Can I go for another vacation please? I know, I know. You’ll say, “Girl, you just got back from a 10-day trip and you want to go off again?” But travelling is my tonic.
Gabala, a beauty spot on the hills
For most tourists, Gabala or Qabala is a preferred winter destination considering the plethora of winter sports that can be enjoyed on the slopes of the Greater Caucasus mountain range. In fact, Mount Bazarduzu, the highest peak in the Republic …
Bengali aloo posto (potatoes in creamy poppy seed paste)
“I’m about to board the flight/train. See you soon.” “Okay. By the way, what do you want for lunch/dinner?” “You know Maa! Moshuri daal, bhaat, ghee maakha aloo sheddo (red lentil soup, steamed rice, mashed potato seasoned with ghee and …
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Capturing food in art frames
One of my biggest concerns when the blog was taking off five months ago was photographs. I could manage the touristy/birthday photos with my little camera. But I needed better. While I was struggling with these issues and hoping I …
Rock etchings & mud volcanoes of Gobustan
If you thought Baku is the beginning and end of Azerbaijan, and that I was done talking about my weeklong trip, you were soooooo wrong! Seven days is long enough time to tuck several experiences under your belt. And if …
Heat busting with aam dal (red lentil soup & raw mango soup)
A news alert two days ago declared that the western part of India will experience monsoon “in 2-3 days”. Which means me, along with scores of others, have joined the thousand others sending prayers to the rain gods! But until …
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A newbie’s guide to Azeri cuisine #Chapter2
Did you know? # The process of making Azeri specialities dolma and flatbreads (lavash, katyrma, jupka, yufka) are inscribed in UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. # Azerbaijan cuisine boasts of more than 30 types of …
A newbie’s guide to Azeri cuisine #Chapter1
There is a lot of food culture that goes on in the home and in the community in non-traditional ways. Food is a lot more than restaurants. - Eddie Huang (American chef, food personality) For me, home is where food …
Baku, a potpourri of influences #Chapter 2
Holy smokes! A year ago at this time I was walking through the lanes of Athens, debating over souvlaki and gyros while ticking places off my ‘must visit’ list. With my favourite travel partners – the elder sister and brother-in-law – I …
Chai, halva & Azeri hospitality
I promise to make your mouths salivate and ensure that you dream about the wealth that is the Azerbaijani cuisine soon but before that, I do need to touch upon and introduce you to a fascinating experience that is part …
Baku, a potpourri of influences #Chapter I
If you have just one day on hand to spend in Baku, then you must spend time in the Old City. Protected by a boundary wall, the most ancient part of Baku includes the Palace of the Shirvanshahs and the …
Travel checklist – print, pin, plan
My idea of packing has always been to create a huge pile of ‘things to carry’ in one corner of my bed. That pile invariably covers the whole bed leaving me a sliver of space to sleep in. And then, say half …
Tongue-tickling Chatpata Chicken
With a cooking time of just 20 minutes and the flexibility of loading with as many vegetables as you want and seasoned with just two ingredients – turmeric and chaat masala, this is a winner. “I don’t remember where I …
Tales from Munnar #II
On the second day of our stay in Munnar, after we checked out of a the lovely Clouds Land Home Stay, we drove up the winding roads to the Lockhart Tea Estate to understand how tea is processed.
‘Chilli’-ng with the potatoes
Much to my surprise, and the delight of vegetarian friends, I found out chilli chicken has a cousin, the chilli potato. Manu, the owner of our accommodation in Munnar, served his version of the chilli potato on a cool summer evening, paired with a glass of wine. My taste buds did the jiggy-whiggy as I savoured …
Tales from Munnar #1
when summer came in this year, Kerala topped the list of ‘places to travel’ with the quaint Munnar giving a new meaning to ‘rolling hills’ and ‘winding roads’.
Lau chingri, a mishmash of bottle gourd and prawns
When there are shrimps or prawns in the house, we are in for a treat because it’s time for lau chingri, a recipe wherein finely chopped bottle gourd is cooked with the seafood and served as a side dish.
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Touching the tip and how!
Kanyakumari is a postage-stamp sized town in comparison to other towns that you may have travelled to. You can easily cover the touristy and non-touristy bits of the city in a day. Hot humid air that carries the smell of …
Churning out homemade chhana/paneer
Ladies and gentlemen, I learned to make chhana. Chhana is a kind of cheese curd made from milk by adding food acid. Similar to cottage cheese, chhana is the base of several Indian and especially Bengali sweets.
Payesh and goodwill to usher in the New Year
It’s that time of the year! I’ve been waiting for Poila Boishakh, the first day of the Bengali calendar, for some time now. Celebrations aside, the best part of this day is the aroma of traditional food that wafts out …
Tea time tête-à-tête
This is the tale of the princess who turned her passion and love for the little packet into a lucrative business. This is the tale of Snigdha Manchanda, corporate slave-turned-tea sommelier and teapreneur, who is among the handful of people …
Some how-what-why for your Athens trip
Its summer and everyone is planning their summer holiday! And I have been peppered with queries about Athens. There is not much you cannot do in Athens primarily because tourism being among the main industries, there is a lot of …
A Royal ‘Maangsho Jhol’ (Bengali style Mutton Curry)
A Bengali can regale you with tales of incidents and heated discussions that have occurred as the family tucked into a Sunday lunch, seated around the steaming pot of maangsho jhol and white rice. And every Bengali is emotionally connected …
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‘Trust your gut!’ Tips from a solo female traveller
I strongly feel vulnerability is not specific to gender, age or region. A lone individual in a foreign country may be considered easy prey and rather than allow the fear of “What if!” inhibit our movement and the joy of …
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Sweating over Dum Aloo & Begun Bhaaja (Bengali Potato Curry & Fried Brinjal)
How I would wish a good soul would invite me home for some yummylicious Bengali food and let me be a part of family time on a festive day. Sigh... that did not happen to me but it did prompt …
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How to travel solo: Tips from an expert
Can I go for another vacation please? I know, I know. You’ll say, “Girl, you just got back from a 10-day trip and you want to go off again?” But travelling is my tonic.
