OF BANGALORE
A Division of the Overseas
Women‘s Foundation
Bangalore
THE
R
12
The Rangoli −
1

THE RANGOLI
(A publication of the
Overseas Women’s Club of Bangalore)
Editor: Hanifa HaJi
Commissioning Editor: Mary Mcauley
Photo Editor: KatJa GaneSH
Layout: pinK leMonaDe
Advertising: SuMitHra raJu
Distribution Team: petra BeKKar anD HeiDi HoJnicKi
OVERSEAS WOMEN’S CLUB
OF BANGALORE
(A division of the Overseas Women’s
Foundation, Bangalore)
Acting President: SHerry Walter
Secretary: SuSan Bouvin
Treasurer: paMela Milne
Vice President, Charities: SHerry Walter
Vice President, Events I: naMrata DeWan
Vice President, Events II: Berty ellinG
Vice President, Advertising & Communications I :
SuMitHra raJu
Vice President, Advertising & Communications II: raJeeB SooD
Vice President, Fundraising: nanHi SinGH
Vice President, Membership: aSHa preM SHaH
Vice President, Publications: Hanifa HaJi
32
12
OWC Christmas Bazaar 2015
Volunteer with OWC
16
Makar Sankranti
18
Benjarong Lunch Bunch
Flower Arranging
Photography Workshop
12
21
My Expat Life in India
OVERSEAS WOMEN’S
FOUNDATION, BANGALORE
Managing Trustee: SuSHeela M. tHoMaS
Trustees: franceS rao, anila SuBraHManyaM and SuSanne periS
ISSUE: JANUARY 2016
Copyright Overseas Women’s Club of
Bangalore (www.owcbangalore.org). All rights reserved. Reproduction in any manner is prohibited unless prior approval is granted.
Printed in Bengaluru, India, by
W.Q. Judge Press.
This magazine is meant for private circulation only.
04 Editor’s Note
08 President’s Note
10 What’s on this month
26
Walking for Fitness
29
Indian Summers
32
Must Watch Bollywood Movies
Cover Photo Credit: "A New Dawn” by Hema Narayanan (www.hemanarayanan.com)
Please send your letters and suggestions to owceditor@yahoo.in
Special thanks and appreciation to our members for their contribution of articles and photographs.
The Rangoli − January 2016 | 3

EDITOR’S NOTE
Hanifa Haji
Editor and VP, Publications,
Overseas Women’s Club of Bangalore.
owceditor@yahoo.in
owc.publications@gmail.com
4 | The Rangoli − January 2016
Dear members,
Happy New Year! May 2016 be a year of good health, prosperity and friendship for all.
As we enter into any new year, we tend to have a heightened sense of opportunities and possibilities. There was a time when December would see me diligently at my desk, pen and paper in hand, ready to write down my many New Year’s resolutions. Not a month would pass and I would already have broken most of the promises and so I decided to never write a resolution again. Instead, I have an ongoing set of goals which seem to be very consistent with almost everyone I talk to:
• Eat healthier and get fit
• Learn something new
• Spend more time with family and friends
• Travel to new places
• Volunteer and make a difference
How fortunate we are that our membership in the OWC gives us the opportunity to fulfil that last goal and we thank everyone (volunteers, sponsors and shoppers) for making our annual OWC Christmas Bazaar such a wonderful success. Read more about the event in Jesse Lindstrom’s article and take a look at Sherry Walter’s article on volunteering and making a difference in the charities we support.
The month of November was full of wonderful events organized by our Activities and
Events Committee. Workshops, lunch bunches and road trips — these are some of the social activities that make it so much fun to be part of this organization and you can read about them in this month’s Rangoli .
You’ll also read about Katja Ganesh’s expat experience in India, the festival of Makar
Sankranti written by Poonam Illuri, and Mary McAuley’s review on a wonderful new
TV show, Indian Summers. Shakera Tarachand has put together her list of must-watch
Bollywood movies and a number of OWC members have written about their experience in the 2015 OXFAM 100 km Trailwalker event.
And finally, the 2016 Photo Competition is now open to receiving your entries. We have four categories (Nature, Culture, Places and Faces) and the deadline is March 31, 2016.
You never know ... your entry could be on the cover of a future issue of The Rangoli .
As always, we welcome your articles, comments and photos … please send your submissions to owceditor@yahoo.in.
Have a wonderful month!

