Search Results for: India

India gets her name from the Indus River, a major river that flows through China, Pakistan and India. The river’s name comes from Sanskrit (Sindhu) meaning “body of trembling water, river”. India is the largest part of the land mass that is South Asia. She is the seventh largest country in the world by size and second largest in population. India shares land borders with six countries, Pakistan to the northwest, China, Tibet, Nepal and Bhutan to the north and Bangladesh and Myanmar to the southwest. She is surrounded on the southeast and southwest by the Indian Ocean. Sri Lanka and the Maldives lie just off the coast, to the south.

India is an ancient land with a history dating back thousands of years. In 2700 BCE, the first urban civilization in the world emerged in the Indus River valley. There were numerous states and kingdoms throughout the region over its long history, which is also the birthplace of the some of the world’s largest religions: Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism and Jainism. Today an overwhelming majority of the population is Hindu, which is the religion associated with the caste system in India (a rigid, social and occupational stratification system). Twelve percent of Indians are Muslim. This fact makes India one of the largest Islamic nations in the world because of the size of the population; over 1 billion people call India home. They also have the largest number of mosques in the world, with over 300,000. Every major religion in the world is represented in India.

Today, India is home to 29 states and seven union territories, each with their own extraordinary history, culture, language and uniqueness. There are 16 official languages of India, which include: Hindi, Urdu, Bengali and English (making India the largest English speaking country in the world). However, there are numerous other languages and dialects spoken there, totaling over 1500. The capital city of India is New Delhi but the most populated city is Mumbai, also known as “The City of Dreams” and formerly known as Bombay. The term “Bollywood,” gets its “B” from the previous name of the city coupled with the fact that they are the largest producer of films in the world. Mumbai is home to the wealthiest people in India, with many millionaires and even billionaires. However, many Indians live on as little as $2 a day and 35 percent of the population lives below the poverty line.

India gained her independence on August 15, 1947, after 200 years of British rule. India is the largest democracy in the world. The Indian, Independence Bill, which made independent nations of India and Pakistan, was hailed by Indian Independence leader, Mohandas Gandhi as the “noblest act of the British nation.” Unfortunately, after the bill took effect it began a period of religious turmoil between the Hindus and Muslims. That resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands, including Gandhi, who was assassinated by a Hindu fanatic in January of 1948 during a prayer vigil. More commonly known at Mahatma Gandhi, he is hailed as the Father of India. (Mahatma is an honorary title in the ancient Sanskrit language meaning “Great Soul”.) His birthday is celebrated every October 2nd and the day is also commemorated by the United Nations as the “International Day of Non-Violence”. Gandhi used non-violent civil disobedience as a method of evoking the people of India to rally for independence. His mission was to peacefully free India from British rule, to relieve poverty and to provide equality for women. His influence on humanity cannot be underestimated as he inspired similar movements around the world. His life and principles have inspired countless people all over the world with his message of peace, simplicity and devotion. He will forever be remembered for his many inspirational quotes and life lessons.

The world has a lot to thank India for as they are the inventors of many things that affect the lives of people every day. India gave the world yoga, developed over 5000 years ago. They invented the game of chess, the shirt button, the ruler, the decimal system was invented in 100 BC and the number zero. They also get the credit for the value of pi, trigonometry, algebra and calculus, to name a few.

The sheer size and scope of India is simply astounding. They have six seasons, which include the normal four, plus winter and summer monsoons. They have incredibly diverse topography which includes some of the tallest mountains in the world, the Himalayans, to arid desserts, forests, fertile plains and tropical seaside villages. Interestingly the whole of India is in the same time zone. They grow over 1.2 million tons of mangos annually as well as many legumes, like chickpeas and kidney beans and lentils of all types, which are often dried. They are also the largest producer of milk in the world. Cows are sacred in India and you will often times see them wandering the streets. Because India is such spiritual country, there is no shortage of festivals. There are festivals that celebrate good over evil, one where camels are dressed up and paraded, celebration for the harvest, kings’ birthdays, elephants ornately decorated and ridden thru the streets, etc. They are some of the most colorful festivals in the world. Weddings are multi day celebrations as well, with food, dancing and extravagant outfits. Even in modern India, most marriages are still arranged.

