Masala Sunset

Rice

2009-12-31T09:48:00.004+08:00

The Balinese people are deeply spiritual and devoted to their Hindu faith.

We spent nearly a month with them this year and we found that they truly "live" their religion. Getting into the rhythm of local life, we enjoyed watching the villagers prepare for and walk to the frequent temple ceremonies.

We took in the rice fields in Ceking. You just want to spread your wings and fly over them and then gentle melt and merge with these paddies becoming one with their lush smoothness (nevermind getting muddy and attacked by mosquitos)

Our peaceful little bungalow in Ubud was a sanctuary. The Balinese value their gardens as much if not more than their homes.

Mountain biking through volcanos and local villages in northern part of the island offers much peace and perspective.

Oh growing mountain village Ubud...

.....where tourism has unfortunately overdominated this once quiet village (though the villagers who depend on tourism don't mind of course). Gratefully, you can still find a few old rustic roads and paths where the likes of Dolce and Gabana don't own real estate.

.....where single western women in their 30's flock by the thousands in the quest for love (after they've eaten and prayed) in this almost fairytale isle. 'Tis easy to find magic anywhere on this earth, I've learned, if your heart is open and your ears perked for those faint but clear whispers we often ignore because of fear.

.....where nature's grand symphony is reborn come evening, especially during full moon. When the monkeys calm down and settled into their trees for the night, a whole new world and dimension awakes and takes over this mountain village. And they say that Ubud doesn't have great nightlife...fiddlesticks! The distant chants from a full-moon temple ceremony in harmony with the chatty geckos, singing crickets, syncronozing bass-noted frogs, and very active swooshing bats and who knows what else out there lurking about. (I'm nearly positive snakes are around somewhere, but let's not think about them.) After closing the day by relaxing on the veranda, we lay on our bamboo bed safely tucked in under the mosquito net (oh blessed invention) and savor each chirp and croak.

If you ever doubted the earth has a vibrating living and breathing soul or need reminding, you'll find it Bali.

Bali Daydreaming

2009-11-24T12:47:00.005+08:00

More to come...

GrAffiTi

2009-09-25T10:25:00.000+08:00

Graffiti...a rare sight here in squeaky clean Singapore. These two little simple shapes blend in with their surroundings - even the lawbreakers are neat and orderly.

Hurry, hurry take a photo. No doubt it will be scrubbed away in about 5 minutes by the graffiti police. Gotta love Singapore.

Barso re

2009-09-07T17:07:00.001+08:00

Thanks to Madhu Gopalan from madhugopalan.blogspot.com for reminding me of wonderous rain. Here one my favorite rain songs.

The Other Sin City

2009-09-05T21:42:00.000+08:00

Macau (a Special Administrative Region of China, like Hong Kong) is perhaps often known as a tackier version of Vegas (as if that is even possible)...and I'll be the first to tell you how true parts of the city live up to that reputation, and I won't spend much time talking about it in this post. However, great architectural treasures and a rich European heritage often blended with Chinese culture await you if you venture off the well beaten track of the Cotai strip.

We board a ferry from Hong Kong's Shun Tak Centre in Sheung Wan (one of my favorite neighborhoods in HK by the way) and travel just 35 miles to the island of Macau. Casino vans eagerly await our arrival and all deeply wish for us to spend a night or two (and our money) at their hotel and casino, dangling tempting offers and promotions in front of us. The struggling global economy has hurt the casino industry showing that perhaps the house doesn't always win.

We had already booked a room at Stanley Ho's classic Hotel Lisboa (one of the first casinos in Macau). Completely decked out with floor-to-ceiling sparkle and gaudiness, (think Donald Trump's living room x10), Lisboa was actually quite stunning with all it's 70's-style mosaics and grand antique Chinese dragons.

We had some fun at the casino but wanted to see a softer, more classier taste of Macau which has been rumored by a few and were pleasantly surprised by what we found. We lug our weary traveling legs, exhausted-from-nearly-a-year-of-nomadic-living, and escape the strip, wandering far away through a maze of some of the most charming local streets.

We admire beautifully maintained colonial baroque architecture and lanes that were remarkable uncrowded.

.............................................(I wish I could take credit but Otto de Voogd shot this one)

The small old village squares and cozy incensed Buddhist temples on the side streets were a breath of fresh air from the noise of the casinos. We enjoy a quick nibble of meat and other weird things on sticks from one of the many little stalls which seem about as common on every street corner here as Starbucks in Seattle.

As the sun sets over the facade of St. Paul's Cathedral (built in the 1500s, the rest of it burned down in the mid-1830's due to a major typhoon), we make our way over to the authentic Restaurante Litoral, one of the many Portugese restaurants here in Macau. We feast on mouthwatering Portugese sausages and African Chicken. We decide to walk off some of the food we just inhaled and ended up getting a bit lost in the maze of low-rise buildings of the local village streets. We pucker our faces on some "wah mui's" (yummy sour dried plum) from a little old lady from a little old shop.

It's a balmy evening. Mists roll off the water and snake their way through the rotting-fish-scented dark streets...not necessarily some of the safest streets mind you; I half-expected some bearded Kung Fu ninja masters with manga super powers to jump out from the damp drippy shadows armed with Nunchaku (or numchucks).

Imagine this but a whole lot darker.

I discretely shove my wedding ring deep into my pocket...just in case. We enjoy a bit of a thrill getting slightly lost in the claustrophobic valley of dirty grey-hued buildings. As our pace quickens, our footsteps echo in sync with various sounds coming from daily life in the thousands of apartments above us...post-supper's clanging pots, muffled television and sporadic choirs of Mandarin chatter spiced up with the occasional laugh.

We eventually stumble upon a road of mansions and private villas, some in traditional Portuguese style and others in Chinese style as well as a giant Taoist temple complex situated serenely on the coast. We pause to observe the romantically shifting moonlight reflecting off the sea and then drawing mystical shadows around us. From a distance we watch the gentle mists arrive off the waves and envelope a lone priest and follow him as he roams the ornate temple grounds. Hints of burning incense come our way. I take it all in.

.......................................................................................................photo from here

After several hours of all this walking we reflect how nice twas to get lost in the jungle of Macau, but it's very late now we're ready to go back - my back hurts and Mahesh's knee hurts. We've somehow wandered to this very remote area and it's taking so long to get a "Taxi?!"

Somewhere in Thailand

2009-07-17T15:00:00.000+08:00

Gazing up at the sky...

...and then down at the footprints of a hundred other wanderers in the sand.

We look all around us and inhale our surroundings becoming one and apart of this nature.

I admire our simple bungalow containing only the bare necessities...all we really need besides each other...

...and reflect on my life while gazing at the expansive sea.

Oh meditative sea.

I contemplate on how simple life can be

and how quick we are to complicate it.

While our feet struggle through the uneven sand,

they eventually find their way and we stroll hand in hand.

We go East.

