Inspiring Arts by the Bay - Esplanade Theatre

Lovingly called the Durian, it also has a mall attached to it. The entire atmosphere is cozy and inviting. Paintings adorn the walls as you make your way into the theatres. Quaint cafes brewing coffee invite you at every step. Unique shops of art-stuff and bric-a-brac entice you. Aromas waft out from delectable cake shops.

Budding artisans display their works

Contemporary art abounds in Singapore

Since it was the week of Kala-Utsavam, meaning Indian Festival of Arts, we were excited to head out there early, to catch a few free shows too, before settling in to watch Agam. There were amateur bands performing, like Kolaveri Jamz and Sound Check. Sound Check were crooning on the same stage as Agam did, four years ago. It is a good omen for them, I must say, for Agam have risen to great heights since we heard them last, in the very same outdoor stage!

Soundcheck, keep going!

The Marina Bay forms the backdrop of the outdoor stage of the Esplanade

  I loved Agam four years ago, when they performed for free, at Kala-Utsavam, at the beautiful outdoor stage with the shimmering Marina Bay waters as backdrop. The atmosphere ethereal, they made us croon with them, took us along lilting melodies in languages ranging from Sanskrit to Hindi to Malayalam too. The audience echoed in perfect sync.

Agam ka aagaman

Time flew, so did they, back to Singapore this November, this time we paid for the tickets and felt every penny paid, worth it. At the tres grande Esplanade Concert Hall, Agam arrived to much cheering and started off without a word, on their first number invoking Lord Ganapati in typical Indian tradition. They mesmerised us yet again. 

    Invoking the blessings of the Elephant God

Progressive metallic mingles with Carnatic vocal as front-man Harish S belts out classical song after song in his baritone, inimitable style, all set to leave his footprints in the ranks of Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, Hariharan and other Greats. That unique is his singing. Equally gifted are his buddies at the electric guitars, piano and drums. 

After the concert, we stood patiently in a line to meet and greet them. They patiently spoke to each of us fans and signed autographs. What humility! Hope you keep together the band and the attitude. Go Agam!

We meet again Paris!

I can't tell you how much I love you Paris. Not because I don't know French, I do, un peu. During my various visits, I have seen that you have aged beautifully, you do not differentiate based on skin colour, you walk along with me when I ask for directions, you warm towards me when I speak broken French. You have been my employer, as Alstom, whom I shall fondly remember, forever.

And, as a family, this was the first time I visited you. After living in Singapore, I felt that your metros need renovation no doubt. They have aged since I last visited you about a decade ago. 

We checked into our pleasantly priced Fraser Suites at my old haunt, La Defense. Memories, memories. I spared no effort in taking my dear ones to the places I roamed alone so long ago... looking back so fondly at the beautiful but lonely evenings of roaming the Quatre Temps Mall alone, hunting for deals to take back home in Delhi. 

Soon after checking in, we boarded the bus to La tour Eiffel. The husband and I climbed the tower many years ago, but this time we sufficed with a hundred pictures, in front of a fully lit up tower.

The view soon as we got off the bus!

Then was the march down the Uber-regal Champs Elysees. Couldn't resist shopping for souvenirs at some corner shops and Arcades des Champs Elysees. A gown from Morgan cost me Euro 80. Haven't worn it in six months...the Dinner and Dine got postponed...

It's not expensive to shop in Paris, if you know where to shop. Since I was familiar with La Defense, we shopped till we dropped at C&A, Sephora and other shops where it was raining deals. The teen and I are obsessed with HnM and we don't spare a round wherever we find it in the world, Rome, Hongkong, etc!

Modern art work around La Defense

After so many trips to Paris, we realised that the Arc de Triumph and the Grande Arche of La Defense are actually in a line! 

Two days of Disneyland left us with a sparkle in our eyes. It was the twenty-fifth anniversary and we had great fun at the rides, and the spectacular shows. After Universal Studios, Singapore, where we are used to Express passes to avoid the lines, it was disappointing that Disney doesn't provide any Express pass options. Many popular rides were announcing closures, and that too after standing in the queue for several minutes. We took train passes for three days, to use it mainly on our visits to Disneyland, station Chessy. 

Disney Magic

We had just one day to roam the mighty Louvre. Couldn't decide which of the never-ending Salles to enter! We did the Egyptian, Asian, African, Roman/European and a few more. While the family was happy to literally run through the mighty and gigantic art works and sculptures, I tried to read up whatever I could in this endless labyrinth of antiquities. Saw the Mona Lisa all over again, frankly wondering how the other exotic paintings of Botticelli, Raphael, Rembrandt, etc got left behind... each a Masterpiece, what else could a non-artist like me say! 

Endless displays, each a masterpiece 

We saw gilt-edged furniture, chandeliers, beds, mantels, mantelpieces, candelabra at Napolean's ultra-regal Apartments, with our feet aching but eyes sparkling. 

Napolean's Dining hall

Even a simple bus ride entitles you to drink in the beauty of Paris

We bade good-bye to Paris without a boat ride on the serene Seine, but something tells me we'll be back ... je reviendrai, belle Paris.