Wish all my readers, fellow bloggers and friends a very happy Bengali New Year.
Sending lots of cheer from my Orange nook, from where my Scrap metal Durga maa looks after all of us.
Love the magical play of light and shadow on the wall.
Often I wonder how uncomplicated life was when we were kids. Everything from our daily needs to entertainment options all were straightforward and non fussy. Sometimes too many choices take out the pleasure of life and leave us wanting more. And most of the time we do not even have idea what it is that we really want, something in us just keeps on telling don’t settle for anything less as something better awaits us somewhere. And the way of life we are used to now, never gives us the chance to stop or think that whether we really want the best of everything.
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| This photo is inspired by Lakshmi's Citrus cake. find it here |
How are you enjoying the much-coveted spring at your part of the world? We are having a pleasant weather too here in Kolkata. It seems Summer has not yet set its fierce foot here. Thought the days are hot and humid but the morning and evenings are soothing with cool breeze and clear skies. Though for a short stint but in all its glory Spring finally has become a part of our life. The miniature garden in our apartment complex is vibrant with beautiful bright flowers and flocks of multicolored butterflies, which the kids love to chase. In the evening it bustles with activities, fun, frolic, giggle and innocent laughter of joy.
Day before yesterday the season’s first Kalboisakhi has further swept out the existing heat. Sitting in our bedroom we loved to watch how the black smoke like clouds suddenly covered the sky and blocked all sunlight. The rumbling clouds then started sending sparks of fierce lightning followed by a dusty thunderstorm. And then as suddenly as it had come into existence, it transpired into a heavy downpour clearing the dust and calming everything down. It never fails to amaze me how such a noisy and devastating storm finally makes way for a peaceful calming ambiance. Just like all my big enthusiastic ideas, which finally reduces and makes way to something that’s easiest.
This is the one dish for which I cannot say that I am going to make this again and again. Because the basic ingredient that is the pattypan or sunburst squash is not available in India. I first saw these pretty things at PJ’s Ginger and Garlic. And really wished if I could have laid my hands on these. Hardly did I knew that soon I will be able to cook with them.
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| Bought this beautiful plate from the famous Chatuchak weekend market for INR.90 (unbelievable). wanted to buy many more but with a nagging kid and sleep deprived husband you cant shop. I want to go again just for shopping. |
Our Thailand trip was an eye opener for me in many ways. I was not too excited to go abroad for a relaxing trip because I still believe that we have plenty of beautiful places to explore in our own country. Though for work and for passion I have traveled extensively in and around some parts of India yet there’s no dearth of beautiful destinations in India. But hubby wanted to go and his point was that he would mostly be not reachable by his office (liar) and could finally relax the way he wanted. But the time I touched ground in Bangkok I fell in love with the city. Warm and cozy like my own country yet different and developed in many ways.
The aspect that I loved most of Thailand is its people. Such generous, happy, friendly and smiling faces uplift the mood automatically. They are always eager to help you out and treat you well. They will recognize you even if they have met you just once and come and greet you with their warmest smiles. Some of the girls in the restaurant we frequented loved my son so much that they arranged for kid’s food by going out of their ways. Not to mention the friendly ladies in the spa who fed the kid and kept him busy when we soaked in the luxury. People here are very relaxed, happy and enjoy their lives. It’s a joy to watch flocks of students, batch of office collegues or a group of working moms catching up animatedly in the sky train or on the roadside eateries. Not like in my part of the World where a day in the office leaves people feeling frazzled.
Another thing I fell in love with is their sense of beauty and aesthetics. Not only Thai woman are pretty, well dressed or well maintained but they maintain their surroundings really well too. Even the tiniest apartment is surrounded with beautiful plants and tropical flowers. Minimalist yet everything clean and neatly arranged. Most of the shops be it the roadside carts or big super markets are run by women and I watched once how vigorously they clean their places once the day is over.
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