Pictures and words

Lucky 'the magician' AKA Jadoogar Abhay Samrat has gained some weight and his voice is now heavier. He is more confident now. I met him last in 2015 during a village annual fair in the village of Dhrang. You can read that 2015 post  here . It was again a sudden plan to go to Dhrang. Satish and I rode his bike through the scenic Kutch. The village organises a big fair every MahaShivratri in February. The fair, also called the 'mela' was exactly the same, the stalls were similar, the swings were in the same position as three years back. This time the kids-jumping-pneumatic-structure had mickey mouse's photos instead of bikini photos of actresses I was privileged to witness in 2015. Inflatable thing. Crossing through the swarms of people and many plastic-made-in-china-junk stalls, I wondered what has happened to the country, this was one of the most remote mela I had been to where only locals visit. Still all the stalls are filled with cheap picture fram...

Sharing with you some complete, some incomplete sketches from my travel sketchbooks made quickly-on-spot over the years. With the sketches, there are interesting things you can also do when you are around. Would love to know your opinions and comments. Enjoy! 1. Enjoy the M.F Hussain's paintings in B.V Doshi's design at Amdavad ni gufa in Ahmedabad  2.  Absorb the serenity and Gandhi's simplicity in Sabarmati Ashram 's courtyards in Ahmedabad. 3. Trekk to the hidden '7 domed building' in Pawagarh  near Baroda. 4. Rest at the oldest Dharamshala lodge in Bet Dwarka .  8. Eat garma garam maggie in the chilling rain at 'no name cafe' in Mcleodganj.  9. Listen to the Arzan sitting in the tal taliya mandir at the Ghat of Upper lake in Bhopal.  10. Learn to weave in Bhujodi village in Kutch.  11. Climb to the big bell in Prag mehal, Bhuj. 12. Experience the amazing composition of natural architectur...