And then we go West.

We're not aimless;

we're walking to find the ground.

We're trying to get out of our own way.

The person who so often distracts us from

life's true meaning and purpose is our dear selves

without even knowing it.

Pausing for a nap...our hearts slow.

So quiet and rustic here,

I feel like we're "Lost" characters.

But we're not searching for a way off this little island.

We searching for for a way on it...to stay...forever!

We happen upon some civilization!

Hello? Is anyone around?

...apparently sometimes, but not today...

...perhaps they went fishing.

Hmmmm! What's for dinner? More importantly, what's for dessert? Could it be a flaky Thai pancake smothered in sweetened condensed milk and sugar that just melts in your mouth?! Getting too excited for words. I think today calls for a visit to Mr. Pancake Man in the village.

This side trip (a much needed rest from the woes of two rootless nomads sleeping on countless pillows) has offered us time:

to reflect

to be quiet

and to listen

and to eat pancakes.

Bon Voyage to you, dear reader, in your big and small travels in life, be it far or near. Keep your ears open!

Busy

2009-06-27T10:17:00.001+08:00

Have been a bit busy as of late...

My Everything Book

2009-04-08T11:54:00.001+08:00

This little treasure of mine has been with me through it all this past year of moving madness.

I use it for...well, everything. One can find all sorts of things inside.

-My rantings and ravings about life
-Lessons (which have been many) I've learned during these trying nomadic times of ours
-Written notes on restaurant napkins
-Shopping lists
-To do lists

-Quotes that move me

-Notes from a Gestalt Psychotherapy retreat last June

-Notes from Yoga teachers lessons that inspire me

-Pros and Cons list between living in Singapore and Hong Kong (because we really can't decide)
-Inspirations and ideas

-Designs for my future India Room

-Dreams and my interpretations of them

My Everything Book also doubles as a filing cabinet for eye-catching clippings from magazines. Here are a couple.

I adore this picture of Marilyn Monroe leaning over a balcony in New York - looks like my old apartment's roof top. I've had this photo for many years (from Vanity Fair) and always hope to have a photo shoot like this one. I also melt when I see the new Tiffany ad of this adorable baby and mother (and the ring ain't so bad either - hint hint, husband)

A special thing surprised me as I was flipping through the pages of my book the other day which prompted me to write this post now. A perfectly preserved flower fell out from between the pages. I forgot that I saved this little souvenir! I collected it from the city palace (where the Maharana still lives, by the way) in the magical kingdom of Udaipur. It still retained it's color from the day I picked it off the ground and placed in my special book.

My Everything Book has been helpful in organizing my very chaotic life. I picked up this most special book from an art shop in Udaipur from a nice local family. Durgesh, the owner, and his beautiful wife were most generous and warm, even inviting us to their home for tea, which was above his shop. His wife hand makes these sweet books from camel leather and showed me the metal tools used to punch in the patterns. I also bought a similar book from her with an elephant sketch on it and another one with an OM design. I am most fond of this one with the camel sketch. There is something so regal about camels - especially in the way they walk with their heads held high.

My poor book endures much abuse yet holds up quite well even though it grows thicker by the day, (like George Costanza's wallet - if you saw that episode). I had better get a new one soon as I begin to close this chapter of my life.

Tagged: 6 Senses

2009-03-28T06:00:00.000+08:00

Chandan from Girl About Home tagged me well over a month ago. I'm a bit delayed in my response because I have turned my life upside-down lately and it's not because I often balance in Shirshasana. Our life on the road has been fun, yet unsettling and things have been just a bit crazy and unstructured being without a home, utensils to make Masala Chai, and a steady Internet connection.

Ok, no more excuses. Let's get to it.

So the object of this tagging system (I'm a little new to it, bare with me) is that I have to come up with 6 things about myself. Sounds easy enough, right? Harder than what you may think when you actually have to narrow it down to just 6. One can begin to think too much. I decided it would be best to come up with some sort of a theme or category to organize my 6.

During this transitional time in my life, many important lessons have taught me more than I could have ever imagined about life and myself. But above all, these traveling experiences have reminded me of the strength of detachment and how I don't live in the present as much as I would like to. What reminds us to live in the present? Our senses. Remember "stop and smell the roses?" So I'm choosing to share 6 of my senses with you.

Reacting organically, our senses are what makes us alive. We are rarely consciously aware of how our senses work for us in every second. As a student of Gestalt psychotherapy, I have learned volumes of this simple yet monumentally life changing philosophy. When I make myself aware of my senses in the second that they occur, I live in the present moment - no longer thinking of the past or worrying about the future, but rather enjoying the very second of each breath or other experienced sense - it's very liberating. When I'm aware of my senses in full force, my soul smiles and wonders with appreciation for life.

6 Senses that remind me to be present:

1. Scent: A cozy burning fireplace either distant or near on a cold day calms like no other. The earthy aroma excites my nose with nostalgia as scents often do, with warm memories of bundling up and strolling arm in arm with my husband through Greenwich Village (our beloved former home) on a cold wintry Sunday, when all our neighbors who are lucky enough to have a fireplace enjoy their embers as much as we do as the scent wafts through the brisk New York air.

2. Touch: Receiving a champissage. A 4000 year old Indian head massage technique with lots and lots of medicinal and aromatic oils-it is truly an Ayurvedic art. It really doesn't get much better than this! Most memorable was my champi at the wonderfully understated Taj Lake Palace in Udaipur where ambiance is everything. Hmm, my heightened senses are overlapping each other. I felt completely awake and alive. It was heaven. Dancing and my yoga practice bring a similar feeling.

3. Sight: Where do I begin? It's hard to pick one, so I'll pick two. First, I love to see long drapes dancing whimsically in the wind of an opened window. There is something comforting, utterly elegant, meditative and romantic about the sight of something inanimate (specifically drapes) being offered breath and life by the wind. This keeps me present.

...................................................................................................pic from here.

Second, the live vision of Taj Mahal. This majestic wonder of the world took my breath away when I saw it for the first time a year ago. Even the best picture in the world can never do justice to this masterpiece. For anyone who has seen it, you know exactly what I'm talking about. There is something magical, deeply spiritual and supernatural about being in it's presence, bringing tears to your eyes. I am aware that goosebumps cover my arms and back just thinking about it now. It goes way beyond sight and touches a thousand other senses you never knew you had. Go. You'll see and feel.

4. Sound: The dainty knocking of ballet pointe shoes puttering across the stage moves me to no end. In another life, I must have been a ballet dancer. I just pretend now which is equally fun!

......................................................................................................pic from here.

As I write this post, I realize that nearly all of my senses overlap and rely on each other to awaken other senses. This exercise has reminded me of the wonders of being alive.

5. Taste: Masala Chai, of course! Oh how my taste buds have missed me having my own kitchen to brew a cup of this wonderful deliciousness (and have been quite nagging actually now that I think about it) due to this long transition in our nomadic lifestyle.

