Lalita Iyer

  Five GOOD BYE LOG CABIN, HELLO SUNNY ITALY On 7th morning was cleaning up and packing off from the log cabin. You kind of get into the rhythm of it. Of course Bruno comes out last after making it spotless, chimney off, solar off, water pipes off, etc. I took a head start with a few bags and with Murali and a walking stick, clambered up and then hesitantly walked down and promptly sat down at a suitable place from where Bruno could not miss us in this descent. Finally saw a few farmers. At this height they grow grass, make it into hay and then pack it very neatly to be later sold. The cows feast on the rest, with their bells on. Very musical and friendly it sounds in this region. The lower part of town is very touristy with many cafes and inns. A final photograph of the six of us and we were en route to Italy. Matina, knowing my love for trains had booked us on a dinky, sweltering train from Domodossola to Lucarno. Close to 2 hours, it took through several small stations, wher...

  Four NOT THE TALLEST PEAK BUT THE BEST VIEW I had left the phone in the van, more because I had to use both my hands to clamber on to the bus and while getting off the bus. Left the phone in the van because the tension of taking the roller coaster ride with Bruno and then trekking the rest was top of the mind. Don't mind if there is lot of writing from me today. While you all think yours truly is ensconced in the wood smoke smelling log cabin, eyeing the peaks of tall snow clad mountains, rising high over tall �� trees, pine trees and evergreens, you are all absolutely correct. Hey, but good times last only so long. For, as I mentioned earlier, Matina has planned our trip. So, I woke up early and puttered around and we had breakfast and she mentioned that we were going to Eggishorn, one of those tall peaks with a glacier. Which is all very fine when you are in Switzerland, but no one else must be doing the three km trek to the van. Again in my case only a kilometer and some ...

  Three ALMOST LOSING A FEW AND LIVING THE DREAM Matina, Murali and Ravi drove down in the Hippy van and parked it in front of someone’s house. Matina left a note for them saying she was parking the vehicle there and if they did have an issue they could call her up. The irony being she does not pick up her phone after that. While parking the vehicle, she guided the two boys to take some path and soon realized that she had made a mistake. She called out, Murali called out and the opposite valley resounded with these calls����. Meanwhile Matina and Bruno were in touch and after much helloing, the three got together and came down to the log cabin. Matina did not relax for a very long time after that, replaying a scene of losing these two men on untraversed Swiss village roads. But good things have good endings and so they all came back together. Incidentally Murali who had data on his phone, left it with me. And so there was no way we could get in touch with him either. So much for ...

  Two GREEN SHUTTERS AND A FUNICULAR RIDE I love green shutters. Here, in Switzerland green is the go to colour. Everything on the ground is green, the sky is an azure blue and every now and then there is a joyous puff of cloud, also little patches of snow, gleaming. Everything here is more colourful, sharper, like God was at his most peaceful while creating Switzerland. Then he thought too much of a good summer and so gave them snow, which also, if you are prepared enough, is beauteous. God loves  Switzerland. No doubt. Let me make one thing clear. We are tourists and we are visiting Switzerland, but with Matina and Bruno who have a soul and who want us to have an experience, different from the zillions of tourists who come here. Matina has taken the trouble to plan and is excited to give us surprises. Far from the madding crowds is where we drove down to Gelmerbahn, before going to their log cabin at Grengiols. Glemerbahn, apart from having green water because of it's min...

  One ON THE WINGS OF OMAN AIR.... Murali and yours truly have started on a holiday to Switzerland and then a road trip into the Umbria region of Italy. Our Swiss couple friends Matina and Bruno Jehle will host us at Wepfi, their beautiful home in Gontenshweil. Akhila and Ravi, a couple I have oft mentioned will fly in from London and join us on the 3rd after catching up with a young couple friend of theirs at Zurich. Matina has planned the itinerary and I await long walks, pastoral scenes and a lot of pizza and wine. I have worn my walking shoes (?) But am already bugged by them. If you watch American films they are always in their shoes, even when they hit the sofa or the bed. Allowing a little bit of cinematic privilege, how the hell do you keep your feet covered for so long. But then it is not that I like to walk barefeet either. This foot fetish of mine has been maniacal since I had a bout of chicken guniya and the impact remained on my feet. This here trip will be differen...

  BABY AND BRO..... AGH!!!!!  I saw the much talked about movies, Baby and Bro. Both were immensely disappointing. Baby went on and on, going from bad to worse. And if I have to trust the common man, in this case my vahan chalak Raju, then 'girls merely use guys for their own benefit and then throw them away.' When he made the statement in Telugu, the word 'vadkodam' echoed in my mind. Poor Vaishnavi, from basti living to pub living, who did not open the 30 gifts handed to her by Viraj (rich guy who finds her interesting) and hands them back intact. But accusations fly high and for a first time appearance, the heroine performs well, nostrils flaring, managing to look good in a dress and a langa odhni. Where she gets money for all the gowns and dresses she wears for Viraj is not to be questioned. Her mother believes all her stories and her father is accepting of her drunken shenanigans. In this whole process of Vaishnavi growing up, her engineering seat and education ...

  ZIPPING THE ZIP Now  I am unable to zip up my suitcase, considering I have to carry back a few gift bags (I had brought more fearing shorfall), the gifts I recd, some podies and eats. And I am looking at the extra coconuts also, but sheer control will be exercised. People are reacting  nicely to the photos and all my close relatives have very great memories with my parents. Apparently they shared meals, ideas, plans for movies etc, while I was in Bombay and in Hyderabad. As of now M and I are all ensconsed in Hyderabad. And the Chennai flat will be in good hands and I will continue to travel here often because MIL and my uncles and aunts live here. Not that I need an excuse.... Much though I hate the sweating here, the weather suits me and my nagging cough is not nagging me any more. Over the last two years the roads have become a little familiar, though I still get confused with all the cross streets and various lanes. It is a slightly different life here. And curr...