Stills from a Silent Saga

When you get bored of the hustling city and start finding the workplace over-dramatic, when the clock seems to tick as slow as a sloth and the sky doesn't show up any sunshine,

.

..

...

pack your bags and RUN!

P.S- Don't forget to carry your camera!

That's what I did over the weekend. An overnight journey from Bangalore and you reach on a land where there is sea, sun and sand. And so started the silent saga. Meeting new people, doting on a different cuisine, wandering over cozy empty streets, lusting over new finds and expressing gratitude to the sun. A feeling when you know that you won't run into any face seen before, instead you would see people with faces that never grow old, smiles that never wash away and spirit that blows with the wind along the seashore.

One good thing about going somewhere you have never been to, you can discover some great places by yourself <apart from the ones overheard or google-researched>. 

A place called L'e Space near M.G. road was one of a kind that communicated a raw yet soothing aura depicted some mysterious fluency- from abstract human paintings on walls and chairs to a Chinese kettle hanging right up your head, a hidden Buddha statue under the roof, a wooden bear looking at you from behind the leaves and many more that I am yet to discover in my next visit. 

P.S.- Lemme know if you find the 'hidden' Buddha statue in any of the pictures! :)

Loving the chair's back!

A broken stained glass frame becomes a back support of a chair. :)

Finds at various places- cafes, restaurants and boutiques. 

Sri Aurobindo's graffiti 

Lights dimming at night at L'e Space

Yes, I do love Pondy!

So, the last few days of the year ended with a charming experience. Have a happy new year everyone and if nothing else, resolute to visit plenty of new places this year. :)

Cheers

Reporting from Germany- STYLE Inspirations for MEN

“Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.”

- Mark Twain  

Fashion is for all. Brimming over for women, thoughtful enough for men! So thoughtful, that I had to take Bindigasm all the way to Germany to catch hold of some inspiration for men.

So, men! Here are some style inspirations for you. After all, its the way you look that makes everybody look back at you (until you have actually done something really funny/embarrassing ;))

#1 Denims never fail.

#2 Try Nautical- White + navy. Red accent.

#3 Casual Cargo looks- accessorize.

#4 Messenger bags + causal shoes.

#5 Colors. Bright. Lively.

#6 Colors. Bright. Lively again.

#7Almost casual look.

#8 A few strikings. Neon. Turq. Mustard.

#9 The grungy mechanical look.

#10 Smart Lines

#11 Suit up!

#12 Oh so floral!? 

#13 Thanking Mr. X :)

So? Inspired? 

Image courtesy- Rahul Ranjan. :)

Cheers

POSTCARDS FROM RAJASTHAN

From the hassles and tassels of the urbanized caricatures of Bangalore, I packed my bags to get some cultural shocks and heat waves into my head. The occasion was a cousin’s wedding in Rajasthan. The region of religions, colours, turbans, Rajputas and palaces and many other unique things.

The emcee of my trip was the displeasing temperature of 49 degrees that toasted my nose and put a bright red zit right in the centre of my face (:S). Yeah, that’s the only bad! Nevertheless, it was an exotic experience with a lot of déjà vu, colourful spying and buying couple of more shoes! ;)

Meeting cousins after almost a decade is the reason for the limited glimpses. ^_^

Katputlis and door hangings of birds in color bandhej

Musicians playing Shehnai and tabla in colorful turbans.

Ladies showing off their bright cholis

Rajasthani women adorned with jewels and colorful ghaghra choli in bandhej

The drape blows your sight off

Marigold and roses to make garlands

Typical arches in wooden gates

Decorated Elephant rides

A region of religions.

Milk being boiled in a large Kadaai. 

One of the old buildings- the curvy window- Khidki

Can never get enough of shoes. Beautiful Mojdis and Chappals from Rajasthan

Cheers

MATERIALISTIC ABOUT INDIA

“I may be mad, but I am materialistic. I want to possess so many things in life. Not just some clothes, shoes, bags, or perfumes. I have become more materialistic now. I want the whole of India.”

Yeah, no kidding! My recent visit to The Bombay store has given me some more ‘food for shop’. In my earlier post here, I mentioned about the products being a perfect blend of the traditional and contemporary style. Well, this time I am astonished by the assorted themes and inspirations from various subjects and periods and the variety of products the store keeps-  trying to give a whole new rejuvenated look of India still keeping threads of stories knotted to it.

The punch line of the store says- “Discover a new India”, which it eventually abides by.  Right from the visual merchandising and the current monsoon oriented window displays, the look is aesthetically appealing and the store is divided into sections such as apparels, artefacts, frames, bed linens and quilts, stationary, home decor, tableware, aromatic soaps, exotic tea flavours etc. letting you browse all the sections easily. 

PRODUCTS

“Let the Grandma walk out with a rich flavoured exotic tea pack, the lady with a brocade purse and the girl with a quirky set of stationary. And everyone stays happy ever after.”

Here, you may find the rarest of the pieces like an antique metallic colonial time wall clock to the newest of the pop art inspired colourful tray. There are heavily crafted artefacts made out of softstone, whitewood, resin, glass, brass etc. You will go nuts smelling the aromatic soaps and would definitely fall in for the cosy bed linens and those soft razais (quilts).

There is so much to talk about- stamp printed cushions, Kathputli inspired umbrellas, Banjara murals, rejuvenating incense sticks metallic modern style cufflinks...you could see an art displayed from almost each state of India in a totally new form of product. That’s the beauty of The Bombay Store.

Then, a separate variety of products by The Elephant Company was something elephantous. You would see motifs of an elephant on a tie, on a mug to tote bag, also as murals, cushions and so many other places.

I hope my pictorial collection explains much of it!

Thanks to Mr. Srinivas from the store and the whole team who took the pain to arrange the roll out session.