Let's get cooking!!

I'm watching one my favourite programmes on TV - Saturday Kitchen Live. The whole concept of fresh ingredients and cuisine fascinate me. This programmes shows bits of BBC's cooking shows plus guest chefs prepare some fabulous food in the studio :)

Being the Christmas season, all cooking shows are concentrating on baking cakes. I've never been too successful with baking cakes - except with the packaged flour mix variety. That's hardly any creativity!!

I'm still very good with non-vegetarian items. I can make lovely Chicken curry laced with spices and herbs or even the biriyani. I make spicy fried fish during weekdays and recently made my first kutchi mutton biriyani (rice and meat cooked together with yoghurt and spices).

I'm not a stickler in terms of presentation because it is the taste and aroma of the dish which matter to me. I appreciate some of the beautifully presented food in top-notch restaurants or shown on TV. I remember one of the dishes shown in BBC's Masterchef finals - an appetizer delicately presented inside a smokey glass dome. It looked like heaven in a plate even without tasting.

One of the tastes that I have always enjoyed is Thai. I think that has got to do with my love for coconut milk based curries. I just love the lemon grass, ginger and citronelle flavours that are infused into the perfumed scampi or meat curries. One of my favourite dishes is the Thai green chicken curry.

We used to visit a tiny Thai restaurant near our house. It was small and quiet but always full. The food was of a good quality and the service was good. We still eat from that place but we just order a take away. It's much easier to eat at home with the baby around.

My baby loves our traditional Indian dishes despite having the Belgian fare in the creche during the week. He loves the rice, sambar, dal or yoghurt mixes that we have at home.

This convinces me that our palates are influenced by genetics more than our current conditions. An Asian palate will always be tuned to spices regardless of the geographical location!!

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Things can go horribly wrong at times...

I'm in no mood to sleep today. I can't believe how things can go incredibly wrong at times.

For a few weeks, I was battling the usual cold and sore throat that is characteristic of this season. Then, my tiny tot got a really bad throat infection followed by an allergy. His skin was red with rashes one day. Luckily, it was a quick fix with some medicines his doc prescribed.

Again, as we settled into normal life, my baby boy got a severely high temperature or fever. We spent some time in the Emergency Room in the hospital to do all the tests. Luckily, it is a classic case of cold and sore throat. He has got loads of medicines to take which are making him drowsy and listless.

As if this wasn't enough, I just caught the "pink eye". My eyes are swollen and infected. The doctor says it will be over in a week. I'm spending my time alone and suitably quarantined to ward of the spread of this infection.

All these years in Belgium and I never got any form of malaise. I guess this is my time to remember that health is wealth. My husband is bearing the brunt of all this as he is stuck with taking care of both of us.

But yes, I have reason to celebrate today. After about four years of marriage, I got a hot cup of coffee at my bedside today. Isn't that wonderful??

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Living life a day at a time...

Life is warming up slowly since I've joined back at work. My new assignment is exciting and challenging. Nevermind that I don't have a clue as to how I will proceed. I'm hoping that all will proceed smoothly as time goes on.

The morning bus journey with my baby on the pram is an adventure. It is easy to board and get down from the new STIB buses. On bad days, the old, yellow buses will ply on my route - and the nightmare begins. Luckily, some kindred spirit will help me manage to get on the bus.

Weekends are busy days. I have so many chores to do...neverending tasks. I guess it is the same for all mums.

You start appreciating your parents more after becoming one yourself. It's exciting but tiring to be responsible for a little human being. The chores zap a lot of energy off you but the baby brings in positive vibes. I have high regard for all the hard-working mums out there...hang in there!!

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What happens when you return to work after maternity??

What does it feel like to be back in office after maternity leave??. Hmmm...here are my thoughts on this eventful phase of life...

You start by rummaging through your wardrobe. Sadly, you figure out that your clothes are too small or gigantic...The lack of a middle ground is frustrating.

Then there is the running to the creche, marathon to the office, back to creche and by the time you get to home territory..the weariness sets in...

You realize that life moved on even while you took a pause and circumstances have changed.

The constant thought of your baby worries you. You get slightly obsessive but you try to control the emotions.

Ofcourse, the world around you moves on and you must run along to catch up...

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What's hot and not about twittering??

I consider myself reasonably tech-savvy. I email regularly and use gtalk, skype, yahoo messenger etc. to chat. I use the internet to read the news and search for services (restaurants, train, bus, weather etc). I also maintain a blog and have a couple of social networking accounts.

I was constantly hearing about twitter especially on news channels. Breaking news updates quote tweets from around the world. It was as if everybody around was twittering away.

I signed up for my own twitter stream a few days ago. Honestly, I haven't gotten hang of it yet. It looks like twitter users can post bits of info online. Those who are interested can follow these tweets and be informed.

