So a few days ago, I packed my bags and got on a train to Jaipur, Rajasthan, mostly for the Jaipur Literature Festival (Indian version of the Galle Lit Fest). Set at the Diggi House in Shivaji Marg, the fest promised a star host of literary celebrities — including Michael Ondaatje, our very own Shehan Karunatilaka (who bagged the DSC ...

Everyone talks about the freedom to wear what you want to wear. Recently we had the Slut Walk in Delhi where people protested against sexual harassment – and against people who use the woman’s skimpy clothing as an excuse to harass or sexually attack her, as in ‘oh she was dressed like a slut, she deserved it!’ And so no ...

So there I was minding my own business at a neat little understated coffee shop in Connaught Place, a busy hub in Delhi – when all of a sudden, who should come sit quite self righteously before me! A monkey with a tiny biscuit in its hand! I promptly decided to name him Mister Bobblybop. Me: Awwww hewwo you wittle ...

I’m not being a very social butterfly here, man. I guess it’s because it’s new territory and I take time to get close to new people. But I don’t think it’s helping my image! Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a loner at college, far from it. In fact it’s quite impossible as an option what with my Foreigner Status. ...

So it’s only a week till I get on a plane back home, and as usual the last few days before take-off have me turned into a grumpy mumbling fidgety little thing constantly reminded of homely comforts. And the number one thing at home I yearn for? FOOD. Oh god. Yesterday I literally stabbed a pillow with my fist and ...

When you get frightened, adrenaline is pumped into your blood stream as a reflex. So why the hell do I love finding movies that scare the bajeezus outta me? I’ma blame it on the a-a-adrenaline, I guess. You know that feeling after you watch a super scary movie and you’re so scared you don’t want to even go to the ...

After much silent plotting and planning I finally sneaked my way back into Sri Lanka a few days ago, like a sneaky ninja. SURPRISE! The reactions were priceless. My favourite one was by the Flailer: “WHAT DA F*** ARE YOU DOING HERE?! WHAT DA F***? I KNEW YOU’D PULL SOMETHING LIKE THIS! I KNEW IT! YOU LITTLE B****!” I actually ...

Ahhh here! Where? Just wait OK. Wait for what? For lies don’t talk. I’m not lying. Ah truly? What do you mean? Nothing, just wait. What am I waiting for? I’m confused now! Very good for you. Confusion is good for me? Idiot you are a! Your sentence structure is all off. You only! I’m only what? Head pot. Huh? ...

So apparently Aishwarya Rai had a baby this year, and Jessica Simpson is expecting one too. They’re both going to produce miniature celebrities who are going to be coochy cooed over by all loyal followers of the tabloid for years to come. Worldover, people love talking about these hot mamas and their movies and music and enviable good looks, ...

I was packing last night for my flight back home, a long vacation, and this is what my luggage looked like: This is not counting the first layer of library at the very bottom. I had to close it and sit on it and bounce on it a few times to be able to bring the two edges of zip ...

I am a social butterfly. Online. In real life I surround myself with people too, and I look like an extrovert, but secretly I’m an introvert. Yes I am a secret ninja introvert. And our kind, I think, has benefited most from social networking. Facebook and Twitter and thoseotheronesthatpaleincomparison are alternate avenues of socializing, which do not require dressing up ...

I’m really getting out of touch with this blogging business no? It’s like bloggers block ’cause I’ve been getting into other types of writing lately, poetry and essays and all that jazz. Oh well. It’ll come back soon enough. Till then let me just update you on a few things. Firstly, I am cooking like a boss. Shit, I never ...

a saleslady at the market I learnt to make shaahee paneer!

…when you’re sitting in the backseat of a bicycle rickshaw, and everyone stops for the traffic light. And I’m looking into the faces of all these Indians behind our rickshaw. What do I do? They’re looking right at me. Do I smile? *smiles* Oh shit that old lady looks pissed off, I’m sorry old lady my smile was not meant ...

Women have come a long, long way since the Women’s Lib first emerged, especially in the West. The general perception these days is that the West – let’s say the US and the UK – is where one goes to be ‘liberated’ from cultural/social restrictions common to the East, especially the restrictions placed on women. A woman can wear what ...

with my Atlas Chooti pen during study breaks.

1. Dancing and singing in my own room. 2. There’s always plenty of food in the fridge for a midnight snack. 3. Shampoo or toothpaste is over? No problem, a new tube will magically reappear the next day. 4. Having a huge double-mattress to roll around on even though I really just use one-third of it. 5. Sexy intelligent Sri ...

So in my second year of university we’re studying Russian literature – Dostoyevsky, Turgenev and the likes (nothing short of amazing), and a lot of European poetry – 16th century poetry, from the era of ye ol Will S. (no, not Smith). You know, here I was, thinking all that chivalry and those dramatic declarations of undying love you read ...

There was a handsome prince, who met a beautiful princess, and one day he said, hey, will you marry me? And the princess said, no! And she lived happily ever after.

Ever wonder if we’re being watched? By some superior intelligence? What if God is just an alien? And destiny or karma or fate or coincidence or those times you think someone with a twisted sense of humour is controlling your life – are electromagnetic forces emitted by an instrument in the hand of an alien creature whose microscope slide our ...