bring on the festivities...

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">It's that time of the year again. A certain festive anticipation takes hold of me. </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Mr. Sun decides to illuminate certain corners with his geometrical rays. Love that fragrance of a season in transition. A season of festivals.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The festive season propels me towards adding that little extra which transforms the home and gets you ready for new events, happy changes and cheerful living!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">As promised, sharing few joyful corners of our home...</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archanasr_2000/6096660974/" title="mak2 by archanasr, on Flickr"><img alt="mak2" height="640" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6087/6096660974_172425a4d7_z.jpg" width="427" /></a></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Jai Hanuman! </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archanasr_2000/6096660268/" title="mak1 by archanasr, on Flickr"><img alt="mak1" height="640" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6202/6096660268_92c05c5417_z.jpg" width="427" /></a></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Allamanda</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> flower on his open palm...</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archanasr_2000/6096723602/" title="mak4 by archanasr, on Flickr"><img alt="mak4" height="640" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6199/6096723602_6b2d524d19_z.jpg" width="426" /></a></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">My shiny silk cushion covers in bright colours & borders...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, serif; white-space: normal; "><img alt="mak3" height="426" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6206/6096177859_8a2008efd1_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, serif; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); white-space: pre-wrap; "><i>Mangalgiri</i> borders give a traditional look...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, serif; white-space: normal; "><img alt="mak7" height="426" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6063/6096181191_36e1af038d_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, serif; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); white-space: pre-wrap; ">Some tealights in a glazed glass holders...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, serif; white-space: normal; "><img alt="mak9" height="426" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6189/6096183215_5c728f935c_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, serif; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); white-space: pre-wrap; ">Fresh fresh flowers in my copper tea kettle...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, serif; white-space: normal; "><img alt="mak10" height="623" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6086/6096728406_481aba2f76_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; ">Bedside chest with a tower of books and flowers...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal; "><img alt="mak8" height="640" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6206/6096727048_0dc5c66b0f_z.jpg" width="426" /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); white-space: pre-wrap; ">A <i>Panjurli</i> (Boar Mask) from Udupi...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); white-space: normal; "><img alt="mak6" height="640" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6069/6096179785_64e62b5ed2_z.jpg" width="426" /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); white-space: pre-wrap; ">Roses on my dressing table, kept in little bowls of water placed inside woven palm leaf basket...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); white-space: normal; "><img alt="mak5" height="426" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6184/6096724068_2be538a3c9_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); white-space: pre-wrap; ">Hope all of you enjoyed a virtual tour of few corners of our home.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Eid Mubarak & Happy Ganesh Chaturthi to all my readers! Have a great week!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><br /><br /></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>(Images by Arch)</i></span></span></div>

bring on the festivities...

It's that time of the year again. A certain festive anticipation takes hold of me. Mr. Sun decides to illuminate certain corners with his geometrical rays. Love that fragrance of a season in transition. A season of festivals.The festive season propels me towards adding that little extra which transf…

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Heritage Madurai.

