I've been curious about the old and mighty Bombay. And my first impression is...big, crazy, beautiful and big and crazy... It does have this special feel to it. I think I like it :) Well I definitely love the wonderful family who took me in and the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, what an amazing art collection.
Of course you don't know, can't know what you get when you sign up for a ten day silent meditation. Even now a few days after, I'm not sure what I got. I believe I'm a bit more at peace with the things how they are and have been. But of course things like that are not something you can pinpoint or hold on to, they are elusive by nature. So I'll just shut up and enjoy :)
Old, rich culture, surprisingly green rolling hills, lots of lakes and excellent food.
Amazing dance performances at the local museum.
Travelling always also means new foods and especially in Asia that's very exciting for me. So lets have a first little excursion.
The North Indian cuisine is rich. Rich with cream, crushed nuts, oil and/or ghee and rich in flavours, due to a large variety of herbs and spices. The rich curries or spicy dahls are served with rice and bread (Roti, Naan or Chapati), sometimes you have curd (joghurt) and pickles on the side too. And afterwards what could be more refreshing then a sweet or salty lassie. Not to forget the masala chai for all occasions, which is when done right creamy, sweet and spicy with cinnamon, cloves, ginger and cardamon.
The thali was my first ever dish in India. Thali simply means plate and is usually an assortement of the local specialties. In this case rice, naan, papadam, dhal, a hearty potato and pea curry, a spicy hot paneer (cottage chese) curry and rice pudding for dessert.
Our second little excursion into local foods.
The Ladakhi cuisine is very different from the rest of India. You find only few spices and no chilli, also no rich sauces or lassies but clear broth and a large variety of selfmade pasta, in stew (skew), soup (thentuk) or filled with veggies or meat (momos). And of course the famous butter tea, black tea with milk and salt and a bit of butter. My favourites here, clearly momos and thentuk. Yum.
Picture kindly sponsored by Guy DeBlasio who loves the tastes of travelling. Lush green mountains, waterfalls, old wooden temples and loads of apples. I just love the small old women climbing down the mountains with heavy bundles of freshly cut grass on their backs, chatting. And as always in the small places in India, Namaste and a smile gives you back a huge smile, so genuine that it can warm you from the inside. Manali is also loads of hotels and restaurants for all the Indian and Israeli tourists coming here each year for the Manali charas. And me? I'm just enjoying the green everywhere after seven weeks of desert.
A seventeen hour road trip over four passes, the first one in heavy snow and ice, in the dark. Scary. And then breathtaking views of the landscape changing from bold rock formations against the brilliant blue sky to streams and waterfalls flowing down moss covered mountains surrounded by misty clouds, and finally the much anticipated dark green forest.
Just so great to see all the families listening to the teaching, mumbling mantras and standing in line for a blessing.
How nice to see all these kids dressed up and excited. Proudly showing their art work or science project or performing on the stage.
