Remembering Jadavpur summers.

It is 2.07 am and there is not a wink of sleep in my eyes. Now, I simply cannot waste my time trying to get any. Therefore I decide to pen down some thoughts.
Today, I had a short visit down the memory lane and it was such a joyful peregrination ! It all began with my husband discussing the idea of placing rocking chairs in a balcony. Suddenly I was full of  beans describing a set of easy chairs that my grandfather possessed. They were folding wooden chairs with long handles and modest fabric seats. I was about seven years old then. My maternal  grandfather's home had a fairly big backyard with a disheveled  garden. Although the garden did not seem very impressive, it was a  treasure- trove of flowers and fruits.  Barka, my mother's  uncle took care of it and the plants grew in the same haphazard fashion as his hair and beard!

The backyard lay behind Thami's room. Thami- our great grandmother, lived  a hundred and four years. Her room was flanked by doors and  windows overlooking the garden. The only pieces of furniture in this  room were a bed and a Godrej steel cupboard. Yes, there was an inconspicuous  wooden  wall- cupboard too which stacked Dadu's homeopathic medicines. The main  feature of this room was the idols and paintings of Gods and Goddesses  carefully placed on an intricately carved wooden asana. Beside it was a miniature bed  with a pretty mosquito net for the gods to sleep in. 
Next to this bed was a diminutive wooden cupboard. From here came out  a mélange  of jars and bottles containing sacred waters , sweetmeats,  cloths, incense sticks and other very interesting things.  This room was called the 'Thakur ghor'- the god's room - and God's room it was!  The mornings seemed heavenly here. Thami , in  a crisp, immaculate white sari, sat in front of the deities lost in her prayers, and the  white-gold sunshine streamed through the windows over the asana unto  the whitewashed walls, lighting up  the room. Thami's silky silver  hair sparkled under the sunshine and the white bedspread seemed even  whiter.

 'Didi', my grandmother got up at 4.30 every morning and 

plucked flowers for the prayers.  Kathgolap, bel phul , shiuli, 
aparajita, gaanda, there were so many ! Thami decorated these 
artistically on the asana and lit incense sticks . The fragrance of 
the flowers intermingled with that of the incense sticks disseminated 
through the entire house and it is to this scent,  that I awoke every 
morning!
  Often during the summer holidays Thami's room was our refuge from 
the inexorable heat. I do not know how, but her room was always so 
cool! On summer afternoons, Thami  squatted on the threshold 
overlooking the garden combing her glistening silver hair. In regular 
intervals she inspected the comb with utmost concentration. Alas, her 
scrutiny always ended up in vain. But her ceremonial combing continued 
for over an hour, if not more. I cherished the summer afternoons here. 
This was the time for our customary summer drink ' bael panna' ( made 
from wood apple ). Didi made delectable ' bael panna'! She poured this 
thick , sweet , golden hued drink into tall glasses and dunked a 
couple of ice cubes into each. My duty was to place them on a tray and 
carry it to Thami's room. How delightful it was to sip at the 
ambrosia, sitting on the cool cement floor of the 'thakur ghor'.  Four 
generations together- Thami, Didi, Ma and I sat there chatting and 
laughing!  Sometimes the dainty bael panna was replaced by a rubicund 
watermelon. Blackish green on the outside and deep red and sweet 
inside. Sweet was the company too and sweet were those days!

Another feature of the thakur ghor was the warm welcome. Thami always 
greeted us with a smile accompanied by words of affection and 
adulation. When she was not praying, she was reading detective novels.
 Dadu spent a lot of time in the thakur ghor. He prayed for  four 
hours a day- two hours before lunch and two hours before dinner! He 
sat on a stool engaged in serious conversation with god and often made 
hand gestures during these meetings.

