Kaikeyi - A Novel by Vaishnavi Patel - Book Review

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Book Details:

Title: Kaikeyi: A Novel

Author: Vaishnavi Patel

Genre: Fantasy, Fiction, Mythological Fiction

Publisher: Redhook

Print length: 496 pages

Blurb:

“I was born on the full moon under an auspicious constellation, the holiest of positions—much good it did me.”

So begins Kaikeyi’s story. The only daughter of the kingdom of Kekaya, she is raised on tales about the might and benevolence of the gods: how they churned the vast ocean to obtain the nectar of immortality, how they vanquish evil and ensure the land of Bharat prospers, and how they offer powerful boons to the worthy. Yet she watches as her father unceremoniously banishes her mother, and listens as her own worth is reduced to the marriage alliance she can secure. And when she calls upon the gods for help, they never seem to hear.

Desperate for independence, she turns to the texts she once read with her mother and discovers a magic that is hers alone. With it, Kaikeyi transforms herself from an overlooked princess into a warrior, diplomat, and most favored queen.

But as the evil from her childhood stories threatens the cosmic order, the path she has forged clashes with the destiny the gods have chosen for her family. And Kaikeyi must decide if resistance is worth the destruction it will wreak—and what legacy she intends to leave behind.

The unforgettable tale of a woman determined to leave her mark in a world gods and men dictate the shape of things to come. "Patel's mesmerizing debut shines a brilliant light on the vilified queen from the Ramayana"
(Publishers Weekly, starred review).

My Review:

Kaikeyi is a novel about the character 'Kaikeyi' in Ramayana. Kaikeyi is the third wife of King Dhasaradh, ruler of the Kosala kingdom and the mother of Bharatha. This story is not the representation of Valmiki Ramayana which is popular and widely known by most in India. 

This novel is a fiction/ fantasy and an imaginative interpretation of the author. The story is based on her research of the other versions of the Ramayana.

Being an Indian and having deep respect and belief in the epic Ramayana, it becomes tough for me to read this book. It's disappointing to read the character of Rama in a negative shade. 

Authors can take liberty with their imagination and show us more context and details regarding a certain action of the character but they shouldn't tweak the epics favoring a negative character for a good story. 

This book does exactly the same. It shows Ravana as a good person with good intentions which I cannot imagine. This seems like retelling Ramayana in a completely different way which hurts the readers' feelings. This also talks about Rama as a mortal human with follies. Mind you, I am not talking about minor follies but jealousy, anger, abuse, and so on.

I wanted to stop reading this book many times in the middle but I only completed it as it's not right to opine on the book without reading it fully.

I gave a rating of 3 due to the above tweaking of the Epic in a way hurting readers' sentiments but when it comes to the writing, I will rate it 4/5. It is a really good book with a great narrative. It is interesting to read Ramayana from a woman character's perspective. The book cover is really amazing. The design is eye-catching. Being a debut novel from the author, she proved she is one of the good writers and has a long way to go.

On a final note, if you know Ramayana already, you might not like this book and even you might feel bad completing reading it. If you don't know Ramayana, you might like it as a good mythological fiction.

Purchase Link:

My Rating :

3/5

About the Author:

Vaishnavi Patel is a law student focusing on constitutional law and civil rights. She likes to write at the intersection of Indian myth, feminism, and anti-colonialism. Vaishnavi grew up in and around Chicago and, in her spare time, enjoys activities that are almost stereotypically Midwestern: knitting, ice-skating, drinking hot chocolate, and making hotdish. Kaikeyi is her debut novel.

Until next time,

White Sands National park and Carlsbad Caverns National Park - A Travelogue #FridayReflections

This post may contain affiliate links, clicking on those links may earn some commission to us without any additional cost to you.

Hello again! This is the continuation of our trip to Big Bend National Park.

You can read Part 1 and Part 2 here. 

Here is the map of the places we visited:

We started from Big Bend National Park around noon and drove through Marfa to Elpaso. 

Marfa:

Marfa is a small desert town and is also an art hub. 

Outside the town is a viewing platform to see the mysterious lights in the sky - sometimes red, white, and blue that appear randomly at night. The source of these lights is still a mystery. Marfa is famous for this unexplainable phenomenon. We couldn't see these lights as we traveled in the noon and couldn't stay in Marfa.

