A goth back in Switzerland

Souvenirs....

2008-05-22T02:02:00.000-07:00

RECAPITULATION: During my stay in IIT, in March, we celebrated HOLI... The festival of colours. Thanks Amre for the wondeful pics !!
(more on http://flickr.com/photos/amre/2358944198/)

Back in SWISS land

2008-05-21T08:03:00.001-07:00

Hey junta !
So i'm back to home sweet swiss home... Leaving Chennai was really sad and our last coffee at CCD should have lasted forever.. :-(

Chennai international terminal is so hectic that I couldn't even enjoy my sadness once in the airport. I had to wait, get impatient, shift 3 kg from a bag to the other, pay 3 kg extras, wait for the guy to pay with my visa in their office on the second floor, fight with an employee who was treating me like a (/*&(/6 , wait again, crib to the guy in the queue who was glued to my ass (!), get in the plane and finally.... enjoy the flight !! Oh and I should not forget to thank you (din, vivek, dexter,etc) for your WONDERFUL gift that never stopped doing cow's sound and singing "old Mcdonald had a farm, hi ha hi ha ho..." he he quite a nice gift actually ;-))

12 hours later, I land in Geneva. The corridors are calm, the Rolex pictures cover all the walls, the bathroom is big, white and clean and smells good, AND the trolley requires 2 bucks... that of course I didn't have since I only had 2000 Rps !!! Outside, there's a nice wind, a temperature of 22 degrees and a dry air that makes my skin soft and dry and my hair long and smooth. No sweat, no sun, I'm happy :-))

The highway is fast, the car is silent, the trees are green and... actually it gets already a bit boring ! I get home and there are flowers everywhere in the garden. I get in the kitchen (to grab some bread, butter and ham mmmmmhhh) and i'm struck by the silence. Nothing, no sound, like in a sound proof room. I think my ears nearly exploded with such silence. My room has not changed, still full of all the junk I brought back from India last year. Other saris, other bangles, other elephants statues and masala tea powder ! It's time for a drink, so I go for a gin and tonic !! I cook some risotto and my mom prepares some veal, while "smoke on the water" plays on the radio, like an echo of "noir upsurge" he he. Amazing dinner !!! Non-stop talking about mohan, the dustbin, the monkeys, you guys,... :-)

Today, after 14 hours of sleep, I get back to my mails, get "mentally prepared" to join the company in 10 days, and sip a tea while this time "coldplay" is on the radio, like if the shadow of CCD was following me !! oh no !! I get back to my piano, standing lonely near the window, and jobless since 5 months so I wake it up for an hour or two. What a pleasure after using Sharav's poor synth! I need to get my brother at the train station and borrow is car, an old dark green mini 1995, which is definitely the cool car #2 (the cool car #1 being mine of course). I step in the car and his Ipod starts playing supercool djying trans electro beat music ! Wow, fell like wearing my sunglasses and driving down to South of France !! he he and then I remember that the last time I drove was a Kart Attack, ECR road, 3 days ago. Feels quite the same to drive a mini. So I started cutting the corners, speeding and overtaking people, remembering that in Switzerland, you drive on the right side, not like India ! Finally, we stop at the garage to get MY car, an old light green mini 1982, that rolls like a queen, and speeds like a mouse.. (that means, you THINK you're speeding, but you're NOT ha ha !!). Anyways, with its shiva stickers, its disco ball, and Unnale Unnale playing on the radio, I feel I'm back in a rickshaw !!

Tonight, what plans ? maybe a restaurant with full 3 course dinner and a treat from my parents!! You're invited, please join!! Will keep up with the fun news of SWISSland he he !
Chalo chalo !!

IITMADRAS #2 - 2008

2008-02-03T22:22:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone !

Back for some new news from Chennai !
No need for introducing myself but I will soon post some photos of my friends of the TSD course and events happening around here !
Comments are most welcomed !
STAY TUNED !

Tomorrow itself /2

2007-03-08T21:02:00.000-08:00

During February, lot's of things are there... Like ...