News channels give breaking news updates on twitter. Politicians record their daily travails to keep their subjects informed and entertained. Twitter is especially useful to those on the campaign trail to post micro-messages to the vast online public.

Within the few days I've been on twitter, I have learnt interesting facts about those who I follow. For example, my brother in Dubai is now enduring a fitness regimen. My journalist brother in India has updates on anything to do with telecom. My friend in Ahmedabad, India woke up at 4 AM because of the constant barking of dogs!!!

CNN breaking news posted about Iran's nuclear test missile. TCS official twitter stream announced that the company is now the IT partner for AXA commercial business transformation.

And dear me...what did I post?? I twittered about the dull Belgian weather and the humble apple crumble I made!!!

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9/11 - Another year goes by..

We were huddled around the table for a post-dinner discussion when our Muscat brought up friend Tina (fondly called muscat-biscuit) received an sms. Her American friend claimed that an airplane had hit the World Trade Center in New York!!

It sounded outrageously unbelievable to us students living in a remote village in Allahabad, India. I suggested that she sms back that Taj Mahal had melted away due to acid rains.

Her friend was getting angry by now because we were not taking him seriously. We turned on the old TV in the dining hall to confirm and yes, news channels were reporting that planes had indeed hit the WTC.

This single incident had shocked the world and made life come to a grinding halt. More terror attacks were to follow like the London bombings, Mumbai hotel attacks etc..

Terror attacks are no more a surprise since it's so frequent despite increased safety measures. It is an unsettling feeling knowing that terror can strike anywhere.

At times, it seems as though we are fighting a hidden enemy...or as some may put it - an enemy within. Every anniversary of 9/11 is a chilling reminder of this axe looming overhead waiting to squash its prey.

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Smallest town on earth..really?

There is nothing so petite about the town claiming to be the smallest ville on earth. Tucked away inside the Ardennes forest, this quaint town has enough charm and character to match any mighty tourist city.

Durbuy was listed as one of the twenty must see locations in the Visit Belgium website. I wondered what was so special about this small town to make it a must-see location.

The drive from Brussels to Durbuy was superb with fantastic views of the Belgian countryside. As we neared the Ardennes, the farmland gave way to towering cliffs and dense vegetation.

The last stretch of road leading to Durbuy was tiny with the lane narrowing and bending at sharp angles. Alas, the sight of Durbuy before us was breathtakingly beautiful.
Durbuy had the look of a town right out of the Middle ages. The Chateau, uneven cobbled streets, little rugged caves and the rocky hillocks surrounding the town made it seem as though time stood still. The Ourthe river was visible from every nook of the town.
It was clear that tourism was big in Durbuy. Hotels and restaurants could be seen everywhere. The tourist train was doing rounds through the streets. Mothers with strollers trotted about in the nearby topiary. The cafes were packed with tourists on a weekend break. I figured that trekking and adventure sports were also a hit with so many dirt bikes parked in and around the town.
My favourite place was the St. Amour Confiture shop, the outlet of the neighbourhood jammery. The shelves were lined with a variety of jams (onion, fig, orange, lemon, strawbery, raspberry, myrtilles, rose and so much more), syrops, special Durbuy beer, chocolates etc.
I wished I could sample everything in the shop as I had never ever seen such a collection of jams and jellies. I finally left with the jam of figs, roses and some chocolates.

Frank had to drag me away from this jammy paradise. I promised myself that I would be back..but this time to relax for a few days in one of the many hotels.

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Right on Track: The Belgian Grand Prix

Watching the Belgian Grand Prix from the VIP gallery of Ferrari was a dream come true for my husband Frank. The outcome of the race was even more sensational with Ferrari winning the title and the Force India team clinching a podium finish.
I have seen the Spa-Francochamps circuit while on a leisure trip to Spa a couple of years ago (Read -- There is a place called Spa!!).It looked as if perched in the middle of nowhere from the rugged TEC bus we were in. We were not impressed with Spa then but this time Frank was clearly on top of the moon.

He was babbling out of excitement in being able to watch the F1 from the red VIP stand, the home of the most prestigious F1 team. He kept stressing that the babes in the adjoining Martini stalls were gorgeous much to my amusement. The guests in the F1 Ferrari club wined and dined in style while watching the race. Champagne and wine to tease the appetite and platters of skewered prawns, lamp chops, beef brochettes, grilled monk fish and much more to add to the luxury.
Frank was taken aback by the preparations that go into making an F1 race a success. The car as well as the driver need to be maintained to the minutest level possible. The tyres have to be kept in a temperature controlled environment. The engineers and mecanics have to be on alert throughout the race. There are so many similar nuances to be kept in perspective such as the fuel levels, weight of the car, engine technology and not to mention, the physique of the driver.
(Photographs Courtesy - Mr. Philippe Bogaert)
With all this planning and detailing, it might seem as though F1 is a precision-driven sport. On the other side, the huge budgets and extravaganza make it more of entertainment.