On the way to Elpaso, we can watch the Prada store on US-90 which lies in an isolated place and is a fun stop. It is a permanent art installation around 26 miles northwest of Marfa.

Prada Store

Locks for Good luck?

Elpaso :

Elpaso is the sixth largest city in Texas. 

Casa De Azucar (Sugar House) is a fun place to stop by. We missed it as I didn't note down the place name while planning the trip. Don't miss it if you are driving through ElPaso. 

We planned to drive to the scenic overlook in Elpaso, but couldn't due to lack of time. I read from many blogs that this drive is worth the time.

We reached Las Cruces by evening that day and stayed there for the night. 

New mexico

White Sands National Park:

The next day morning, we drove to White Sands National Park which is around 53 mins from Las Cruces.

This is our second visit to White Sands. Here is the old travelogue. 

White Sands National park

Sledding fun

White Sands is the world's largest Gypsum dune field. The sand is very soft and white. We had many hours of fun sledding through the sand.

It's good that there are restrooms and picnic areas at many places in the park. The visitor center is great too with exhibits and info on how the dunes are formed. There are restrooms and a gift shop inside the visitor center. 

Entry to the park is $25 per vehicle. The Dune drive is 8 miles loop with many places to stop at and sled. 

We did an easy hike of 0.4 miles which is called 'The Interdune boardwalk'. It's a good introductory hike in the park.

I heard Alkali Flat Trail is the best hike in the park. It's a strenuous 5-mile round-trip hike. We couldn't do it with kids. Someday we might do this trail. 

We started our drive to Carlsbad which is 3.5 hrs. We reached by the night and we stayed at Whites city cavern inn in Carlsbad.

The location is great as it's just 6.8 miles from the caves.

Accommodation near Las Cruces:

Carlsbad Caverns National Park:

Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico is unlike any other caves. These caves were formed 20 - 30 million years ago in the Guadalupe mountains. Around 110 caves were formed with stunning formations due to the mineral-laden water seeping through the fractures of ancient limestone sedimentation.

Carlsbad Caverns National park

Carlsbad Caverns National park

Here is my old travelogue to Carlsbad Caverns. Last time, we booked King's Palace tour and I highly recommend it. The guided tour is 1.5 hrs and it's very interesting and informative.

This time, we just did a self-guided tour through the Big Room trail which is 1.25 miles. We spent some time in the visitor center watching the exhibits and learning more about how caves are formed. We took an elevator to the caves.

Carlsbad Caves

Cave Formations

Last time, we entered the cave through Natural Entrance Trail. This was the toughest trail then but completely worth it. This trail is 1.25 miles taking us down to 750 ft.

We had great lunch in the national park cafe. I highly recommend eating there. My kids completed their junior ranger program and got their badges.

By the time, we came out of the caves, it was around 4 Pm. We drove to Guadalupe Peak in the Guadalupe Mountains national park. 

Accommodations near Carlsbad:

Guadalupe Mountains National Park:

Guadalupe Mountains National Park is only 34 mins from Carlsbad, so don't miss it if you can. 

We didn't have much time and were tired after the caves, but wanted to see Guadalupe Peak and cover El Capitan Overlook.

Guadalupe Peak

Guadalupe Mountains National Park

We just covered those two and returned to our motel in Whites City. 

3.8 mile Devil's Hall trail is very popular in Guadalupe mountains national park. It takes 3 to 4 hrs to finish the trail and it starts from pine springs campground. This trail gives beautiful views of canyons and geological formations.

Some easy trails recommended by other bloggers and friends are:

• The trail from dog canyon campground to Marcus Overlook
• McKittrick Canyon to Pratt's cabin and on to Grotto

We couldn't do any of these trails due to the lack of time.

The next day morning we started our return journey to Austin. 

That was our best South Western Texas and New Mexico trip. How did you like it?

Please let me know in the comments. 

Until next time,

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Linking this to #FridayReflections hosted by Corinne. 

Health and Habits #BlogchatterBlogHop

First of all, Happy Ugadi / Gudi Padwa to all who are celebrating.

Ugadi is our Telugu new year and this year, we are celebrating on March 22nd. We prepare and eat 'Ugadi Pachadi' on this day, which is made with 6 different tastes: sweet, sour, bitter, spicy, tangy, and salt. 