... Some deer in front of our hostel. Excuse Me Sir !

... A walk to the natural waterfall of Tada (3h bus, 2.30 h trek) with Aurore, Rahul Battha and friends
... A waterpolo competition in our IIT amazing swimming pool, water at 29 degrees C, 7 pm. Go Cauvery !!

... and the festival HOLI, festival of colours where you cover yourself with coloured powder and water and dance all day ! Unfortunately, I was out of campus :-( This is what you look like after 15 min... (please visit Matthieu's blog for fantastic photos...)
More photos to come tomorrow itself !!

Tomorrow itself /1

2007-03-07T05:11:00.000-08:00

A walk to Elephanta Island, a few km from Bombay city by boat... So hot !!

Ganghi's bedroom in Bombay

Blue lagoon... or "the metallurgical assocation's day out.." Nice treat. Eventhough Kulpreet looks doubtful. Aurore and me had a Blast, swimming, and dancing from 4pm to 9pm !!

"Soooooooo many photos are there only !!!" ( indian expression..)

SAARANG 2oo7

2007-02-05T04:15:00.000-08:00

SAARANG is THE festival of IIT....
featuring :
JIMMY, the thoughtful singer...
One of our performance for "Acoustyx"... Playlist: Layla, Bed of Roses and Home Made Blues...
see the following link and ENJOY !!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2QQCnHdP3c

Too serious... 7x and Me on guitarsVikas on bass, Karuna on vocals, Hakash on keyboard... More photos to come soon :-P

Lance Armstrong & Rafael Nadal

2007-01-17T23:19:00.000-08:00

So Rafael Nadal was playing at the Chennai Open last week. Danielle went but didn't really manage to zoom on him (for there was no zoom on my camera...). She did try to get close though!!
(his arm on the left)

Then why Lance Armstrong? because I felt like doing the tour de France when I went with Amandine, to Mahabalipuram by bicycle this week-end. 50 km in 3h. Coming back the following day.

10:00: Starting from IIT

12:00 "le soleil au zénith" little break along the road for sun cream session and a coconut fresh juice... still 1 h to go!

14:00: Lunch at our favorite place the "bob marley" restaurant with Aurore and Kulpreet who joined by bus...
20:00 In the evening, traditional dance festival in front of the ruins. Magique !!

The return back to Chennai went alright and we arrived just on time for our yoga class. The next day we allowed ourself a little brownie :-)

Management Roof Top

2007-01-17T22:57:00.000-08:00

Last week we made a big reunion on the Management roof top so we could gather all together again, after the xmas holidays and also meet the 3 new german girls: Susan, Elena and Charlotte and Iens, a german boy.
The management roof top is better than any other roof top. Big, clean, with a terrace and lights, and... a sink !!

For the occasion, the girls dressed in their prettiest saree !!

Not bad !! (Danielle, Anna, Charlotte)

As you can imagine, it is not easy to put a saree correctly. Fortunately, the indian girls helped them to adjust them.

Oh, I started some ballet dance class that's why there I am showing them the new steps !!
>> notice how graceful Anna is holding her beer :-)

Xmas Rangoli

2007-01-03T23:24:00.000-08:00

This is MY first rangoli in my house in Switzerland. Colors directly from India, took 3 hours. Stayed 4 days.

BEFORE & AFTER

Switzerland :-)

2007-01-03T22:52:00.000-08:00

Xmas menu: turkey, special home-made stuffing, beans, sweet potatoes, potatoes, cranberry jam, gravy AND a glass of red wine. The cooks: My brother-in-law, my dad and my brother giving them moral support

I flew back to Switzerland for 2 weeks. For Xmas and New year's eve but especially to catch up on my meat diet :-) On the planning:

- the 3 F : Family, Food & Fun !!

- Flammenkueche ( cheese, cream, mushrooms, onions, bacon)

- Shopping in Geneva with Charles

- Indian evening where I tried some Pav Baji and Channa masala...>

TRIP to RAMESWARAM etc.

