Enfield in Berlin

Just yesterday I saw this Enfield on the streets of Berlin. It reminds me so much of India... and I would love to ride it on the bumpy roads. I haven't riden an Enfield before (only a modern motorbike) but would love to. I suppose it can't be so difficult. The bike is not mass produced and "has a soul". 

 . 

Also, I remember the "kiss of the motorbike" which almost everybody gets at one point. In India nobody  wears heavy leather clothes just ordinary clothes when riding the motorbike. Then it happens, your calf touches the exhaust pipe and "ouch!" there is the "kiss".

The Enfield is a very fascinating motorbike and the sounds so very Indian. Since a few years one can also buy the Royal Enfield here in Germany. A company imports them.

But I think it's only half the fun to ride it on the nice roads here.

The info below is from this website:
http://royalenfield.com/aboutus/overview/

THE INDIA CONNECTION

Royal Enfield motorcycles were being sold in India ever since 1949. In 1955, the Indian government started looking for a suitable motorcycle for its police forces and the army for patrolling duties on the country's border. The Bullet 350 was chosen as the most suitable bike for the job. The Indian government ordered 800 of these 350 cc motorcycles, an enormous order for that time. Thus In 1955, the Redditch Company partnered with Madras Motors in India to form what was called 'Enfield India' to assemble these 350 cc Bullet motorcycle under licence in erstwhile madras (Now called Chennai). As per their agreement Madras Motors owned the majority (over 50%) of shares in the company. In 1957 tooling equipment was also sold to Enfield India so that they could manufacture components and start full-fledged production. The Enfield Bullet dominated the Indian highways and with each passing year its popularity kept rising.

Memories .... Om Mane Padme Hum

Today some memories of our visit to McLeod Ganj  - Dharamsala - North India (2008) popped up.
The nickname of the place is "Little Lhasa"
I guess because I was feeling a bit down today, and the holiday spent there was one of the best one ever.... it's so worthwhile to remember that time and share. I wish I could have beamed myself there today.

 The mantra OM MANE PADME HUM cannot be translated into a simple phrase or a few sentences. Here's an explanation, an extract by His Holiness the Dalai Lama:

"It is very good to recite the mantra Om mani padme hum, but while you are doing it, you should be thinking on its meaning, for the meaning of the six syllables is great and vast.  ... The first OM .... symbolizes the practitioner's impure body, speech and mind; it also symbolizes the pure exalted body, speech and mind of a Buddha. ...

The path is indicated by the next four syllables, MANI, meaning jewel, symbolizes the ... altruistic intention to become enlightened, compassionate and loving. ...

The two syllables PADME, meaning lotus, symbolizes wisdom. ...

Purity must be achieved by an invisible unity of method and wisdom, symbolized by the final syllable HUM, which indicates indivisibility. ...
Thus, the six syllables, om mani padme hum, mean that in dependence on the practice of a path, which is an indivisible method and wisdom, you can transform you impure body, speech and mind into the pure exalted body, speech and mind of a Buddha. ..."

We didn't meet the Dalai Lama in McLeod Ganj but at the end of the year in our community in South India. We stayed a bit more than two weeks in McLeod Ganj and enjoyed it thoroughly. The visit to the temple, the walk around the compound, stroll through the village, the visits at the various cafes and restaurant, the yummy Tibetan thanduks and momos.

I deeply cherish this memory and the marvelous, peaceful time with myself, with family and friends.

Life of Pi

Today was the premiere of the movie "Life of Pi" in Germany. Of course, we couldn't miss it. In other countries it's been already premiered earlier. For our family this movie has a special meaning and we've been keen to watch it. Somewhere beginning of 2011 when the movie was shot in India, Pondicherry, we still called India our home. We saw the film buses and encountered blocked roads in Pondy during that time. We saw the crew - even Gerard Depardieu - at Calve College in Mission Street. (I guess they had called him to see the French Rivera of the East). Everybody talked about the movie and Ang Lee. Our neighbor boy even went for the casting. However  he didn't get the role in the end.


All of us had read the book some years ago and were already familiar with the story. We've enjoyed reading the book and were  in awe. I can fully recommend the book. But we were fascinated by the pictures of the movie too. They were enchanting and enthralling. There was tension and fascination throughout the movie. I would say that Ang Lee has done a beautiful adaption of Yann Martel's book . It's simply a marvel - a masterpiece.



