Phuket – More than a city of Surf and Sand!

Phuket is the largest island of Thailand , surrounded by andaman sea , it boasts of turquoise beaches , a very colorful night life , great sea food if you are a non-veg lover and a host of beautiful islands in the vicinity which is excellent for snorkeling , sea-diving and amazing view-points.

All the above sounds very touristy and something which you expect in an island . A place is to me is like a person. And when I travel I really want to experience the heart of the place . And the heart of Phuket lies in the Sunday night market . It is an experience which needs to be devoured to believe . Phuket as a place was never colonized but has trade relations with Portugal and other neighboring countries as it was rich in Tin and other resources.

Phuket being a part of Strait of Malacca had commercial interests from many neighboring countries including China , Malaysia , Burma , India and European countries like Portugal. Many trader came here and settled and this exchange is evident in the buildings , architecture , cuisine and in the daily life of people.

Phuket was never colonized but traders from different parts of the world settled there and made their home . This is evident in the heritage buildings , temples , restaurants and the overall city. In 18th century Burma attacked Phuket and two Thai sisters Mook and Chan had guided the army with their chivalrous plan to defeat the burmese army . The city honoured the sisters by placing a statue of them in the city center and you can see this while coming from Phuket airport to the city center.

One very vibrant aspect of Phuket’s multicultural mix is Baba Yaya, or Phuket Baba, a term used to describe the island’s Peranakan Chinese community. The community find its origin from hard-working hokkien Chinese laborers and merchants who arrived on the Malay Peninsula hundreds of years ago, Phuket Baba is a distinctive, living culture blending Chinese, Thai, and European influences.

Every Sunday on Thalang Road , the area transforms into a hub of culture , food , music and other shops selling handicrafts , local cuisine with a variety of sea-food , live music , games and amusement. This has been started by local government where a very busy street is transformed into a melting pot of culture where you experience the life of local people by becoming part of them . Thalang road has many heritage buildings housing cafes , family run restaurants where recipes has been passed from one generation to another.

While having lunch in one of the restaurants in Thalang road , we were awed by the food we ordered . Upon enquiring we came to know that the food was prepared by grand-mother in the kitchen housed behind the restaurant. It was a pleasant surprise. When we taste the food whose recipes has been passed from one generation to another we not only satiate our taste-buds but also become a part of their family as these recipes has evolved over a time carrying the character of the people who have cooked and passed it to the next generation. After the lunch we actually went and thanked the grand-mother who served us with so much love.

For the duration Thalang road is closed , it gets transformed into a magical lane where there is live music , different types of Thai food , Thai pastries , seafood , handicraft items , popsicles , rice cakes , live music , colorful beach clothes . The people enjoy the food , music and even bursting into impromptu dance . The whole vibe of the place is authentic , eclectic and yet so rooted in the local culture. I tried sea-food fritter and pancake , also many different varieties of cakes and pastries with local ingredients which gave Thai touch to the recipes which has travelled worldwide. Phuket as surrounded by Andaman sea has one of the freshest sea-food in the world and hence its a paradise for sea-lover.

When I close my eyes and think about Phuket I am teleported in this busy lane of Thalang Road in Sunday market where not only buildings are colorful but the entire road has the vibe of “Alice in Wonderland ” . A melting point of culture , it reminds me that every place has a flavor and like a child reading a story book , every person experiencing this have their own interpretation .

Stories of Gratitude !

Bangalore has been home for eighteen years now . And if you have been in Bangalore for sometime now , one pain which binds us all is the general behaviour of autowallahs. Although after the advent of Ola/Uber  definitely autos have taken a backseat .

But still as a newcomer to this city in 2001 , autos were our preferred mode of transport where I used to hop on to auto from CMH road to jeevanbima nagar . Those were the days where we had just passed from the engineering college and we landed in Bangalore to find our dream IT job. Every penny mattered and whenever we don’t want to climb on the BMTC bus and had some company , we would take an auto to and fro. We were three room mates and this made sense ( You see student life is all about caring for that single penny as we were on budget always) , it was an idle situation where all the expenses were divided by three.