A number of our local business friends offer generous discounts with a valid OWC Membership Card.
Some other establishments will also provide a discount but don’t advertise, so show your card and ask! Conditions apply.
Alila Bangalore, Whitefield –
15% off on food and beverage in all of the restaurants everyday
Bliss Chocolate Lounges – 15% off at UB City, Forum Value Mall,
Mantri Mall, Forum Mall
Caperberry, Fava,
Casa Cottage,
UB City –
12.5% off on food/soft drinks & 7% discount on alcohol beverages
Richmond Road –
15% off on room rates
(signature restaurant of Novotel) on brunch, buffet, a la carte and soft beverages. Not valid on special occasions and during events.
Cannot be clubbed with any other offer
The Oberoi – 15% off on food/soft drinks at: Polo Club,
Szechuan Court
Rim Nam (does not include Sunday
Brunch)
Le Jardin (does not include Sunday
Brunch) Fishermans Wharf – 10% off on food and non – alcoholic drinks
Olive Beach – 15% off
Fortune Select Trinity on F&B outlets
– 15% off
Gateway Hotel – 15% off on food at Northern Gate
Park Plaza, Bengaluru – 15% off on food at Melange, Shao, Zaffron,
The Gadang Lounge and The Pool
Bar
Grand Mercure, Bangalore –
15% off on food and soft beverages at 12th Main and By the Blue
Habanero – 10% off.
Discount is not applicable with other discount/promotions
Portland Steakhouse & Café
10% off on food
–
Ritz Carlton – 15% off on food and soft beverages in all restaurants for party size of 8 or less. Discount not valid for special occasions or festivals
Hotel Royal Orchid – 15% off on food at Geoffrey’s Bar and
Limelight Restaurant
Royal Orchid Suites,
– 25% off on food
Whitefield
Hyatt Bangalore – 20% off at
Pink Poppadom, Lido and Liquid
SBARRO – 10% off (excluding combos & other offers); 15% off
(for group of 10 people or more)
ITC Windsor – 20% off on food including alcohol at Dublin,
Dakshin, Dum Pukht Jolly, Nabobs,
Royal Afghan, Raj Pavillion, The
Grill. 20% off on Sundowners
Fridays
Shiro, menu
UB City – 10% off on regular
Summer Vine,
15% off
Brookefield –-
The Lalit – 15% off at 24/7 Coffee
Shop, Baluchi and OKO
Le Meridian and beverages
– 20% off on food
Taj West End –15% off (ex. alcohol) Mynt (lunch,/dinner, not brunch) Masala Klub
(lunch/dinner) Blue Ginger (lunch incl. Sunday) Blue Bar (all drinks, incl. alcohol)
Leela Palace – 10% flat discount across all outlets. 10% discount at
Cake Shop with minimum billing of
Rs. 500
Toscano, daily
Whitefield – 10% off
Marriott , Whitefield – 15% off on food and beverage, not applicable to WBC Retail
Movenpick near BEL Circle,
MyPlace – 15% off, Mezzalune –
15% off, Obsidian Bar – 10%
Novotel, Bengaluru Techpark –
Flat 10% discount at The Square
6 The Rangoli −
Via Milano, Koramangala –
15% off
Vivanta by Taj, Whitefield –
15% off at Graze, Café Mozaic and
Memories of China
Vivanta by Taj, Yeswantpur –
15% discount on food only at
Palette, Azure, Paranda
January 2016
Antel Exports, Hosur Road – 15% to 25% off at factory outlet
Asian Woman’s Spa and Asian Unisex Spa, Koramangala – 20% off on spa and salon services
B:Blunt Salon – 25% off on initial visit, 10% off thereafter
Bodycraft Spa & Salon – 15% discount on all services at any outlet.
All services are by appointment only
CLARINS Skin Spa: - Complimentary treatment valued at Rs. 1700 on booking of any CLARINS Tri active Face or Body Treatment, on the first visit
Dr. Pawan (Vet), Indiranagar – 10% off on overall treatment fee
Hamilton Realtors – 10% discount on all real estate transactions
Hilton Bangalore – Embassy Golf Links:
Mon-Fri: 15% OFF and Sat – Sun: 20% OFF
(Including alcoholic beverages) on all restaurants and bar. Discount not valid for special promotions and cannot be clubbed with another offer
Himalayan Dowry Store, MG road –
30% off on carpets and 10% off on everything else
Jiva Spa, Vivanta by Taj, Whitefield – 15% off
Monopoly Inc – 10% discount on service charges
Montage – 15% discount on all framing services at locations in Phoenix
Market City and Jayanagar
Movenpick Near BEL Circle – 10% off at Sohum Spa
Oakwood: - Oakleaf, Oakwood Residence Prestige Whitefield: – 15% discount on total bill
Soul City, Oakwood Premier Prestige Bangalore (UB City): – 15% discount on total bill
Angsana Spa, Oakwood Premier Prestige Bangalore (UB City): 15% discount on all spa treatments
Angsana Oasis Spa Prestige Ozone, Bangalore, Whitefield: 15% discount on all spa treatments
Park Plaza, Bengaluru – 15% off on spa and salon treatments
Rakhi’s Fashion – Discounts of 5% - 15%
Rejuva spa , Lalit Hotel – 25% off on all services
Ritz Carlton Spa – 15% off on all services
Spa Alila Bangalore – 30% off on all treatments starting 1 Nov’14 through 31st Oct’15. This offer cannot be combined with any other promotional offer existing in the hotel. This offer will not be valid on special days like all official/public holiday
Scandal Unisex Salon, Marathalli – 20% off on services over Rs. 100
Swaasthya Wellness – Discount of 15%
Svisti, Cunningham Road – Discount of 5%
S2 Spa by Emma – 20% discount on massages & spas
The Leela, – 10% flat discount on the Leela Moments holiday packages at Kovalam, Udaipur & Goa, until March 2015
The Palms Spa, Bengaluru – 15% discount

PRESIDENT’S NOTE
Sherry Walter
Acting President and
VP, Charities,
Overseas Women’s Club of Bangalore.
Dear OWC Members,
Happy New Year! I am so excited to begin this new adventure with each of you. And
I know that along the journey of the great work we do on behalf of our 22 worthy charities, we will also become lifelong friends.
I want to first thank Debbie O’Neill on behalf of the entire OWC for everything she has done and given over the past twelve years. Debbie has begun a new adventure of her own in Kuala Lumpur, but I suspect she will pop in to check on all of us from time to time. Debbie, you will be missed and you are always welcome; know that I am committed to furthering the great work of this organization, its ideals and its spirit.
My name is Sherry Walter and I moved here with my husband, Steve from Shanghai,
China. While this is our fifth expat assignment, it is our first as empty nesters so we begin not only a new culture, but a new and exciting relationship.
OWC had a great 2015 and it was all because of you! On behalf the OWC Executive
Committee and our Trustees, I would like to thank the committee chairs for all of their hard work, creative ideas and compassionate spirit of giving.
OWC is the social arm of OWFB, a non-profit charitable trust. That means that everything we do is for the benefit of the charities we aid. And it means that we are an all voluntary organization of intelligent, strong and caring individuals from around the world. So as a volunteer organization, we need volunteers! And in the process of us helping others, working together, giving, loving and caring, we become, at our core, a social organization. And that I believe is the magic – engaging with each other in the service of others. I strongly encourage each of you to get involved in a project. It’s a great way to give back to our host community, to meet new friends, to get out of the house and into the community, and I guarantee you … to smile.
The OWC Executive Committee members are great role models for what can be done for our organization and for our community and each one has a wealth of knowledge about our history, our needs and our potential. So grab them at our weekly coffees or an event and find out more. Their names are listed in the Members Only insert in this issue of The Rangoli .
I so look forward to getting to know each of you. I am always available to help, to listen, to encourage, to console, to celebrate, to love. I will cry with you, laugh with you and wonder with you. I am not perfect and I will make mistakes, but it will always be with good intentions and a heart that is opened to you.
Learn. Love. Share. Care.
Success,
8 | The Rangoli − January 2016