I'm not getting much into the story here. Just this much. The story is about a young man who survives a disaster at sea and is hurtled into an epic journey of adventure and discovery  While cast away, he forms an amazing and unexpected connection with another survivor .... a fearsome Bengal tiger, (Official Site)
For symbolism and analysis of the whole story,  I leave it up to you.

"Without Richard Parker, I wouldn't be alive today...". There seems to be no right or wrong and I would say that the author let's you decide at the end what you want to believe. You can make up your own mind.

Here some pictures of the scenes in Pondicherry:
Source & credit for the following pictures and information: Guardian.co.uk

The French Quarter: The backdrop to many of the sequences in Life of Pi, the French Quarter was a base of the Compagnie des Indes Orientales (French East India Company) from 1675. Pondicherry then frequently changed hands between France and Britain between 1761-1815, after which it remained in French possession until 1954. On quiet, wide streets like rue de la Caserne, rue Suffren and rue Dumas – the latter with its Notre Dame des Agnes church – are French villas and trailing bougainvillea. Outside the Travaux Publics government building, a notable backdrop to one of Pi’s childhood memories, a sign reads ‘Beauty is our city. Preserving it is our duty’ in both English and French. Across the street is Aayi Mandapam, an imposing Arc d’Triomphe-style, Napolean III-era memorial. 

Grand Bazaar and Tamil Quarter: Reach rue Jawaharlal Nehru and you swap colonial ambiance for bustling, busy India, and the frenetic walled Grand Bazaar. The setting for Pi’s flirtations with his girlfriend Anandi (pictured centre), this football pitch-sized market crams in dozens of types of bananas, sacks of beans, okra and ginger, and flowers.

The smell of jasmine garlands and curry leaves fills the air, though both struggle to compete with the fish market next door. It’s staffed entirely by women, who lay out the day’s catch on concrete pitches. Pi is played in the film by Suraj Sharma, pictured here.

The pillars celebrated a train track from an adjoining pier where French boats docked; the pier was destroyed by a cyclone in 1953 – just a year before Pondicherry was transferred to India. The remains are just visible, though it’s the newer construction just south that features in Life of Pi

Happy Diwali - Indian Festival of Lights

source: DPA

In India the Festival of Lights -  Diwali - was celebrated yesterday. Just to keep a long story very short... Diwali is a Hindu festival and symbolizes the victory of the good.

This year because we're in Germany have not been really celebrating it, only had cooked and eaten Indian food yesterday.

But I remember the beauty of lit oil lamps, yummy sweets, noise and smell of fire crackers, the big eyes of children when the fire crackers lighted up, a sky full of light and people full of smiles. 

Fifteenth of August

On this day, the Fifteenth of August, a couple of important historic events took place.

The Independence Day of India 

On 15. August 1947 India achieved their independence from the British rule. A day to celebrate.

Here some parts of Jawahalal Nehru's speech on Indian Independence Day, 1947:

"Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we will redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially. At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes, which comes, but rarely in history, when we step out from the new, when an age ends and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance. ... We end today a period of ill fortune, and India discovers herself again. "

source: Wikipedia

Birthday of Sri Aurobindo

It's not only the birth of India but also Sri Aurobindo - Indian freedom fighter, philosopher, yogi, guru and poet - was born on 15th August, only a couple of years earlier 1872.

His message was broadcast a day before the celebration of India's Independence on All India Radio. Here just one paragraph of the much longer speech.

"...Another dream, the spiritual gift of India to the world has already begun. India's spirituality is entering Europe and America in a ever increasing measure. That movement will grow, amid the disasters of the time more and more eyes are turning towards her with hope and there is even an increasing resort not only to her teachings, but to her psychic and spiritual practice. ..."

source: Wikipedia

Liberation Day for South Korea

As my husband is from South Korea, I also need to mention that this day also holds an importance for the South Koreans. On 15th August 1945 South Korea celebrated their national liberation from Imperial Japan.

source: Wikipedia

Of course, there are many more relevant historic events in the world on this day. I wanted to share with you the ones that are relevant to me. I think today we can really celebrate. Only in Germany it's no public holiday. However, we can keep it in our mind and rejoice.

Meet Mickey C Power - My Friend from India

Meet my friend from India

Just yesterday I met up with my friend Ashwath from India, who is once again in Berlin. He is  a rare species; not only is he a good friend but also a clown in India!  Born in Kashmir, he's now based in Bombay and Delhi, a graduate from National School of Drama and London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts. He founded a space in the mountains called Theatre Garage Project where the "Empty Space" is the prime concern. Ashwath has extensive theater training and experience, traveling and life experience. Basically it's fun to be with him. I was introduced through a common German theatre friend and met him few years ago in Pune, India where he was teaching. 