As we look into the cuisine of India, it is as diverse as the country itself. They have over 37 different cuisines along with hundreds of variations of those. The differences are often times simply, what is available locally due to the soil, climate and ethnic group. It is clear that religion and culture have a major impact on the choices. Hindu’s don’t eat beef and Muslim’s don’t eat pork. India has the largest number of vegetarians in the world. India is one of the few places in the world where you will find vegetarian meals at Kentucky Fried Chicken, McDonalds and Pizza Hut. Indian cuisine is loved throughout the world and mostly known for its amazing use of spices called masala, which are used to make hundreds of curries. Some of the hallmark spices in Indian cuisine are chili pepper, black mustard seed, cardamom, cumin, turmeric, asafetida, ginger, coriander and garlic. The famous garam masala is a combination of at least five spices, ground together, which usually includes, cardamom, cinnamon and clove. Each region has a special garam masala blend to call their own. Indian food always uses spice but you can enjoy Indian food with or without the intensity of heat from peppers. Some Indian food is off the charts on the hot side but can be adjusted to suit your tastes. Rice, millet, bean pulses, potatoes and dahls, are all staple ingredients in Indian cuisine, along with delicious flat breads like naan, chapatti and roti.

To be honest, I had no idea how to tackle India from a cuisine standpoint. I decided to go with a vegetarian meal as an introduction to Indian cuisine. We enjoyed the meal with masala chai which means “spiced tea.” Chai is the national drink of India, and yes they are the largest producers of tea in the world as well.

So let’s eat Indian food:

The Menu
Starter
Bhindi Masala Dry Fry (Spicy Okra Dried Fry)

Main
Palak Paneer (Spinach Curry)

With Paneer (Cheese)

Served with
Aloo Gobi (Potatoes and Cauliflower Dry)

All served with
White Basmati Rice and Garlic Naan Bread
Dessert
Mango Lassi (Mango Smoothie)

We placed a mat on the floor, along with some cushions, as it is customary to sit on the floor to dine in India. We removed our shoes, washed our hands, feet and face and sat down cross legged. The decorations included lotus flower candle holders, as the lotus flower is a sacred symbol in India especially to Hindus and Buddhists and is their national flower. In fact, in New Delhi, there is the lotus temple, which is one of the most visited in the world. It is shaped like a lotus flower with 27 gigantic petals that are covered in marble. We also placed a peacock feather to symbolize their national bird, and a Bengal tiger, their national animal, which used to roam all over the country but today, its numbers are threatened. We, of course, used only our right hand to enjoy the meal, which is their custom. It is important to know you should never share food, as it is considered contaminated if you have touched your mouth and then your food. Only the finger tips are used and never lick your fingers. You will wash your hands at the end of the meal as well.

Our first course was the dried, okra fry and it was absolutely amazing. The complex spices in the dish and the fact that it was not at all gelatinous, was a real treat. These little morsels were very easy to eat with only the right hand and we didn’t have a one left over; a delicious way to begin our vegetarian meal.

Next, we enjoyed the very popular, palak paneer. This spicy, spinach curry was off the charts, outstanding. The grilled paneer cheese is very similar to a tofu that seems to just soak up the flavors of whatever it is cooked in. The grilled cheese melts in your mouth as the spicy, spinach curry enlivens your palate. This was enjoyed with basmati rice and naan bread.

As a side dish, we served aloo gobi, which was also cooked in the dry style, with amazing spices. The potatoes and cauliflower were a wonderful combination; tender and delicious.