So here is the million dollar question: Is this a sport showcasing skills and technology? Or else is this some form of gas guzzling, cash crunching entertainment?? I guess the debate will just never end...

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These are a few of my favourite spots...

I'm nearing three years of stay in Belgium. During this time, I've visited some interesting tourist sites in and around the country.

I loved the places that I visited. Some were more memorable than the other but they all helped me understand European life a little more.

I'm listing down some of the best places I visited in Europe starting with the best liked and down the pecking order...

1. Amsterdam (Wednesday in Amsterdam)

Nothing beats Amsterdam in terms of excitement, culture and tolerance. An hour long cruise down the winding canals showcases the true beauty of the city - rows of canal houses with hooks on the top facade, crown shaped church spiral, museums of every kind, Anne Frank house, Nemo, floating pagoda restaurant and the list goes on.

A walk through the red-light district and a visit to the Sex museum near the railway station will touch upon the well known tolerance of the city. A rare sight for those from the East where it is a taboo to even mention the subject.

2. Maastrict (Destination Maastrict)

I can still feel the uneven, cobbled streets and the gentle breeze from River Muese (Maas) when I think about Maastrict. I huffed and puffed while I climbed up the spiralling stairs to the St. Jean's church belfry. St. Servatius basilica ranks as one of the most glorious monuments I have ever seen in my life.

3. Rotterdam (Rotterdam - A Taste of Modernity)

Modern yet an amazingly refreshing city - the highlights being the Erasmus brigdge, the harbour, Euromast, Speedo boat and ofcourse, the Pancake cruise.

4. Paris (It's the season to be jolly)

Well, Paris is just Paris - a tourist paradise which cannot be described.

5. Dinant (Charming Dinant)

Dinant is charming town bordering the River Muese with a towering citadel and world war bunkers. The cruise through the river reveals the scenic beauty of the town.

6. Belgian Coast (Oostende / Knokke / Blankenberge)

We took a ride on the tram that chugs along the coast and it was well worth the trouble. But what surprised me most was the Atlantic wall with its underground war bunkers - a testament to German ingenuity.

7. Keukenhof (The Keukenhof Experience)

Fields of tulips in all colours lined the road leading to the gardens as if welcoming us. It felt heavenly inside with flowers of every kind and shape. Swans quietly glided away in the green- tinged waters nearby. I have never seen any other place nearly as beautiful and well kept as the tulip gardens of Keukenhof

8. Grand Place (Of Moules Frites, Escargots & Waffles)

I pop into the crowded Brussels city centre once in a while on a sunny day or during christmas . The golden gilted guild houses, artists sketching away, chocolate fountains, waffles and ice cream shops are all huddled together in the vicinity.

Toss in a generous helping of street artists (some smeared with shiny silver paste and others with musical instruments), vendors selling hot wine or snail soup, and the small statue of a boy pissing (mannequin pis) - and you have Grand Place in all its splendour.

9. Bruges

A little bit of the medieval era in Belgium - ideal for kindling a quick romance and for the lovely canal ride.

10. Atomium & Mini Europe (Hallmark of Brussels)

The huge steel balls suspended in air can be seen from many places around Brussels. Mini Europe, the park with miniature European monuments, took a long time to visit. Neverthless, the trip was informative with the interactive exhibits.

So, these are a few of my favourite places that I would love to visit yet again!!

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I stumbled upon these interesting reads...

Morgan in Africa

Morgan, a young American, is an aid worker living in Africa (mainly Rwanda and Barundi). She explains her experiences in Rwanda as a development intern with UNHCR in the first phase of her blog. Later on, she returns to the neighbouring Barundi as an executive with an international organization.

Through her blog, she took me on a journey into Rwanda - a country healing from a horrible past. The Rwandan markets, food, hotels, houses, and people come alive in her posts.

She loves her goat brochettes, bonds with her Rwandan friends and learns to beat the sweltering summer and the ever-present mosquitos.

The lady even learned the Rwandan language and has a lengthy dictionary posted online. She delves into the history of the country and the current state of political affairs in her blog. A bit controversial (maybe), definitely informative and a rare look into Africa.

I have to admit that I read Morgan's blog from cover to cover (meaning from the first post to the most recent in blog parlance). It is an extraordinary look into African culture and customs through the eyes of a Washingtonian. You can find her blog here: Morgan in Africa


Diary of a White Indian Housewife

Being a housewife in India is a tad bit difficult for even the seasoned Indian woman. The traditions, culture and communal bonds can be stifling. Then, imagine a white Australian lady married to an Indian man living in a chaotic metropolis like Mumbai...

That is Sharrel's story. She has stuck on in India for more than a couple of years beating all odds. Her take on life in India with its never-ending festivities, spicy food, exotic travels and travails is amusing to say the least.

She claims to have discovered herself in this deeply spiritual country. Find her here in the Diary of a White Indian Housewife..

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