Haggling was a common practice and most of the autowallahs were rude and would demand exorbitant money for driving from  one place to another. And that’s the general impression about them . But here I am going to share some stories which busts the myth that auto drivers are rude and uncouth.

I was working for TCS during that time . And I had to go to MG road from JeevanBima nagar. One of my college friend had come . As I got ready and was hurrying up to catch one auto , my mind rustled when the auto slowed down . Again this guy is going to ask for extra . And the first question I asked “Bhaiya , meter ! . And he asks in sign language “Where” In anticipation with a bated breadth I tell  him “MG Road ” . And then he says “OK madam Banni ” I was utterly surprised to get an auto in the first instance. As I sit in the auto and it speeds off , my eyes veers off to the tree lined CMH road and the swanky shops selling all kind of clothes , accessories etc. Suddenly the auto driver asks me madam do you work in IT ? And I nod in affirmation . I ask him Where does he live ? And he replies that he lives somewhere near majestic. He then tells me that he works very hard for his family and has three children.

Pic from internet , but so true 🙂

Then he request me to check a box kept behind the seat and asks me to take one or two soaps if I like it. The box had bathing soaps in different fragrances and he was using the commute time to sell the products of this company . I was impressed by his zeal to use this commute time to sell products and give a better lifestyle to his family and kids. I left the auto congratulating him for his efforts . Its not everyday you meet such a versatile autowallah.

The next incident took place when I had dropped my son to his friend’s house and while returning I could not find any auto . It was one corner of Sarjapura Road . And suddenly I hear the loud rustle of an auto . I gave him sign to stop and he stops immediately . I ask him ïf he would go to Harlur Road . And then he smiles and says that he is going to the other side . But he offers me to drop to the main Road as he is going to take that road itself. I board the auto . Once I reach the main road , he stops . I alight down and hand him the minimum fare . He refuses saying that anyway he was going there so no need to pay , also he did not drop me to my destination. But I tell him its all right and insists to take the fare. Finally he takes the fare , I congratulate and tell him  that it is rare to find such autowallahs in Bangalore . He smiles and replies with a grin , ” Madam , Abhi bhi kuch hamare jaise autowallah hai Bangalore mein . Upar jakar kya mooh dikhayenge bhagwan ko .” I cannot agree more and starts walking to my home.

Japanese food festival

I have a special corner in my heart for the Japanese culture and the country of  Japan . Japan being an island nation has minimal resources but with their hard work and dedication they have built a nation which is technologically advanced and the Japanese people are one of the most hardworking people.

I got to know about Japanese food festival through Facebook ( Ah ! one of the benefits of Social Media)  which was happening in Sangri-La hotel in Vasanthnagar.

My husband and Son are diehard foodies and love to explore different cuisines. The food festival had many Japanese restaurants from the city offering their delectable stuff.

The Japanese restaurants serving the Japanese delights were  Shiro , Broadway , Matsuri , Mikusu , Edo( By ITC Gardenia) , Jameson , Yataii ( Shangri-La ‘s own Japanese Restaurant) , Daily Sushi etc .

Also A stall was kept by Gadre supplier who exclusively import Japanese ingredients , Japanese wines and fish to Bangalore for all the Japanese aficionados

The food served were Japanese and some indian inspired Japanese food. The biryani inspired gumba rolls  was my first . Then there were different varieties of sushi , maki rolls , California rolls , miso soup , Japanese inspired croquettes, sashimi etc.

I loved the maki rolls with the crunchy layer which was filled with sea food. A slight dip in the dark soy sauce gives a distinct flavour to the rice. Sushi is a complete food and a delight to your taste buds. I have to thank my sister who introduced me to this culinary wonder.

There was free sampling of Japanese Sake courtesy the Japanese consulate which I found really fresh and titillating. The Japanese sake is a wine brewed from Rice and is quite famous in Japan.

Now when I am talking about so many savouries it will be crime not to talk about my favourite dessert . The cotton cheesecake was a revelation , light and fluffy , it floated like a cloud on my mouth . An addition of little chocolate sauce and a wedge of lime really raised the palate for me .

We also tried the kafir lime icecream which was unique but  it may take time to get used to that taste.

A host of cultural events was in process along with the food festival . The rendition of Kannada and Hindi songs by Mr Kuboki – San was really heart-warming  and it added a very festive vibe to the food festival.

