Paris v/s New York... Illustrated

An NYC transplant from Paris, graphic designer Vahram Muratyan, copes with culture shock by creating a lovely blog of simple graphics showing how the cities compare and contrast. Pitted against each other are Le Pain, La Peste, Le Tip and more in this friendly feud.

Grape, Goat Cheese and Onion Baguette

I found a lovely and unexpected combination of flavors - grapes, onion, vinegar and goat cheese together are something that I will definitely return to again.

Ingredients (makes 15)

- 1 baguette
- 7 ounces (200 g) soft goat cheese

{ salsa }
- 18 ounces (500 g) red grapes
- 1 red onion
- fresh parsley
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- salt & pepper

Slice the baguette and toast the slices quickly in the oven until crispy. Chop the grapes and onion. Finely chop some parsley. Mix in a bowl and add in red wine vinegar. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Spread a generous layer of goat cheese on the bread slices. If the goat cheese seems too stiff, mix in a splash of milk to make it more spreadable. Spoon a big spoonful of grape salsa on top and serve.

{ recipe adapted from sprouted kitchen }

Fortune Tellers

Fortune Tellers...
In 2009 – I was told by sept 2009 I would be married ! Could u imagine me at 22 being married ? Ofcourse I would have loved to have a boy friend, but certainly not be married !! Then sometime in sept 2009 – a tarot reader told me beginning November is my 9th year and its going to be raising hell for me !! And it has come partially true... And then some other tarot reader told me .. im not gng to be friends with one of my best friends.. and true to the word – we r rocking so hard on a boat that turned over last night on a rough patch !!

Do you believe in fortune telling ??

In Tokyo – my friends and I went to this Shinto Shrine called the Sensouji temple – wherein we had to pick up these fortune sticks from a box full of them. Then we had to locate a box with the corresponsding number on it. When we open the drawer from the hundreds on there – we can pull out a piece of paper which would have our fortune written on it.. !!

Ranging from "Daikichi (excellent luck)" to "Daikyo (great misfortune)," and gives advice about specific subjects, such as heath, marriage, travel, business and study. In ancient times, Japanese often used lotteries to learn God's will on important matters of national politics and festivals, and the current style of Omikuji is said to have originated 900 years ago. Nowadays, most of people draw Omikuji just for fun.

The Fighting Spirit

So imagine diving straight into something and not knowing what you are getting into – and half way in you meet the demon ! Has that ever happened to you ? I got into a friendship – and i think straight from my heart – till the demon confronted me 5 months ago ! Yes – its been 5 months since i have been in deep waters struggling to keep my head above the ground. And last night I had the sinking feeling – which is not the first time I have felt this in 5 months – But I was stuck long enuf in the deep shit to realise this is not me !! When did I learn to Give up ?? People around me know to have the fighters spirit... !!

It’s when i saw these amazing China that I realised what i am going through – like this tea cup – inorder to know the entire demon – you just need to sip the entire tea to get to the bottom of everything !! So i did – and I found out – the foundations of this friendship is WEAK. And I have 2 ways out of here. I either get out of it completely – or fight for myself. I am a fighter – but my friend doesn’t want to be my friend anymore... and so I quit this friendship. Because in the end you will not remember the harsh words of an enemy , but remember the silences of a friend !!

Have you ever run away from a friendship ?

Winter Love !

So I got the much awaited call this morning. I knew it was coming. But i did not know it would be so fast. Winter Love I tell u !! My Best Friend – im not naming which one ( I have to keep this secret !) is getting married... I am ecstatic. We pretty much grew up together. We spent so much time together... and we discussed all the time - what our partners would be like. And my friend’s partner fits the description exactly. WORD FOR WORD
We all grow up making a list of the perfect partner. The last person I dated was completely opposite to that LIST .. no regrets – it helps you find out what you really want, really !! Which also makes me wonder – Does you partner/ spouse fit that bill ?? Now, not the one which you re-structured to accommodate him / her – i’m talking about the one you made when you first got to know what LOVE is... ! Or are you still trying to figure out what to put on the list ?? What do you think should be on this list anyway ??