Live it up in Leeds

Picturesque country sides that spell peace, upmarket city scapes vibrant with life and historical landmarks that take you back in time — Yorkshire offers you all this and more. And Leeds, located at the very heart of UK, is truly the gateway to this land of breathtaking moorlands, spectacular cliffs, bustling market towns and hip night life. What struck me first about Leeds was how seamlessly the idyllic countryside beauty blended with the cosmopolitan skylines, making this the perfect place for a city break.

What unfolds before you is a city unlike any other, alive with energy, brimming with culture and packed with attractions. yet its natural beauty remains untouched by the cruel hands of urbanisation. Also known as UK’s short-break capital, Leeds is a compact town, with traffic-free shopping zones, quirky eateries and magnificent Victorian architecture that leaves one spell-bound. Easily accessible from heathrow, London you could either choose to fly down or travel via coach (a better option if you want to enjoy the breathtaking beauty of the country side). Once in Leeds you wouldn’t really need to set aside money for travelling around the city, as almost everything is easily explored by foot. And it’s worth the walk as you wouldn’t want to miss out any of the streets, squares or corners studded with Victorian grandiose.

The Towns Hall at Leeds is one fine example as is the Victoria Quarter. One of the must-see places in Leeds, VQ was once a narrow alley filled with butcher shops. But what get to see today is a super stylish shopper’s haven with a string arcades housing high end designer boutiques. Talking of retail therapy, it’s something that you can’t have enough of. Walk along Briggate, the main shopping street, and be spoilt for choice when it comes to designer labels and household names in high fashion and lifestyle. Also explore the nearby Vicar Lane, Lands Lane and the Queen’s and Thornton’s Arcades that offer independent boutiques and quirky stores that showcase works of local talents. And when your tired feet and wallets need some rest, you could hop into one of the many cosmopolitan cafes or pubs for a quick bite, truly out of this world.

You could wind up your retail therapy with a visit to the Corn Exchange, which is a fine example of Yorkshire’s humble agricultural past and its uber chic urban present. And if you are a serious bargain hunter, Kirkgate Market, Europe’s largest indoor market with more than 800 traders, is where you must head. Shopping is serious business at Leeds, so make sure you set aside a whole day, if not more, to indulge yourself. Just make sure you plan your day early. as everything in Leeds winds up as early as 4 or 5 pm.

To explore Leeds beyond the shopping arcades, you could begin with the Royal armouries Museum. Be prepared to travel back in time and re-live some historical moments with the over 8,000 exhibits and costumed re-enactments here. In fact Yorkshire is heaven for history and heritage lovers. At the Abbey House and Kirkstall Abbey, you can wander through the streets of an erstwhile Victorian city and take a peek into how the monks lived back then. My favourite though was the breathtking Harewood House, the country house of the Queen’s cousin, Earl of Harewood, which seemed like a walk through the pages of a Victorian era novel. There are forts and castles galore, but if the need of the hour is to feel some grass below your feet, around Leeds you will find an array of parks, gardens and even an odd farm.

The Ikley Moor, Otley Chevin, Golden Acre Park and Roundhay Prak are all a hop-skip-an jump away from the city centre. However, a must-see of these would be the York Gate Garden, a one acre garden tucked away behind an ancient church in Adel. Created by the spencer family, this garden is a stunning example of the 20th century garden design — a large garden within which are several smaller ones, each with a theme of its own. This one truly, is a green feast for the eyes.

If all that breathtaking beauty was overwhelming, you could chill out with a drink in one the nighspots — there’s always something to suit every taste, budget and interest. Leeds is not just a city, it’s an experience. Live it, love it.

Ente Kathakali – My Mystic Masquerade

The bright yellow lights on the stage faded out and soft, somber music set the mood for something magnanimous. And magnanimous it was. My first tryst with a live Kathakali performance with a mind that was thinking, (as a child I remember wondering what the fuss was about. And my not-so-artsy mum couldn’t do much to explain) And at the cost of sounding like an intellectual snob, I must confess, I loved it.

Kathakali is said to be the oldest form of dance drama not just in my land Kerala. Google says it was probably the oldest in the world. But on second thoughts, there wasn’t anything ancient or anything I couldn’t “identify” with in the dance drama that I saw. Papa was more skeptical. He said it was “outdated”. He, who is 30 years older than I, couldn’t sit through the painfully slow performance!

Then how is it that this masquerade of dance, drama, religion, culture, and poetry appealed so much to me? Why did I “identify” with the green-faced, crown-headed, long haired, large butted character on the stage so much, that I actually walked up to the artiste who hid behind the masque to congratulate him? The man was pleased. His eyes shone with some kind of weird gratitude when I told him I was bowled by his grace. He smiled a warm, real smile and said, “THANG YOU”. Sans his pink painted face, red twisted mouth, and large black eyes with which he emoted so well, he looked more human. More approachable. More real. But I liked the older green noble man. The masked face was something my masked existence could identify easily with. The mask which I wore on with élan everyday like a second skin. Skin which had grown on me.

