Pest control for the literate lizard

We got an email from our admin department yesterday about pest control happening in our office on Saturday. No one is going to be allowed at work for six hours after the pest control has been done. The mail reminded me of this photograph I took last June when I was at my Aunt's place in Pune. The words 'Kanchi Varadaraja' were handwritten on almost all the walls of her house. When I asked her what that was for, she said that it is a belief that when you write these two words on your walls you no longer have lizards in your house. And my Aunt swears by this.

Growing up in Pune I remember being mortally scared of lizards, and now, even though I know they are quite harmless, I still am very scared of them. How I wish I had known about the power of Kanchi Varadaraja back then! A search on the internet will lead to sites on the Varadaraja Perumal temple in Kanchipuram, but nothing on why these two words are effective in getting rid of your lizard problems. But I can't help marvel at the miracle behind this non-violent way of pest control for the literate lizard.

A fishy fish

I recently inherited an aquarium in office and am now mother to what seems to be a Ryukin goldfish and a bottom feeder. Problem is that the goldfish is possibly the fattest goldfish ever..and I mean EVER. He also has a comical expression which makes him look quite unreal. Take a look and let me know what you think. Is he really a Ryukin goldfish? That's what my research said so. But this is my first time with fish so I could be wrong.

Baby okra!

How cute is this?

My fridge magnet collection

  

It's time to buy a new (bigger) fridge!

A surprise visit to Istanbul, again!

So just ten days after our wonderful holiday in Kenya and Tanzania I found out that I had to make a work trip to Istanbul. My radio station was doing a promotion with Radisson hotel and Etihad airways and we were taking 40 lucky listeners to Istanbul for a big weekend. I was told on a Wednesday evening that I had to leave for Istanbul early on Friday morning, so I had a lot to do before I left. I was the official photographer and had to ensure that we had regular updates on our official facebook page. (Yeah, not a bad way to earn a living, isn't it?). It was great to be in Istanbul again, that too on an all-expenses-paid trip. All our tours were organized by Radisson and this time around I actually got the see the famous Kohinoor in Topkapi palace. Had a great time, enjoyed myself thoroughly and fell in love with Istanbul, all over again!