6. My Love: My husband whom I never tire of (well, ahem...almost never and I'm sure the feeling is mutual) who shares this crazy traveling adventure these past several months with me - the only constant in my roller coaster life right now.

I know some might say that technically we have only 5 senses, but I believe that we have many more to perceive and make "sense" of the world that can be awakened especially when we make ourselves aware of them. And besides, I needed 6 items for this tagging thing so there you go.

Ok now it's your turn. Hmm, who shall I pick as my lucky victims?

Stephanie from Stephanie N Mark
~
Sireesha from In Every Grain of Sand
~
Mimi from My Mandala
~
Lindsay from Life in the Wanch
~
Mary from Liberty for All
~
Brie from John & The Girls

The Rules:
1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Write six random things about yourself.
4. Tag six people at the end of your post and link to them.
5. Let each person know they’ve been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.
6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up.
and I'm adding another rule:
7. If you don't want to do this, then don't. I won't hold it against you! It's just for fun. =)

Enjoy the journey!

Temple in a Cave

2009-02-23T09:39:00.000+08:00

We continue our nomadic wanderings with a stop in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, home of the majestic and truly elegant Petronas Towers. We enjoy cheap shopping, delicious food, gentle people (excluding the opportunistic cab drivers who get their kicks from gauging tourists) and tropical weather.

We make a small journey just 8 miles north of the city to find an enchanted cave filled with a series of Hindu temples and shrines - the Batu (aka Bat - yes, we saw some) Caves.

Ganesha welcomes us, with dozens of replica's of himself at the base of the cave, guarding and protecting this holy place.

We embark on an eternal staircase, our legs quivering like jelly once we finally reach the top only to find that there is another staircase to the inner cave in front of us, luckily, not as long and torturous.

Each year, during the Thaipusam festival, over a million devoted Lord Murugan worshippers, having performed cleansing rituals such as fasting and praying (and for others some more intense symbolic gestures such as body piercing), hike the 8 hour journey to these sacred caves and up the eternal staircase from the Sri Mahamarianmman Temple in Kuala Lumpur. Some pull or carry heavy "burdens" to symbolize their sacrifice. These offerings or Kavadi are often milk-filled vessels carried on their heads. And here I am complaining after having been driven here in an air-conditioned taxi only to hike a "measly" 272++ steps and my only weight is my digital camera!

Okay, chalo...let's go in.

We're greeted by several colorful small shrines along the way to the inner cave as well as a few vendors' booths for the tourists who feel like getting trapped.

We wander (ahem...) I mean, I wander around the cave as Mahesh sits like the Buddha waiting patiently for his curious wife to get her daily fill of Indian culture. Whatever, he so loves this. Riiiiight.

We remove our shoes as we near the main temple. The stone cools our bare feet, though at the same time, I'm wondering how many bare feet have stood here and if the floor is ever cleaned. Nevermind, I comfort myself with a healthy dose of denial.

A popular kirtan hymn gently echoes off the towering limestone cave walls.

Cool droplets of water occasionally drip on our heads from above. We watch the droplets twinkle as they fall as if in slow motion while the sun cascades down through holes in the ceiling of the cave illuminating everything it touches.

Suddenly, we feel the wind that can only be from the flapping wings of a family of bats as they whizz by overhead.

The faint and sometimes strong scent of incense wafts through the blessedly cool cave air.

A priest in his simple garb is busy at work preparing an offering. Mischievous monkeys watch him closely. They turn their heads to a newly arriving group of rowdy tourists and lurk about trying to be cute and just wait for someone to be foolish enough to take out a snack or something shiny which the monkeys see as rightfully their own and you can be sure that they'll clearly indicate this by force more often than not.

There seems to be so much activity and movement depicted on the temples. My camera zooms in to see the story they tell.

No...go even closer.

A spirit with many stories to tell resides here.

Kung Hei Fat Choy

2009-01-28T20:51:00.000+08:00

Kung Hei Fat Choy=Happy New Year

This week Hong Kong celebrates it's biggest holiday complete with lights, decorations and lion dances throughout the city. It is a big deal for the Chinese - comparable to if not bigger than Christmas in America. We enjoy a quiet evening with friends while overhearing the booming fireworks in Victoria Harbour. I've been spending much time the past several weeks chilling in nature and just being instead of doing.

Follow the steep road up and up. Lined with thick sloped forest, the road seems endless even though it's end is quite close to the city. The journey is not for the faint of heart, winding around every bend enough to give you major motion sickness. Don't look down if you're vertigo sensitive.

Continuing up you disappear into the cloudy mists, sharing the narrow road with big buses and speeding Ferrari's with a deathwish. Cliffs on your right, now on your left, boasting an amazing view of the colorful Hong Kong city skyline.

So close, yet so far, we like escaping the chaos of the city, yet it's nice to know that the city is right there if we need anything. That's the New Yorker in me coming out (so spoiled, I know). It is surreal to be towering over Hong Kong's towers.

Finally you arrive at the summit. A charming resort-like neighborhood is perched at the top of Hong Kong's mountains called The Peak. Several degrees cooler up here than in the city centre hundreds of feet below, we enjoy several weeks of much needed R&R here. The wonderfully crisp Autumn weather is a refreshing change from tropical Singapore.

It is often so misty up here that you can barely see 10 meters in front of you. Mahesh grew up in Hong Kong and as a child they nicknamed parts of The Peak, "Ghost Town", because of it's thick fog and eerie quiet.

We enjoy waking up to birds singing, long breakfasts and tranquil walks through the numerous hiking trails where you forget you're in one of the busiest cities in the world. The wind carries the faint smell of a cozy firewood burning somewhere while eagles soar and swoop overhead.

Come take a stroll with me.

So many wildflowers line the trails and my camera seems to fancy them. I spy...

...white silky petals with a brilliant yellow center...

...perfect rubyred round berries...

...and some cute little purple fuzzy ones. I know, I know...my horticulture vocabulary is quite advanced.

These little ones seem to flirt with me...

...while these bits of perfection remind me of a walk through a vineyard.

I happen upon some happy lavender flowers...

...and a tree trunk with thorns.

These red Chinese lanterns that seem to say "Kung Hei Fat Choy", also look like bells blowing in the wind and ringing in the New Year. This is also the time of year when everyone passes out little envelopes the same color as these flowers by the dozen. And inside...yup, cash.

I have a soft spot for things that grow on tree trunks.

These purple trumpets boast a star in their delicate petals.

These delicate little buds appear to pop like corn kernals...

...while yellow daisies enjoy the sunshine as much as I do.

We end our day watching the sun take a dip into the South China Sea. Then the wind begins to howl and we retreat inside where we cuddle up under a warm blanket next to a crackling fireplace, roasting marshmallows and watching movies. Ahhh, so beautifully simple. And with all the work we've been doing the past several months and coping with the uncertainty of our life right now as we're in limbo, we rest and try to just be. Why can't every day be like this?