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Last week saw us visit the beautiful </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Meenakshi Temple </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">in Madurai, devour traditionally prepared South Indian lunches served on banana leaves and get lost in a tropical haven created by </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoffrey_Bawa"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Geoffery Bawa.</span></a></b></span></i><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: normal; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); white-space: pre-wrap; "><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archanasr_2000/6075396518/" title="her3 by archanasr, on Flickr"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img alt="her3" height="426" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6062/6075396518_723feee226_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /><br /></span></span></i><div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><a href="http://www.heritagemadurai.com/index.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Heritage Madurai</span></a></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> is a 17-acre resort originally called the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Madurai Club</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and was designed by the famous Sri Lankan architect </span></span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoffrey_Bawa"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Geoffery Bawa</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Bawa's style of blending indoor & outside spaces is evident through out the resort.</span></span></span></span></i></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(34, 34, 34); white-space: pre-wrap; "><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archanasr_2000/6074876945/" title="her12 by archanasr, on Flickr"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img alt="her12" height="427" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6078/6074876945_ccf64075c1_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Locally sourced materials and natural elements makes this place very unique. Bawa's disciple </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Vinod Jayasinghe </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">has restored this resort to it's former glory by blending tradition with modern luxuries. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(34, 34, 34); white-space: pre-wrap; "><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archanasr_2000/6075438346/" title="her18 by archanasr, on Flickr"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img alt="her18" height="426" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6089/6075438346_77e0f2e151_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Granite used liberally at the resort.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archanasr_2000/6074880593/" title="her13 by archanasr, on Flickr"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img alt="her13" height="640" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6184/6074880593_7790e57595_z.jpg" width="427" /></span></span></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Intricately carved door at the reception area.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archanasr_2000/6074873551/" title="her11 by archanasr, on Flickr"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img alt="her11" height="640" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6197/6074873551_0380d911ae_z.jpg" width="427" /></span></span></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Reception area with antique wicker work chair.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archanasr_2000/6074904349/" title="her20 by archanasr, on Flickr"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img alt="her20" height="640" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6069/6074904349_3e1b3b204b_z.jpg" width="427" /></span></span></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Entrance lobby with fresh floating flowers in a granite urli.</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(34, 34, 34); white-space: pre-wrap; "><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archanasr_2000/6075424000/" title="her14 by archanasr, on Flickr"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img alt="her14" height="427" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6064/6075424000_8b639798b1_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Lotus leaves growing tall at the entrance area.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); white-space: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img alt="her21" height="514" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6062/6075447176_961824a481_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(34, 34, 34); white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">'Frangipani' trees framing the Luxury Villas.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); white-space: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img alt="her5" height="426" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6068/6075400192_a76a4b510a_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(34, 34, 34); white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Granite pillars and furniture at the Luxury Villas.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); white-space: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img alt="her7" height="640" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6202/6074863155_1021bb8f23_z.jpg" width="427" /></span></span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(34, 34, 34); white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Our room.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); white-space: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img alt="her15" height="427" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6088/6075428246_84e2e2f0c7_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); white-space: normal; "><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img alt="her8" height="427" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6193/6074866479_b19a1a8bd7_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(34, 34, 34); white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Traditional wooden doors and granite formed the main design in the room.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); white-space: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img alt="her4" height="640" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6086/6075398340_d372b6c280_z.jpg" width="426" /></span></span></span></div></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(34, 34, 34); white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Our very own plunge pool with Frangipani tree!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); white-space: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img alt="her22" height="640" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6076/6074909483_9477413294_z.jpg" width="426" /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-style: italic; white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Do we really need to head back home?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; white-space: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img alt="her2" height="426" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6209/6075393990_7f4cd78fd1_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(34, 34, 34); white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Temple Tank inspired pool at dusk.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archanasr_2000/6074851275/" title="her1 by archanasr, on Flickr"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img alt="her1" height="426" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6181/6074851275_fa4c1d79b4_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Dining area at dusk.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Geoffery Bawa~ I really adore your style. Madurai ~ I enjoyed your rich culture.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-style: italic; white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(Images by Arch)</span></span></div></div></div>

Heritage Madurai.

Last week saw us visit the beautiful Meenakshi Temple in Madurai, devour traditionally prepared South Indian lunches served on banana leaves and get lost in a tropical haven created by Geoffery Bawa.Heritage Madurai is a 17-acre resort originally called the Madurai Club and was designed by the famo…

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a festive, seasonal makeover at home...

<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(34, 34, 34); white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archanasr_2000/6071410799/" title="makeover by archanasr, on Flickr"><img alt="makeover" height="426" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6083/6071410799_3cdb17df7a_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, serif; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); white-space: pre-wrap; ">coming soon. Stay tuned...</span></div>

a festive, seasonal makeover at home...

coming soon. Stay tuned...…

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