"When bright flowers bloom Parchment crumbles, my words fade The pen has dropped ..."

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Destinations wishlist

We all have our wishlist.. wishlist like "Things I want to eat", "Things I want to do", "People I want to meet", and of-course "Places I want to see". What better time than now, when the new year unfolds , to look into my Destination wishlist , add a few and may be subtract a few as well.
I simply love travelling. While I was growing up, my parents made sure we make a trip to any new land every year. Because of my school and studies, Baba's office and Ma's school , it was usually during Diwali holidays we made our trip to far and near places. I just love touring and tripping and don't mind any landscape except for crowdy and congested places. I love sea as well as mountains, I love jungles and rain-forests as well as sand dunes. Palaces and temples allure me and so does vintage cities. My husband is more of a mountain person. He is all gaga about hills and deep forests. Sand dunes and big bustling cities don't attract him that much. Here's my list of 10 places I(or rather WE) would want to visit.

1. Kashmir
The "heaven on earth" this is one place I would just die to go. From mountains and hills, to lakes, rivers, from  flower meadows to snow desserts , from temples to mosques and monasteries Kashmir is a tourist's paradise.
The northernmost of state of India, JnK stands like a crown.  The state has three different climatic regions : Arctic cold deserts of Ladakh, temperate Kashmir valley and sub-tropical Jammu. Rich in flora and fauna not to forget the delectable Kashmiri Cuisine , if we ever visit Kashmir we would make sure it is during the Tulip festival.

2. Alaska
The largest state of US , this land of beauties has attracted me since childhood. Alaska was purchased from Russia in 1867 and remains the least populated state of US. It is the land of adventure and unspoiled wilderness. The immense geography, wildlife , flora and fauna are a treat. The many national parks and national forests, the icebergs , the long coastlines , the Dalton highway crossing the tundra and the Arctic Circle and of-course Mt McKinley ... Alaska is definitely a lifetime destination.

3. Kailash Mansarovar and Tibet
 I had read a poem about the beautiful Mansarovar lake at the foothills of Mount Kailash. Thanks to the beauty of the expressive poem , my desire to visit this place has bloomed and flourished since then. Mansarovar is the highest freshwater lake in the world. The Hindu religion refers to the Mansarovar as the soul of Brahma. There are four great rivers springing from this lake.
While Mount Kailash , is revered by Hindus, Buddhists, Jains. For Hindus , this mountain represents the abode of Lord Shiva. For Buddhists, it remains the center of Universe.
Apart from all the religious importance, this place and the Kailash Mansarovar trek has some of the most panoramic scenery and breathtaking beauty.

4. Jaisalmer and Sand dunes
I have been to Jaipur but could not get a peak of the Thar and its sand dunes from there.. so Jaisalmer and also for its forts and temples. Being so arid, I totally love the vibrant colors of Thar and its people. Located in the heart of Thar, this city is quite close to the Indian border. The sand dunes , the fort, the haveli,the Jain temples, the mud houses ,the camel ride and the Rajasthani cuisine provide a rustic and peaceful solitaire from the busy life.


5. New Zealand
This island nation sits on the Pacific Rim of Fire and so is the land to spectacular geothermal areas and volcanoes. It is strewn with glaciers, golden beaches, mountains and plains, forests and fiords. The country was aloof from the rest of the world for 80 million years and this resulted in the immense diversity of flora and fauna found here. The active volcanoes and the hot spring , geysers , hills and mountains may be the hot hot pursuit of Mr Husband, but for me New Zealand holds another secret. This is the land of over 170 exotic birds some of which are native to New Zealand only. Also it is home to the earth's richest flora.

6. Kruger National Park
The first bengali novel which I had read was "Chander Pahar" meaning "Mountain of the mountain"at the age of 10. This was a pre-independence story of a boy who had gone to Africa to find work and for adventure. The story portrayed vividly the wild dangerous and mesmerizing Africa. Since then I have been fascinated by this wild continent.
The Kruger national park is one of Africa's largest wildlife reserves. Home to all the Big Five Game "lion, African elephant, cape buffalo, leopard, rhinocerous" along with numerous other mammals, around 517 bird species including native and migrants,  114 reptile species, and 50 fish species , this is located in the most ecologically heterogeneous regions of Southern Africa.

7. Sunderban Tiger Reserve
How can we miss the Sunderban which is in our backyard. Situated at the confluence of Ganga Brahmaputra, Sunderban is part of the world's largest delta. The largest reserve for Bengal Tiger, Sunderban is densely covered by mangrove forests.
Other than the Bengal Tiger, it is home to 58 mammal species  , 55 reptiles species, 248 bird species many of which are endangered .
This paradise for wildlife lovers is a must in our list.

8. Bhutan
This Himalayan Kingdom, with its mystic beauty and serenity is every trekker's paradise. While its pristine ecology is cradle of rare endangered flora and fauna, spiritually strong only Vajrayana Buddhist nation in the world. The rugged mountains and deep valleys are rich with spectacular biodiversity making Bhutan one of the world's top ten  most important bio-diverse hotspots.


9. Valley of Flowers
Seen on Discovery and National Geography a hundred times, this place beckons me like a fairy land. Nestled in the high in Himalayas of Uttaranchal, protected by the snow capped mountains, its' again a trekker's paradise. The place blooms to its magnificence with the monsoon rains. Just imagine a carpet of around 500 species of flowers surrounded by snow-capped mountains, isn't it nothing less than a dreamland. The valley is home to the celebrated Bhrahmakamal, Blue poppy and Cobra Lily, along with orchids , calendulas , daisies, rhododendron. The fauna consists of tahr, snow leopard, red fox, many varieties of butterfly  and many other.