Greatness

2009-01-20T21:12:00.000+08:00

I'm so excited...I just can't hide it...I'm about to lose control and I think I like it!

A Singlish Holiday

2009-01-10T09:10:00.000+08:00

Still homeless vagabonds, we traipse through Asia. Our next stop...The Garden City: Singapore.

Singapore: One big air-conditioned shopping mall surrounded by lovely lush gardens, brilliant green parks and the Bukit Timah Rainforest. Where one minute you are drenched from the sweltering tropical island heat and the next minute your sweat has frozen as you walk into the Siberian air-conditioned supermalls.

We walk with the masses along the infamous Orchard Road lined with massive shopping centers each trying to outdo the other with their lights and holiday decorations.

Locals tell us that each year the decorations seem to grow thicker and the lights multiply.

We manuver our way through the crowds of people who seem to enjoy walking sideways, diagonally and even backward. Grrr. An ideal place for people watching, we pass a local woman playing Jinglebells on her pipa (a Chinese guitar-like instrument), while 50 feet away a pair of child contortionists perform their pretzel bending moves drawing quite a crowd, as their "trainer" sits on the sidelines with a sleazy smirk on her face.
.

The uhh "aroma" of Durian fruit wafting through the air from the general direction of the beautiful and impressive Esplanade Theatre (an architectural marvel shaped like a pair of the stinking national fruit) where it's refreshing to see that there remains a place in this world where people still dress in their finest to go see the ballet.

To get us even more in the Christmas spirit (as if it wasn't blasted in our faces already on Orchard Road) we enjoy a performance of the Nutcracker by the Singapore Dance Theatre in this gorgeous building while trying to keep warm by cuddling in our sweaters which we brought along.

Often termed an eating capital, food is culture as much as it is a religion here and we happily assimilate. The many outdoor hawker centers and eating houses (which are basically a collection of local food stalls in one location) that dot the land are choc full of culinary delights, a highlight of this country that's sure to leave a good taste in your mouth.

Taking refuge from the daily afternoon thunderstorm, we set our travel size tissue pack on a table to reserve our spot and then we walk around the 15-30 stalls, looking for the longest queue, salivating on the array of tasty choices, from the simple to the bizarre.

While it's difficult to appoint our favourite Singapore flavours as there are so many, we particularly enjoy the mouthwatering Hainanese Chicken Rice and mouth-burning Laksa, which we wash down with freshly pressed sugar cane juice followed by the wonderful Ruby Red & Sago dessert. This feast for two we enjoy for less than $15! The price is indeed no reflection of the taste. Yes...we could get used to this.

In time, we'll try the local favorites like sambal stingray and fish head curry. And with regular governmental checks and a reliable "ABC" rating system, you can trust the hawker stalls to be as clean as the Vatican's dining hall pre-Christmas dinner.

I am struck by the charm and beauty of the colonial-era shophouses, some of which are converted into homes for those who are wealthy enough to afford them.

My excited camera clicks away as my poor husband runs away in fear of being termed a "tourist".

Trying to blend in, we attend the local pantomime comedy show: Snow White. Not quite Broadway or even off-Broadway, it was still quite entertaining as it poked fun at Singapore politics with all the bells, whistles and cross-dressers in musical fashion. Possibly more amusing though was watching the audience, particularly the adults, get all nerdy with their toy hand clappers and noise makers.

A peculiar and wholesome people inhabit this kingdom. Some can be a bit robotic, yet it is apparent that a refreshing creative edge is on the rise.

As an English Major, I cringe hearing Singlish, a crazy mutt slang language (a combination of Chinese, English, Malay and even some Indian languages). It has become the national language much to the chagrin of the Singapore government in their efforts to forge a worldclass city and financial center. Having a staccato feel to it, Singlish can have quick and sharp voiceless stops, while mixing different languages and accents within the same sentence. You ask how can? Tack on the ubiquitous "lah" on the end of every other phrase or so for emphasis if you want to try it out. No nid gramma. Forgit all you learn lah. Can try? Dis easy lah. Later free or not? Wah, so good you try lah!

Despite the perplexing cultural nuances of this country which can take some getting used to, it is a fascinating place that makes a lot of sense if you give it a chance. For example, in the Geylang area, prostitution is legal, but only on the even numbered streets. Trust Singaporeans to think of regulating everything. It is actually quite smart if you think about it because they figure it is going to happen anyway, so they might has well have some control over it.

Mat Oakley (author of our Lonely Planet travel guide) articulates it best:

"It's popular to dismiss Singapore as a kind of Asia Lite - blandly efficient and safe, a boringly tasteless, disciplinarian and unadventurous place where citizens are robbed of their cherished freedom to spit on the street and chew gum. Utter nonsense!"

Many countries, particularly in Asia, covet the efficiency of Singapore though may never admit it publicly. A virtually crime-free and wholesome place, none can match the uniqueness of this fascinating culture and people. Besides, I have always wanted to live in a gun-free country. Is that really too much to ask for?

Singapore: Pristinely clean, safe and orderly, this city comes as close to utopia as you can imagine. Even the dirt is clean (except in Little India-ha ha). Everything just works here. And if all that wasn't good enough, each evening after satisfying our taste buds at our neighborhood hawker center, we enjoy a miraculous mosquito-free stroll through the many lush parks and gardens of this topical paradise.

Where else can your five senses deeply experience the rich cultures of India, China and Malaysia all in one place? Only in Singapore. I can't say it more simply: I like it here.

Many Paths

2008-12-19T02:14:00.000+08:00

Feeling tall at only 5'6", I explore this foreign city that gradually becomes less foreign by the day, thanks to the human chameleon ability to quickly adjust and adapt to one's surroundings. With the incessant dinging of the cross walking signals, I feel I'm in a casino -- as if just walking across the street means you're a winner and to some extent, in Hong Kong, you are. This is just one of the not-so-subliminal messages the city gives you on a daily basis along with a preoccupation with materialism, commercialism, and other 'ism's constantly reflected in the thousands of sparkling mirrors, shiny steel and spotless glass found everywhere in this city.

As I cross the street, I constantly remind myself to "Look Left" as driving is on the left side of the road here. I look around and notice that with few exceptions, there are basically only 3 types of cars here: Mercedes, BMW's and Lexus' - money reigns here.

As I explore the city enjoying the intoxicating weather (dry weather averages between 50-60 deg F in December and a little cooler in January), I encounter new smells and sounds. I am in awe of the wild beautiful exotic birds and plants that I have only ever seen in zoo's or special botanic gardens.

This is a city of diversity on many levels. Not only is Hong Kong home to a sophisticated international population, it's land ranges from mountains to valleys, chilled beaches to charming little villages, thick wild jungles to the bustling glittering city which boasts an impressive super modern skyline. There is something for everyone here on this not-so-big island.