There were also stalls of Japanese food companies and beverages who were offering free samples . It was amusing to see kids lining up for free sample of cup noodles by NISSIN ( kids will be kids after all).

The food festival is a great way to meet people, learn traditions , food from other culture . It also gives you a window to learn about the nuances of a different country who are alike and different in so many ways.

A video done by Amit Sinha

Leave a comment if you enjoy reading this post. It is encouraging to hear from the readers and help me to write better  🙂

Wake up …

A dark night passed away

Drumming and thrumming

The rain had pelted on the trees

Weary leaves gave away

Strewn on the path

Like broken dreams

 

The lotus buds are asleep

Still weary with the thrashing

They had drink enough

Sloshed till their necks

 

Wilted and tired

Hanging their heads

They don’t want to get up

Weary with cold

 

Dark clouds have turned amber

Sun is smiling with a glee

Birds and bees are swarming

Humming in the morning breeze

 

Wake up my little buds

The trees had strung festoons

Glistening with gaiety

Greeting in your abode

 

Don’t be shy like a new bride

Morning has bought a new light

Sparrows are chirping, chiding

Wake up my little buds

We all are singing in delight.

 

A time to Remember !!

Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sun on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there; I did not die.

                                           Mary Elizabeth frye

Almost a month back , father of my childhood friend Sofi passed away. It happened suddenly and the news was quite shocking for me.Uncle was all hale and hearty a week before.  Sofi and I studied in the same class till Class 10 and has lot of memories to look back.

My childhood was spent in the city of Bokaro. It is a SAIL city just like the cities of Rourkela, Bhilai , Visakhapatnam etc. And if you have been to one of  such cities, you would agree that they have their own old world charm. Bokaro is divided into 12 sectors and each sector is a neighborhood equipped with a health center, playgrounds , staff residences ( mostly people working in the steel plants used to live there) schools and shopping center. I used to stay in sector 5/C and study in Guru Gobind Singh Public School which was a 10 minute walk from my home.I literally crossed two playgrounds to reach my school. As an inquisitive child my eyes used to wander in search of wild flowers , butterflies and ladybirds. And I used to feel at the top of world whenever I used to see one. Such carefree days where we had ample time to wander in the wilderness and getting lost in doing nothing.

It was class 10 and I was worried most about Mathematics .  We came to know that the principal of Ayappa School who was a reputed mathematics teacher used to stay in sector 5 itself. It was a boon to have someone like him at a walk-able distance. Life was simple then , a handshake and a cup of tea used to solve many complex problems. It was Sofi’s father Mr. K.N. Gopalkrishna Uncle who first spoke to the principal sir about the help which we needed in Mathematics and slowly I and my other classmate Bhavna joined his classes along with Sofi.

There was neither a mobile during that time nor the luxury of other material possessions.But what we had was empathy and an informality in day to day life. I remember Uncle as an affable person who always encouraged us to do well. It is a joy just to remember those carefree days.Our fathers always dropped us on time whenever they could and they would joke about how good we were as daughters and the pride was always to praise the other daughter but not his own.

Although Sofi and I were competitors but Uncle would always praise me for something or the other. This small instance I always remember and we laugh my heart out whenever it comes in my mind.

One day when we reached classes , it was little late and this time the fathers of Sofi and Bhavna had also came to drop us.

So once we were inside, my father was talking some humdrum stuff with Chopra Uncle and Gopalkrishnan Uncle. In between Gopalkrishnan remarks that Bhavna is a very cute child and is really very calm and quiet. Chopra uncle hearing this says , ” what cute Sir , She is just like a baby elephant ” . Hearing this neither my father nor Gopalkrishnan Uncle was able to contain himself and they break into unbridled laughter.

This small incidence father told me after the classes and whenever we remember this we break into a loud laugh. This small incidents is not life changing but there was something about that time which was pure and simple.

Sofi’s father is no more but I still remember how simple he was and had the innocence of a small child. His death was unexpected and heart wrenching for my friend . With this post I wanted to Convey Sofi  that he is not there physically but his ideals and values will keep ensconcing her life with his presence.

