A taste of India!

Indian food is different from the rest of world not only in taste but also in cooking methods. Indian staple foods consist of rice, whole wheat flour, lentils, chickpeas combined with an aromatic array of delicious spices. Our trip around India and Nepal led us to an orgy of culinary delights. From on the street dining with the sacred cow to traditional curries, we tried it all. Our guide Harish took us on a tour through the alleyways of  Delhi and Jaipur. We sampled traditional street food of samosa; fried triangular snack made of potato and onion as well  delicious lassi served in little clay pots. Lassi is a traditional yogurt drink flavoured with cumin. Momos, a variation of the dim sum were another firm favourite. Technically not Indian but Nepalese. Of course, our tour staple the masala chai tea. The popular Indian tea blended with a mix of spices.We tried a variety of curries and dhal served with rice and nann or roti and were actually craving just plain steak and veg or a ham and cheese sandwich by the end.

As part of our tour, we had a traditional Indian cooking class and demonstration with Vandana. We sat around Vandana's kitchen area whilst she prepared an assortment of dishes for our dinner. Here are two of her recipes.


MASALA CHAI

SUMMER                                                         WINTER
3 cups of water                                                   3 cups of water
2 teaspoons black tea                                         3 black pepper corns
2 cardamons                                                       3 cloves
3 teaspoons sugar                                               small piece of cinnamon
3 cups of milk.                                                    1 " ginger
                                                                            3 cups of milk

Crush  spices. Put water into pan with all ingredients except milk and boil for 2 minutes. Add milk and then boil a further 3 minutes.


BAIGAN (aubergine dish)

Ingredients
250 gm eggplant, 250 gm chopped tomato, 1 diced clove of garlic, 1 sliced onion, 1 chopped chilli, 1/2 tsp turmeric,1 tsp coriander powder, 1 tsp chilli powder, 1 tsp garam masala, 1/2 salt, 1 tsp aniseed,1/2 cumin seeds, 1/2 fenugreek seeds.

Method
Heat oil, add onion and garlic. When golden brown add spices except garam masala and fry. Add egg plant with 1 tab of water and cook for 15 minutes. Then add tomato and cook for a further 5 minutes. Stir in garam masala at the end.

Trekking the Nagarkot trail! Chisapani, Nagarkot and Bhaktapur, Nepal.

Muscles burnt, sweat cascaded across our faces. With each laborious breath, we climbed upwards. All conversation within the group disappeared as we concentrated on foot placement as well as the 60 km hike ahead of us. As the saying goes, 'there is no gain without pain'.  God, it hurt!

Up and down through the valleys and villages, we trekked. Rewarded for our efforts with spectacular views at every turn. The mountains roared across the horizon and the snow drenched peaks turned red as the sun circled the earth. Each evening after a couple of drinks, we collapsed into our beds with weary eyes and body. Each morning, invigorated, we set off again in awe of the power and beauty of nature.

This 4 day adventure trek from Shivapuri through Nagarkot & Chisapani to the Medieval township of Bhaktapur was truly amazing. It was a pleasure to share our experience with a great crew. Thanks to Lisa, Steve, Lauren, Austin, Erin, Cassie, Marion and Niall. A big word up to our fabulous guides and porters for their expert assistance. Extra special mention to our back stop, Jordie for keeping an eye on Brad's shoe laces.

                                   

                                                              

   

Australians all let us rejoice!

Ideally Australia Day is about acknowledging our history; the good and the bad, valuing our diversity and celebrating that we are all Australian!

Happy Straya Day to all. oi oi oi!

Katmandu

As a base for trekking, Katmandu is ideal; for a location to explore, it's a cosmopolitan mix of poverty, spirituality,  souvenirs,  party town and Boudhanaths. Our exploration takes us to Swayambhuntha, the monkey temple, where monks seem to hover above rooftops,  rabid monkeys prowl for food and the wise eyes of buddah look over the smog drenched valley. At Pashupatinath temple thick clouds of ash fill the sky and the shoreline is alight with flame as the bodies of love ones crackle, pop and dissolve under the fire's caress.  Holy men lay in their own excrement and street urchins beg for chocolate, whilst monkeys straddle mopeds and watch events intensely.

Such an experience is confronting and calls for some escapism, so as a group we hit the pubs, cocktails are ordered, beers consumed and dancing and merriment conclude the night.

Charming Chitwan Christmas!

A napalm sun drenches field upon field of mustard seeds, villagers make busy with their day to day subsistence and goat herders tend to their flock. We witness this first hand as we cycle through villages and are greeted by cherub faces screaming, "l love you"!

 As Christmas approaches the seed for 'Nasty Santa' is sown, gifts are bought in secret ready to be fought over.  A decision is made to prepare our own Christmas dinner as we all love the 'baby Jesus'.

On Christmas morning our guide presents us with the gift of a half day cruise in a dug out canoe that people escaping war torn middle east would refuse to journey on. Crocs sun themselves on the bank and silently slither into the water with hope. The canoe explodes across rapids, water leaps into the boat and moans of concerns are uttered, whilst the crocs wait in anticipation. As the rapids intensify, a premature decision to disembark is reached and a 15 minute hike through rhino and sloth bear infested jungles awaits.  Unlike a David Attenborough documentary where wild life is abound, the only evidence of life in the jungle are massive Rhino loafs .We spend several hours rattling along in a jungle jeep and whispering in a tree house trying to catch sight of the elusive. God, we hate safaris!

Finally the torture is over and our home stay beckons. Gin and Tonics, Old Monk Rum and beers flow whilst Christmas preparation begins. Duck in orange sauce, seasonal vegetables followed by nasty santa and bollywood moves are the order of the evening. Sore heads greet boxing day morn and the Chitwan elephant parade awaits.

Lovely Lumbini!

We arrive in Lumbini after negotiating the India/Nepal border and a 14 hour bus trip from Varanasi. Here the tree of enlightenment awaits; the holy birth place of Buddha. History has it that as Buddha was expelled from the womb, he landed on his feet, took seven steps and for each step Lotus flowers grew.

All around the sound of chanting is omnipresent, robed monks meditate,  smoke from burning incense rises to meet a landscape of prayer flags and pilgrims pay homage.

Nepal is totally different to what we have encountered in India, there is a sense of tranquility,  a oneness with the mighty landscape that dominates and smiling faces greet us at every turn.  As we soon discover, Nepal stands for Never, Ending, Peace and Love.

Vulgar Varanasi!

Varanasi strangles itself in its own filth. Ash covered Babas stare outward. Holy cows relieve themselves with no dignity and the untouchables remove this excretement using their bare hands. Merchandise is hawked by children with lost innocence. Pilgrims bathe in ice cold water, so putrid that they emerge dirtier than when they entered. Layered steps climb upwards and perched on these stairs kite flyers do battle. People seeking enlightenment OM in unison, whilst others endeavour to find their third eye by hallucinating means. Cremation pyres burn as the bodies of loved ones are engulfed in flames. Ash rains down and clings to everything and the stench of burning flesh is pungent.

Like Jekyll and Hyde, Varanasi transforms into a mystical ideal as the sun sets. The evening mist rolls in as a sea of candles burn brightly on the Ganges, Hindu priests chant and perform rituals of blessings, the shore line morphs under the artificial light, Siberian gulls scavenge and the glow of the cremation fires reflect off the waters of the holy Ganges. Varanasi even in all its vulgarity mesmerises!