10. Lakshadweep
I have been to this tiniest UT of India, but cant wait to reach there again. Situated in the Arabian Sea , Lakshadweep's beauty can be attributed to its remoteness. Islands with creamy seashore and strewn by coconut trees, away from the outside world, provides the much needed tranquility, peace and the bewitching panorama. For adventure you have scuba diving, wind surfing, snorkelling, surfing, kayaking, canoeing, water skiing. What else does one need.

This list can never end. There are so so many places which we want to visit that choosing or prioritizing them is almost impossible.
Bon Voyage!!













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Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Dhaniya aloo

I love aloo or potato like no other vegetable. Potato in any form except for the potato wafers which does not allure me that much. As a small kid while reading stories of other countries I often envied the people and places where potato is a staple food. I think I can survive just on potatoes. During my bachelorhood days away from home at Chandigarh, when my roommate left for Delhi on weekends and I had to stay back for some reason, I always made sure I indulged in various potato recipes(my roommate refrained from potatoes). So you can understand how much I am in love with this veggie.
I had seen this recipe in on of the NDTV food shows. With some slightest concoction , I tried it.
I used:
half a kg baby potatoes,
2-3 cloves of garlic, a small piece of ginger
few green chillies, a bunch of coriander
finely chopped onions
chopped tomato

Boil the baby potatoes. Shallow fry them and drain excess oil in a kitchen towel. Now blend the coriander chilies, garlic , ginger and a little salt in a blender. The mix is more like a chutney. In a kadhai, heat oil. Fry the onions till golden, add the tomatoes, salt to taste and turmeric if you want. Fry till oil separates. Now add the coriander chutney. Fry for few more minutes then add the potatoes. Toss for 2-3 minutes in high flame. Now simmer for a few more minutes. You may sprinkle a little water while simmering. Serve hot with roti or paratha.  
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Sunday, December 18, 2011

Sunset by the shore

Sunset by the shore

This is my first Acrylic painting. Little different from water colors, I thoroughly enjoyed painting with the acrylic paints.
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Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Swan

Birds have always fascinated me. They are one of the most beautiful creations of the Almighty. Beautiful with all the colors from an artist's palette they are epitome of art and perfection. Some like the weaver bird are expert architects while birds like koel are the greatest singer. Some are the greatest fliers like the albatross while some like "Birds of Paradise" should compete in beauty pageant. I can sit for hours  and watch documentaries on birds.
Though mesmerized by their beauty , I never attempted to paint any bird until today. I tried painting the swan today. Swans are definitely  one of the forerunners  in the beauty pageant. Elegant and beautiful they are symbol of devotion and purity. Do you know that Swan are monogamous? Oh yes they are .. partners for a lifetime.
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Sunday, December 11, 2011

Radhaballavi aka Daal puri and Kashmiri Aloo dum for Sunday Brunch

Now on a December day when the sun plays hide and seek , and I keep running around for a bit of sunshine, I don't feel like going for a breakfast and then an elaborate lunch. So for such a cloudy and lazy Sunday a good nice Brunch is the keyword.  And here comes Mr Husband's idea of daal poori and Kashmiri Aloo Dum. Of-course the daal was soaked the previous night for a different cause, but no harm done if its used for Kachauri or Daal Poori or as is called in bengali "Radhaballavi". The recipe of Kashmiri Aloo Dum has been taken from a TV show "The Foodie" of Times Now so I wont take the disclaimer. The Brunch I would admit was a joint venture and turned out simply fantabulous.
For the Radhaballavi
Soak a cup of Urad Daal overnight. In the morning make a coarse paste of it with very little or no water. No in a frying pan drizzle a few drops of oil, add a pinch of hing.Then add the daal paste, salt and a little chilly powder. If possible add a teaspoon of roasted cumin seeds powder. Mix well and stir till the mixture is dry. Let it cool.
Kneed flour with salt ,2 tablespoon cooking oil and little water. Make a soft dough. Keep the dough covered for half an hour. Now make small round balls of the dough. Fill spoonful of daal mixture in the puri balls. Roll out the balls into puris. Make sure the stuffing does not come out.
Heat oil in a kadai. Fry the puris till golden brown.

For the Kashmiri Dum aloo
Boil and peel potatoes(I used 500 gms small potatoes). Pierce the potatoes with fork or toothpick. Now deep fry them on medium flame till they are brown(dark brown, such that outer cover becomes little hard). Keep the potatoes aside. Now take oil in a kadhai. Add a pinch of hing, and a bay-leaf. Now the original recipes asks you to add saunth or dry ginger, since I was not having dry ginger, I added ginger chilly paste at this stage. Add turmeric and Kashmiri chilli. Fry for few minutes. Meantime, take a cup of curd, add fennel seed powder and green cardamom powder and salt, whip the curd. Add this to the masala in the kadhai. Keep stirring for few minutes. Now add a cup of water. Add the deep fried potatoes. Add a teaspoon of garam masala. Check the seasoning. Cover the kadai with a tight lid and let it simmer on low flame for 15-20 minutes.
Enjoy your Sunday Brunch..
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Friday, December 9, 2011

Tulip


'Mid the sharp, short emerald wheat, scarce risen three fingers well, The wild tulip at the end of its tube, blows out its great red bell, Like a thin clear bubble of blood, for the children to pick and sell. - Robert Browning,
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