Coming to this blog post's topic, I associate my health with my daily habits. 

We are what we are based on what we do regularly. Right?

There is one healthy habit that I am proud of.  I have a habit of detaching completely from work after office hours. Not checking emails or even not opening the laptop after 5PM. I kept my notifications Off on phone for office emails and slacks after 5 PM. 

You don't believe me when I say, my manager doesn't have my phone number. The only way he can contact me is through slack/ office email. Credits to my manager and his perspective on work-life balance. I am so grateful for that.

I consider my brain having a switch. After 5 PM it switches to family mode. It switches back to work mode only the next morning at 8.30 AM if it's not a weekend. I know, I am very fortunate to be working in such an organization that cares for the work-life balance of employees. 

Try these simple tips:

1. Keep your work notifications off after work hours or at night if not possible. 

2. Set an expectation to your team and manager that you will be offline after work hours and cannot respond immediately. Let there be some exceptions, but set an expectation.

3. Be mindful of whatever task you are doing. If it's work, it's 100% work and if it's a personal task, give it a 100% as well. Don't combine tasks and multi-tasking is not for long-term success.

One habit I want to change is trying yoga daily. I know the importance of yoga on my health and peace. I know that 30 to 60 mins a day of yoga makes a huge difference in my life. I have experienced this difference. 

I prefer taking yoga classes in the morning. But, with kids' school arrangements, it's becoming tough. I am busy with my dance classes and kids' activities at least thrice a week. There has to be a way and I am going to find it soon. 

In this Telugu New year, I hope to make things right. 

What is that one habit of yours which you are proud of? And, what is that one habit you want to change?

Please let me know in the comments.

Until next time,

This post is a part of Blogchatter Blog Hop.

Things that make me smile #FridayReflections

 I took this prompt from the list shared by Shalini here.

What makes you smile? I love to talk about this topic. 

I smile when ...

• I see The Sun rising in the morning with colors changing in the Sky while having coffee

• My kiddo wants to hug me without any reason

• I visit some new place 

• I am satisfied that the code I wrote meets my standards or even when my blog post looks good when I read it.

• I spend time with my family watching some movies together.

• I tease my son to take a lot of photos of me in all poses and he obliges.

• I see my son performing for the band or showcasing his new skill.

• I see that I got a comment for my blog post 😀

• My students perform well on stage

• I could write a meaningful blog post 

• I could practice dance well and perform better on stage

• I feel relaxed after yoga session

• I feel the breeze on my face after hiking

• I sit back to enjoy the nature

The list is really big. So, let's leave it here.

What makes you smile? Do let me know in the comments. 

Have a nice day!

Until next time,

Linking this to #FridayReflections.

How to make time to read - 3 simple tips #WriteAPageADay

This is my favorite topic to talk about. How to take time out of our busy lives to read?

I love reading a lot. I love thrillers, mystery, horror, contemporary, women's fiction, historical fiction, and travel magazines. My friends often ask me how do you get time to read.

Here are some silly tidbits that help me to squeeze in some time to read.

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Kindle App

I have started reading more when I am reading through the kindle app. I don't have a Kindle - e-reader. I am postponing it for a long time. I might buy some day.

But, the Kindle app on my phone itself is handy. I can read anytime, it updates my reading progress even when I read a little from my laptop on Kindle cloud reader or on my phone. I need not be online to use the Kindle app which is a big plus for me. Whenever there is no internet and I feel bored, I will start reading.

I read while waiting for the kid while picking him up from school or while making the idli/ dosa batter :-) Explore those silly options and small reading slots. 

No Daily target for reading

I believe that we should never read by force or as a rule. Reading is an activity I enjoy. I don't want to make it stressful. So, I don't set a time to read every day. Ya.. that's my tip :-) Don't set a time and do it when possible. 

For me, the time before I go to bed is good. 15 to 20 mins a day sometimes and none on weekends. It completely depends. Sometimes when some book is too good I am tempted to read during lunch break or in the middle of work (that's a secret though )

Pick the genres that you like

This tip can't go wrong. Many of us struggle with reading habits when we pick a book that is not interesting. If there is one genre that interests you, you will feel difficulty putting it down. Trust me on this.