For dessert, in honor of their national fruit, the mango, we savored a mango lassi. Basically, it is a creamy, mango smoothie but it also served to soothe the palate after the heat from our amazing, vegetarian meal.

We thought about how, if you wanted to be a vegetarian, Indian cuisine would be a wonderful way to indulge. We loved every single dish and were totally full and satisfied. We then decided to have a little chess match over a movie called “Slumdog Millionaire”. This movie gives an interesting perspective of India and has won numerous film awards.

India is a complex country, many have said that it can’t really be explained, it must be experienced. As my nephew Eliot described last week, India is indeed a land of many contrasts and full of intense sensory stimuli. I hope to someday breathe her in myself, but in the meantime, exploring the many diverse cuisines, is a good place to start.

As we say goodbye, I leave you with a few inspiring quotes from Gandhi:
“Be the change that you want to see in the world.”
“You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.”
“Where there is love there is life.”
“An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind.”

Until next time,
Namaste’
Darlene

This week I am thrilled to welcome guest writer Eliot Beebe, who graciously shares his travels to India. Enjoy!

India. Just the name conjures up exotic images of snake charmers, women in brightly colored saris, Bollywood dancing and well... a whole lot of mystery. As a chronic sufferer of wanderlust, this was enough to convince me to book my ticket to the fabled country. I'll have to admit, I was a little nervous when I booked my flight. I've traveled quite a bit but I'd never been to a place quite so different and far from home, geographically speaking or culturally. The country itself is so vast with countless sub regions, climates and cultures. I wondered where to even start? I scoured over endless guide books and maps to create a feasible three week itinerary that I could roughly follow without losing my sanity. This was followed by some visa headaches and my first real taste of Indian culture. It was realizing that booking Indian trains while in America on their "user friendly" website, was about as easy as an unsolved, quantum physics equation.

Fast forward to three days of airports, layovers, turbulence and whiplash, inducing airplane landings. I finally stepped out of the main terminal in New Delhi to face an immediate truth... A trip to India is not so much traveling to a different time zone but feels more like teleporting to an alternate dimension. Culture shock seems too light of a term once you are introduced to the symphony of the chaotic noises, colors and smells of just a normal Indian street scene. Traveling through India is to leave behind everything you thought was safe, everything you thought was normal and to watch the walls of your comfort zones dissolve faster than you can say, "Namaste".

Just hopping in an Indian taxi can be an adventure all on its own. Don't forget to breathe while your driver overtakes Tuk Tuks, semi-trucks and occasional cows, as incense burns on his dashboard. My jaw muscles were sore from wincing in anticipation of collisions as our driver and everyone else on the road made seven lanes out of a two lane road.

Our first stop on the journey would be Varanasi; a three thousand year old city on the banks of the Ganges river. This is the most sacred place in the Hindu religion, where to die or be cremated here, is to escape the reincarnation cycle of death and rebirth and to pass on to Nirvana or heaven. The city is full of Indians from around the country on their pilgrimage to pay homage to the holy river or send off their loved ones to the other side. The windy, millennia, old maze like streets which were too narrow for vehicles to pass, twist though dark alleys and temples such that no matter how many times I walked, were just as confusing. Luckily we befriended a young man named Perkash, working at our hotel and hired him as our tour guide.

Perkash introduced me to my first real Indian dining experience. Following customs with no utensils and only eating with my right hand, proved difficult for my left handed brain. The first few attempts made such a mess you’d wonder if I even got any in my mouth. A few pointers from my new Indian friend got me breaking naan with one hand like a pro and figuring out just the right ratio of curry to rice so it would stick together like brick and mortar, perfect for delicious consumption. The great thing about Indian cuisine is every dish we ordered was a new wave of spices, colors and seasoning, unique to the region. I particularly took a liking to butter masala and still catch myself daydreaming about cleaning my bowl of the delicious curry with hot, garlic naan.