A photo which Sofi shared with me …. where she is seen with her parents…. What is the one thing which strikes you about this photo?

Food is the journey to the soul

Tomorrow is hubby’s birthday and wanted to prepare something special for him. You see our birthdays fall just a week from each other. So last week had celebrated my own and it was so much fun. I will write something on this and why we need to celebrate birthdays or  any happy occasion.

So coming to prepare something special for him. I had decided to make Fish curry which he really loves it. We love fresh water fish. So , mostly the fish preparation will be of Rohu or Katla (these are fish varieties and most of the fish preparations in Bihar/Bengal will hover around it.

We love Doi Maach ( A Bengali recipe ) and although it is quite famous recipe but every household will have its own version.

I truly feel that a perfect dish is marrying of flavours , textures and aromas. My cooking philosophy is to cook something out of ordinary. Because when you cook with love , the food tastes divine. Every morsel of food is like a drop of ambrosia.

Food which can talk to you can nourish your soul. But I don’t like to follow a particular recipe and add my own twist to it. So , I made this gravy with ground paste of onion , garlic and ginger and red chillies . Now Red chillies are also of so many variety but I use one chilly from byadagi region which has this smoky texture and gives a smoky edge to any food preparation. The tempering was with kalonji seeds , asafoetida and chilli’s.

To add my twist I did not add curd to the gravy but instead used a half spoon of tamarind paste to give that tangy edge to the gravy. And served this curry with basmati rice and a salad of tomatoes, radish and onions.

Basmati rice with my own version of fish curry.

 

 

The food was relished with added fervour and zeal and everything vanished in seconds. This post is to inspire people to try to do something which you truly believe in , doing something which comes through your soul. Life has many flavours and you need to appreciate each flavour because variety is truly the spice of life. Leave me a comment if you have tried something different and I will be happy to read your experience.

KL bird park

Travel they say helps to unravel your own thoughts and understanding about your own self .Whenever we visit a new city our effort is to visit places which boast of natural flora and fauna of the place.

KL bird park claims to be the largest free flying aviary in the world.It is surrounded by many museums , old parliament house , butterfly park , orchids garden etc . The whole place is just beautiful . I loved the infrastructure of the whole place and the way they have organized the whole city

Kuala Lumpur bird park is located in the  lake gardens and is just minutes drive from the bustling city center. The KL bird park has been divided into many zones.

There are zones where the birds are allowed to roam just like natural state and they can fly and feel as if in their own home. In this zone you can see birds like egret , storks, hawk, pelicans , ducks , herons , peacocks and the list goes on.

Then there are enclosures like zoo where more birds from different parts of asia are kept.

The KL bird park has shows at 12:30 and 3:30 in the noon. It is amazing to see how birds can perform tricks , speak and understand just like humans and even do mathematics.Even you can also be part of the show if you are interested.

The KLbird park has a restaurant named as Hornbill restaurant which serves quite an eclectic mix of asian cuisine and is competitively priced. The only downside of the whole experience is the tickets, which I feel are little overtly priced.

It is a must see place if you are a nature lover. The kids also would love it as they get to participate in the bird show.There are rest areas as well as information center where you can learn lot of trivia about birds. You can learn about the different kinds of nest they make, food they eat as well as how the babies are incubated.

Its a surreal experience to see the birds in their natural environment. We  got to feed emus and ostriches with their favorite greens. They are really humongous in shape and size.

Do you know that a single Emu egg can feed omelette to 17 human beings ?

Some of the pictures from the KL bird park

 

A trip to Batu Caves

This month I have decided to write a blog everyday .April is special because this is the month I was born.So , I am truly grateful to god for this beautiful life.

Although i am already few days late but still going to start it and hopefully write one every day. Since I am in malayasia. YAY.. my first blog this month has to be something related to it .

The first place of interest which we visited here was BATU Caves . BATU caves boast of the largest Murugan statue in the whole world.Also it is one of the part of naturally occurring lime stone caves in this part.

How to get there

One great thing about Kualalumpur is the whole city is connected thorough chain of fast moving trains. So , there is metro , monorail as well as KL rapid . Btau Caves is located in the outskirts of the city . So wherever part you are in you need to come to KL Sentral ( that is the main station ) . From KL Sentral you can hop on a train to any part of the city . And there are regular trains to move you to and fro from the city to BATU Caves and KL Sentral.