Due to family and work obligations, a number of Executive
Committee positions have become vacant. As we have just completed our two major events of the year (India
Night and Christmas Bazaar), this is the perfect time, for those who would like to be more involved in the OWC, to ease into a leadership role. We will focus on the VP Events position this month but should you wish to get involved in any other roles, specifically, VP Fundraising, VP Advertising or VP Communications, please contact any of the EC members or Trustees mentioned in the OWC Members
Only insert.
• Organize events to encourage sociability among the members of the OWC. These events include major fundraising events such as OWC India Night and smaller events such as the OWC Photo Competition etc
• Work closely with VP Advertising to secure sponsorship for both large and small events, where needed
• Design advertisements and announcements communicating events through The Rangoli and email
Coordinate with editor of The Rangoli , VP Advertising and VP Communications
• Manage the coordinators for all OWC activities such as the coordinators for the Lunch bunch, Monthly speaker meetings, Road trips, and special groups
• Coordinate and work with other organizations to arrange tickets for OWC members for their fully sponsored events and other non-sponsored events
• Manage budgets, negotiate contracts, build and maintain relationships with venues and service providers
• Attend and report to the Executive Committee and Trustees at the monthly EC meetings
The Rangoli − January 2016 | 9

OF BANGALORE
A Division of the Overseas
Women‘s Foundation
Bangalore
1. To promote social welfare by aiding needy public charitable projects without restriction to caste or creed with both funds and personal involvement.
2. To welcome foreign newcomers in Bangalore and help them establish themselves in the community.
3. To promote sociability among the members and their families.
4. To help members and their families to gain a better understanding of India through cultural and social activities and programs.
1. Accept Society
2. Asha Foundation
3. Asha Niketan
4. Ashraya Children’s Home
5. Bangalore Education Trust
6. Bangalore Hospice Trust
7. Belaku Trust
8. Deena Seva Charitable Trust
9. Divine Light Trust for the Blind
10. Dominican Sisters of the
Presentation
11. Freedom Foundation
12. Helpline Charitable Trust – Project
Vishwas
13. Jagruthi
14. Jeevodaya Childcare India
15. Navachetana
16. New Ark Mission
17. ProVision Asia
18. Sai Shankar Loving Lights Trust
19. Shelia Kothavala Inst. for Deaf
20. Shristi Special Academy
21. Spastic Society of Karnataka
22. Vision Asia
with Katja Ganesh, Photographer
Date: Wednesday January 20, 2016
Venue: City Market
Sign up at Events desk at
10 | The Rangoli − January 2016

Karin Callin shops at the table of one
of the OWC charities
Despite the rainy weather, a record
D many at the event. “I feel privileged to be a part of an organization that devotes itself to bringing the
Bangalore community together and their wares. Most prominently among them were the 22 charities that the
OWC works to support. The Christmas
Bazaar is important to the charitable efforts of the OWC. Nan reports that, behind India Night, the Bazaar is the
OWC’s second largest fundraising event.
Nearly 300 volunteer hours were which, at the same time, raises money donated throughout the course of the to support the 22 charities that the
OWC helps”, she said. day. OWC members manned admission tables as well as the bake sale and publication booths. They assisted with set up and clean up. Bake sale and raffle basket items were carefully curated and donated.
There were many familiar Bangalore shops and restaurants in the mix of the approximately 80 vendors selling
12 | The Rangoli − January 2016

FOCUS ON CHARITY
A children's area was orchestrated where volunteers and sponsors painted faces and helped decorate cookies.
Many husbands pitched in as well. There were men who graciously provided security the entire day. Steve Walter tirelessly worked the stage announcing music groups and raffle winners.
And there was a Santa on stage for countless photo ops. Five music groups from Bangalore schools performed throughout the event as well.
The atmosphere was made even more festive by those who attended. Many came dressed for the occasion. Sherry
Walter, VP, Charities, commented that a big take away for her was “how the attendees interacted with the charities and what they brought to the event.”
The success of the bazaar depended not only on people giving freely of their time but also people who needed to show up, open their pocketbooks, and shop! The joint generosity of the
Hazel Fernandes and Abhishek Khare pose for a quick photo with Santa and his elves volunteers and the attendees yielded approximately 7 lakhs.
Whether you were a volunteer or a holiday shopper, OWC charities and fundraising would like to thank you for being part of this year’s Christmas
Bazaar. It was a beautiful start to this season of giving.
A soloist sings from Trio World School Sissi Demoulin gets her hand painted in the children’s area
The Rangoli − January 2016 | 13

