Lucky Dogs

Paris dogs are the best.

India

I have been traveling so much lately.  I can't say I don't love it--especially when it means leaving a still-wintry Sweden for a warmer clime.  Honestly, it's because of these trips that I have a mild impression of my first Swedish winter.  It ain't that bad if you ain't here for stretches of it!

It had been about 4 years since I'd been to India (since my Urban Outfitters days).  I was in Delhi and Bangalore this trip.  And, as in the past, I much prefer the south/Bangalore.  I really really want to visit Pondicherry one of these times, just for funsies.  A coastal Indian city with French colonial undercurrents... sounds like a dream!

I travel most often by myself, but then I go around with folks from our offices once I am on location.  I enjoy traveling by myself; I mostly prefer it.  It's sort of a pain when I roll off a looooong flight and have to navigate passport-stamping and cash-getting and taxi-finding (more like, taxi-trusting.... There's often a lot of "Is this person really taking me to where I want to go?" going through my jetlaggy brain) by myself.  But I've rather got it down to a science now.  Still, having a travel buddy means I can be a little less vigilant.  I trust no one when I travel by myself.  My momma didn't raise no rube.

So what was I getting at?  Oh yeah, I had some weird apprehensions about this trip.  Most likely because of the high profile gang rape some months ago and all of the cultural issues it brought to light.  I was with colleagues from work the whole time or stayed in or near the hotel otherwise, so everything was fine and the most threatened I ever felt was by a crazy alien formation of bees on attack outside of a store in Koramangala.  But still, it's good to be aware of what's bubbling in this crazy world of ours, even if it's not always so nice.

Now onto the photos!



Things in bloom on the way to a supplier in Bangalore.  Pretty pretty.

Another gorgeous tree at one of the suppliers.

Mind the thorns!

Rusty truck.  This one's not so indicative of the brightly painted trucks on the streets in India.  But the rusted out effect is really top-notch, you must agree.

Fabric-palooza!

Wires + floral frame.

If you're a FB or Instagram friend, you know how in love with the local dogs I was.  I was fantasizing about moving to Delhi and opening up a doggie spa to clean and shelter the beautiful pariah dogs (or "Delhi dingos" as I affectionately called them).  Here are a couple of my favorites.

Such sweet babies.

I tried some new eats on this trip.  I also tried to maintain my gluten-free status but found my reserves weak when faced with some freshly baked naan or, even better, parantha.  Every meal seemed to check my "special occasion" box, so that I could override my anti-gluten rule.  Oh well....

This is idli, one of my new favorites.  It's a steamed, rice-based cake that you top with sambar or chutney.  It's gluten-free and seems pretty healthy on account of its being steamed and not fried.  (But damn, if they fried these things.... NEXT.  LEVEL.)

While we're on the topic of yummy new things I tried (though not of the gluten-free variety), I had some delicious, piping hot poori that I definitely did not regret crossing dietary lines for.  If you feel like your lunch has been lacking flair, order a poori and watch others be jelly.  

I also loved the nommy vadai that were on the breakfast buffet at the hotel.  They've got me dreaming of grinding my own dal and frying some of these at home.  I should do it, right?

Insta-shot of the vegetarian-only microwave at our office in Bangalore.  Of course, there is a meat-friendly counterpart.  

I went to a local spot with a few colleagues from our Bangalore office.  (I knew it was local because dudes were a little "leer-y" on the walk there and, well, because the walk there involved some tricky Frogger moves.)  Because it was so "local", I was fairly certain that this outing was going to be my digestive downfall.  Drinking beer seemed like the safest option (despite its glutenous bent) and next thing I knew, THIS CONTRAPTION was on our table.  We shared some "veg" plates that were hellishly spicy (but in a good way) and I was certain that all of our spoons in the same peanut masala was gonna have me in the bathroom all night.  But somehow, I was unscathed!  Lucky me!

By the way, nommy nommy peanut masala is my new favorite drinky snack...  

This is a crappy shot of a delicious uttapam I enjoyed for lunch one day.  I could eat that white coconut curry (2 o'clock on the plate above) on just about anything.


So that was India.  I had a wonderful wonderful trip.  I was fantasizing about moving to Bangalore while I was there, if that tells you anything.  But it goes against my rule about not living anywhere I can't drink the water.  (THIS IS A GOOD RULE.)  Also, I do like to be able to go where I want, when I want, by myself if I want.  So that wouldn't work either.  But still, India is really incredible.  I can't wait to go back this fall.

Hans Karlsson Is My Hero

B and I stumbled upon the paintings below at a local vintage store.  (Said store looks and smells like a thrift store, but the prices are definitely more dear.)  Still, when we saw the wonderful animal works of Hans Karlsson, it was too late.  We were goners.