I enjoyed an intense hike with my brother-in-law in The Peak where I forgot I was in Hong Kong. I can see how hiking can become my new habit (no thanks to my complaining calf muscles) during my stay here. Who would have thought you could find such peace and solitude in nature within one of the busiest cities in the world. There are hundreds of hikes throughout the area, many very steep and demanding as Hong Kong has many pointed peaks covered with thick green jungle. My life is not complete without nature or a place to retreat to for centering myself so I'm very happy about the diversity of the terrain.

One of the things I find most charming about this city is the numerous ways to get to the same location. You can have your choice of small alleys, stairways or garden pathways to large footbridges or underground walkways.

I enjoyed descending this stairway in Central after visiting a beautiful government monument building which I will photograph later.

These raised walkways labyrinth themselves around the business district in Hong Kong. I try a different bridge every day as I get my bearings which wind through and around buildings and shopping centers.

Ah ha! An old charming building - I found one! No small feat.

One of the unfortunate things in this thriving city is that there are few old historical buildings (at least in the central business area) due to commercial building and the addiction to "new" shiny superstructures. I believe efforts are being made to protect some of the older landmark buildings. So I will make it my new project these next few months to find these old charming buildings amid the new structures. I'm still quite impressed by and appreciative of the modern towering buildings that are so part of the unique personality of Hong Kong.

I stumbled above this little tree-lined stairway connecting two major streets in the middle of the city.

Hong Kong has the longest covered stretch of moving walkway in the world - the Midlevels escalator, which can take you from your office to your apartment in a matter of minutes if you're lucky enough to live in the Midlevels area. At 800 meters long with a vertical climb of 135 meters, the total travel time of this outdoor wonder is twenty minutes.

I spent a day wandering through the botanical gardens and zoo in the center of town which house very talkative monkeys along with other equally vocal animals. I exit the plant and animal jungle through this Chinese gate framing the ever impressive skyline and walk into a human jungle.

The diversity of the land makes walking to and from my yoga school every day more interesting and more like a discovery. My school is located in the trendy Lang Kwai Fong area, a hilly section of town that has a San Francisco-like feel to it, with narrow streets, stairways and some low-rise buildings. This is the heart of the entertainment district and is a short walk from the central business district, making it possible for the hard-working Masters of the Universe to retreat to after a long day.

Still feeling quite disappointed with the quality of yoga schools here in Hong Kong, I continue my search, yet feeling I might just need to settle with what they have here or start my own school one of these days. As Yogi Braja pointed out, many schools here lack the appreciation for the lifestyle of yoga and rather treat it only as another money-making business transaction. Yet again, perhaps that is just another indication of the personality of this city seeping through every thing.

Well, I'm off to have some Dim Sum -- always been my favorite meal. I can't seem to ever get enough.

Magic Carpet Ride

2008-11-19T09:32:00.000+08:00

The Indian and his American bride are about to embark on a new adventure! We bid farewell...no...see-you-later, to our beloved New York that has been our home for many years. We'll be back, don't worry (and I say that mostly to myself as I have a bit of a love affair with this city).

We'll board an eastward (very far eastward) bound magic carpet which will fly us over the North Pole (quite a sight from above). Then heading south we'll glide like eagles above the majestic mountains of Mongolia.

We will eventually land (after about 16 hours...eek...you really start to feel it around hour 12) in a distant exotic land in the Orient: the glittering city of Hong Kong.

And they say New York is the city that never sleeps - they obviously haven't been to HK. When it comes to speed, if New York City is a BMW, then Hong Kong is a Ferrari.

Upon landing, we'll automatically be transported into a time machine to the year 2050 to the ubermodern Chek Lap Kok, Hong Kong's International Airport. HKIA spent $70 billion on airport related infrastructure like major reclamation of land and also boasts an impressive suspension bridge that funnels people to and from this busy hub. Go shove it, La Guardia! I will not miss you.

Like most airports outside of the US, HKIA offers free--yes free, my American readers--baggage trolleys.

We will then be transported into town to the magical land of Hong Kong Island on a little quiet hill away from the hustle and bustle where the handsome and wonderful father of my Indian husband dwells with his lovely wife. Here we will stay until we hop on our magic vessel again for the next leg of our adventure. I will be doing much exploring of the city and surrounding areas during this extended holiday. First on my list: find the perfect yoga studio. I have my priorities.

Many more adventures to come in Singapore, Kaula Lumpur, Pulau Pangkor, Penang, and more. Of course how could any adventure be complete without INDIA! That country hasn't seen the last of me.

Stay tuned...

Yoga & Candy Corn

2008-11-18T04:17:00.000+08:00

The past several months of getting ready for an "extended holiday" to explore various parts of Asia have been more than intense. Deciding on a shipping company, negotiating, packing, storing, planning, giving, selling, craigslisting, tossing, goodbyeing, address changing, organizing...it's madness! When will it end??

"It has actually been quite a liberating experience as we're getting organized by getting rid of things we really don't need and learning the value of detachment and the powerful lesson that minimalism is the ideal way to live", says my optimistic self who is always trying to chime in at any chance she gets. However, organizing every.....single.....item we own in my Virgo-husband's numerous highly methodical categories and meticulous flowcharts is "annoying!", complains my not so optimistic self also fighting to get a word in.

Two lifesavers that have kept me sane these last couple months: Yoga & Candy Corn.

Yoga to stay grounded as I un-ground and contort my body to maintain a fresh and clear perspective on life, and Candy Corn for mental stability when I'm not practicing yoga. I can't hold my downward facing dog all day, right? True, chowing down on sweets is probably not the best coping mechanism, but for now it works wonders.

One of the things I've always loved about New York City is that you can find anything, and I mean anything, here at anytime of the day or night. Anything that is, except fresh Candy Corns. During the month of October (and part of November if you're lucky), candy stores across this nation are graced with this scrumptious little triangular-shaped tricolored treat. You can probably find the wanna-be's year round, but those are old and hard and not worth the trouble. Trust me, they are freshest during this time of the year.

Candy Corns are simply one of the most fabulous candies ever invented. Born in 1880, these remarkable little creations have been blessing American lives ever since. They're cheap and far from nutritious being choc full of corn syrup and artificial coloring. "But they are sweetened with real honey!" I plead in their defense. Ahhh, who am I kidding. Sugar is sugar. I can't help but love them.

..................................

Just a little tidbit: According to Brach's Confections, Inc., the top branded maker of candy corn, each year Americans eat enough Brach's candy corn that if the kernels were laid end to end, they would circle the Earth 4.25 times. Yikes! And what's more Yikes is that I am to blame for at least once around the globe.