2007-01-03T22:27:00.000-08:00

The day before i flew back for christmas (14th Dec), last day at the beach at our favorite restaurant in Mahabalipuram: the BOB MARLEY restaurant ! Cheers and merry christmas!!

My friend Valerie, from Neuchatel, has visited me on 3rd of december. For 2 weeks we travelled around the south of india. To give an idea:
Night train from Chennai to Mysore (8h)
1 night in Mysore
Bus from Mysore to Ooty (5h)
1 night in Ooty
Train from Ooty to someplace (1h)
Bus from someplace to Coimbatore (3h)
Night train from Coimbatore to Ernakulam (Kochi) (7h)
2 nights in Kochi
Bus from Kochi to Rameswaram via Madurai (15h!!)
3 nights in Rameswaram
Bus from Rameswaram to Madurai (4h)
Night train from Madurai to Chennai (10h)

That is what you will go through if you come to visit me !!

Valerie trying her first SWEET PAN in Mysore

Crossing the Nilgiri Hills (or "3 hours standing up in a crowded bus")

With our friends from the cricket team of Rameswaram, counting the score

The walk to Danushkodi with Malachami, Balamurugan, Angu (& Ramar)...

November

2006-11-21T08:27:00.000-08:00

November in Chennai is not boring !
Once monsoon was (nearly) over...
... and after a general "Madras" eye infection...(Danielle and Anna)

and in between treats at Sangheeta (Bruno's departure etc) & before our End semester exams, we found a nice party in a bar with...

Crazy polish and romanian guys doing bubbles...

...and a Superstar rock band of India, with whom we went to an after party till 4 am.
LBG you are the best !!
On following morning, took the bus at 8.00 to Kancheepuram, city with lots of temples AND capital of sarees....

Visiting the Vishnu temple.. At last, an elephant !

We tried on Sarees, after a "fabric" visit (left)... It takes 15 days for 1 silk saree

1st Video clip

2006-10-30T04:17:00.000-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQC34PJEsvQ
For Pink floyd fans and other curious minds... Hold on tight !!

With greetings from NOIR UPSURGE

(Jimmy, Me*, Korg AX1500G and 7x)

(Sangheeta, 20/10/06) *I was told I am as red as a strawberry juice, when I choke on the spices... Am I ?

October

2006-10-30T03:33:00.000-08:00

During October, there was the Diwali which is the indian "Christmas". They have celebrations all through the week-end with prayers (Puja) and the tradition wants you to wear NEW clothes. Then they do firecrackers in front of every hostel, all night long! For that occasion, we participated in doing a RANGOLI, which is a drawing on the floor, filled with coloured sand. It gives a message of peace and welcoming for the occasion.
The swiss/french girls doing their first rangoli... Enjoy !

First you draw the design on the floor (left(Me, Amandine))

Then you do like the indians do (right)

Then you can also get some help from indian friends...

...3h later...
We are proud to present you OUR RANGOLI ! (2nd prize!!)

Otherwise the month of October ended with a nice event... my 24th birthday !! It started at midnight of the 26 oct. Anna, Danielle, Amandine, Aurore, Fanny, Jan, Romain, Olivier, Benoit, Reto, Vivek & Arun were waiting at the hostel entrance with a surprise cake ! Even Suryadeep and Jimmy from my "band" were there ;-)
(unfortunately not the bass player, who is ALSO born on the 27th oct.. Incredible coincidence !!)

All day cakes and good food...B-day tea time in the mess (Mara, Lisa), then indian food (Keki, Sin)

At evening, dinner in Sangheeta. Nice table of 20 people!! Thank you to all who came !! And thank you for the gifts !! And thank you for the wishes, sms, calls !!

(Me, Matthieu)

Jam session

2006-10-22T11:11:00.000-07:00

Amandine at the percussion and my new guitar, on the roof top of Sharavati !!

