Muvva Earf

I'm not sure if I've ever mentioned it before, but my favourite shop in Bangalore (by far) is called Mother Earth. It is on the side of a wheezing, noisy, stinky highway but the second you walk in, blissful calm descends and you are in a treasure trove of beautiful artisan products made all over India. Since we've been living here, we're often stuck for things to do in the afternoon so we end up doing the same things again and again. Our weekly trip to the children's library followed by a visit to Mother Earth has become quite religious and if I'm being honest, the library has just become an excuse to go to Mother Earth (which is on the way back and is how I spotted it in the first place). We've taken out every decent book from the library anyway and so have now resorted to borrowing Maya's favourite books for a second round. I think I'll stop pretending soon that it's still a worthwhile trip and we'll cut to the chase and head straight for Mother Earth, or 'Muvva Earf' as Maya endearingly calls it.

There's a good reason why Maya has grown fond of the place too. For a start, all the staff there know her name and treat her like an old friend (I'm sometimes a bit embarrassed how often we go there!); then there are all the beautifully vibrant colours everywhere you look and lots of stairs to run up and down. But the real gem for Maya (well, maybe a teeny bit for me too) is the top floor. On the top floor of Mother Earth's three floors is a little cafe with rattan chairs and ginger and apple milkshakes, date and jaggery pie and chocolate and walnut brownies all nestled in amongst batique wall hangings and Indian rugs and yes, we are in heaven. Maya tried her first ever chai here and was immediately hooked. Whilst I sit back and finish my own chai, listening to the fabulous tribal music they always play, Maya and Lily run amok amongst the photo frames and quilts and also various breakable objects which obviously makes me feel quite nervous but all the doting staff keep a friendly eye on them.

Oooh, I'm going to miss Muvva Earf when we leave. But having said that, I don't think I'll need to all that much as my challenge is going to be not buying the whole store out to put in our future farmhouse (he he, dream on!). Any requests, let me know.