Sometimes I am the green-faced noble soul transporting my audience into an enchanted world. I tell stories with my eyes, which they believe. I prance around like a victor, they accept me. I pretend that I am a powerhouse of prowess, they are fooled. I am the empress with innumerous powers and they worship me. I pretend to be strong everyday, making them think I emerged out without a single scar. I secretly wish it wasn’t any mask. I secretly wish they knew just because I don’t scream, it doesn’t mean I don’t hurt.

When I am the seductress, the perfect woman, the perfect daughter, the perfect lover – I have the pink faced, glowing, and polished-to-perfection mask on. It’s pretty. It’s true. It’s the closest answer to me. It’s shocked, it’s hurt, it can love, it can lie, yet, it is every bit a beauty.

At other times I am the wicked women, the ashura, they would say in ancient terminology. My black, kholed eyed, my red luscious lips entice you to a trap. What I am today, I am not tomorrow. What you see is not what you get. What you believe is not what’s true. I rule the world of make-belief and make it almost true for you. That’s on the stage of life. If I were on the stage on drama, the deep black on my face, the red cheek bones and the elongated black eyes would give it all away. Sadly for my audiences, the world is no stage, and life, no play.

Life is in the finer details

Who said life's short...? It seems sometimes like an unending song. Then again, who said it's long. Look, my day's over like this.

5.30 am: Unearthly hour. Unearthly me. Woke up with an uncommon morning urge to answer nature’s call. Ugghh… so much for treating dry skin with increased intake of fluids. And I am wide awake. Not being used to seeing the twilight often I decide to sleep again…

And I slip into my favorite place – the world of dreams.

6.00: Mom and dad and me. And Willi. On something that looks like a cross between a buggy and a cycle rickshaw. Me at the wheel. Or whatever. Everyone else sits perkily behind the almost nonexistent. Dreams I tell you…

7.00: We are still traveling. Only this time there are a whole lot of relatives who I really wish were dead. They are making my cute little buggy, now red and rust, look out of shape. They are heavy. But I pedal along.

7.30: Dreams again -- Ammachi, my granny, is also on board now. Mom reminds her that I ought to be her best grandchild. I pedal along. Only Willi knows how difficult it is for me as we pedal downhill, then uphill. Downhill again. Papa sits stiff. He is uneasy about the whole trip and doesn’t think much of my maneuvering skills. He is silent.

7.45: Bebe calling. I pick up. “I am upset. I am lonely”. Did I actually say that? “Close off those small, small eyes and go to sleep,” he says. I listen. Hang up. Back to sleep.

8.00: I stop. He suggests the others get down and walk across, as though he read my mind. (Well, he was like that often.) They get down while both of us continue to pedal. He holds the handle now, and I hold his hand. I feel safe. The weird feeling of safety I always got when I was on the bike with him.

8.30: We cross the road. Reach a mosambi juice bandi, where papa is buying everyone fresh juice. (a figment from last nights juice story I worked on, I reckon). I wanted a milkshake, but then settle for juice.

Back to senses. I hear mom rattling away about what to do and what not to do. They are chasing Shadow now. Prema is “squeaking” something. I struggle to open my eyes… still longing spend some more time with Willi, albeit it my dreams. “8.30” the clock seems to scream at me…!!! Time flies.

9.00 am: Back to dreams. Now it’s shopping. A niche boutique. White shoes in patent leather. White peep-toes with a red bow. A white cloth bag that looks like a shoe… Why white? No clue.

9.30: Bebe calling. I ignore.

9.30: Papa wakes me up gently.

10 am: Dreams again. Distorted imagery this time, I don’t remember much of this part usually once I am done with brushing my teeth.

10.15: Hot tea, Hyderabad Chronicle and Haneef-related small talk with papa. From property to politics, we dwell on his fave subjects for a while, over bread and omelette.

11.30: I am ready. After trying on three different pairs of clothes. Out of the house with papa finally. And guess what? The dream comes true. Papa sits perkily in the car and then he stiffens. Some side-seat driving later, he is upset. He doesn’t trust my maneuvering skills.

12.00: Pinging. On three tabs at a time with Prabs, Sheets and Priety – lots of room for goss. Me de-stressed.

12.45: Hear a mallu song in English. Hilarious. Forward it to likeminded contacts

1.00: Lunch at Gav’s. I hate his post nicotine patch avatar. Aloof; rude, indifferent. I hated lunch to0. My fave Fish curry in a sweet new avatar. Yuck!

2.00: day dreaming

3.00 pretending

4.00 Blogging.

BORED ALREADY. deciding on whether or not to catch Cash first day, first show.


Pet peeve: Throbbing finger tips. I must stop four-finger typing.
On my mind: Cash. Am I dressed enuf for PVR?
On my lips: Oh ri kanchi… asoka. Don’t ask me why!