I pressed the owner for more info about Mr. Karlsson, and he showed us this outdated article (in Swedish).  I asked if he was still painting, and the owner gave me a sheepish answer that he was working on "something" these days.  Hmm.  Later google searches indicated that he might also have been involved in politics here.  But then, there are probably lotsa Hans Karlssons in these parts.

Ultimately, we took home this grey kitty.  I fell in love with his worried expression and giant ears, and also the background is so cool.  He's now hanging above our bed.

But I still think about that punk rock puppy (above).  If only we had a bigger place.  I would have a room dedicated to this guy's art if I could.  Oh, Hans Karlsson, I can't wait to see your next "something."

Store Dogs

Faceless fluff in Biarritz.

Fancy in San Sebastian.

The Other Weekend, In Sweden

Have I really not posted since my last trip to Stockholm?  Yikes.  Sorry about that.  (Hmm... come to think of it, I still have stuff I haven't posted from my last trip to China.  Oh, the high hopes I had for the creepy mannequin series I collected there.  Soon...)

I spent a glorious (flu- and snow-free!) long weekend in Stockholm, just as April was transitioning to May.  The sun was out, the air was fresh, and the sky was bluer than blue.  Finally, Stockholm!  Thanks for not making me suffer through another cold and glum weekend!

Here is an unremarkable shot from the bridge going to Skansen.  What is remarkable is how damn photogenic Stockholm is.  The light on the water, the clouds just so, the flare in the sky, the tops of the buildings.  It's almost too easy.  Wanna feel like a better photographer than you are?  Shoot in Stockholm.

The sky is bluer than blue.  I'm fairly certain that's what inspired the paint color.
And golden stags?  Stop.  I am in love.

Speaking of the sky, this is its level of brightness at approximately 4:45 am (yes, am) on the last weekend in April.  So you basically wake up in the 4 o'clock hour, feeling like you need to get up but why are you still so tired?  Oh right, because it's not even 5 am!

And if the light doesn't wake you up (blackout curtains are in order), this horrible screeching bird (it sounds like a woman scorned, I'm not kidding) certainly will.  Whatever this bird is so angry or hungry or horny about at such an unreasonable hour of the morning, he certainly does his best to make the neighborhood aware.

This is my favorite map.  Do you see why I love Skansen so?  They have GIANT animals there!

Creepy troll/teddy antique store box.  I wonder what else is buried in there?

Creepy door handle.

Creepy old chihuahua (Dinky's Swedish grandfather??) installed outside his mom's antique store.

I love this old poster in the metro.

We popped into the pretty pretty Nobis Hotel for an afternoon glass-a.  The indoor "courtyard" bar is striking.  We were pretty stoked about the free wifi, too.

Check out the like-owner, like-beast looks!  Same hair!

Hanging on.

Not an option.

A fancy spork...

and some skulls at Sturehof, where the fish is delish.

Every neighborhood needs a golden moose.  This is ours.

Who you callin'...  oh wait, you're out of panini?  tee-hee.

We had drinks outside (!) at Debaser Slussen and then caught the (free!) Friends show inside.  LOVE this band and all their pos-vibe, mid-'90s schmoove action.  I definitely felt an ESG thing happening in the live show, as well.  Good stuffs.



But you know what the best part of Stockholm was this time?  Something called a "Potato Twister."

Two raw potatoes are put through a spiraling contraption then fried, impaled, and dusted with a spice powder of your choosing (we chose the combo powder, which was something like 16 different flavors combined).  Holy hell, this is next-level snack food.  It humbles french fries in a way I couldn't have imagined.  If I were on that "Best Thing I Ever Ate" television show, this just might be on it with me.

Oh, and did you notice you can also have it with a sausage or a chorizo in the middle.  Forget the Clapper or that personal purse hanger thingy.  THIS is the greatest invention of my lifetime.

(Also note above, "Smor" is "Slut." tee-hee.  It never gets old!)

Shanghai Wrap-Up

Bringing it on home to Paris.

 Shanghai style fried (top, duh) and soup-dumplings with pork and crab roe.

Fabric ladies at a supplier dinner.  (Where we ate crocodile!)

The worst bludgeoning of French, ever.

Hangover relief.  Pocari Sweat is a must, and the cool cucumber chips didn't hurt either.  

It's encouraged to get yourself some new red undies for good luck in the new year.  Especially if you are a dragon and this is your year.

And look who finally made an appearance:  the pink puppy!  Pink puppy don't mess around in the cold weather, apparently.  But there she was, quickly overseeing her mom count the day's cash.  My trip was not for naught, after all!

And the Aeroports de Paris were feeling festive for CNY upon my return.  Love the dragon on the tower!