My first Suicide Attempt and Why I Never Want to Die Again!
“Eighty percent of comedians come from a place of tragedy. They didn’t get enough love. They have to overcome their problems by making people laugh.” Jamie Masada, owner, Laugh Factory. I cried myself to sleep that night. I had just drank a couple of “caps” of Baygon Spray. I was 14 years old. I was […]
Historic Mosques in Europe that Amplify Diverse Cultural heritage
Thinking of historic mosques, our perception usually hovers around the large land mass of Middle East and South Asia. With the secular, liberal, post communist social fabric of Europe, mosques usually don’t blend in among mass media. However, the truth is, Europe has a number of historic mosques, some of them bearing local’s commitment to […]
Kashmiri Ab Gosht: an Idea Simmering since MILLENNIA
About this blog: A recipe for Ab Gosht, a meat stew in milk which can be cooked with mutton/lamb/beef. It is a slow cooked meat stew packed with flavors of various spices, predominantly fennel (Mouri) and embarks intense influence from ancient Persia. This particular recipe is drawn on Kashmiri food heritage. Update: Upon showing this […]
15 Intriguing Old Historic Towns of Europe for the History Aficionado
Celebrate Europe’s history and heritage through these old towns of Europe that preserves many tales from the olden days! ‘Pea Soup or Cocoa’, Longueval, France, World War I, Dec 1916. Taken in December, 1916, just after the brutal Somme Offensive (1 July – 18 Novemember) in the wooded area north of the Somme River. The […]
Top 10 SUNSETS IN ASIA
Asia, my home continent. More than 48 countries. 50 million years of age. Rich in every kind of natural resources, from dollar-pinning petroleum to elusive Bengal tigers and one horned rhino, from rice baskets to Mount Everest! From Russia to Maldives, world’s largest and smallest countries respectively. And Afghanistan. And Syria. Ever counted the olden […]
Recipe for Amer Tok Dal: Bengali vegan Dishes
Amer Tok Dal or Masoor Daal cooked with green mango is a traditional Bengali recipe. It is vegan friendly Bengali local dish. It is a seasonal dish and can put sweet and sour chicken to shame when you prepare it with distinction! Following is a recipe! “This is more expensive than gold”, said the Mango […]
9 Traditional Dresses from Different Parts of Europe!
Sense of human fashion is a factor of a specific era, prosperity and self-expression. It sure bears a semblance with the ongoing socio-political role, gender representation and heritage. Oftentimes, fashion narrates a story! In this age of corporate houses churning out fast fashion as a byproduct of outsourcing, heritage weaves and handicraft is eventually dying […]
Pabda Macher Tel Jhal: Story of My Dida and My Fondest Food Memory!
While trying to cook a perfect Daab Chingri recipe, I had a serendipitous discovery that I can recreate Dida’s finest Pabda Macher Tel Jhal! It smelled and tasted exactly like that of Dida’s! I was elated. I thought I would share the Pabda recipe with you, along with Dida’s story! It spans across the tumultuous […]
Chingri Diye Laal Shak Bhaja: Red Amaranth Cooked with Prawns!
I have a small patio adjacent to my flat. I try to grow “EXOTIC” and “BENGALI” vegetables there. Vegetables that I do not usually find in Bengaluru. In other times, I keep traveling and hardly have the time to take care of my garden. If the Chili plant kindly supplies me with one fruit I […]
Most Scenic Train Rides in Europe: from Swiss Alps to Mediterranean!
Train travels are the new future of slow traveling. Scenic train routes reward you with genteel co-passengers as a first introduction to the land. Train travel also saves you from the shame of being complicit in environmental damage of the scale of air travel and carbon emission. Overnight trains help you travel the distance, sleep […]