FOCUS ON CHARITY
A
Approximately 85% of all monies collected through membership fees, events and fundraising events are distributed to the 22 worthwhile charities OWC supports. Of the
Rs. 4,000 membership fee, approximately Rs. 3,400 goes to charity.
Each year a Grant Funding Application process is completed by the charities we support. These charities are already sustainable in nature and our funding is meant for special projects and items that help them “do a little more”– add on a room, cots, kitchen equipment, toilets, digging a well. But even with the grant funding provided by OWC, it is not enough. The charities are always in need of items ranging from pillows, blankets, towels and school uniforms, to shoes, school bags, basic toiletries and special medical treatments.
Below is a list of the OWC Charities, in alphabetical order, and the population they serve. If you find one that has special meaning or interest to you, please free to contact me at owc.
charity@gmail.com
or Marianne at owc.secretary@gmail.com
. How you get involved depends on you; the best way to help is to get involved, the best way to meet people in a new country is to get involved, and the best way to give something back to the communities that give so much to us as our hosts ... is to get involved.
ACCEPT Society — Runs an HIV/AIDS
Care and Support Centre, as well as a home for HIV+ orphans. Focus on awareness, care and counseling, testing and medical help and support.
community, provides support to family members of patients and research in the field of HIV/AIDS.
ASHA Foundation (Action, Service and
Hope for AIDS) — Provides support and care for the HIV+/AIDS community in
Bangalore. Operates an AIDS hotline as well as a telephone counseling service, free clinic, awareness and education programs in hospitals and the
Asha Niketan — A home and vocational centre for mentally challenged men and women – both residential and day care. Committed to teaching these individuals how to take care of themselves and each other while learning new skills such as gardening, crafts, etc and general life skills.
Ashraya — Crèches (daycare) at 6 locations in Bangalore (Avalahalli,
Banaswadi, Indiranagar, Shivajinagar,
Siddapura, Nelamangala). A centre for abused and abandoned women at Nelamangala (“Tara” Women’s
Centre). A residential school
(“Neelbagh”) for children of migrant labourers and local, agricultural workers from neighbouring villages.
A convention centre, proceeds from which go to support the charity’s other programs
14 | The Rangoli − January 2016

FOCUS ON CHARITY
Bangalore Education Trust Running a free school for poor, rural children in Yelahanka. Provides balanced meals to students.
Bangalore Hospice Trust —
Karunashray - Fifty bed facility improving the quality of life of
Advanced stage cancer patients.
Health care professionals provide personal care, emotional support, respite care, symptom control, appropriate nutrition and bereavement support. All services are free.
Belaku Trust — Working to improve health and nutrition of poor women and children in villages in the
Kanakpura district.
Deena Seva Charitable Trust — Little
Infant Jesus Children’s Home - Runs a residential home for HIV+ children and women.
Divine Light Trust for the Blind —
Runs a residential school for blind children and those with multiple disabilities. Provides school education to enable blind children to integrate into normal schools. Also provides physiotherapy, computer training, and horticulture, tailoring and healthcare.
Dominican Sisters of the Presentation
— A crèche (daycare) for children of domestic workers and construction workers from the slums around
Indiranagar. Also supports the
Resurrection School for 250 older children. Provides help with homework, a place to study after school and free extra coaching classes and educational aids. Organises childrens summer camps and health camps. Organises Children’s
Parliaments – meetings held once a week to deal with problems and issues the children face, and learn about children’s rights. Self
Help groups for women (similar to micro credit groups) and promotes children’s and women’s leadership and develop talents.
Freedom Foundation — HIV+/AIDS clinic, small hospital and children’s home providing care and support to
HIV+ adults and children, many of whom are orphans. treatment, long-term rehabilitation and a dignified place to end their days.
ProVISION ASIA — Works with physically and intellectually challenged, blind and deaf people.
Provides specialist equipment to increase mobility as well as physical and speech therapy, corrective surgery, job placement services and government advocacy. Runs a special needs school providing English and computer classes for adults.
PMTCT — Prevention of Mother to
Child Transmission of HIV/AIDS.
Helpline Charitable Trust — Project
‘Vishwas’ - A home for orphaned, abused and abandoned children.
Main objective is to provide personalized care in a family setting.
Sai Shankar Loving Lights Trust —
Runs a free residential program called
T.R.E.P. (Total Residential Education
Programme) which provides not only academic education but stresses
Values, Life-Skills and Devotion for disadvantaged girls and boys.
AGRUTHI — Operates a crèche
(daycare) and home care centres for children who are sexually exploited or whose parents have died of HIV.
Conducts HIV awareness and education programs, drop-in health clinics, outreach and service to commercially and sexually exploited people.
Sheila Kothavala Institute for the
Deaf (SKID) — Runs a free, Englishmedium educational institute for hearing-impaired children, mainly from financially disadvantaged families.
Jeevodaya — Child Care India - Runs a home for boys who have been orphaned, abandoned or come from very disadvantaged backgrounds.
Also runs a school for children from nursery up to Grade 3. Provides after-school education for 4000 deprived children across 100 areas of
Bangalore.
Shristi Special Academy — Enables self-reliance and improves the quality of life for mentally challenged and autistic children.
Runs many programs, including early intervention, autism awareness,
ADHD, a respite care unit and vocational training.
Navachetana — Runs a centre for aged, ill, destitute and mentally challenged adults. Provides both short and long term care.
New Ark Mission — Home of Hope -
Runs a home for destitute and dying people picked up off the streets of Bangalore. Provides medical
Spastics Society of Karnataka — Runs educational, medical, rehabilitation and social services for infants, children and young adults with neuromuscular and development disorders.
Vision India — A residential facility for mentally ill, destitute women. Primary goal is the psycho-social rehabilitation of vagrant / wandering women found on the streets of Bangalore.
The Rangoli − January 2016 | 15