  Coming back to Dadu's easy chairs, they were folded and kept behind 
a door adjacent to the thakur ghor. Often when the afternoon was 
pleasant, Dadu set them up in the garden after lunch. Here, he sat engrossed,
reading corpulent homeopathy books and I sat down beside him playfully 
decorating a cane stool with pink and white flowers. The loud chirping 
of birds, the strong fragrance of ripened mangoes, the frolicking 
florid butterflies, did nothing to disturb us. Only peace prevailed in 
the solitude of the unkempt garden as Dadu and I kept ourselves busy!
  It 's 4.08 am. Time to wind up. Should write more about those 
Kolkata summers some day. Till then... Ciao!

Leaving Chennai

Chennai! The very word evokes a motley of emotions. This city has been my haven for twelve eventful years and the thought of severing ties with her is quite disturbing. Yet, now that my parents have shifted to Bangalore, my sojourns to Chennai will be sporadic.

The first time I stepped on the Chennai Central Station was in 1997. Though it's a platitude, I must say, the fragrance of  filter coffee and jasmine flowers stimulated my olfactory senses to such an extent, that I fell for the city at once!   Mr. Sukumaran , a bulky gentleman with an enormous sideburns moustache greeted us with a wide smile and heavily accented English. Chennai, those days was far less populated. Platforms and roads were clean and dry. However, even in 1997, there were hardly any Ambassadors and Fiats. During those days roads were full of Hyundais, Hondas and Toyotas with a spattering of Mercs . Coming from Calcutta, where Ambassadors ruled the roads, Chennai traffic to me, was suave. 

Leaving cars aside, there were other things which  embedded fond memories in my mind. As inconsequential as they may seem, they are as vivid as the scene from my window right now. The TV displayed more than 20 channels! Well back home, we could only turn onto DD-1. Now, I had my own room and the fragrance of Vim bar in the kitchen balcony made me feel so happy ! The days were hot and the evenings breezy. In fact, the nights were so breezy that the curtains often flew up and got trapped into the whirling ceiling fan above.

I LOVE Chennai! In fact I love Chennai for the same reasons which make some antipathetic towards the city. The hot and sultry climate- I love sunny blue skies and bright golden Sundays! The workaholic people- In fact , it is here that I have learned to be thorough and exhaustive in my work (not that I'm always so, but I know the benefits!). The piquant South Indian cuisine- In no time I became a self appointed brand ambassador of  the Saravana Bhavan!

Pondicherry and Mahabalipuram became our frequent retreats. Like a horse with blinkers, we hardly ventured further than Madurai and Kancheepuram. Wherever we went, I always looked forward to come back home, to Chennai.

Now, Namma Chennai is overcrowded, traffic has gone amuck and the quotidian struggles have escalated. However, certain things never change. The brightly coloured pattu sarees, the mallipu adorned hair, the plethora of  loud Kollywood posters, still enliven the city streets. The Amman temples tucked away at by-lanes still draw a large crowd in the mornings.

Yes, I will miss those Chennai days. I will miss the bright sunshine barging through the  foliage into our balcony, the lissome squirrels gamboling in and out of the kitchen window. I will miss the piping hot Saravana coffee and the melt-in-the- mouth idlis. I will miss my friends and our Coffee Day outings. Not to forget the Tamil songs they wrote down for me in English. So that I would sing to them, and they would roll on the floor laughing at my Tamil accent!

Chennai for me is like Malgudi for R.K. Narayan. I have spent some of my best years here and I will always call it 'My Sunshine City'.

Sawasdee kha!

Our recent trip to Thailand was enriching in many ways. A predominantly Buddhist nation, Thailand is a land of beauty, culture and polite people. What strikes us first about the country is the genuine hospitality extended by the people. As soon as we entered the airplane, the smiling faces of the crew assured us of a great trip ahead. This infectious smile travels through most of  the tourist infested Thailand. 'Sawasdee kha' is how they greet us, with a slight bow , palms folded. This form  of greeting (or wai - as they call it) has become a brand symbol of Thailand. As the prominent columnist Jug Suraiya once rightly pointed out, the Thai affability is a major source of economic development. 'Sawasdee Kha' is Thailand's 'soft power' which has attracted countries far and wide.