Chicken Butter Masala (Murgh Mahani)

Garlic Naan Bread

Varanasi was an unforgettable experience but the intense sights, sounds and energy of the place left me exhausted. Luckily, I planned a few days as a quick escape to the Ladakh region of the Indian Himalayas, as the next stop of my journey. On arrival there was stark contrast to the humid air and crowds of the Ganges River. In the foot hills of the mighty Himalayas at 11,000 feet, the thin air, vast, empty landscapes and quiet Tibetan monasteries with prayer flags dancing in the wind, were just what I needed to reset my mind in preparation of the rest of my trip. We spent four quiet days there, mostly sipping on honey, ginger, lemon tea and staring at the beautiful snow-capped peaks.

Ayurvedic Tea with Ginger, Lemon and Honey

Feeling rejuvenated, we set off to the city of Agra, home of the pearl of India, the Taj Mahal. What trip to India would be complete without stopping by the country’s most iconic building? To be honest, like everyone else, I'd seen a million photos of the place and it was a little hard to get excited to see what seemed like would be a tourist trap. I couldn't have been more wrong. My first glimpse of the Taj Mahal through the grand entrance is something I will never forget. We had arrived covered in sweat after a mad sprint, just minutes before they closed the gates to entering visitors and the sun was setting low on the horizon. I kept squinting my eyes as the symmetrical, masterpiece that is the Taj Mahal basked in the golden evening light. I've never thought a building could be so beautiful. As the golden light faded to purple and blue hues, the Taj seemed to do the same. I had nothing to do but stare in awe, trying to take in every second of the world wonder. She did not disappoint.

The final destination of my Indian journey was the farthest off the map and the hardest to get to; the Rajasthan Region, home of the hardy, Marwar Desert people, known for their giant, red turbans and women adorned in the most beautiful, jewel encrusted saris.

On first sight, the main cities: Jodhpur, Udaipur and Jaisalmer, seemed to be straight out of an Arabian Nights tale. There were camels, working as taxis and dusty roads leading to incredibly beautiful maharajas palaces in the middle of a harsh hot desert. I was just waiting for the carpets to start flying around the town or a genie to pop out to grant me some wishes. When we reached Jaisalmer, after a dusty 15 hour train ride, we decide to book a camel trek out into the desert for a night of camping. I was traveling with my sister and my girlfriend at the time and our guides asked us if we had any special requests for our camping trip. My sister blurted out "Fireworks!" They looked a little puzzled. A whole afternoon was spent walking through desert and sand dunes on camel back. The sun was getting low and we got to our campsite. We set up camp on a beautiful dune with absolutely nothing around us, in the most gorgeous way. As the sun set, we exchanged stories and jokes with our guides while they made dinner for us on an open campfire. There was even a man that walks the desert and stops by each campsite selling icy cold beer. We grabbed a few beers to go with our dinner and watched the sun sink down into the distant sand dunes. Sure enough, once the moon came out and lit the desert, our guides unveiled an assortment of bottle rockets and other fireworks they had picked up. The rest of our evening was spent laughing hysterically with our guides, lighting rockets and running around with sparklers. I don't think I could have planned a better evening if I tried. Exhausted, our whole campsite retired on cots with blankets laid out under the blue hued, desert moonlight.

This was a small glimpse into my journey to India. What I learned is, every time you step out into the street in a country like this, is sure be an adventure. You will without fail, be confronted with new lessons and unforgettable experiences. India somehow manages to be both beautiful and disturbing, modern and ancient, enlightening and exhausting, all at the same time. My advice is, if you decide to make the journey one day yourself, there is but one way to do it. It's with an open mind. Forget all of your preconceived notions and assumptions about the world and be ready to have every sense stimulated at max capacity. Be prepared to have not only your views and feeling of a distant land change, but also expect to come home with a new perspective of where you came from. This is what India was to me.

Photos of India and post by Eliot Beebe.

Be sure to follow him on instagram at Eliot_Beebe

Until next week,
Namaste,
Darlene

How did Trinidad and Tobago get its name?