FESTIVALS in Bengal , orissa , Maharashtra ,
Karnataka and andhra pradesh .
Pongal – The most important festival in Tamil Nadu. It is celebrated by
Tamilians worldwide from Singapore and Malaysia to the US and the UK.
The first rice of the season is offered to the sun in the form of a sweet. The celebrations last a few days; Kolams which are decorations and patterns drawn with colours and powdered rice (for the ants to eat) adorn the entrances to the house, and banana leaves and sugarcane sticks are used to signify abundance. Everyone wears new clothes (old clothes and belongings are discarded), and people visit friends and relatives. In every household a sweet is made with rice milk and jaggery.
I
It celebrates the harvest as well as the coming of spring. It is on the first day of
Uttarayana (northward movement of the sun) and its transition into Makar
Rashi (constellation of Capricorn).
Makar Sankranti celebrates the end of winter and the promise of warmer, longer days, especially in the North of India. celebrated all over india ,
the festival goes by pongal in tamil nadu , Uttarayana in Gujarat , lohri in punjab , and Makar Sankranti
Makar Sankranti – In other parts of
India there are similar celebrations.
In the north, sweets are made out of jaggery, sesame and peanuts; in the south, coconut is added. Rangolis, another name for kolams, are elaborately created at the entrances.
New clothes, going to temples, and visits to friends and relatives are common. In Gujarat and Maharashtra, flying kites is also an important part of the festivities.
Lohri – After the cold, long winter in
Punjab, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, the start of the summer is celebrated with lighting bonfires in every locality. It is said to be the longest, coldest day of the year and what can be a better way to celebrate? Everybody gathers around the fire, sings songs, throws in corn and peanuts, and sweets made
16 | The Rangoli − January 2016

from jaggery, peanuts and sesame – all warming foods – are distributed.
Vasant Panchami, or the 5th day of spring, is celebrated mainly in North
India on the 5th day of the waxing moon. There are a few festivals that fall on this day and these are celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and
Muslims. Saraswati Puja – the
Goddess is worshipped on this day with prayers for art, wisdom and knowledge, a practice encouraged by the government in the local schools. Young girls wear yellow clothes symbolizing
FESTIVALS vibrancy.
Also during this time mustard flowers are in bloom so everything is a beautiful, vibrant and yellow. Kite flying is also a part of the celebrations. Sufi Basant is celebrated in Sufi shrines on this day, as is Basant by
Sikhs in Gurdwaras. The birthday of Deo, the sun god, is celebrated in
Bihar.
So as we can see, a common thread runs though all these festivals and celebrations ... sweets with jaggery and nuts, flying kites, new clothes, visits to friends relatives, and of course, a visit to the temple.
The Rangoli − January 2016 | 17

T
The November lunch bunch just before the Diwali holiday was no different. We met at Benjarong
Restaurant on Ulsoor Road. Benjarong is a wonderful Thai restaurant in the heart of the city and has wonderful food. We had quite a large group on this particular day so the management split us into two tables and we were given condiments to build a little wrap. There were peanuts, a sweet sauce, ginger bits, tiny lemon wedges complete with skin and a few other items. This was of veg and non-veg curries and stir-fried vegetables. There was an assortment of yellow and green curries so nearly everyone could find something to their liking. Finally, dessert was either a date pancake with ice cream, or a water chestnut dessert. I opted for the water chestnuts since I had never tried it, and it was definitely different. In a good way something I had never tried before and was not disappointed. The flavour punch was delightful.
Next came the starters, both vegetarian different.
based on our spice preferences.
Like so many restaurants in the city,
Benjarong is able to create mild flavoured foods for those who don’t enjoy spicy chillies and such. and non-veg options. I went for the non-vegetarian and had my favourite: juicy, marinated chicken wrapped in a pandan leaf and cooked. This, by far, is one of my favourite starters. We also had spring rolls and veg starters.
Needless to say, conversation was lively, food was great, and I am pretty sure a good time was had by all. I highly recommend joining in for a lunch bunch as a great way to try out some of the city’s varied restaurants, and also to meet wonderful ladies.
We started off with a small amuse bouche, a bite sized morsel full of flavour. It was a small piece of lettuce
The main course came and was also wonderful. We were treated to a variety
18 | The Rangoli − January 2016

EVENTS
Traffic jams and rain did not stop the 35 ladies who came to the flower arranging workshop hosted by Good Earth at their beautiful location on Walton
Road. It was an interactive demonstration, conducted by Meghaa, that focused on basic floral care, techniques for preparing and working with flowers and an opportunity to see the creation of Christmas arrangements.
“I believe flower arranging is a spiritual exercise that connects me to my inner self. I see flowers as living forms of positive energy which leave a therapeutic effect on all persons. This spirituality I like to bring out in all my arrangements which are exemplary in their simplicity and drama,”
says Meghaa.
The participants learned about common flower varieties, tips to take care of flowers, how and when to use local, available flowers, and including spices such as cloves, star anise and cinnamon to make beautiful floral arrangements.
There was fantastic interaction between the participants and Meghaa.
Everyone was happy and delighted after the one
hour demonstration.
The Rangoli − January 2016 | | 19

EVENTS
K
Katja’s goal was to teach the participants how to get out of auto mode and to learn how to use those buttons on the camera that often sit without being touched. She explained exposure and how photographers use shutter speed, aperture and light sensitivity for different effects. She complemented her explanations of
In layman’s terms, aperture is how to get a portrait photo with a blurred background (large aperture) or a sharp landscape photo (small aperture). She offered lots of practical advice, like what aperture to use for group pictures and how to use focus points to make sure the desired subject is in focus.
When adjusting for shutter speed, technical terms with photo examples photographers control for motion and hands-on practice. blur by setting the length of time that the lens is open. A fast shutter speed
When adjusting for aperture, photographers control for depth of crisply captures moving objects – like kids and sporting events. A slow field and how much the lens is open. shutter speed can be used to blur motion, such as a waterfall, windmill or moving cars at night. Katja cautioned that slow shutter speed photos often require a tripod.
Another photographer’s tool is the
ISO, which controls the noise in a photo – or the graininess. A high
ISO allows for picture taking in low light situations, but may make for noisy photos. A low ISO can be used outdoors in the day and will create sharp, clear pictures.
Katja also offered her tips for portrait photography, based on her years of experience as a family photographer.
They include: 1. Pay attention to your background (and blur it if it’s undesirable); 2. Focus on the eyes of the subject; 3. Get on the same level as your subject (especially children!); and 4. Avoid direct sunlight. At the end of the session, the participants were eager to put their newly learned skills to use and as they needed some natural light to do so, the hotel poolside provided the backdrop for some practice photos.
Katja has offered to lead some OWC photography tours at sites and markets around Bangalore. Look for those in the new year!
20 | The Rangoli − January 2016