Thailand is notorious for all the wrong kinds of activities. However there are a large number of tourists who throng to the vividly green islands and limpid waters  just to soak in the tranquility it offers. The fact is, there are tourists who visit the same place again and again! It is like the screening of a good movie. People like watching it repeatedly till they have memorised all the dialogues.

This was our third visit too. However, our decision to revisit Thailand was not entirely influenced by its ethereal beauty. The warmth exuded by the Thai people make us feel at home.

Koh Samui was the destination this time. It is a one hour flight from Bangkok. As we approached the island, the aerial view reminded me of the James Bond movie 'The Man With The Golden Gun'. Lush green islands rimmed with golden sand bands freckled the deep blue sea. Nearer to the land , tiny coconut trees grew bigger and bigger till we could see clumps of shiny tender coconuts hanging from them. The Koh Samui Airport is a sight seeing spot itself. Toy train like wooden buses transferred us to the airport building, which in fact is more like a villa. Low , sloping wooden roofs and pillars, made from coconut tree trunks make the airport different from all the others I have seen. A tiny stream meanders through the premises and pretty wooden bridges cross over it .Nok, the ever smiling villa manager greeted us with the trademark Sawasdee kha.

For the next three days, we were busy relaxing! Snorkelling, kayaking, floating in the sea with our life jackets on, aroma therapy, we did it all! Fishing is banned now, so we didn't fish. Every night , we floated Kongming lanterns into the sky and made a wish. Gazing at the golden  paper lanterns, softly gliding away towards the infinity was a truly liberating experience.

We are back now, but not empty handed. We have brought a bunch of happy memories to tinker with when feeling low. When I close my eyes , I can see restless, green  fish  lapping around me in the sea, and the salty sea water spraying on my face while speeding through the deep waters. I can see the azure sky above and the endless horizon beckoning me at mid ocean.  The villa garden, dabbled with white Leelawadi flowers and standing there, Nok's daughter  waving us goodbye- with a smile of-course. So much to learn, so much to see, so much to write. May be next time. Till then Sawasdee Kha!
  

When in Rome

When in Rome, do as the Romans do! Yes we did ! For 3 days we traversed  Rome and marveled at its awe-inspiring architectural splendor. On the first evening we did a night tour of Rome. In the shadows of  night, Rome is adorned with dim lights and bustling pizzerias. Imposing historical buildings throw you straight   into another era .The modern people,  their motor vehicles seem to be superimposed into a medieval age background. A noteworthy feature of many of the buildings were the motifs used. Most of them were grumpy human faces, giving the city a pensive look. One building had a captivating facade of a man under a tree. It was a 12 feet tall statue protruding from the front of the building. These medieval buildings are characterized by huge decorative windows with triangular and semicircular shades in alternating floors. Some structures which are older than the Christ,stand tall and gaunt unabated by hundreds of storms,fires and earthquakes. These old wonders generally consist of small , thin bricks ,placed in perfect symmetry  to each other.

Rome sometimes sketches a contrast in my mind. At one end the absence of trees and greenery , make it look lifeless and dry . At the other , each edifice has so much history to narrate, that they seem like thriving living beings, standing tall, to tell us stories.Stories of life and death, of honor and sacrifice.Stories of artistic splendor, of grandeur and extravaganza, of  conquerors and warriors ,their passion and ambition. It is impossible to behold the marble statues and not wonder how it came to be. What could have driven the artist to bring out such facial expressions? What did he want to convey to the observer? For how many years did he chisel away? Strolling through Rome gives one the idea that Italy was not just an artistic haven for ages but also a land of great thinkers who wanted to leave a mark in history, for the world to see. Our tour guide showed us the presidential residence, the world war memorials,palaces and bridges. Dodging between the past and present, we started ascending the seven hills.