Christopher Columbus gets the credit for naming Trinidad, calling it, "La Isla de la Trinidad" ("The Island of the Trinity "). Previously, it was believed to be called “Lere,” meaning, “Land of the Hummingbird” named by the Arawaks, an Amerindian people who inhabited the islands long ago.  They are home to 17 different varieties of hummingbirds.

Tobago, on the other hand, was named after “tobacco” either for its shape or because they grow it there.  

Where are Trinidad and Tobago islands located?

Trinidad is located just 6.8 miles off the northeastern coast of Venezuela and is the largest of the two-island nation.  Tobago lies about 35 miles off the northeast of Trinidad.  They are the furthest, southeastern islands in the Caribbean Sea.  They share maritime borders with Barbados, Grenada, Guyana and Venezuela.

The capital city is Port of Spain, on Trinidad, however, the largest city is San Fernando.

Trinidad has three, large mountain ranges, which is why Columbus most likely named it, “The island of Trinity.”  The islands have several small rivers, streams, waterfalls and beautiful coastlines replete with bays, and beaches.

Trinidad and Tobago are an eco-tourism dream.  On the south of little Tobago there is a popular dive spot called the Kelleston Drain, that houses the largest brain coral colony in the world.

It is also home to the second largest number of leatherback turtles (about 10,000) who arrive each year on Trinidad beaches to lay and hatch their eggs. 

They have the world’s oldest protected rain forest, dating back to 1776.  It is also home to one of the highest densities of bird species in the world, with over 400 varieties.  

They have an unusual, natural deposit of asphalt called the La Brea Pitch Lake that holds and replenishes around ten million tons of the asphalt that paves roads all over the world.

They are also home to a sand bar that is right in the middle of the ocean, where you can literally stand on top of it.  It is called Nylon Pool after Princess Margaret said the water was as clear as her stockings.  It is a popular tourist destination.  

A Brief History of Trinidad and Tobago

The Islands were originally inhabited by the Arawak Indians, who were sadly killed off by early European settlers.  Columbus discovered the islands on his third voyage, in 1498 and they were later colonized by the Spanish in 1592.  This lasted for the next 200 years on the Island of Trinidad, until the British captured it and it was formally ceded to the United Kingdom in 1802.

Tobago, however, changed hands 33 times over that same period, between the Spanish, Dutch, English, French, Jamaicans, Swedes, and Great British.  Ultimately, it was joined with Trinidad in 1889 as one colony.  They gained their full independence in 1962.

The government is run as a parliamentary democracy, modelled after that of the United Kingdom.  The monarch was replaced as head of state by a president, chosen by an electoral college.  The country has remained a member of the commonwealth.  Tobago was given a measure of self-government in 1980. 

Culture of Trinidad and Tobago

The two-island nation has a large, diverse mix of cultures that have influenced its evolution.  They are Indian, African, Portuguese, Amerindian, Spanish, Chinese and others.  The country’s history with the United Kingdom has left a major impact on its culture as well.  English is the official language, although Creole languages are spoken as well.

There is also a distinct difference between the two islands, because of their unique histories.

Africans were brought in to work on the plantation economy, as were Indians, Portuguese and the Chinese, after slavery was abolished.  Today, Africans and East Indians make up the largest ethnic groups on the Islands.  Africans are the largest group on the smaller island of Tobago.

Sugarcane and cacao were the Islands’ main crops.  However, petroleum was discovered in 1857 and eventually became the most important export for the nation’s economy, making it the richest and most developed in the Caribbean.  It also has the third largest GDP in the Americas, after the USA and Canada.

Roman Catholicism, Hinduism, and Islam are their three main religions. 

Festivals are many and celebrated on both islands, with Carnival being the biggest celebration in the nation. They call Carnival the greatest street party in the world.  It originated during slavery when the slaves were banned from attending their masters’ fancy balls and parties.  The slaves would improvise by staging their own costumed event in their quarters.  After emancipation, the slaves challenged the plantation owners to attend their parties.  Carnival is now is week-long event that brings in over one billion dollars in revenue each year.

