Things for a South Indian Couple to Start afresh in the USA
----------------------------------------------------------
Things that should be bought only in U.S are marked as
(U.S)
Kitchen: (Samayal, saapaadu mudhalla)
1. Pressure Cooker (for paruppu mainly)
2. Paruppu/Rice eversilver vessels (that can fit
inside the cooker)
3. Electric rice cooker (U.S)
4. Vaanalai with bakelite handles and lid for curry
5. Medium size Rasam/sambar adukku(gaL)
6. lids for all of these
7. Rasam/sambar karandi -2, Saadhak karandi
(Annavetti), Kaay kilara
oru
karandi
8. thaalichchu kottradhukku chinna copper bottom
vessel with bakelite
handle
9. jalli karaNdi for vadaam appalaam, etc
10.Idly thattu (3 or 6 depending on..)
11.Non stick dosa/Roti thava
12.Non stick thiruppi (in wood or any non-stick
material)
13. kidukki
14. Knife (U.S)
15. Cutting Board (U.S)
16. Spoons in 2 sizes -each dozen
17. Shripet Jars big - 6, small -6 (for storing
things)
18. vadikatti (for keerai and all)
19. Tea vadikatti (if tea is taken regularly)
20. Carrot/thEngai seevum seevi
21. Chappaaththi kuzhavi
22. Anjarai petti (Spice box)
23. 110 V Indian Mixie
24. Eating plates
25. Eveilver tumblers /davaras (if you are attached to
indian way of
coffee
drinking)
26. Microwavable containers (all sizes) (U.S)
27. Microwavable/fancy Plates, bowls, cups (U.S)
28. 4,5,6,7 - can be replaced by a good Non-stick
Quality cookware set
(U.S)
(would help for
beginners and great for cleaning - no sticky,
theechal)
29. samaiththup paar pusthagam (beginners and whoever
needs reference)
30. 110 V Grinder - some people get this but half %
just get this and
never
use it.
Living room:
1. Decorative items depending on taste - wall hangers,
paintings,
dolls,
etc,,
Everything else (furniture, T.V, entertainment
system,....) you buy/get
in
U.S
Poojai room (or alamaari, whatever) (if spritual)
1. Vilakku
2. thirigaL
3. oothuvathti stand
4. maNi
5. Small box holders for kungum, vibhoothi, sandhanam,
etc
6. Slogha books
7. ofcourse your favorite framed/unframed swami/idol
Bedroom
1. Alarm Clock (you can get good ones in U.S also)
2. Pillow covers - good decorative ones
3. may be Indian bed spread(s)
4. Bed and Comforters/Pillows (U.S)
Bathroom:
Get everything in U.S only.
For the Girl:
1. Some Chudidhaars
2. Jeans, formal pants, TShirts are preferrable - as
many as you want -
or
get them in U.S
3. Rarely you get a chance to wear pattu saree and all
the jighu jighu
jewels - so bring
them in small numbers only
4. Any addiction to Indian make - Soaps/face
cream/cold
cream/shampoos/sigaikkaay/etc etc
(but you need moisturizing soaps for U.S weather)
5. Sweater/saalvai, (winter, fall jackets should be
bought in U.S)
6. Depending on the weather of the city you might need
thermal wear,
Wollen
gloves, socks etc..
7. Sanitary napkins for initial days
8. Spare pair of eye glasses/contacts
9. Cooling glasses (for sunny places)
10. Sandals, shoes (or get them in U.S - better)
11. wallet/hand bags
Other:
1. Things of personal interests - Books to read,
Indian classical/cine
music
CDs Cassettes, veenai, violin, Painting tools, etc.,,.
2. Indian medicine balms for head aches, body aches,
etc, tablets
Saturday, July 31, 2004
Friday, July 30, 2004
Wednesday, July 21, 2004
Coastal Karnataka pilgrimage tour
Just returned from an amazing pilgrimage tour of Coastal Karnataka. Here goes.
Dates are in the Greogrian calendar, Anno-Domini.