 Rome from the top was a magnanimous vision.The planned symmetry of the grand structures was striking! The golden city silhouetted against the starry sky radiated an age old warmth which makes one feel mighty and powerful. All I needed was a golden wreathe over my head! Unfortunately we had to descend in five minutes and soon I was back to my humble self! On our way back, we were lured by the aromatic pizzerias, tucked into every nook of the city. Hence, we found ourselves in one of them as soon as we got down the bus. It was a pleasant evening and the pizzeria was only more than pleasant . Wooden tables draped with flowery dark blue linen invited us from underneath giant umbrellas. The smoke of molten mozzarella teased our appetites.'Margherita' is all that our watery mouths could let out! As known to many, the pizza Margherita has an interesting history . When in 1889, Queen Margherita arrived in Naples , she was served a pizza with tomatoes, mozzarella and basil representing the red, white and green colours of the Italian flag. Since then, it bears her name. In a few  minutes the pizza margherita arrived and melted in our mouths as the trams rattled past us.

 The big difference between Switzerland and Italy is the importance of time. In Switzerland if they say 7.17, they mean 7.17 dot! In Italy the same time actually means 7.20 or 7.30.So like the modern Romans (I don't know if the emperors were punctual) we slept like logs on the second day and missed the grand breakfast served at the UNA hotel restaurant.This didn't deter our sight seeing plans though.We quickly ran to the Greenline tourist office just in front of the Hotel where we had preplanned a trip the day before. It was nine in the morning and we were just in time to hop into the bus which to our surprise ran on time! This time the drive was short and we descended at the Trevi for a long engrossing walk along the cobbled lanes of Roma.

 This walk shall remain in my mind for a long time to come. An elderly guide led our way,his unmissable yellow jacket preventing us from getting lost! He said he was born in Florence and had spent sometime as a tour guide in south Asia taking Italians to India  and Singapore. His knowledge about Rome reflected his love for the city. We came to know about obelisks (tall, four faced pillar like structures) and how they were shipped from Egypt to Rome. The one in front of us was brought in a bed of lentils to prevent breakage.

Then we headed for the Pantheon. A massive dome shaped structure with a large circular cavity right on top to usher in sunlight . The unique feature of this structure is the ability to prevent much of the rain water to enter the cavity due to the air pressure inside.It is said that The Pantheon is the marvel which drew Michelangelo from Florence to Rome. In fact it even inspired his design of the Saint Peter's Basilica. The moment I stepped into this 'temple of many gods', my respect for the ancient roman architectural capabilities increased manifold. Built in 126 AD, The Pantheon still stands as the world's largest concrete dome, which hasn't been strengthened with reinforcement bars.What struck me most was the identical coffers on the interior walls which seemed robust and delicate at the same time. It is this balance between beauty and enormity which reverberates in all of Roman architecture. Most certainly giants can be handsome too!

Back on the cobbled streets, there stood a red carriage with its chestnut horses glistening in the sun. These uneven pathways have their very own history.The one's we were walking on, were laid in the period of renaissance by the instruction of the Pope.They are made of lava stones and called Sanpietrini.Some roads are even older. The Appian way is as old as 4th century BC.We often saw people tripping over these cobbled stones.May be these streets crave for some attention too.Don't they deserve it?They have been the veins of Rome, propelling food,fabrics,oil,horses,traders,spies,legions and emperors since times imemmorial.They have played a pivotal role in strategic and political expansions.There was a time When all roads did lead to Rome!These pathways have borne the weights of history and have seen huge empires fall like light footsteps.

In the afternoon we decided to visit the Colosseum.There is hardly any tourist in Italy who hasn't been here. The abraded pillars precariously stand bearing the weight of its massive frame. Broken parts lay here and there.The walls display signs cautioning people to move away from the structure in case of storms. Almost  two thousand years old, the Colosseum, named after a colossal statue of the Emperor Nero, has endured wild fires and shattering earthquakes.Will it give away to a mere storm like a house of cards? Parts of this complex structure have worn down following a fire, caused by a lightning in 217 AD and an earthquake in 1349 AD. However, as one enters the amphitheater, he is bound to believe, that this masterpiece will enthrall visitors a thousand years after we cease to exist. Leaning on a jagged wall, I looked around. Thousands of spectators were cheering at the lions, elephants, giraffes,zebras and leopards scampering about in the arena. The emperor sitting close to the hippodrome was flanked by dignitaries who had brought their own chairs and cushions.The topmost ring was overflowing with slaves and women.The noise of cheering onlookers and growling animals was deafening.I closed my eyes and wondered, what if this wall I was leaning upon could speak? Would it relate, how the means of entertainment have evolved over the centuries? How today's spectators prefer Elton John in the arena to the bleeding Gladiators? How the scenes of slaves being hunted to death have been replaced by that of human right activists protesting against capital punishment? Ironically,oblivious to the outer world, it cannot see that in some corners of this huge modern planet, there still exist colloseums like this, where the means of entertainment have not changed.