These trinkets of honey sweet yummyness have an amazing texture that makes you want to keep on popping these delightful precious pieces, allowing you to regress to childhood where worries and work were less and play was more. Something happens along the way to adulthood that throws off this ideal balance. Eating candy corns is one of the ways I am trying to regain that balance. Yea, I know I'm really reaching. :)

I just bought our local candy store's (who know me by first name at this point) last supply of these sweet little addictive bites. They only had the brown ones which are not as good as the yellow ones, but I'll take anything at this point. I couldn't unwrap the "plastic seal to preserve freshness" fast enough. Ironically, my beloved candies were far from fresh which their seal had promised, and nearly cracked my teeth! "Uh oh, too old, take 'em back!" Alas, these rare last bites are too far gone to be enjoyed. I grudgingly part with them, leaving empty-handed and head hanging low. And of course they candy chef gods only make these wondrous treats only during these two short months because that is when they're freshest. If I'm mistaken on this, please correct me! I guess I'll just have to wait until next October for savor my favorite candy. Oooh ;(

Must...find...another...candy to replace my addiction and satisfy my sweet tooth in the meantime. Any suggestions?? It's for my mental stability after all.

At least yoga doesn't have an expiration date. My daily meditation and asana practice fulfills me and recharges my patience while I wait for next October.

Om...

America Just Rebooted!!

2008-11-06T08:46:00.000+08:00

Never before has a smile crossed my face so many times after having been woken up by New York City street noise than last night. The energy here is joyous and uplifting and that was clearly evident all night long. Just when you thought the last group of jubilant New Yorkers passed by on the street below loudly expressing their glee, another group of eager nightowls came charging through with just as much momentum as if they were students returning from the pub after having just finished their finals x100.

After many years of negativity, divisiveness, cynicism and intolerance which seems to have clouded this country's greatness, I literally feel a tremendous weight lifted with this awesome change. In one day, our country has completely rebooted and there is a new focus and the world can look at us in a different light.

Obama has a hell of a job ahead of him with all the many issues that confront us. However, I have never felt so safe, so secure and so confident that he'll take good care of us and the world for that matter, for he is realistic, grounded, even-tempered, positive, and refreshingly wise as he inspires and attempts to unite this divided country.

I could go on...as could my Indian husband who wished he could have voted as he is very passionate and knowledgeable about politics, but I think you get the message.

I'm so inspired, overjoyed and proud! It's been a long time since I've felt this way.

Yes We Can!

The Festival of Lights

2008-10-29T09:46:00.000+08:00

Happy Diwali!

This wonderous and blessed holiday celebrates light and goodness. Occuring on the darkest night (the new moon) during the Fall equinox, Diwali or Deepawali ("array of lamps") focuses on personal victory from spiritual darkness and embraces all beings with light and brightness.

I recently learned about the dark, very dark, Goddess Kali, who is one of the many representations of God according to some Hindu's beliefs. She is also one of the most misunderstood of all the gods, as she can appear quite scary. To me, she represents the duality of the good and the bad in all of us. She brings death to the ego, which can be painful, but absolutely necessary, as then and only then can the real divine self emerge, illuminated and full of light and goodness!

Diwali takes place during the Fall equinox which is significant as this time of the year is marked with great change and is a crossroads not only for climate and tilt of our planet towards the sun, but also to all of us individually as we experience transition in our lives. This month, I find that I often take time to observe and reflect on not only personal change but dramatic global changes (including this volatile economy) that affect all beings.

We always attend a particular party hosted by our dear friends on this evening surrounded with family and loved ones and of course plenty of Indian outfits! Many families attend this party after pooja ceremonies. I love the symbolism of light with all the glowing candles during this joyous festival.

Oh, to be in India during the festivities. Can you imagine the magic of thousands of floating candles on the River Ganges!? What a sight...now that would be a photo. Perhaps you've been? If so, indulge me...please tell me all about it!

A Poem By Kumud Biswas

...................................................The autumn has covered with her veil
...................................................All the lamps of the sky of this winter night

...................................................She has sent her call to every home,

...................................................‘Light up all your lamps, your Diwali lamps

...................................................And dress the earth with light.’

...................................................There are no flowers in the garden

...................................................The singing birds do not sing

...................................................Along the banks of the river

...................................................The reeds have shed their flowers

...................................................Sweep away all shadows and sadness

...................................................Light up your lamps, your Diwali lamps

...................................................And sing of the victory of light.

...................................................The gods are looking on

...................................................Wake up O ye children of the world

...................................................Wake up the night with your light

...................................................When the day is done and darkness comes

...................................................Light up your lamps

...................................................To win over the darkness with your light.

Bindi Time

2008-10-02T04:50:00.000+08:00

I rarely have the opportunity to wear a bindi (other than around my home - yes, my husband thinks I'm a nut) but a few evenings ago we attended a lavish birthday party of a good friend and yes, we got to get all dressed up in Indian Chic.

Turban-wearing shirtless men (who have spent way too much time at the gym) balanced like statues on tall pillars holding long torches with wildly burning flames, made for quite the grand welcome to this elaborate party in a very hip gallery in the far nether regions of West Chelsea in Manhattan.

3 mendhi artists were also on call, which you know yours truly took full advantage of. See....

Below are some bindi's in my personal collection, which of course I don't get to wear in public nearly as often as I would like.

Bindi's are originally a sacred symbol but are also used as adornment, such as when attending festivities. Quite flattering as a fashion accessory, they come is all shapes, colors and sizes. Plus, they make me feel Indian so I'm always a fan of that. =)

The bindi is placed on the spiritual (or third) eye, which is in the middle of the forehead. Hindus believe this sacared part of the body to be for spiritual sight. While highlighting the third eye, the bindi also protects it which helps to cultivate spiritual vision. Through the third eye, Hindus believe to see all that which cannot be seen through the two physical eyes.

In my yoga and meditation practice I've been focusing more on my third eye, drawing energy all through the central line of the body and the effects are deep and powerful. My teachers also stress the benefits of the spiritual eye making contact with the floor during balasana, or child's pose, when the body can surrender to gravity and the overactive mind can become quiet thus enabling the third eye to open. It is believed that when the individual's spiritual eye opens he attains true enlightenment and gets closer to God.

INdia VOGUE

2008-08-22T00:16:00.000+08:00

Divia, our lovely cousin from Mumbai, stayed with us in New York for a week earlier this year. As a Features Editor at Vogue India, she was excitedly working on one of her biggest stories yet: an Interview with Jhumpa Lahiri. YES, I know!

On a snowy day, Divia recalls in her writing, she took the trek out to Brooklyn to the charming and quaint neighborhood of Park Slope, which also happens to my old neighborhood before my marriage and my move to Manhattan.

Featured in the April '08 issue, Ms. Lahiri speaks with Divia of about how some writers (many who have long since passed on) speak to and inspire her about humanity and border crossings, both literally and methaphorically. Ms. Lahiri expresses, "It's amazing to have such a powerful recognition with a writer who has been dead for centuries. That's the amazing thing about reading. You can feel these intense connections to another writer, another time, another reality. It doesn't matter what divides us." I also feel this special connection when I read Ms. Lahiri's wonderful works. It is a beautiful bonding experience that harbors such an appreciation for life, which is what makes her writing so deeply intimate.

