Hashers: Rajesh, his daughter, Sunita
Regulars (who have paid up their subscription): Neela, Zoria, Vineet, Ipui
Guests: Margherita, Francesca, Albert

The ten of us walked around the Horticultural Gardens and ended up buying a few plants too. Zoria bought a cactus with pink flowers called a Euphoria Milly (but I could be seriously wrong) and another rather bulbous 5 year old plant. Bonani and Anando were missed for their bountiful botanical encyclopedic knowledge of flora and fauna.
Ippui bought three potted plants, which Albert, fellow volunteer at Missionaries of Charity- Kalighat, helped carry for her. I wanted to buy some of those Feng Shui bamboos for Mom as hers have died, but Ippui assured me that they only survive in panda country up in the highlands.
Recently back from Rajasthan, where we were filming with Bibi Russell who is teaching the village women to make accessories out of threads, grasses and reeds available in the environs of Talchapar, a black buck sanctuary, I helped Rajesh's daughter collect some seeds and beautiful dried flowers which she will hopefully turn into pot pourri.
We walked back to the Taj and had a very leisurely breakfast. Zoria was able to speak in Italian with Albert from Zurich and Francesca who is here for 2 years to work with various NGOs. Jennifer was in town but left for Bombay on Saturday night where she will join Andy. Aparajita was supposed to have joined us but forgot. Together we saw
Water on Sunday evening and I would certainly recommend it to Zoria, (but unfortunately no English subtitles), who was most disgusted by the film 300 (on the 300 Spartans) which see saw and panned. Margherita and Albert had already seen Water and were disappointed but I thought Lisa Ray and John Abraham were just too mouth watering! And what a tear jerker! Francesca, Sunita and Margherita are thinking of going to Benares during the Easter weekend.
Ippui is most excited about doing the Wetlands next weekend Sunday 25th March 7:30 am in front of ITC Sonar Bangla.
Rajesh will look into visiting architect Dulal Mukherjee's bagan bari with its resident craftsmen.
Siddique has also come up with a River Cruise for next Sunday.

WHAT: A leisurely cruise down the Hooghly to Belur Math and back, with a stop-over to at the Math to try and identify the different religious influences in the architecture of the structure.

WHEN: Sunday, March 25, 2007
WHERE: Leaving Millennium Park at 9.00 a.m., returning at 1.00 p.m. The boat will be available to us from 8.30 a.m. for those who want to spend some extra time on the river.

COST: 400 a head for adults and 300 for children. Please bring your own picnics as there will be no catered food.

INTERESTED? Call Siddique Cowper @ 9433867101/22497295
Cheers,
Neela
9830014934