Rome is incomplete without The Vatican City,a landlocked country, with its own distinguished flag and its own currency,The Vatican Euro.Hundreds of tourists and pilgrims throng here each day. The Vatican Museum is one of the greatest museums in the world. More like a palace, it is replete with gold, silver,exquisite paintings,carvings, frescoes,tapestries,crockery,sculptures and furniture.The floors comprise of extraordinary mosaic work made of precious and semiprecious stones.The ceilings,arches and panels are the genius strokes of famous artists of Italy.The Passages resonate with the glorious works of Caravaggio, Leonardo Da Vinci, Fra Angelico, Giotto, Raphael, Nicolas Poussin and Titian.We were surrounded by stupendous artistic creations and could breathe the talent in the air! The 'gallery of maps' displayed 40 panels of frescoed maps of Italy which covered the walls on both sides. It was commissioned in 1580 and took three years for Danti to complete.The library comprised of antique cupboards with inlaid paintings of various kinds of birds.The Vatican library is said to hold thousands of secret documents and ancient manuscripts. 

The Saint Peter's Basilica houses the Pieta, another of Michelangelo's Masterpieces.Unfortunately we were hard pressed for time and had to end our Vatican tour with The Sistine Chapel. Both of us were eager to see this part of the Vatican as we had heard and read a lot about it.We were not disappointed. To put it another way, we were exhilarated! A sea of tourists and their guides greeted us at the Sistine.We held hands to avoid losing each other and found just enough space to stand .The moment we looked up , we were lost! Lost into another world. A world of colours, beauty and magic.Our eyes transfixed to the ceiling, our mouths wide open,The Sistine had hypnotized us. It is futile to describe Michelangelo's magic in plain words. He created poetry with colours. Though Michelangelo  is said to have preferred sculpture over painting, the mesmerizing frescoes of the Sistine chapel are burning examples of his versatility.

 All of a sudden we realised that the guide  was signaling us towards the exit. Gathering ourselves we took a last look at the chapel. It was interesting to see so many people gaping at the walls with the same awestruck expression.  We hurriedly rushed out,  not to lose ourselves again!

That night, I had a dream. Men draped in white were walking on the 1900 year old Ponte Sant'Angelo  bridge.... Michelangelo, leaning down a tall ladder, was rebuking visitors for clicking pictures in the Sistine. 'The flashes are destroying the colours!' he hollered...... Elizabeth Taylor,The Queen Cleopatra was congratulating Russel Crow, The Gladiator on his heroic victory...... Asterix and Obelix were stealthily walking the Appian Way in search of a spy....

Faintly, I could hear the BBC reporting the Chilean Miners' Rescue account. It was morning. Time to leave Rome. I got up and walked towards the window . It was a bright day. Trams rumbled by. An excited tourist family dragged their suitcases towards the hotel entrance. A suspicious looking man , leaned on a corner wall assessing passersby.The Greenline Tourist Bus stood awaiting new excursionists for a fresh day trip. For us , it was time to say goodbye.     

                    Rome, I have loved you. Your style and unmatched beauty have fascinated  me. Your sturdy disposition and wise contour have intrigued me. Your mystic nights and majestic sights have enchanted me. You have indeed been a great companion. Grazie! Hope we meet again!    

tom yum goong (soup)

Tom Yum Soup is one of the most common Thai dishes we know. Its popularity attributes to its fresh taste and innumerable health benefits. Many use the Tom Yum Soup Paste for quick and easy cooking , which is not a bad option. However, it always gives me pleasure making it the traditional way!