Through Divia's eyes: "There is a moment when, standing in her cosy living room in a plaid skirt and black sweater, gold bangles on her wrists, surrounded by books and cookies, teas and toys, Octavio and Noor clutching at her legs, Jhumpa Lahiri is not the famous, reclusive, prize-winning writer: She is not thinking about the long journeys her parents made across the oceans decades ago, about whether or not her children will ever speak Bengali or live in a country where a woman is president. For that brief minutes, Jhumpa looks incredibly happy to be living in the moment, forgetful of the next border she has to cross."

Now about Divia: her energy is like sunshine on a rainy day - she is such a pleasure to be around and has such an excitement for life and living in the moment. After she completed her article, we played and talked and ate. And then of course we went shopping - something that Divia is a true professional at. =D

I can't resist. Here are a few of my favorite spreads found elsewhere in this issue.

The contrasting colors and life in this photo take my breath away.

An ad for the prestigious Taj Hotel reads: "Of course the Maharaja's car will be there to receive you. You're staying with him, aren't you?" What a memorable experience we had when we were lucky enough to stay even for a few nights at a heritage property converted palace. I love the history - you can feel it in the air.

But of course we must have an Austrian crystal-encrusted Ganesha clutch! After all, this is Vogue. It's yours for only $5,585.00!

This is definitely going on my shopping list. My husband thinks I need another Indian outfit like the world needed another 4 years of George Bush.

Now for some interior design in the Vogue Living section:

To all of you designers, I think you'll appreciate this hallway in my uhh...future home ... why yes, thank you, the intricately carved woodwork is fantastic, if I do say so myself. Let's check out the outside, shall we?

Some more outfits I can drool over...

This lengha is one of the prettiest and most unique I've ever seen.

It is ridiculous how beautiful you are, Aishwarya.

Umm...hi...

I eagerly await my next issue...and the next visit from my sweet Divia!

Aloka Beauty

2008-07-29T01:48:00.000+08:00

Naga Earrings with Green Tourmaline

Here we go again...my insatiable appetite for Indian things continues to thrive. I recently bought these lovely earrings from my friend Lakshmi who designs and hand-makes jewelry as a hobby here in New York. Hmmm...this hobby may become more than just a hobby in my prediction. I must say, I'm quite a fan of her work.

"These earrings take inspiration from the hood of the cobra--all the lines are serpentine. The marquis-cut faceted green tourmaline set in gold vermeil present a regal look." says Lakshmi Sonbuchner creator of Aloka Jewelry. "Aloka means vision, glimmer, an opening, of the eyes in the ancient Indian language Sanskrit."

I'm grateful to Mary for introducing me to the talented Lakshmi whose wonderful soul is reflected in her intricate work. Taking much pride in her work, all profits are donated to Asha for Education (ashanet.org), which supports educational projects for the poor in India.

A couple of other lovely pieces...

Mynah Bird Silver Wings

Blooming Lotus

Her beautifully line (which she is always adding to) can be seen here. Hmmm, I think I might just wander over there now...

She and her husband, Tim, also have a fantastic photography website, which features breathtaking views from their travels in Kerala, Jaipur, Tamil Nadu and Agra.

Lakshmi is quite the renaissance woman with a myriad a talents. I am easily transported back to my beloved India through her lens. You too can also mind-travel there by clicking here.

Monsoon wedding, anyone?

2008-06-24T04:32:00.000+08:00

I collect Indian wedding invitations and cherish them. I think it's lovely to see a couple's and family's creativity and personality through the design, color, texture, etc. Of course we can't attend every Indian wedding as many of them take place in India, but I try to drag my poor husband to as many of them as possible, because when else would I get the chance to wear my sari's? Here are some of my favorite invitations that I've received over the past couple years...

The pretty sari material in the background was a wedding gift from one of Mahesh's cousins. One of the regrets I have about living in NY rather than India is small number of occasions where I could wear my traditional outfits.

This invitation arrived in a padded, silk covered monogrammed box! Can you imagine my excitement?! Uhh, yes. We were very busy at this extravagant wedding at the Beverly Hills Hotel of our cousin Ravi to the lovely Monica where my husband and his brother Anil from Hong Kong were also groomsmen. They recently welcomed a darling baby daughter into the world, that, ahem...I still need to meet.

Unfortunately we're invited to more weddings than we are able to attend and this was one of them. Yes, there are loose sequins under a clear plastic covering on the Sangeet invitation....I wonder what the party was like?!

This romantic wedding of our dear cousin Anjali took place in Goa several weeks after our India trip, so consequently and sadly, we were not able to attend. This is our announcement of our secret and low-key wedding last September. The delicate paper is sitting atop a gorgeous lengha that my auntie had made for me. My husband's family have been so warm and welcoming to me. Maybe we'll have our own Indian wedding one day. Shhhhh. Don't tell my husband--I'll have to surprise him.

I finally had the pleasure of attending a wedding in India. In Mumbai, Mohit (another close cousin of my husband and now mine too) married his lovely bride Natasha. Having India as a backdrop for this wedding was truly a magical experience.

Now, this invitation is resting on one of my favorite sari's that one of my aunties had made for me. It looks completely breathtaking on me, (my husband just wrote that, I promise).

My good friend, Jules, who I met at Bhangra class several years ago, recently married her long-time sweetheart, Wakar in Pakistan. I live vicariously through their handsome wedding photos where Jules, the blond princess, looks like she was born to wear a wedding lengha.

This is the invitation of our dear friends and "mad scientists" (they're actually just very smart Phd students with many other interests), Ram and Mary. Like us, they are also a lovely ethnic mix of Indian and American and had their wedding in Dallas. You can view Mary's enjoyable blog here.

This elaborate wedding took place at a castle in, would you believe, New York! During the Barat Nikashi (the welcoming of the groom), the groom rode in on an elaborately adorned white horse. The bride leaned over her half-moon balcony on the top floor of the castle in her wedding lengha, like a longing Juliet reaching down for her dearest. It was all quite over-the-top and dramatic, but extremely enjoyable and elegant.

108 Temples

2008-06-10T01:15:00.000+08:00

I'm missing India.

Mind travel is the quickest way to get back there, so let's go...

There is yet another special place (I know, I keep saying that) that remains engraved in my memory: The Temples of Eklingji.

On our trip in January, we took a lovely 30 minute drive north of Udaipur (which, in my humble opinion, deserves the designation given by some as India's most romantic city), through the rolling hillsides and quaint villages, passing goat and cow herders along the way. We arrived at the gate of the ancient temple complex, and as usual I could not resist pulling out my camera. However, this time, men standing guard gently told me not to take any photographs. These pictures you see in this post are from different websites.