Talking clowns, our understanding of clowns are quite similar. I've participated in some clowning workshops and done a tiny bit - it is by no means the makeup or specially colorful dresses that compose a clown. The pants too short or the sleeves too long according to the clown's own physical characteristics, have more effect than the colors or over dressing. It's not so much about being funny but true. The smallest mask is the red nose and with it you change into a clown. It's rather about connecting to people and for that sometimes being subtle is more and touching than big stuff. Ultimately the clown liberates you.



For Indians it's still a new concept and Ashwath is persistently trying to introduce the red nose concept in India.

In Europe, Ashwath is working together with the Red Noses and some Clown Schools in Germany, giving workshops etc. Here you can see him in action as the clown "Mickey C Power" in Berlin.


Anyhow, we had a great fun day in Kreuzberg. He as a "outsider" showed me around and introduced me to the Art Center Bethanien in Kreuzberg. Ha ha ha, I'll tell you about it in the next post, enough for today.

Mud Festival in Korea

http://www.mudfestival.or.kr/english/festival/festival1.php

I stumbled upon this muddy stuff on "Spiegel" online and I was quite fascinated. A mud festival in Korea! Wow!  I never heard of it before. In Boryeong they are throwing mud in big style and it looks like they're having lot of fun. I wish I could be there. Apparently this festival was started in 1998 and over the years it has been improved and it's definitely a tourist attraction .

I still remember ...when we lived in India and my kid was small, he and his friends used to throw mud and take baths during monsoon. The earth there is red and the kids really enjoyed it.

Rainy Days ...

This is one of those rainy days in Berlin. And it's supposed to be summer. Come on.

 I remember living in India how I loved those rainy days. There was so much of sun that I actually longed for a grey rainy day. Yes, believe me. I loved it. Hopefully could stay inside and watch it rain and rain and rain. A day to chill out, to escape the heat, to take it easy, to read a book and dream while sipping chai. But of course, if you had to go out, be ready to experience full blown monsoon weather. The rain just won't stop or even reduce. Sometimes if you were lucky it would get a bit less just to pour again half an hour later. Giving you just the time to reach home. Some experiences I had included getting stuck on the muddy road with the motorbike or driving to Pondicherry not seeing where you're actually driving.

 Once we're driving through not only a puddle but the whole road was at least half meter deep water. It felt like swimming with the bike. Reaching home you're soaked and just had to change completely. Get into dry warm clothes and make a hot steaming chai.

During summer monsoon it will be hot again quite quickly while winter monsoon even feels cold. I know noboby living in Europe believes me when I say you can feel cold in India but you do. Especially during December, Jan driving the bike or just passing a rain. Many Indians kids have to wear the cute monkey hats to keep warm.

Right now it's also raining in South India.  ...

However, this is an older picture. I just thought to give you an idea what monsoon can be like. 

Movie: The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

This movie is a must see. It's really a great movie with great actors. It's a British comedy drama in which a group of British seniors decide to "outsource" their retirement to less expensive and seemingly exotic India. The Marigold Hotel advertises as a newly restored Hotel and promising to be a luxury development to be "for the elderly and beautiful" in Jaipur, India. The clever hotel manager Sonny  (played by actor Dev Patel who also acted in Slumdog Millionaire)  got this old palace from his father and thanks to photoshop got these retirees to travels thousands of miles.

The seven stranger have each their own story to tell and their own reasons why they decide to spend their last days in India. However, when they arrive they don't find what they'd expected although slowly the palace begins to charm in unexpected ways. The seniors struggle in their own way with the situation, too spicy food ("if I can't pronounce it, I don't eat it") and no doors or taps that are falling apart. The very enthusiastic hotel manager Sonny welcomes them and keeps up his enthusiasm. The movie shows India how I know it - colourful, chaotic, crazy, sweet, adventurous, lovely, warm, contradictory, charming, overwhelming, magical ...

And the movie also presents us with a sweet Indian love story; Sonny rebelling against his mother's wishes for an arranged marriage having the courage to confront his mother and dare to be with his love.

Our whole family watched it - my stepson was here for a visit - and we all enjoyed it. The way the Indians shake their heads, only Indians can do it. It is funny and touching at the same time. I can only recommend it. For sure it bring a smile on your face.

"Everything will be alright in the end. So, if it's not alright, it's not yet the end."

http://youtu.be/dDY89LYxK0w