelled and taught throught the imagines and stories depicted on the walls of the church. The gilded doors tell a story, the dome tells a story, whats more the rose windows too tell a story. It is indeed a beautiful and marvellous way to proclaiming a religion.

The cobbled streets and the hoards of tourists make the ride for a Florentine a tad bit more adventurous. They will drive close to you, scare you and have the last laugh. Its a miracle that a dozen people dont get killed in Florence going by the driving skills exhibited here. One gelato per hour may be the only thing that keeps one sane in the mercurial temperatures. The Uffizzi Gallery hosts the original marble statue of David. Male nudity is exhibited a plenty as it was considered beautiful in the Renaissance age. Medusa’s chopped head held by a gallant warrior is another pride of Florence. The piazzas are the best part of Florence and the architecture sublime. Ahead of the Uffizzi gallery is the Arno River and the last remaining bridge across the Arno. Germans have been said of bombing all the ancient bridges across the Arno in Florence during the second world war. What a pity!

The kings old palace leads to the new New Palace, that is bigger and hence better. Folklore speaks of a tale where men would tie a lock long the balustrade of the Arno and throw the keys into the River, claiming their love is locked and will never be opened or let loose. It neednt be said that the number of locks found there are just too many. Kiosks are up to sell more locks. The Arno flows out gently and swiftly without as much as a hiss. The Florentines love their city and the noble families here have patronised art for over a dozen centuries. Most of the ancient marvellous architecture found here are a result of a community donation. Its very warm and touching to feel the air of Florence.

Sometimes the locals are found to be grunting at the multitude of tourists here. Thats their way of marking their territory. My suggestion would be to tread softly. Its a beautiful place and thats a definite. Top five by Forbes and thats proof!

The now famous phrase in Italian literally translates to “the good life”. And thats what life in Italy indeed is!

With the midsummer heat burning our backs we began the journey into the land where every square inch seems to be planned, drawn and built with complete deliberation. Nature hath no fury here or if it ever did, Italia never did care.

Starting our long winding journey in Venice we hop skipped and jumped to Florence and Pisa before finally stopping in Rome. These four cities may well be the microcosm of Italy. Venice as Venezia, Florence as Firenzi, Pisa as Pi:za and Rome as Roma are as dramatic as they come. They enliven the senses and keep the admiration on at all times.

The Venetian charm and the city of the canals is as romantic as Italy can ever get. The wonderful system of canals preserved till date and the quiet gondola ride leave you to marvel at the 400 yr old architecture, as claimed by the gondolier, while he croons a classic Italian number. With museums around every turn one would find it hard to believe that 60000 people live in Venice. Doesnt seem so, not at all. Ducking the tourists and finding an off-beaten path will be unlikely here. The little bridges that cross the canals are said to be 400-odd in number and open onto plazas or market places or simply another narrow street. The canals cool the temperatures in Venice, keep it comfortable and almost balmy without much doubt. The narrow streets are tunnels of air that keep Venezians breathing. Walking through the street and jumping on and off a gondola taxi may not be as romantic as riding the decorated gondolas themselves. Either way a ride is totally worth it.

When you get off the ferry in Venice the first thing that catches your eye apart from the dome of St Marks Basilica is the Doge’s Palace. The facade of the building in its color and pattern is a refresher. The rose-tinted street lamps were my personal favorite in the city. So much drama street-lights can do. Venice literally has a touch of pink. It reminds you of roses, wine and masquerades. The Venetian masks scream out of the kiosks that dot the place.

By far Venice is a setting. The whole time one is there it feels like a carnival is waiting to begin, with the stage literally set. The pores do less than absorb the setting. In the mind one can clearly place the time of the grand balls, the masked encounters and the sagas that Shakespeare wrote of. The Merchants of Venice with the trading quarters today holds less importance today than the days of lore. The plazas, the churches, bell-towers and the palaces take the centrestage with the canals leading. The masks sold all over the city are what completely what Venice is all about. Available in different sizes and an array of colors they spell festivity. A fridge magnet in the bag we walked on to the Murano Glass store.

Glass-blowing, imaginative as it is, sets the temperature soaring to a dainty 142 degrees. A wee bit exaggeration I say! But its practically too hot to breathe around the kiln and am surprised to see the master effortlessly make us a glass horse in what seemed like a couple of split seconds. Setting the horse to cool in a temperature-controlled oven for 8 days we sent poking around the expansive showroom. The Murano Glass Chandeliers are my personal favorite and choice here. Without a house to house the chandelier the good self settled on a cut glass set. Pretty and dazzling. The murals and art works are spectacular and can be custom -made. The chandeliers though rock!

The plazas in Venice are filled with pigeons, who look well-fed and frankly fat by bird-charts! They nimbly walk around and rarely fly. Restoration works are on big time in Venice. If one manages to detach themselves from the romance the gondola ride brings along there is more to the architecture in Venice than what meets the eye. The scale and proportions are the same as any other Italian city but the angle of the perspective completely differs. Smelly canals you say? Well about that I cant differ! Nevertheless getting off the gondola, which by the way is a charmer by itself, onto front doors is a marvel. Cruising along to buy flowers on the way. Well it cant be more perfect!

The two most used word to describe Venice in the travel books are – sinking and crumbling. I surely hope not.

You are what you eat, yelled my Grandfather into the handheld. His frustration was palpable when I told him of my dinner that day. Mc Shake, Fries and Bread-Butter I had said. He wasnt one bit amused.

Yesterday my Father told me of Djokivic’s diet that assisted him on his mission for gold. This after persistantly following up with me on the blues that sugar brings along. I do pay heed to the exceedingly well delievered sermons but slip up with that occasional cone of ice-cream or a snip off a bar of chocolate.

With my over-active imagination working on my impending doom with my eating habits, I pulled out the age old food pyramid chart. So going by my Dadu’s words of wisdom for a wonderfully balanced life I should be going after the wonderfully balanced meal, I gathered!

It looks very simple doesnt it? With a little bit of effort shouldnt be too hard to accomplish, me thinks.

And then I was reading about Djokovic’s gluten-free diet. Processed foods are bad. Well common-sense says that right? But looking at the above chart I realised that the “Rice and Alternatives” are all locked with gluten as each of it is processed! Oh No! So the chart is obviously not perfect to follow. Well exceptions if you are chinese and make your own noodles. But hey! the flour would be processed too right!

So I embarked on a new food chart after countless seconds of my research.

Following the chart now means, more chopping of vegetables, more visits to the super-market per week and more importantly snacking at the the fruit shop rather than Starbucks. Am allowing myself milkshake at the pretext of milk so Starbucks has a chance. 😉 Some benefits of writing rules are that you get to find some loopholes! Well eliminating rice and alternatives is not only going to be tough but reasonably impossible! So am putting it in up there. Oil has never been an enemy but butter has! Thats higher up to increase its chances of altogether toppling from the list 😛

Done that next I think that there’s never a better time to start than now, they say. Lets see how this turns out. Since it isnt a diet it doesnt have an expiry date :P. Green is trending. Health conciousness is trending. Djokovic is trending. Veggiedom is trending.

Heres hoping that the next call with the Grandpa does not end disastrously!!!