Best Rock Band of India

2006-10-15T06:26:00.000-07:00

Remember the singing contest where I performed ? Remember the one who won this singing contest with the song "the pianoman" ? (*) Remember the organiser "Batman"? (**)
Well I am proud to tell you that I am the new drummer of
NOIR UPSURGE, band composed of

Vikas - a very good bass player

Jimmy - an excellent singer (*)

Suryadeep - a crazy guitarist (**)

Tanya - a swiss drummer !!

First performance yesterday 14th Oct 2006,
Student Activity Center, IIT, Chennai

Check out the guitar solo at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKbiTWd1Jwc
***

Dehli soon

2006-10-12T00:57:00.000-07:00

Last week was a travelling week... I flew to Dehli and then joined the 3 swiss guys Benoit, Olivier and Reto for a road trip through Agra (Taj Mahal) and the whole Rajasthan (Jaipur, Pushkar and Udaipur).

Photos from Olivier will soon be available. For the moment, I can only show you the view of Dehli from the biggest Mosquee...

2006-10-12T00:42:00.000-07:00

Lots of the european I met here have or will have to leave soon. After the departures of Arin, Maxime, Phillipe, Vukasin, Benoit and Pablo, this was Alice's last night in Chennai. Wonderful dinner at the wonderful "Mocca". Hope you're doing fine in Lyon Alice ! And looking forward for a bollywood movie session in december in Lyon. Khabi Alvida Naa Khena !!
(left to right: Amre, Matthieu, Me, Alice, Mikael)

Otherwise this is the proof that if you really WANT to send me chocolate, there is a way to do it :-)

Thank You Cnad !
By the way, if someone could send some condiment/aromat, it would be nice !! White rice would taste better...

After 2 Months

2006-09-24T03:37:00.000-07:00

Some of my friends still wonder How we dress, and if we look nice and health or sick and bad... Personnaly, I feel very good here and especially in Indian suits! Moreover, I found a nice hairdresser who also does HAIR mint-massages...

aRT and School...

2006-09-21T11:58:00.000-07:00

Welcome to indian inspiration !
There is enough of inspiration here, especially when you are in the library with your books studying for the quizzes...
FOR THE MATERIALiSTS:
This will make my schoolmates jealous !! I bought this book for the fun of it.. For 275 Rs ( less than 10 CHF) Kittel !! Thank you Sir Taganstev... We miss you !

Singing contest

2006-09-12T01:16:00.000-07:00

I was able to participate to the interhostel singing contest on friday night !! I played in 2nd place but we were more than 50 students to play (and about 6 girls..). More than 5 hours of show with interpretations, choirs, instrumentals,... XTRA COOL !! Skintrail on stage !

Okay these are 2 of our top 5 indians on stage, on decision of Anna, Danielle, Aurore and me...

(Thank you danielle for all the photos !!)

Cookie session etc.

2006-09-12T01:07:00.000-07:00

On friday afternoon, we jump in a rickshaw and go "shopping" in T-Nagar, heaven for indian suits and silks :-)

Me, Judith and Mara
We found a nice spanish restaurant with sangria and Tapas and a good dj !!

On thursday nights we have a Cookie session on our hostel's roof (so girls exclusively!!)
All you need is: cookie's, candles and mosquito spray...

TRIP to PONDICHERY

2006-09-12T00:49:00.000-07:00

Last week-end, we take the bus for Pondichery (3h)
This city was a french colony. You see the "rue de Bussy" and the typical french Kepi on a indian policeman... talking with Anna and Olivier

Yes they still exist !!
Someboday said "Bizarre" ? That is a place for me then...
I continue my journey to Mamalapuram (again).
We found the "Bob Marley" restaurant on the beach. Very nice !! The boss is a german woman married to an indian who rebuild the place after the tsunami in 2004... To get the bus back to Chennai, we just had to wait by the road... (look at these german tourists !! Judith, philip, Jan and Andre)
The way back in the bus was long and I was impatient in home sweet home IIT..

Yes it rains a lot in India !