PASSION AND PURPOSE
A year ago I hugged my friends and
A back home. India? Really? WHY? I hesitated and remembered my first trips to Chennai 10 years back when I felt like a rock star just walking down the streets with dozens of kids running behind me, touching me and my hair, calling the entire neighbourhood to watch this spectacle: me. Luckily things have changed a lot in 10 years.
Bangalore especially is a modern, open minded city that has seen it all.
There are so many expats here that you hardly get a stare anymore. But it remains India, with its noise and chaos, power cuts and crowds, and buzzing life wherever you go.
I was all excited when I moved into my new house surrounded by flowers throughout the year and coconut palm trees in the garden.
How exotic. How beautiful ... until the first coconut fell off a tree just half a meter away from my head. Ever since then the trees in our garden are emasculated — we chopped off all their nuts. My housekeeper used to mock me when I would run with the kids while crossing under a coconut tree. She said that God would protect us from any accidents because we are doing our pujas
(prayers). Unfortunately, I'm not
The Rangoli − January 2016 | 21

PASSION AND PURPOSE
Hindu ... I might not be that lucky so
I keep running and occasionally make my daughter put a helmet on even though she is only walking. This is the crazy truth.
India is a great place with kids as there is so much help at an affordable price. I definitely do not miss the part of my life in Paris where I lived in an apartment on the 4th floor without an elevator. I used to carry my newborn on my left hip, my screaming and flailing toddler clinching to my leg, and somewhere, 3 bags of groceries
I just bought during a nightmarish excursion to the supermarket. Today
I have help. We have a driver who also carries my groceries. There is a maid that cleans the house, helps with cutting vegetables and watches the kids occasionally. Sounds like a perfect life doesn’t it?
Well there is a down side to everything ...
This past year, I have had a minimum of 10 maids: one was surprised we actually clean the stove every day, one took my one-year-old on a twohour shopping trip without telling me
(imagine my fear!), and thought it more important to have an extended morning chat than give my screaming baby girl her lunch. And let’s not forget the psycho who blackmailed us with suicide. We have worked with about 15 drivers out of which one let me stand in the merciless heat in front of the supermarket with bags of groceries, a baby and a toddler in my arms, while he was enjoying coffee. One told me he wasn’t my slave. One spread lies about us in the neighbourhood. One just vanished for a week without a sign and came back to work with no excuse as if nothing had happened. Twice. One ran off with my professional camera stolen from my living room and two fell asleep while they were driving.
Seriously! washed an elephant and of course stood in numerous traffic jams caused by cows lingering on the street.
Adventurous life? It is.
We’ve hired a snake catcher to capture a rat snake from our garden.
We were lucky ... our neighbour got a visit from a 4-meter cobra! I have laughed about my husband removing a frog with his bare hand from a sock he left in his shoe. My friend got attacked by a bunch of monkeys in her own apartment and I am sharing my home with a joint gecko family. I have
Driving also is quite an adventure.
Having driven myself long distances from Paris to Berlin and being used to the French way of driving and parking, let me tell you, that was nothing! The mere fact that you can get a driving licence within a week, so I have been told, explains it all. One way streets are circulated in both directions, noparking signs are only for decoration and red lights are being ignored most of the time. I have stopped sitting in the front seat as it just scares the hell out of me. So I sit there in the back
22 | The Rangoli − January 2016

PASSION AND PURPOSE seat checking every now and then to make sure my driver is still awake and marvel at entire families finding place on a scooter, and entire school classes fitting in an auto rickshaw while my two girls sit attached in their huge car seats. I do feel a bit exotic sometimes like when I try to master
Indian roads with my stroller or when
I get astonished stares at my baby’s pacifier in her mouth. How the heck do the locals make their babies sleep without them?
There are still a few questions I haven’t quite found answers to. Appointments for example are so confusing. When we visited some houses for rent I got a call from the real estate agent begging me not to be late. The good German I am, I was there 10 minutes early while he showed up one hour later!!! It took me some time to learn that something starting at 3 actually starts at 4 but most people often only show up at 5.
If you want to get some work done in the house and you are told that it will be done in an hour, it actually means that they will show up tomorrow and tomorrow actually means some time next week while next week in reality means that you probably will never get a replacement for that window that just shattered out of the blue. Who needs a window anyway if foil and some tape can do the same job?
Today I laugh about my experiences but that hasn’t always been the case.
When you try to get things done,
India can sometimes be a really difficult country to live in. I have gotten desperate and laughed about call centre staff mumbling their Tamil and Canadian-influenced English, and complaining they can’t understand my accent. But people are kind and very welcoming. I love the huge, warm smiles I get whenever I enter a temple or walk with my kids. We have made a lot of friends, expats and locals, and I have attended the craziest birthday parties with bouncy castle, toy train, magician and up to 200 guests ... for a 3 or 4-year-old! I’m so anxious whenever my older one asks me when she will finally get her own birthday party with all her friends. I am a very down to earth person who loves simplicity and I actually only had
30 guests at my wedding so you can imagine what I’m going through!!
no need for any fancy food as
India offers the freshest and yummiest fruits and vegetables. Ever heard of lady fingers or drumsticks?
Mangoes, papayas and watermelon can be enjoyed throughout the year and I have my own guava tree in the garden — I couldn’t ask for more.
So do I like this expat life? Let me reply by shaking my head in waves from left to right and right to left as only a real South Indian does.
But adaptation is everything if you want to make this life work. I had to learn that there is hardly any ready made food available and that the cooling chain can’t be trusted.
I spent 8 euros on an avocado and 10 euros on blueberries before realizing that there is
The Rangoli − January 2016 | | 23