For the love of carrots, Gaajar ka Kheer
Traditionally, the kheer is a rice pudding made by boiling rice in milk and sweetened with sugar or jaggery. In this kheer we replace the rice with carrots.
Off on a summer holiday…
For as you read this post, I am walking in the lush landscape of Munnar after having traipsed through the lanes of Fort Kochi and will probably head to Thiruvananthapuram or Kanyakumari as the week comes to an end.
Bengali Doi chicken (Chicken in yogurt sauce)
Minimal use of spice and hassle free cooking make this doi chicken or chicken in yogurt sauce a healthy, tasty and easy to make dish. Perfect for those learning to cook and those looking for a quick weeknight dinner.
Meeting the Oracle at Delphi
Fans of Greek mythology have often been fascinated with ‘the Oracle’. And with yours truly and the elder sister being ‘almost fans’, we were giddy with delight when the brother-in-law pointed out that the famed seat of Pythia the Oracle, …
Eating done the Greek way
Do you have a napkin or a small towel handy? If not, perhaps you want to grab one. Because reading about Greek food – be it an in-depth exploration of the cuisine or simply a traveller’s list of what to …
Athens, where history lies under the sun #3
Have you wondered how some cities leave a mark on you – in the good way – for life. Such has been the case with Brussels where we had a layover – we were travelling from Amsterdam to Paris - …
Greek style kebabs, the Chicken Souvlaki
Reminiscent of the traditional kebab eaten in India - and part of Middle Eastern cuisine - the souvlaki is seasoned, biteable pieces of meat grilled on a skewer and served with pita wrap, garnishes and fried potatoes.
50 countries and counting
“Wait! What? Fifty countries at 33 and he has managed that while he works? Are you kidding me! How? Is travelling his job? Can he get me a job like his? Which places has he travelled to? How does he …
Athens, where history lies under the sun #2
Mention Olympics Games now and I will spend a healthy few minutes talking about the spectacular Panathenaic Stadium in Athens. The gleaming marble of the stadium, the podium for winners and the Olympic Games symbol etched on the ground, the …
‘Dip’ it Greek style: Skordalia & Tzatziki
I will forever be indebted to the hostess at the Moma Rest & Cafe on Adrianou Street, Athens, who introduced me to the wonderful union of Greek dips and freshly baked pita bread. Thank you!
Athens, where history lies under the sun #1
Closed my eyes, took a deep breath, succumbed to a cheek splitting grin and ticked Athens off my ‘travel wish list’. And in the same breath, added the city to my ‘visit again’ list. Literally the first thing I did …
Devotion, Prayers and Water Chestnut Halva
Each year, our neighbour sends over a platter of fasting goodies. It is on this platter that I discovered the singhada ka halva or Indian water chestnut halva.
Painting stories in a new language
In a span of 4 years and a few months, Bansari, a Gujarati, moved to Kathmandu with her husband, learned Nepali, started writing poetry in the newly learned language, wrote and performed a play in this new language and is …
Travelling with strangers
Travelling with a group of strangers can be a challenge for everyone involved and a learning experience too. Depending on the kind of people you’ve been thrown in with, you might forge friendships for life or have your patience tested …
Culinary delights of Scotland #2
Continuing from the gastronomic delight that the food trail had been, one would think I was done with my food adventures in Scotland. Tsk tsk... never underestimate the capacity of a food-loving traveller.
Gifts, tips and some Scottish memories
Ask me about the most ‘stressful’ part of travelling and I would say understanding the local habits/culture to avoid a faux pas and buying souvenirs for those at home. Overtly concerned about the first before my Scotland trip since I …
Culinary delights of Scotland #1
Why is it so difficult to write about food? No. I don’t mean it’s difficult in the sense I can’t find things to write. I say difficult in the sense that there is way too much to write about, to …
From Boardroom to Books
“Time for a chat to know how your brain works buddy; and some courage to be shared with those looking to step off the trodden path,” I told Dipankar when I decided to share a bit of his life and …
Winding through the Isle of Skye #2
Did you know that real estate prices in the Isle of Skye have skyrocketed in recent times and homestay have a six month long waiting period? That is what our charming driver-cum-guide Sean Connery had to say when a fellow …
Vegetables Chops and Some Nostalgia
With so much nostalgia swimming through the house and conversations in a Bengali that is too pure for my understanding, the day and date to make Vegetable Chops was decided in a jiffy. Of course that meant yours truly jumped …
Winding through the Isle of Skye #1
The hike at Neist Point was one of the several glorious experiences that marked the 3-day tour to Isle of Skye that I booked with the Rabbie’s tour company. This tour set off from Edinburgh at an early hour of …
An easy Khoya recipe
Khoya is a dairy product that forms the base of several sweet dishes in India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
Comfort in a Bowl of Khichuri
Khichuri, my dear friends, is the ultimate one-bowl meal. Made of rice, lentils and vegetables (optional), it is comfort, health, warmth and nostalgia in a bowl.
The Inspiration Next Door
I even wondered if there is a criterion for ‘inspiring people’. Was it only the rich, famous, powerful or super intelligent who were inspirational?
Grit+Glamour+Culture = Glasgow
“Observe the buildings as you walk through the city. The urban landscape would have changed since 1989 but I am sure the character remains unchanged – it was an interesting combination of grit and culture,” my father told me over …