The Fabulous Adventures of Mr. Percy

"These are the stories that will open your SOUL!"

- My father about this collection of old sanskrit stories that he is now obsessed with.

"This is your assignment for the life."

- My father insisting that I find all 10 volumes of these stories.

The Fabulous Adventures of Mr. Percy

Me (In the storage space above the garage): Why don't you just get rid of some of these suitcases? Do you really need 16 pieces of luggage at a time?
Mr. Percy: Fashion changes.

5 minutes later...

Mr. Percy: Come sit with me while I sew my apron.

Oh yeah, Mr. Percy is my dad. He's a well-established geologist and hydrologist having taught at the National University of Singapore and UC Berkely. He's currently sitting at the dining table, wearing a t-shirt that says "Americans do it best"and stitching a denim apron.

Stuff my family has said...

"If you want to consider him such an esteemed guest maybe you shouldn't have made him look for poop the last time he was here."

- My sister, in response to my mother's comments that Sachin never sees the house when it's clean.

"Look at that dirty bugger. He looks like a caveman!"

- My disgusted grandpa, in response to the Geico commercials.

Hani

My sister is the most important person in my life. Unfortunately she drives me absolutely insane a good 95% of the time. She can be very loud, talkative, friendly, colorful, emotional, girly, masculine, easy-going, bossy, selfish, generous, and often manages to do it all at once. If she had the ability to decorate her room however she wanted (my mother, a very wise woman, has so far forbidden her to do so) I think it would look something like these rooms...

If she had all the space in the world

If she had all the money in the world (and she sometimes acts like she does)

If she had all the stuff in the world

She's also a bit of a clutter freak - she thrives on clutter

If you haven't guessed yet, she really likes the color pink. But she wouldn't say "No" to these rooms either...

Homesickness

My family on what it feels like to grow up in a different country...

Abbu: This homesickness you feel for your childhood; it never goes away.
Me: Wherever it is you are, you'll always be longing for the place that you've left.
Abbu: It's this feeling that eats away at me. It makes me feel so empty.
My sister: It's probably worms.

Me and my sister in Pakistan, where my father had grown up.

Me, my sister, and my father in Singapore where my sister and I had grown up.

My sister today.

Women's Day

Happy International Women's Day!

Isn't it amazing what women can do?

Shirin Ebadi
Iranian lawyer and human rights activist.
In 2003 she became the first Muslim woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize for her dedication to democracy and women and children's rights.

Wangari Muta Maathai
The Tree Mother of Africa
Founded the Green Belt Movement in 1977.
In 2004 she won the Nobel Peace Prize for her dedication to fighting political oppression within the Kenyan government, and her call for womens' equality.

Aung San Suu Kyi
Leader of the National League for Democracy in Burma
In 1992 she won the Nobel Peace Prize for her nonviolent struggle for democracy in Burma where she has been under house arrest for 12 years.


Kurdish women in northern Iraq demanding respect and equal rights.

Katheeja on the left and my mother on the right.

Beginnings

Happy Leap Year, everyone!

And really, who doesn’t love a good leap year? Summer Olympics! Presidential elections! Plus you get an extra day to do whatever you want. You could go see South Africa’s Ladysmith Black Mambazo if you happen to be in California. Or you could catch the release of the new Brazilian film, City of Men. You could even take advantage of the lovely warm weather that’s been creeping up on parts of the world and make yourself a Singaporean ice kachang.

Because this blog is dedicated to my family, here are a few photos that remind me of them and should be a good preview of what's to come.

For my grandfather, ever the scholar...

Elle Decor

For my grandmother and her hidden wild streak...

For my father and his love for a sweeter life...

A Mongolian tent, Marie Claire Maison

For my mother and what she has defined as her own heaven...

Thailand, Conde Nast

For my sister, who is in a world of her own...

Marie Claire Maison