History of BATU Caves

BATU caves bears testimony to the influence of Hinduism to Malay culture. There are three main caves . And each cave has different elements of Hindu culture weaved into it.The Ramayana cave weaves the story of LORD Rama while the main cave has the shrines of all important Hindu deities.

There is a very huge statue of LORD hanumana at the entrance of BATU CAVES. Also you can find many small temples at the foothills of the hillock . It is a beautiful sight to see peacocks roaming freely in the campus and adds so much beauty to the whole surrounding.

The Dark caves has a guided tour and you can observe the natural surrounding of the caves and the varieties of flora and fauna inside the caves. This includes monkeys , macaws , bats and many more .

What I loved most about the whole surrounding is the huge hils which gives a majestic backdrop the place. Its a treat watching the stalactites and stalagmites jutting all through the caves and makes it look dreamy , rustic and gives a natural edge.

This is a must see place if you are in Kuala lumpur. I hope you have a great time reading this . Looking forward to hear from you if you are reading this. And I am so excited to write everyday , sharing my experience of a new culture.

And I would like to end this post with a malay phrase ” SELAMAT DATANG” which means “WELCOME” .

LOVE and PEACE till we meet again here…

 

 

Silence

Wise men have time again advocated  that ‘Silence is golden.’ When we practice silence , we try to hear our inner voice . It is a vigorous routine to practice silence everyday. And people go to lengths to cultivate that habit even going for a silent retreat.

But in a relationship when people become silent, it heralds its end. A poem which reflects that feeling. Never underestimate silence because mostly it signifies the death of an agonizing relationship.

Silence ,

That lie between the words

Amidst a room full of chaos

Between You and Me

Silence ,

That spirals like a scathing demon

Munching on unbridled laughter

Ready to engulf those sweet memories

Silence ,

Waiting to fill the voids

No words to complain or endearment

Stale and dying , scathing with nothingness

Silence ,

Like an taut wild vine

Spiraling in our lives

Sealing the death of our relationship.

Sharing with Threewordwednesday

Chitra Santhe 2017

There is something beautiful about a blank canvas, the nothingness of the beginning that is so simple and breathtakingly pure. It’s the paint that changes its meaning and the hand that creates the story. Every piece begins the same, but in the end they are all uniquely different.”

― Piper Payne

There can never be better start to new year than a visit to a world of colors and hues where imaginations run like a berserk river inundating everything on its way with emotions.Each artist when they paint , they also insert a part of their soul in the paintings. Bangalore’s own very CKP gives a boost to all the upcoming artists and their creativity by holding a painting exhibition every year around its campus.

This is the Mecca for all the art lovers who would like to drown themselves in the world of colors and creativity. I always  meet some interesting people during the arts habba.

There was one lady, software engineer at MNC, who was a self taught artist and had experimented in all forms of art which included 3-D modelling , oil , acrylic and mixed media too.

                                                        The traditional food  offered in the habba is something you can remember forever : Melt in mouth dosas , Chai brewed in a copper vessel , Jhalmuri , Popsicle are a lover’s delight and provides the energy boost to the hungry soul.

From the scenic , verdant landscapes to  wild animals on the prowl , there is a scene and scenery form all walks of life displayed in the rich canvas. I was standing besides a canvas with lines going here and there . And some splash of red and blue. And I asked my son , “What do you see ? ” He said , ” I think it is a rough drawing . He did not draw it fully “

I said , ” Look closely , there are figures hidden in it . ” And he started seeing clouds , a house floating in the red water , A bird staring from the sky .And what I saw , I girl draped in the blue water ready to come out from the ocean . And then I turned and told my son “We can see whatever we want in a painting, we just need to explore and look around. It is just like a treasure hunt.” Somehow this treasure thing appealed to him and he smiled approvingly.

This exhibition is organized on second sunday every year and it is a must see event once in your lifetime.There are performances by the students of Chitrakala Parishad and painting competitions for children.

Do plan a visit to Bangalore around this time and you will remember it for lifetime.