India Sketch Journal 2013 July 29 by Meera Rao
I always debate whether to add to the stereotype vision of India about 'cows on the street' every time I decide to sketch a cattle or two (actually five out of 78 sketches this year and five out of 124 in last year's journal!). Unlike in western countries the roads are happily shared by different kinds of vehicles, pedestrians, and various animals. This is especially true in the old part of Maisuru where many households still have cows - except they let those cows loose to graze around the neighborhood. Mostly the cows are very calm and mind their own business but every now and then when the streets get busy and there is not much room to share, I get very nervous - be it an autoriksha, bus or a cow coming the opposite way but on the same side of the road as me !!!
India Sketch Journal 2013 July 30 by Meera Rao
This beautifully battered brass coffee filter pot in a coffee shop at one of the modern malls was almost as tall as me. Coffee powder is packed into the top half of the pot with a filter in the middle. When boiling water is poured over it, thick coffee 'decoction' slowly drips to the bottom part. Add a couple of tablespoons of this decoction to boiling hot milk, mix in sugar, pour with pizzazz into tiny stainless steel tumblers making sure there is lot of foam on top and you have delicious 'mysore coffee' to savor. Check here for a sketch of steaming cup of Indian filter coffee from my Art House Library Sketchbook Project and here from my India Sketch journal 2013 to know more about coffee history and culture of southern India.
Here is a look at the page from my sketch book journal:
India Sketch Journal 2013 Page 27 by Meera Rao
9 comments:
I love your painting of da-calf. The roads in India sometimes feel like obstacle courses. Definitely a good exercise in agility. I had almost forgotten about those huge coffee making containers. My neighbor used to warm up water for showers in containers similar to this one but made of tin.
Beautiful connnection between the 2 skecthes :-)
I love street cows and I had an experience of a cow in pain crying at my gate in the middle of the night. I went out and gave her reiki, she became calm and walked away!
We have a similar mini fliter at home in silver.. old stuff is golden indeed!
Hello Meera, thank you for the laugh this morning. I read your title and saw your painting and it was just what I needed to start my day. I wish you a beautiful day and a clear path. Hugs, Carol
Love the cow, and the coffee you described sounds delicious !
Thank you for the thumbs up, Mirabel :)
@heera, but if the cows really stopped being on the roads I will miss them too !!!! I own small 2 c and 1c size coffee decoction makes - so I was really impressed with the size of this one ;)
Padmaja,what a beautiful story! The cow must have had a sixth sense to come to your door! Thanks for sharing.
Carol, I was tickled that I came up with that pun but wasn't sure whether I would get chuckles or groans ;) so happy it made you laugh ! Thanks for stopping by and letting me know .
Thank you, Jane ! Writing these descriptions a few months later jogs my memories too!
Post a Comment