I see many people trying to read the best-sellers like Rich Dad Poor Dad, Who Moved my Cheese etc., But, they don't enjoy non-fiction and feel it boring. Instead, if they pick some other genre, they might continue reading it. 

So, read a variety of books from multiple genres to know which one you enjoy, and try books in similar genres until you get into the habit of reading.

Let me know in the comments if any of these tips work for you.

Until next time,

Word count: 414 words

The Domain, Austin TX - A Cool place to spend a few hours #WriteAPageADay

Since it's been a year since we moved to Austin, We are exploring more places.

The Domain

The Domain is a beautiful place to shop, relax, eat, and roam. The Domain is an office, retail and residential places altogether. It has plenty of stores to show and multiple restaurants to eat. I see many people coming with dogs to just walk around.

Address:

11410 Century Oaks Terrace
Austin, TX 78758

The place is very neatly designed and is one of the hottest spots in the Austin. In the evenings, it's lit well with holiday lights, restaurants with live music and different outdoor art installations. 

The Domain features 100 upscale and mainstream retail stores. The Museum of Icecream is a great attraction too. The Domain is the most happening place and there are many cool Instagram spots to capture. 

There are many kid play areas, designed in a beautiful park-like setting. Many restaurants have live music and it is the best place to enjoy evenings. There are many free parking lots around. There are many high-end stores like Louis Vuitton and also regulars like Macy's. There is something for all ages and all types of people. 

Here is one Instagram-worthy restaurant - The Yard Milkshake bar.

Isn't that amazing? It's strawberry shortcake flavor.

How did you like this place? do let me know in the comments.

Until next time,

Word count: 228

2 Days in Big Bend National Park - Day 2 Itinerary #WriteApageADay

This post may contain affiliate links, clicking on those links may earn some commission to us without any additional cost to you.

 

Read our day 1 itinerary here. 

Big Bend National Park is divided into 3 regions - Chisos Basin, Santa Elena Canyon, and Rio Grande Village.

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We covered a few places in Santa Elena canyon and Chisos Basin on day 1. Day 2 is to drive to the Rio Grande Village visitor center and explore from there.

Before we go into the details of hikes and places to see on the way to Rio Grande village, let me share our experience of Glamping under the stars.

Glamping at The Summit

I have been following the Instagram account of The Summit at Big Bend for a long time. The accommodations in 1000 acres of raw desert land are interesting. Glamping here is a once-in-a-lifetime option. Fortunately, Lotus Tents with a stargazing option and a stargazing dome were available when we tried just 15 days before our trip in winter.

Summit at Big Bend in Terilingua is 40 miles from Castalon Visitor center which is nearer to Santa Elena Canyon. The drive towards the Summit is scenic with interesting colors in the sky at dusk.

we can relax or hike or stargaze at the Summit. When we visited in winter, the temperatures are pretty low in 30's, but the rooms have heaters and heated blankets. With respect to handling the cold, Stargazing domes did a good job than lotus tents. Lotus tents can accommodate a family of 4 with a queen bed and sofa. A stargazing dome is good for couples.

There are shared bathrooms and restrooms. Warm water is available. The rooms are equipped with a coffee maker, blankets, and towels. There is a fire pit and chairs outside each room.

Watching the Sunrise was the best experience from the Summit.

Fossil Discovery Exhibit:

If you are entering the park from the north, many suggested stopping at Fossil Discovery Exhibit. Especially, if you are visiting with kids. This is an open-air exhibit showcasing some of the fossils found here.

There are picnic tables in case you want to have quick lunch or breakfast. 

Rio Grande Village

Rio Grande Visitor Center:

Address:

450 Rio Grande Road
open 9-12, 1-4:30

There is wifi and gas available near this visitor center. Rio Grande Village is on the Southeast side of Big Bend National park. Here you can find camping options, overlooks, and a lot of trails. There is also an opportunity to visit Mexico by crossing the river. Some of the sites to check out here are Boquillas Canyon hike and overlook, Rio Grande Overlook, Daniels Ranch, the hot springs, and Ernst Tinaja trail.

Ernst Tinaja Trail:

This 1.6 miles round-trip moderate hike is a gem. We couldn't do this, but when we go next time, it will be on the top of our list. 