Send me something !

2006-08-30T05:44:00.000-07:00

On this 30th of August, a good day, a surprise waits for me at the campus' post office !! Yes a nice big mail from my mum !! Can't wait to open it (eventhough I already feel there is a strange smell around...)

As I open it (on my balcony for security) I smell something in between of chocolate and old cheese... Oh NOOOOO !!!

I find the chocolate opened, melted and already the ants of my room have found it ! The cheese is warm and greenish... :-( Only survivors: Bonne Maman cookies, Italian Cantucci Toscani and.. last but not least: viande sechee des grisons !!!!

Thank you anyway & Bon appétit !!!!

For your eyes only

2006-08-29T00:35:00.000-07:00

Sunday evening at the main gate...

(Sebastian, Benoit, Danielle, Anna)

(Benoit, Danielle, Tanya, Sebastian )

Proud students !

(and we were also very happy to have eaten in town in a restaurant with delicious hamburgers, tasty Italian pasta and dangerous chocolate desserts...)

TRIP to Mamalapuram

2006-08-29T00:20:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Mamalapuram say the sheep by the road. Mamalapuram or Maha-ali-puram, whatever the sun is shining and we feel good !

These sculptures are all carved in the mountain rock. So many symbols are present (see for instance the snake divinty in the upper left from the elephant, or the baby elephants hidding under the big one).
Doesn't this ancient lighthouse remind you of the something ?
A clue... Eurodisney's Indiana Jones attraction !! Wonderful view from up there but hot sun...

These are the famous 5 famous temples for Parvathi, Shiva, Vishnu, Brahma et Ganesh. 4 of them are carved in the same, unique, huge stone (see on the photo)

After a nice day with of visit, beach and fresh fish (mmmh), we (Anna, Aurore, Sebastian and me) got back to Chennai... On a crowded bus ... then a flat tire... no more cash.. no more buses... late at night... 3 hours to get back !!

Fashion

2006-08-26T04:59:00.000-07:00

Can you believe it ? We wear indian clothes most of time. Hidden my gothic belt, hidden the skirts and the little b&w striped tops. Here's a glimpse at my daily dresses:

Last but not least !! The shoes. My poor feet had to get used to it and they had a really hard time. Bye bye the comfort of Doc Marten's !

On the campus

2006-08-26T04:26:00.000-07:00

1/ This is the "Metal Forming Lab" entrance. I have most of my courses in that building and it's 2 min bike from my hostel.
On the way there are a lot of these Banyan trees and maybe a cow on the road pulling something. Nice cows ! See him at rest and all decorated !

2/ We go around the campus with our bikes and sometime stop to eat fruits (mangos, etc)

Reto, Anna and Danielle like tasty fruits we don't have in EPFL!

3/The MESS is the canteen where we eat 3xday. It is quite always the same: choose some sauces, a naan or parota, some cucumbers, some curd with salt or sugar, a bunch of white rice; mixed it all together and eat it with your right hand...

Here
eating with Aurore (F) and Anna (CH).

4/ This week: the Freshie's Soccer competition ! Our team will tell you that a few girls as cheer leader are better than 100 indian !
Please cheer for Jan (D), Julian (F), Alex (D), Andre (D) (back row), Ben (CH) and Pablo (front row)

2 x 7 min of match is long when it is hot and humid. Isn't it Benoìt?

Indian style

2006-08-18T11:21:00.000-07:00

Indian style it's...

- when a whole continent doesn't use toilet paper ( how do they do ??) or tooth brush
- when the sweat drop in your back helps you to count the hours of the day
- when you buy your matress in the same shop that you buy your school books
- when you feel like a rock star in the streets
- when young men with 70's style trousers, flowery shirts and mustach are the sexiest men in the world
- when you have a special shop for photocopies and when the guy does it one sheet after the other instead of buying a modern machine
- when the taxi driver from Hampi to Chennai has to stop to ask the way to Chennai
- when the same taxi driver stops in the middle of the night to buy a new audio cassette
- when ants pass through your mosquito net and walk on your coussin
- when in class, fans make to much noise to hear what the teacher says
- when you have one cable for three telephones and exchange them
- when there's no more water in the morning and you come home from running...