HEALTH AND LIFESTYLE
friend who was looking for members to walk 100 km with her. I remember being flattered and at the same time wanting to say no! But instead, I politely told her that I'd get back to her.
F
Finding things to do in Bangalore can be challenging and there are enough fitness activities such as Pilates, yoga, weight training, running or even
Bollywood dancing. But if you are willing to challenge yourself to an endurance test, the 100 km walk is something you can do.
My involvement with OXFAM 2015
Trail walk started with a text from a
I had major flashbacks from my previous walk – months of training
– and it made me feel queasy. At the same time, it felt familiar as I had participated in 2013 as a trail walker and in 2014, I was part of the support crew for my husband's team. One of the most memorable experiences was walking through the villages. It gives you a different perspective of the life the majority of Indians live. It's a very humbling experience. We were always being greeted by curious, local school children. This whole experience has added value to living in India – being expats we sometimes forget.
It has given me a sense of purpose to give something back every year and doing the trail walker is my way. OXFAM is a global movement dedicated to fighting poverty and injustice throughout India. They're involved in many programs that improve education, health and the livelihood of the individuals that live below the poverty level in rural areas.
The key is to have a team of four members who can achieve the aim of the event which is to finish the
100 km within a 24 — 48 hour time limit. There are checkpoints at various points along the route that provide rest and fuel stops. My team trained together for two to four months prior to the event. We met twice a week and walked a bit further each time. Our longest training walk was over 60 km. We got to know each other's weaknesses and strengths and through that, were able to support each other. Yes, we all experienced pain, blisters, extreme fatigue, heat exhaustion, and dehydration ... it was part of the sacrifice that we were willing to make for this charity walk.
We raised money by asking our friends and families to sponsor us and are thankful for all the donations.
We were especially grateful to our support crew (mainly spouses, friends and drivers).
Strolling Spouses: Gina McFarland, Joy Andres, Kate Sims, Natalie Follet &
Candice Hart.
26 | The Rangoli − January 2016

HEALTH AND LIFESTYLE
We did it in just under 23 hours and my team, STROLLING SPOUSES, were the fastest all female teams.
We sprinted our last remaining two kilometers side by side, in pain, as we headed towards the finish line. This was it ... 100 km!!!
countryside and my team, "Team Keep
Walking", completed the event in less than 30 hours. It was a tremendous effort by all and an outstanding workout made possible by great preparation and a fantastic support team.
Together we shared the same purpose and we gave it all to those who needed it most. I was very proud to be part of my team — what an incredible journey and friendship!
All the teams were recognized at an
OXFAM Awards night, April 25th, for their achievements. Well done to the teams and a big thank you to all of our supporters!
Team ‘GS — Are we nearly there yet?’ managed to complete the 100 km walk for OXFAM Trailwalker on
Jan 23/24th, 2015 – phew!
The walk started at 6am about 2 hours from Bangalore in the countryside – think coconut trees and banana plants.
Many of the villages participated in silk worm cultivation and on occasion we were followed by a drone of bees which was quite a contrast amongst rural villages.
In January 2015, I participated in the annual OXFAM 100 km Walk event supporting the OXFAM India vision of
"right to life with dignity for all".
A total of 164 teams competed in the
48-hour event across the Bangalore
It got super hot during the day time
[300C / 900F] and the trail itself was much more arduous than any of us had envisioned … not a walk in the park at all! Some of us wore sneakers which were good for a bit but after about 50 km, each and every pebble made itself known – ouch! There were quite a few blisters and chafing in those … ummmm … special areas.
No injuries that stopped us though … thankfully.
We managed to only get about one hour's sleep during the whole walk and woke freezing, covered in dew, and a bit delusional from exhaustion.
Team Keep Walking: Bill McDowell and Jason Lucas
During our night walk part of our route near Bannerghatta National Park was diverted due to a herd of wild elephants – yikes! … one of the more unusual diversions I have come across.
The Rangoli − January 2016 | 27

HEALTH AND LIFESTYLE
A couple of friends, Ann and Kaie, joined us during the last 20 km of the walk, were warmly received, and proved to be a real pick up to our spirits which were running on fumes by that point. All in all, we took an epic 39 hours and came 138th out of
178 teams that participated. Not fast
... but at least we finished!
We had super help from our support team, comprised of three of our drivers and one pantry boy (yes, I never knew there was such a title but there you go … pantry boy). Great food was on offer including Ann's treacle flapjacks, Kaie's cashew nut flour pancakes and Siobhan's amazing chocolate biscuits.
All in all we had jolly good fun and celebrated afterwards with lashings of champagne and Kingfisher and a brunch at the Oberoi.
Thanks again … as for next year??????…..
Team GS: Piyush Agarwal, Jacqueline Vargas, Chris Gregory and Anuraj Bismal
28 | The Rangoli − January 2016

