Give Beirut a chance

Tariq's dearest uncle works at the American University of Beirut (AUB). He has been in the eye of the storm ever since he got the opportunity to move there. He was on one of the first flights to land into Beirut after the Israelis bombed it last summer. From what I read and hear, most all the construction and preservation work done in Beirut was destroyed during the Israel-Lebanon war last year. It's such a pity considering how beautiful a city it has the potential to be, not to mention the constant fear that it's citizens live with.

And now Fatah al Islam, and it's starting all over again. Although the fighting seems to be in Tripoli, there is fear that the fighting is going to become more widespread in Beirut. Uncle Mike sent us this mail today -

On the news this morning there was a report that Fatah
al Islam has declared that if the Lebanese Army
doesn't "capitulate" they will bomb "the Crusader
colleges and universities of Lebanon," which would
most prominantly mean AUB but also LAU and St.
Joseph's. Everybody on campus seems expecially
nervous. Just after hearing that on TV there was a
stupendous noise from a very near low-flying plane and
I even walked into the stairwell of the apartment
building, worried they were going to pull a 9/11 plane
attack on AUB -- it sounded that low and that close --
but then the roaring plane passed. A few minutes later
I heard the approach again of another plane -- equally
loud and low -- and went out on the balcony. It was a
gigantic American transport cargo plane flying in very
low. There were several more. On Naharnet it says the
Americans are flying ammunition, tanks, Humvees, and
other such supplies in for the Lebanese Army in
response to an urgent appeal. Some of the transports
are coming in from Kuwait, some from Egypt. I suppose
that should make me feel safer, but frankly it makes
me feel more concerned. Things are feeling a lot more
bleak.

Pretty enough to eat

In this month's issue of Domino Magazine, I came across a design feature of a Brooklyn based boutique owner's home. I was mesmerized with her living room - a white canvas that provides a grounding contrast for vibrant Indian fabrics - antique silks, embroidered cottons, kullu shawls.

She first visited India in 1989 and turned her passion for color and pattern into a successful business. I can't wait to visit her boutique - Layla in Brooklyn.

The picture of these glass bangles looked pretty enough to eat. Of course, it doesn't help that I just got back from a very relaxing trip to India and am homesick for the colors and aromas that I associate with home.

The Goechala Summit and beyond

A friend from NY recently took his first trip to India. Instead of Rajasthan and Agra that most other tourists flock to, he made his way to Calcutta and then Sikkim to climb the Goechala summit. He is an artist and I expected some breathtaking pictures from his trip. He didn't disappoint.

I loved this picture of prayer flags fluttering from Dzongri Hill. He wrote in to say "I had a good time and was very impressed with the feeling I got from my limited time in India. I am a huge fan forever."