As we stepped out of Bagdogra airport, the cold breeze reminded me that the mountains were close by. This would usually excite me, but this time there was a strange knot lurking in my chest. I had decided to be here, but suddenly I was unsure about this decision.
This was my first visit to Darjeeling, but this was not how I wanted it to be.
Author: Shinu Ramachandran
Writer. Poetess. Dreamer. Wanderer.
The Quiet Life of Bread in Goa
If you stay long enough in a residential area in Goa, morning will begin with a sound. A rhythmic horn of a bicycle cutting through quiet. If you follow it, you’ll find a man on a bicycle, with a large basket balanced behind him. Inside it lies Goa’s daily ritual, its breads.
The Surprising Reason Flamingos Visit Mumbai Every Year
Two lone, abandoned boats docked between thick mangroves, a cool breeze from the nearby creek, the shade of wild trees, and a refreshing silence. For a moment, it didn’t feel like Mumbai.
Three Unusual Foods I had as a Vegan in Sikkim
As I sat at the breakfast table, mountain air slipping in through the window, she placed a plate in front of me with one whole piece of something which resembled both a fruit and vegetable, along with tomato chutney. “What is this?” I asked, with my eyes scanning to place if I had ever eaten it before. I touched it—it was soft—but I still couldn’t figure out what it was. It was pale yellow in colour and looked like a mix of guava and cucumber.
More Than Half of Gen Z Is Ready for Plant-Based Foods. Are Brands Ready for Them?
More than 1 in 2 Gen Z consumers in India are willing to adopt plant-based foods.
Now that’s a whooping big number considering that Gen Z constitutes 27% of our Indian population. It is not only India’s largest demographic but also the most influential consumer group.
For me, Padwa is equal to Puranpoli
Whoever thought of making a dough, filling it with cooked chana dal and jaggery, rolling it out, cooking it on a tawa, and then eating it piping hot, was a genius.
Because I don’t know any other dish like puranpoli that’s as filling and fulfilling at the same time.
I had the best pasta in Portugal and not in Italy
Yes, I know Italians will murder me for saying this. But it’s true.
A few years back I was on a work trip to Italy and Portugal. In Italy, I had all the usual popular Italian dishes – different types of pastas and pizzas – and I really indulged in all of them and must say I thoroughly enjoyed it too.
But that was until I reached Cabo da Roca in Sintra, Portugal.
Eat, Pray, Eat in Amritsar
I visit Amritsar only for two reasons — the soul-soothing stillness of the Golden Temple and the flaky comfort of eating Chole Kulche.
I am usually not a fan of going to religious places as most of them are crowded and not disciplined in India and I find it difficult to pray peacefully when there is too much happening around me. But one place that has always drawn me because of its high spiritual energy is the Golden Temple in Amritsar, where I can always find a corner to myself. Equally grounding is the city’s beloved Chole Kulche – a dish so popular that it carries the name of the city itself. Between these two, Amritsar is a haven for me.
All Things Ber: The Ancient Fruit, The Modern Muse
When I finally saw my favourite winter fruit with the fruit vendor, I instantly picked it up, wiped it clean on my t-shirt, and impatiently took the first bite. Yeah, yeah, I know that I need to wash it at least ten times before eating it. But some things you just can’t resist.
Best way to do Mumbai darshan is to look for a house
I am not exaggerating. It’s only when you start looking for a rental house in Mumbai, do you get to see its true nature — its cracks, the multitude lanes that you never knew existed, the cults and the communities, and the unusual questions about your identity.