Just outside the gates of the temple, we walked through a stone path lined with women in brightly colored saris sitting on the floor and stringing orange and yellow marigolds and other flowers into garlands for the Gods. "5 rupees" they softly sang and swayed in harmony as they displayed their flowers for sale.

We removed our shoes as we entered the temple complex.

These 108 temples, known for their exquisitely carved sandstone and marble, were originally built around AD 734 by Bappa Rawal in devotion to Lord Shiva. The Maharana of Udaipur (who we actually saw in his speedboat on Lake Pichola) visits weekly to pay his respects.

The cold stone under my bare feet was refreshing in the heat of the day, as I wandered around the intimate complex exploring the 108 temples ranging in size. Some were so small, and I took upon myself the challenge of trying to visit and count each of them, some of which seem to be hiding down different little pathways and up stone stairways. Where's Mahesh, my husband? Probably enjoying the coolness under the shade of the many old trees that surround the area making it like a cave.

As I wandered to my heart's content, I heard aartis (devotional songs) in the distance at one of the main temples where all the action seems to be at the moment. I strolled over to see what was going on. I tiptoed into the largest structure where I saw Hindu priests directing pujas and different Hindu rituals as worshippers and visitors watch with reverence.

Then all of a sudden a large bell was rung. It was so loud I had to step out of the temple. As I breathed in the air, I felt the age of the place and the history, and sensed a tangible spirit of peace and devotion in the air.

We drove a little further to the deserted village of Nagda. Here are the ruins of the Saas Bahu temple.

The ancient Vaishnavite twin structures (10th-century) is set against a bright green lake. No longer in use like Eklingji is, these temples still have a quiet reverence surrounding them. I felt like an archaeologist in discovery. Exploring between the two structures, we had the entire place to ourselves...until a gigantic tour bus came charging in like a mad elephant and many many people wearing khaki shorts and sneakers stepped out and ran towards the structures, cameras in tote. So much for our peace and quiet; it was nice while it lasted.

A Most Excellent Cup of Masala Chai

2008-04-28T02:00:00.000+08:00

I want to expand on a previous post, Masala Chai, as I was inspired by Chandan's recent post on her delicious Masala Lemon Chai (seriously, you all must try it - amazing recipe!).

I've been going through tremendous India withdrawals since returning from our travels there. Being in India was like coming home as it awakened many things in me. Perhaps I am an old soul from India...

One of the things that takes us back to India is a scrumptous cup of masala chai with it's soothing and comforting effects. Scents, flavours and music are all such powerful time/place transporters. Mahesh and I sampled tea wherever we went. Funnily enough, his favorite was at the departure lounge of the uhhh..."glorious" Mumbai Airport!

So in an effort to comfort my longing for India, I've attempted to learn the art of chai making. It always amazes me that no two attempts yield the same results, and I guess this is one of the reasons why making tea is so interesting to me. Sometimes when I make it, the end result is, well, let's just say that my husband is nice enough to say it's good. It is a little odd how I go through phases of sometimes making good masala chai and other times which have been learning experiences. I've learned that it is not just about the proportion of spices that I add but it is also about timing: from the time of boiling the spices together, to how long you steep, to how long you reduce the milk...etc.

However, now, after numerous attempts (with a couple of forgettable tries earlier this month!), I think I've finally found the right balance of spices in making a wonderful cup to satisfy our tastes. Try it out, but keep in mind that you may need to make subtle adjustments to suit your own taste. Let me know what you think. =)

Spices (for about 3 decent-sized cups)
6-7 cardamom pods
1 heaping tablespoon of diced fresh ginger
3-4 cloves
3-4 peppercorns (or a little sprinkling of ground pepper to taste) Note: You might have to play with this one a bit until you find your own preferred amount of pepper.
Sprinkling of cinnamon
3/4 tablespoon of ginger powder
3/4 tablespoon of cardamom powder
1 teaspoon fennel powder

Combine all spices in 6 cups of water in a saucepan. My husband especially likes fresh ginger so I use quite a bit.

Bring to boil and then lower heat just slightly to a very high simmer for 7-10 minutes. This allows each spice to bloom, unfold and marinate together. The water and spice mixture will reduce nicely if you give it the time.

Stir just a couple times as the spices tend to float to the top. Breathe in the lovely aroma.

Now for the chai...I use tea bags, which of course have to be the Taj Mahal brand because we were so enchanted by the Taj Mahal on our second honeymoon. And we were lucky enough to stay in certain Taj Group hotel palaces through knowing people who know people.... (thanks if you're one of them reading this! :)

Lower the heat to medium high. I use 4 tea bags, but if you like your tea stronger, add another bag. Dip them in the simmering water pulling them up and down several times and enjoy watching the color change from a light brown to an orangish dark brown.
Then I cut the strings just below the paper and allow the bags to steep in the simmering mixture for about 4-5 minutes. Just be careful not to stir the tea too hard as the fragile bags can pop and then you have bits of tea leaves floating around in your tea. Not pleasant unless you strain the tea through cheesecloth.

Now, take the back of spoon and crush the cardamom pods against the side of the saucepan.

Add desired amount of sweetner. I use a heaping tablespoon of raw honey. Now give it a gentle stir as it dissolves into the simmering brew.

Once you've allowed the spices to infuse with the liquid, add 1 cup (or more) of milk. I use soy milk and it's perfectly fine, and the creamier the better.

Raise the heat to high. Enjoy watching the color change into that rich wonderful chai color. A creamy frothy layer will begin to form. Stay near the stove as once the chai boils with the milk, it will boil over the sides of the saucepan if you're not careful and then you have a real mess. I usually remove the tea bags before the milk boils. Because, the tea bags tend to explode if left in the violent boiling water too long (yeah, a mistake I've make all too often!).

Allow the chai to boil up to the top of the saucepan, and then remove the pan from the fire just before it boils over the sides. Return the pan to the fire again until the froth reaches the top and then remove again for a couple seconds. Repeat this about 5-10 times as this helps the chai reduce even more so the flavour and texture of the chai is more rich.
Strain into a mug. I will then pull out chunks of ginger from the strainer and put them into Mahesh's mug as he likes the crunch and spicy flavour of ginger as he sips...

....and enjoy!

Dance Parade

2008-05-24T10:15:00.000+08:00

Distant drum sounds that gradually became louder filled my neighborhood a couple weeks ago. I looked out the bedroom window and here's what I saw.

Dancing on the streets of Manhattan!

It was the New York Annual Dance Parade. We saw many different forms of dance performed down on University Place. Albanian, Belly Dance, Street Dance, Modern, Flamenco, Hip-Hop, Rumba, Swing, Salsa, Tribal, Tango, Korean and YES, of course Bhangra, and many more.

New York has a silly law that you are not allowed to dance at bars or restaurants if the place doesn't have a "dance license". Crazy, I know. Can you imagine if they did that in Europe? A revolution waiting to happen.

I enjoyed seeing so many different forms of dance all coming together on this day in the celebration of dance. Inspiring!