Wonder-lust

From National Geographic online

I wish I had wheels. Or wings. Or a private jet. Imagine how much of the world I would be able to cover.

My wanderlust is supposed to be a gift of my sun sign. But I have rarely been able to satisfy it. Reading about exotic destinations revs up the engine, but there seem to be so many things putting the proverbial spoke in my wheel. It was fun in our childhood when my father and mother would plan vacations and visits. There was nothing for my brother and I to worry our little heads about - we could traipse around with not a care in the world. Sigh. Those were the days. More often than not, growing up brings with it the worldly considerations of time and money. And decision-making. Where should you go? When can it be planned? How much of a hole in the pocket is it going to be? The sad thing is, we can forget how to have fun because we try so hard to have fun.

Blame the New York Times for making me feel like this. This is what I read, making me yearn to be in many places at once. Going through some of them made me realise this - although I could do with a pampering, Hilton-style stay at a pop-exotic destination, I would much rather be backpacking across lesser-known sisters of tourist hot-spots. Places that are not in the limelight - yet, and hence just happy being themselves. Towns just waking up to their own charm, accidental discoveries, secret hideaways known only to a few. They would make for the perfect grub for my travel-hungry soul.

What feeds my wanderlust is watching and reading seasoned travellers like Michael Palin, in lands far away, exciting and awe-inspiring people and cultures, and cuisine to tantalise any taste buds (unless they are being too adventurous and visiting communities that eat bulls and rats and the like).

For now, I satisfy myself with suggestions from the New York Times, Conde Nast Traveller and the like. I invite you to do the same. Think about how many gorgeous places you still haven't heard of and how much you're missing if you think tourism is about the Londons, New Yorks, Parises and Milans of the world. For all you know, the perfect spot could be just a two hour drive away!

Brushing off the dust.......

Another attempt at revival. Here goes.................

TLC. That's what all blogs need. Some attention. The investment of that slippery, elusive aspect of time. Something to let it feel like its creators even care! And we're not doing very well at making this page feel too well, now, are we?

Let me try (again) by sharing another TV obsession of mine, of late, in keeping with the general trend of the last few posts - Avatar, The Last Airbender. The American anime series about the most adorable monk with the power to 'bend' or use the element of air to do his bidding. It started with Emm's suggestion one evening when I felt I had nothing to watch, and my TV/ film addicted soul needed some pixels to feed off. I had seen the advert of Avatar on Nick India, and brushed it off as another badly Hindi-dubbed attempt at a children's series. I didn't know any better - not with Cartoon Network trying to appease the Indian baccha party with Johnny Quest and Swat Cats in Hindi. Didn't appease me any.

Coming from Emm was enough endorsement for me (Tee and Emm are usually my prime source of to-watch lists). Hunted online, found some episodes - oops. Talk not of the evil you do, you pirate. But addiction can make you lose some of your conscience. And once I was hooked, it was for good.

Here's what I love about the series. It has a 12 year old protagonist, with a motley of teenaged friends, but never gets childish. It depicts the oft-abused premise of supernatural abilities and fantasy, but could never be charged for imitation - I've never seen a story with such clever manipulation of the four elements. It has a story with a thread across all episodes, shrewdly ensuring every viewer returns to see what happens next. Its animation has voice-overs and lines that make Aang and his gang so endearing to non-children too. And I absolutely love the Asian influence stamped all over it. What with the title itself being a Sanskrit word!

I read up on the series a bit all over the net, and found that the creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko have incorporated a lot of cultural influences from civilizations all over the world. The titles of all episodes or 'chapters' have Chinese script depicting the elemnts. I especially love the Waterbenders fluid bending movements, apparently inspired from the ancient art of Tai-Chi (I am certainly taking those classes!). Although as an element, I should be partial to my sun sign's element - fire! Firebenders aren't very nice people in this one - though there seem to be a few exceptions even there (I'll have you know - I would be one awesome Firebender if they ever recruited me). There are so many references from such interesting cultures, all seamlessly integrated using the backgrounds of characters and the places they visit. Even a quaint yogi in one of the episodes :)

It's peppered with wit, humour and emotion, just enough not to overpower. All the characters are so real, so vulnerable, with identifiable weaknesses and fears. Even Aang, the Avatar himself, needs to sort himself out, overcome his insecurities and get assurances from his loyal gang of friends. Don't we know exactly how that can be? And my favourite character, apart from Aang himself, is Toph, his blind 12 year old Earthbending friend/teacher. She's got spunk, that one. And skill to floor any man twice her size. That is not to undermine in any way how interesting Katara , the gang's waterbender and her brother Sokka are.

Go watch. I'm sure you'll be singing its praises like I do. And uncover the secrets of elemental manipulation.


Oh, talking of mystery, secrets and abilities - Emm and I realised - shamefully late - that our co-blogger has chronicled her power of food-bending (ummm) on a lovely blog herself! We knew of her golden fingers when it comes to the kitchen, but now that it's in the public domain, everyone can see for themselves!

Tee- we love your blog, your writing and all the new things you're giving us to try out ourselves. I, for one, would love attempting to recreate your mom ke haath ka taste and relive those endless days+nights of stayovers of hogging /studying. Go girl! And happy first anniversary (month) to your blog!