July 17 2004: Saturday
Hired a cab, all the way from Bangalore to Sringeri. It was quite an amazing drive. Lush forests of the western ghats & fields & wild-flowers, it was simply magnificient. Saw the holy river Tungabhadra, on whose banks Adi Shankara saw a frog in labour protected from the sun by a cobra (its hood); 2500 years back (according to Puranic history). The matt was awesome as well. When the Shankaracharya commenced his Puja of the Bhoga Linga (one of the 5 main Lingas Adi Shankara procured from Kailasha), I thought a cassette by a professional was being played. It turned out to be a group of three girls, whose singing was aided by the place's acoustics. They were simply magnificent. (They can certainly be professionals. C'mon Spic-Macay). The songs were in certain soulful favourite ragams of mine, which almost brought tears to my eyes; such was their rendition. This was followed by awesome reverberating Vedic chants, where I felt handicapped without my book. Stayed in the Matt house.
Saw Halebid from afar on the way. Didn't have the enthu to go in & wanted to reach Sringeri. However, did visit the Vishnu temple at Belur. It was simply an amazing temple with some great sculptures. However, the holy place of worship seems a commercialized tourist place, unfortunately.
July 18 2004: Sunday
Had a very enjoyable morning among the greenery, saw 'paakku' trees covered with pepper climbers, some beautiful flowers, and some very, very cute monkeys with kids. It was a small species of a monkey with a beard, it would be only till my thighs (I'm 5'6''), and there were quite a few baby monkeys tightly hugging its mother. So cute. Put some water of the Tungabhadra on my head, felt my sins lightened. :) All the way then to Hornadu Annapoorneshwari temple. This again was established by Adi Shankara himself. One can only imagine how he travelled to all these places so long ago (1500-2500 yrs back). I was convinced he would have travelled by Yogic powers. Drove through a dense forest, which was simply amazing, with some amazing sights. The rivers & green mountains & jungle sounds... It was mind-blowing. Nothing like a tropical rain-forest to cheer you up. And calm you.
We were driving through mists & fogs & clouds in-between. An amazing experience. And a little scary in the foggy nights.
All the way back to Udipi. The driver, a nice guy, informs us that it would be better if we'd travelled to Hornadu first, then to Sringeri. There were lots of cows in Udipi, being treated well, having their residence on the roads & waking up to human calls for food. :) It was funny & cute at the same time.
July 18 2004: Monday-Day three
Udipi-Kollur Mookambi-Kateel Jala Durga-Dharmasthala. Kollur seems established by Adi Shankara (again) during his search for Sringeri (for Goddess Saraswati's residence). The Sowparniga river was beautiful here. More river water on my head. In Udipi, Krishna had turned himself to the backside, for the sake of a pure-minded devotee, and had broken the wall with his Math. All devotees seem him from the back to this day. (The Brihadeeshwara Nandi had moved for similar reasons). There are beautiful ancient stories concerning Madhvacharya & Swami Vadeeshwara. Kateel had the Nandhini river, more of which disappeared on my head. :)
Night at Dharmasthala on the banks of the beautiful Netravati river. Dharmasthala is truly a Dhramasthala for the amount of people they feed unquestioningly. Vedic dharma certainly flourishes there.
Saw Aanai-Konda-Ganesha sometime in-between.
July 19 2004: Tuesday-Day four
Dharmasthala again in the morning, then to Subramanya. A wonderful drive again. Again situated on the banks of the river, Kumaradhara. This region is definitely naturally endowed. And so beautiful. Back to Bangalore from Subramanya.
I hope to spend like 3 nights or a week in a tropical Indian forest sometime. That should be wonderful. And tremendously refreshing.
Hope this itinerary helps others with similar ideas plan theirs.
Trip itinerary in a nutshell:
Bangalore-Halebid-Sringeri-Hornadu-Udipi-Kollur-Kattil-Dharmasthala-Subramanya-Bangalore
Better itinerary:
Bangalore-Halebid-Hornadu-Sringeri-Udipi-Kollur-Kattil-Dharmasthala-Subramanya-Bangalore
Dates are in the Greogrian calendar, Anno-Domini.