Dedicated to my friend Hemalatha

Ingredients:4 cups of water (or shrimp stalk)

prawns (peeled and de-veined)

stalk of lemon grass (2)

a few kaffir lime leaves

a handful of straw (or shiitake) mushrooms

a handful of cherry tomatoes

1 tsp fish sauce

1 tsp lime juice

a hand full of cilantro
3 red chillies 
2 inch slice of fresh galangal root
1/4 cup coconut milk (optional)
1/4 tsp sugar
 salt

Method:
Bring to boil 4 cups of water(or shrimp stalk)  in a soup pot .Gently bruise the lemon grass to release the oils and add them into the pot together with the kaffir lime leaves and galangal root. Now add the fish sauce, lime juice and straw mushrooms. Let simmer for 2 mins. Throw in the cherry tomatoes. Add the prawns and the coconut milk(optional). Mix in salt and sugar to balance the flavours. Remove from heat within a minute to  avoid overcooking  the prawns. Garnish with red chillies and cilantro. Serve hot!

Nutrition facts:
This soup helps relieving sinus problems and  boosts your immune system to fight cold and flu!

Quick and Easy Stir Fried Mushrooms and Baby corn

Feel like having some Indochinese food? Stir fry some baby corns and mushrooms with some sauces readily available at home! Both baby corns and mushrooms cook very fast and have a juicy texture. Baby corn is an important Thai crop and  goes well in all Indochinese cuisines. 

Here we go!

Ingredients:

10-15 Baby corn ears, chopped into halves

10 Button mushrooms, chopped into halves

2 tsp Tabasco sauce (red pepper flavour)

21/2 tbsp Chilli garlic sauce (or any tomato sauce)

2 tbsp Sweet soy sauce  

1 tsp Corn starch (optional)

3 slit and deseeded red chillies

2 pods of garlic, coarsely chopped

A pinch of Ajinomoto (optional)

Extra virgin olive oil

salt(optional)

Method:

Simply mix all the sauces with corn starch (if using) and keep aside. Slightly heat olive oil in a skillet and add the coarsely chopped garlic pods. As the garlic softens, add the fresh red chillies and the baby corns. Toss them for a few mintues, add the mushrooms and let cook for 2 minutes. Now add the sauce mixture(together with ajinomoto, if using). Stir fry dry . You can dispense with the salt as there's enough in the the soya sauce ! Stir fried mushrooms and baby corn is ready to serve.

Nutrition info:
This dish is rich in dietary fibre and iron. However the Sodium content is also high. So the salt sensitive people -im sorry, this is not your dish!

Pumpkin,leek and asparagus soup

Hi! This is my first post here and what a better way to start than to post a recipe for a soup? As they say - soups are the best way to shed weight and gain nutrition! Here, I've got a healthy and tasty soup recipe for you.
This is dedicated to my friend Kala!

PUMPKIN, LEEK AND ASPARAGUS SOUP

Ingredients:

2 tbp extra virgin olive oil
chopped onion
chopped garlic
one leek stalk- chopped into rings
a bunch of tender asparagus
1 cup of chopped pumpkin (optional)
mushroom/vegetable stalk/chicken stalk
salt
pepper

mint leaves

a blob of butter (optional)

single cream (optional)

Method:

Slightly heat the olive oil in a soup pot and add the minced garlic and onion to it. Toss it for some time and then add the chopped leek. Now chop the asparagus and keep aside their tender spears. Throw in the chopped asparagus (not the spears) and the chopped pumpkin into the soup pot. Saute the veggies for a while and then add in the mushroom stalk. Cover and cook till the veggies are soft. Let cool and blend it.

Now heat it again with some more of the mushroom stalk and throw in the asparagus spears. Simmer for 5 mins. Add butter, salt , pepper and garnish with mint leaves and single cream. Serve hot with soup sticks .

Nutrition info:

This soup is rich in Vitamin A,C and B6.