But also

- when it smells of jasmin after the rain
- when silk shops have everlasting dresses at affordable prices
- when you can ride your bike in the campus and see the blackbucks dears
- when you are offered tea when in the Dean academic's office...

... Some more to come soon! Good night !

TRIP TO HAMPI (III)

2006-08-18T10:37:00.000-07:00

These are misc photos of the trip...

I WANT TO DRIVE !!

" you want a ride, girl ?"

The public toilets of Hampi.
Admire the VIP western style on the left.

Andre and his girls in the Queen's bath. Any man would be happy there... Dancer and gards of the queen: all girls !!

JESUS CHRIST ! Pablo injured after a motorbike (small) accident.

No comment :-)

TRIP TO HAMPI (II)

2006-08-17T08:52:00.000-07:00

Visite de Hampi
In the queen's palace, you find the Lotus Mahal (left) and the queen's bath (right) not far. She was lazy and pretty fat !!

Our guide was very nice and reminded me of my uncle (P.F !!). He had endless stories about the gods and goddesses like Shiva (above) and Sharavati...

The temple (right) was made for music, dance and other festivities. You can even play music on the stones and one can hear it on the other side.

Our guys on the stairs of a big temple belonging to the King's quarters... Unfortunately, most decoration were destroyed.

Indians were very interested in us. Like flies, the guys would come to us, asking us to be on their photos. Exhausting ! The were also curious when we were getting ready to leave Hampi. See below Pablo and Julien wanting to close the door !

TRIP TO HAMPI (I)

2006-08-16T04:37:00.000-07:00

A rumour.. a trip to Hampi, city of temples, next week-end, from friday to wednesday morning. I want to be there too.. I join in !
3 german girls, 2 german guys and 5 french men.
After 3 hours at the ticket's office, we've got our train tickets for 400 Rs/person (12 CHF) for a >20 hours travel for >600 km distance. What Fun !!

In the train
Philippe & Pablo Andre & Amre Me & Mara
Philippe & Julian Me & My red head sister Judith Pablo & a child

Hampi is in the middle of the "Jungle Book" environment... Monkeys, Leopards, Elephants & Snakes. There are several millions temple in the area: tenples for Shiva, Vishnu or Ganesh...

Temples of Hampi
2nd biggest Ganesh sculpture
One of Vishnu's reincarnation (as a lion)
One day, 2 sisters were sitting on the mountain, saying that Hampi was a strange city. Vishnu didn't appreciate that so he turned the 2 girls to stone...

The campus' wildlife

2006-08-16T04:19:00.000-07:00

Here's quick view of what we see here and there...

There are even inside ;-)

Still some lezards, birds, butterflies, squirrels, snakes and bats !!

My room****

2006-08-10T21:43:00.000-07:00

This is where I live !!

The room (the door in the corner one the first photo) is the number 431 of the Sarayu Hostel. Sarayu Hostel and Sharavati Hostel are the 2 girls hostel of the IITM campus.

On the other side, I have a balcony... Sort of Indian Romeo and Juliette style

I have a modest bed ( a little too small), a mosquito net and a desk

That's me !

2006-08-10T00:39:00.000-07:00

INTRO

2006-08-10T00:26:00.000-07:00

Hi and welcome !!
First I must say that this blog is mostly for my family and friends so they can know the details about my exchange year in IITMadras, Chennai. But if you're not familiar to me, here is some information:

Tanya Meredith
Bachelor in Materials Sciences in EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland 2002-2006
Exchange program for Master's degree in IITM, Chennai, India 2006-2007

I will mostly post photos and funny stories about things happening on the campus, during class or during trips.

>> I will not talk about Indian history, religion or political situation !!!

website of IITM, Chennai: www.iitm.ac.in