ART REVIEW
I
Indian Summers refers to the
Summers family in the India of the
Raj when the Imperial machinery of government relocated from the hot steamy plains to the cool hill station of Shimla. As it happens modern Shimla was considered too developed, difficult to access, and monsoon prone by the show's instant. The 10-part show finished earlier in the year on TV but is now available to download or on DVD.
The many plotted saga has it all. There is murder, betrayal, forbidden love, treachery, and even a dog. There are a number of main characters and it takes a while for the multilayered and interwoven storylines to develop.
producers so filming took place in
Penang. The real Baronial Viceregal lodge is conspicuous by its absence otherwise the setting is spot on.
The cinematography is fabulous with all the heat and colours that we residents know and love which transports the viewer into India in an
The centrepiece is the exclusively
European Shimla club in 1932. The doyenne of this den of intrigue is the wonderfully named Cynthia Coffin.
She is played to the hilt by Julie
(national treasure) Walters who is,
The Rangoli − January 2016 | 29

ART REVIEW clearly, thoroughly enjoying herself.
She is a true ‘boo-hiss-panto’ baddie who manipulates and schemes.
Naturally she is a racist who is determined to keep the 'natives' (and dogs) out of her beloved club.
Her weakness, apart from the booze, is her loyalty to Ralph Whelan, the scion of an old Raj family. When we meet him he is first secretary to the
Viceroy and is clearly being groomed for greatness. highlighted when the action shifts to the Indian part of town. The home of the hapless Aafrin, another character, is the pivot here. Aafrin gets rapidly promoted by Ralph who, of course, has an agenda in raising the earnest young parsee. Aafrin's family are the face of the changing relationship between the colonials and the locals
- his sister is a firebrand supporter of the independence movement and his father, the loyal anglophile, exserviceman symbolises another era.
Ralph has a past that comes back to bite him and Cynth is there to do her worst to protect her dear Ralphie. She is ably supported in her shenanigans by her crafty factotum Kaiser (one has to love the names in this drama). He is the all knowing side kick, fixer and the
'go-to' man when Cynthia needs some dirt to dish.
Aafrin too, has his secrets and lies.
His love life is a mess and he ends up in the arms of Ralph's sister Alice whose own love life is also a mess.
Actually every relationship on view is a disaster waiting to happen.
The action takes place against a background of the growing independence movement. There are many references to this … namely,
Gandhi's fast, and this element is
A number of wild coincidences knit the somewhat stereotypical characters and storylines. There is the missionary couple whose lowly position on the rigid social pecking order makes them almost outcasts in the eyes of the club members. This, together with a less than devoted husband, piles on the misery for
Mrs. Missionary and it is only when she is able to blackmail Alice into befriending her that she is accorded some respect.
Another thread is Ian, the noble young Scot. His problems come in the shape of a bottle and a bankrupt legacy from his similarly sozzled uncle.
His employment by, and friendship with, an enterprising local only serves to underline the race divide and to alienate him from the rest of the
European community who see him as a traitor to his race. His boss becomes a sacrificial lamb literally and metaphorically as his fate reveals the callous depths to which the nasty elite will plunge to serve their own ends.
This only gives a brief overview of the plots and characters. There are some unbelievable aspects to the various storylines that the viewer has to swallow but in spite of this the show has been popular and a second series is in the pipeline.
to our very own Heidi Hojnicki, part of The Rangoli distribution team, who gave birth to a beautiful baby girl right here in Bangalore. Eleanor "Nora"
Magdalena Hojnicki Shah was born November 18th at 3:57 pm, weighing 2.9kg
.
As Heidi says, “Birth was normal and painful.” Mother, father and brother are all doing well, doting on the new baby girl.
30 | The Rangoli − January 2016

FILM REVIEW
My
people of a small village stake their future on a game of cricket against their ruthless British rulers. A fun movie for cricket lovers.
Starring: Aamir Khan & Gracy Singh inseparable childhood friends who find that once they fall in love their old relationship and friendship is hard to sustain.
Starring: Aamir Khan & Preity Zinta
A gangster sets out to fulfill his father's dream of becoming a doctor. A light fun movie show͛ s the main character ͛s love for his family.
Starring: Sanjay Dutt & Gracy Singh
The story of a young revolutionary who raised an armed resistance against the British rule in India. A remake of a historical hero.
Starring: Ajay Devghan to film a documentary on extremist freedom fighters from their past, and the events that lead them to relive the long forgotten saga of freedom.
Starring: Aamir Khan & Soha Ali Khan
32 | The Rangoli − January 2016

FILM REVIEW
An scientist returns to his village in India for a visit and rediscovers his roots. A very realistic low budget movie.
Starring: Shah Rukh Khan & Gayatri
Joshi
turn their fantasy vacation into reality after one becomes engaged. Light hearted movie of friendship with a
Spanish touch. Movie was filmed in
Spain.
Starring: Hrithik Roshan & Katrina Kaif
is thought to be lazy and a troublemaker, until the new art teacher has the patience and compassion to discover the real problem behind his struggles in school. A light movie with a message.
Starring: Aamir Khan & Darsheel
Safary coach agrees to take on an all
-women͛s national team to regain his honor and dignity. Shows team spirit and sportsmanship.
Starring: Shah Rukh Khan.
story about a marriage of alliance that gave birth to true love between a great
Mughal emperor — Akbar, and a Rajput princess — Jodha. A love story with elaborate sets and costumes. A Muslim and Hindu marriage, showing love has no religion.
Starring: Hrithik Roshan & Aishwarya
Rai Bachchan
Three young people learn that love can neither be defined nor contained by society's ideas of normal and abnormal. Movie shows how love overcomes physical shortcomings.
Starring: Ranbir kapoor & Priyanka
Chopra
The story of an unknown who could run like the wind. He was scarred by the India-Pakistan partition, became a legend and was called the “The Flying Sikh".
Perseverance is the key to success.
Starring: Farhan Akhtar & Sonam
Kapoor
Two friends, searching for their long lost companion, revisit their college days and recall memories of their friend who inspired them to think differently, even as the rest of the world called them "idiots". Shows strong ties of friendship.
Starring: Aamir Khan, Sharman Joshi & Madhavan
The Rangoli − January 2016 | 33

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38 | The Rangoli − January 2016