MusicianLast Friday I left on a brief and highly pleasurable junket to Kerala, on board the Oberoi's Backwater Cruiser, M.V. Vrinda. I'm not posting any links just now because I will of course be writing about the trip and will post links to my piece in OUTLOOK TRAVELLER when it appears. Most likely one month from now.
This little sketch is of one of the five musicians who entertained us -- he's playing a "moorsang" (also "murchang", "morsang") or Indian Jewish Harp -- and the reason I have a sketch rather than a photograph is that I decided I'd try making drawings on this trip. I hate fiddling with cameras and for that reason rarely get any pictures at all. I don't often manage to do any sketching either because I usually feel too self-conscious. Perhaps I succeeded this time because I used a little notebook and ballpoint pen? Nothing very noticeable or professional. And besides everyone else was watching the performers!
The three-day/four night trip was tremendous fun but I had an unexpected bonus: the JetAirways flight from Delhi was delayed due to fog, so I missed my connection to Cochin, in Bombay. Jet very kindly offered to accommodate me for the night -- even though the fare on which I was travelling did NOT cover me for such contingencies -- but the Oberoi stepped in and had me stay at the Trident (yes, the very one ...) at Nariman Point. It was for just ten hours -- my flight was at 5.30 a.m. -- but the room they gave me was fabulous, all glass and quiet elegance, plus a personal butler (in case I needed help shutting my jaw, which must have hit the floor with a loud thump when I walked in the room). I can remember spending a couple of nights in the Business Centre of the old Oberoi many years ago. It was fancy enough, but nothing like THIS. My favourite detail? The basin in the glass-walled bathroom was recessed into the glass counter top (not perched upon it, i.e.), so smoothly and neatly that it was like washing my hands INSIDE a soap bubble. Nice.
8 comments:
pic is gud
The echoing twang of the moorsang is a rare feat in Karnatic recitals these days. Could it be a dying art, I wonder. The wash basin seems to be a minor obsession with you. One of the designs you had earlier showcased, was that of a washbasin, I remember. Talking of bubbles, there's a cafe named The Bubble Cafe at the Taj Residency,Cochin. (Or 'Kochi', if you want to toe the govt. line.)
Neat sketch.
Thank you, honey. And Paul M., I haven't noticed any special interest in basins before this, but WHO KNOWS!!! I may be mutating into a handwashbasin fetishist. As for the Bubble Cafe at the Taj Residency, I suppose I will have to wait to be invited to do a story on the Taj's properties before I get to see it ... Do you live in Kochi/Chochin, Paul?
Beautiful sketch! It is so much fun to draw musicians. You have done a terrific job with a mere ball point pen. Please post more sketches from the trip.
Lovely sketch...and lol about the wash basin. Came here via Sharanya and loved your design posts.
Thanks arvindh, thanks anandita-- and yes, I promise to post a couple more of the sketches here. Once the article appears in OUTLOOK TRAVELLER, I'll post a link to it, because it'll be accompanied by great pix taken by OUTLOOK's photographer (who wanted to remain unnamed).
"photographer (who wanted to remain unnamed)" - so much like him!
i identify completely with how you feel abt taking pics and sketching...
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