Trailhead is located off old ore road. You might need a 4X4 vehicle with high clearance to reach the trailhead. This canyon has various-sized pools with walls of colored layered stone. It is beautiful because of its colorful geological formation and pools.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/gingersteve/4220839514/

Boquillas Canyon:

This 1.4 miles hike climbs through some distance and goes through a sandy path along the river. There is a sand dune slide at the end!

Rio Grande Village Nature Trail:

One easy hike to do with kids! This is just 0.75 miles with a platform to watch the pond and has the best mountain and river views.

Hot Springs Historic Trail:

This is the second most recommended place in Rio Grande Village. The trail is just a 1-mile round trip hike.  We can walk past the historic buildings to reach the hot springs. The water is at 105 degrees!

https://garystockbridge617.getarchive.net/amp/media/hot-springs-e4dc86

Boquillas Port of Entry:

You can ride a rowboat 100 feet to reach Boquillas del Carmen, Mexico.

This travelogue is not done yet. We drove through Marfa and Elpaso to reach New Mexico eventually to Las Cruces and visited White Sands National park the next day. 

Until the next travelogue,

Word count: 668

Accommodation Options near Big Bend:

5 Texas State Parks on my Travel wishlist #WriteAPageADay

 I love making these wish lists for any state. I do a lot of research and note down important information in the Evernote app. It's easy to refer to these notes both on my laptop and my mobile.

Texas has 89 state parks. Wow! I didn't know that before we came here.

This is the state parks map. 

When I searched for the best state parks to visit in Texas, I got many recommendations. But the criteria to visit differ for everyone, right? 

My Criteria are these:

- Within 5 hrs of Austin

- A lot of hiking options

- Scenery with mountains/ rock formations/lake/beach

- Kid-friendly and easy hikes

- Availability of food options and not very remote

Here are the best 5 state parks that meet the above criteria for me, and they are on my travel wish list.

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1. Dinosaur Valley State Park, Glenrose

Address: 

1629 Park Rd 59Glen Rose, TX 76043

Hours: 8 am to 5 PM

Online reservation needed

There are multiple things to do. Dinosaur tracks, hiking, fishing, paddling, swimming, mountain biking, etc., $8 is the entry fee. We can easily spend one day checking the dinosaur tracks and walking along the river. There is also a safari park near Glenrose. The Park is around 3 hours from Austin.

Wikipedia

2. Caddo Lake State Park

Address:

245 Park Road 2
Karnack, TX 75661

Hours: 8.15 to 4.45 PM

Online Reservations needed

Entry is $4 

The scenery amazed me when I saw the state park photos on Instagram. The bald cypress trees and Spanish moss make this lake look misty and surreal. There are boating tours as well. We can fish, paddle, hike, or stay in a cabin. The park is around 5 hrs from Austin.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/oneeighteen/48465107426

3. Palo Duro Canyon State Park

Address: 11450 Park Road 5Canyon, TX 79015

Hours: 7 am to 9 pm

Entry is $8

This is the second-largest canyon in the USA. There are 30 miles of hiking and biking trails. This park reaches an elevation of 3400 ft. above sea level. 

wikipedia

This is the only exception in my criteria, as it's around 8 hrs from Austin. But, this is one of the not-to-miss places on my list.

4. Enchanted Rock State Natural Area

Address: 16710 Ranch Rd. 965Fredericksburg, TX 78624

Hours: 6.30 am to 10 pm

Entry is $8

Fredericksburg is a nice, charming town with many wineries. This massive pink granite dome is beautiful with hill country views. We can hike, bike, rock climb, stargaze, or bird watch here.

There are 11 miles of hiking trails. It takes around 45 mins to climb to the top. This  Park is around 2 hrs from Austin. 

5. Colorado Bend State Park

Address: 1201 Colorado Park Road, Bend, TX 76824

Hours: 6 am to 10 pm

Entry is $5

We can hike, fish, paddle, or take a cave tour here. The hike to Gorman Falls is popular. It is a 3-mile round-trip hike on rugged terrain. 

This park is around 2 hrs from Austin.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/jrandallc/4558086413

There are many other parks on my wish list, including Pedernales Falls State Park, McKinney Falls State Park, and Inks Lake State Park. 

Waiting for spring and summer for more outdoor time. What about you?

Until next time,

Word count: 547