July 17 2004: Saturday
Hired a cab, all the way from Bangalore to Sringeri. It was quite an amazing drive. Lush forests of the western ghats & fields & wild-flowers, it was simply magnificient. Saw the holy river Tungabhadra, on whose banks Adi Shankara saw a frog in labour protected from the sun by a cobra (its hood); 2500 years back (according to Puranic history). The matt was awesome as well. When the Shankaracharya commenced his Puja of the Bhoga Linga (one of the 5 main Lingas Adi Shankara procured from Kailasha), I thought a cassette by a professional was being played. It turned out to be a group of three girls, whose singing was aided by the place's acoustics. They were simply magnificent. (They can certainly be professionals. C'mon Spic-Macay). The songs were in certain soulful favourite ragams of mine, which almost brought tears to my eyes; such was their rendition. This was followed by awesome reverberating Vedic chants, where I felt handicapped without my book. Stayed in the Matt house.
Saw Halebid from afar on the way. Didn't have the enthu to go in & wanted to reach Sringeri. However, did visit the Vishnu temple at Belur. It was simply an amazing temple with some great sculptures. However, the holy place of worship seems a commercialized tourist place, unfortunately.
July 18 2004: Sunday
Had a very enjoyable morning among the greenery, saw 'paakku' trees covered with pepper climbers, some beautiful flowers, and some very, very cute monkeys with kids. It was a small species of a monkey with a beard, it would be only till my thighs (I'm 5'6''), and there were quite a few baby monkeys tightly hugging its mother. So cute. Put some water of the Tungabhadra on my head, felt my sins lightened. :) All the way then to Hornadu Annapoorneshwari temple. This again was established by Adi Shankara himself. One can only imagine how he travelled to all these places so long ago (1500-2500 yrs back). I was convinced he would have travelled by Yogic powers. Drove through a dense forest, which was simply amazing, with some amazing sights. The rivers & green mountains & jungle sounds... It was mind-blowing. Nothing like a tropical rain-forest to cheer you up. And calm you.
We were driving through mists & fogs & clouds in-between. An amazing experience. And a little scary in the foggy nights.
All the way back to Udipi. The driver, a nice guy, informs us that it would be better if we'd travelled to Hornadu first, then to Sringeri. There were lots of cows in Udipi, being treated well, having their residence on the roads & waking up to human calls for food. :) It was funny & cute at the same time.
July 18 2004: Monday-Day three
Udipi-Kollur Mookambi-Kateel Jala Durga-Dharmasthala. Kollur seems established by Adi Shankara (again) during his search for Sringeri (for Goddess Saraswati's residence). The Sowparniga river was beautiful here. More river water on my head. In Udipi, Krishna had turned himself to the backside, for the sake of a pure-minded devotee, and had broken the wall with his Math. All devotees seem him from the back to this day. (The Brihadeeshwara Nandi had moved for similar reasons). There are beautiful ancient stories concerning Madhvacharya & Swami Vadeeshwara. Kateel had the Nandhini river, more of which disappeared on my head. :)
Night at Dharmasthala on the banks of the beautiful Netravati river. Dharmasthala is truly a Dhramasthala for the amount of people they feed unquestioningly. Vedic dharma certainly flourishes there.
Saw Aanai-Konda-Ganesha sometime in-between.
July 19 2004: Tuesday-Day four
Dharmasthala again in the morning, then to Subramanya. A wonderful drive again. Again situated on the banks of the river, Kumaradhara. This region is definitely naturally endowed. And so beautiful. Back to Bangalore from Subramanya.
I hope to spend like 3 nights or a week in a tropical Indian forest sometime. That should be wonderful. And tremendously refreshing.
Hope this itinerary helps others with similar ideas plan theirs.
Trip itinerary in a nutshell:
Bangalore-Halebid-Sringeri-Hornadu-Udipi-Kollur-Kattil-Dharmasthala-Subramanya-Bangalore
Better itinerary:
Bangalore-Halebid-Hornadu-Sringeri-Udipi-Kollur-Kattil-Dharmasthala-Subramanya-Bangalore
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