Christian, as well as Hindu and Muslim holidays, are all celebrated and are official holidays.  It is special that everyone takes part in each other’s celebrations.  It makes for a harmonious and more understanding society.  It may also be why they have been ranked as the happiest Caribbean nation.

The two-island nation is responsible for many unique and important styles of music.  Afro-Caribbean music spread from the country to other parts of the Caribbean and Venezuela.  Its origins stem from the arrival of the African slaves with the French plantation planters in the 18^thcentury. 

Soca is another style of music that is a blend of Indian music, with the rhythms of calypso.  Parang and Picharkaree are other forms of music that originated on the Islands. 

Steelpans, also referred to as “pans,” are steel drums acoustically tuned, percussion instruments, made from oil drums, lids, frying pans and trash can lids. These instruments were made after percussion music and stick fighting were banned following a riot in the 1880s.  The musicians that play them are called “pannists.”  Steelpans are the national instrument of Trinidad and Tobago.

Trinidadian and Tobagonian Cuisine

It is no surprise that the cuisine of these Caribbean islands is as diverse as its history.  It has many influences, with the most prominent being West African and Indian, with some Caribbean, Chinese, Spanish and Portuguese in the mix.  This creates a wonderful fusion of flavor.

One popular dish is callaloo, which has African roots and is made with dasheen or taro leaves, okra, crab, pumpkin, onions and coconut milk and a green sauce made from culantro, which is locally known chadon beni.  It is typically served with a cornbread called coo coo.  Curried Duck is beloved and made from Muscovy ducks that are bred on the islands.  There are curried duck competitions held throughout the year.

Pelau is another popular dish, that is rice based.  Stewed chicken, macaroni pie, oxtails, and dahl are the more staple dishes.  Typically, the dishes are curried, stewed or barbecued. 

Being an islands’ nation, fish and seafood play an important role in the cuisine.  Flying fish, king fish, red fish, bonito, tilapia, as well as shrimp, lobster, crab and conch, are loved.  There is a delicacy called cascade which is made from a seasonal freshwater fish, which is curried and served with lagoon rice.

Soups and stews, known as blue food, are made from taro roots, sweet potato, cassava and yams. Fish broth made into a bouillabaisse, is also popular.

Trinidad is home to the second hottest pepper on the planet called the Moruna scorpion.  It measures over two million on the Scoville Scale for heat. This along with other peppers and herbs like culantro and lime, are made into pepper sauces that are ubiquitous there. 

Chutneys, made from mango, cucumber, tomato, coconut and tamarind, are a condiment that comes in an array of flavors and seasonings. Green seasoning is the most popular.

Achar is also a popular condiment, which is made from a variety of pickled goods.

There is also a huge array of street foods like doubles, bake and shark, aloo pie, pholourie, roti wraps, kebabs, wontons, and souse, to name a few.

Roast corn and boiled corn on the cob can be found day and night, when in season.

For desserts, they like them sweet and made from coconut, guava, nuts and of course chocolate, as they claim to grow the best cacao on the planet.

So let’s enjoy a Trinidadian and Tobagonian meal:

The Meal

Starter

Doubles (Flat bread with curried chickpeas)

Served with

Chadon Beni Sauce  (Cucumber & Culantro chutney)

Main Course

Macaroni Pie

Dessert

Coconut Roll

We set the scene with the colors of Trinidad and Tobago; red, black and white.  We placed Spanish ships to represent the colonial presence of Spain.  A little, black drummer boy was added, for the creation of the steel pan, plus a photo of the national bird; the stunningly beautiful scarlet Ibis. Finally we added seashells, as it is an Islands’ nation.

For our first course, we devoured the very popular street food called doubles.  They get the name because they are served on two pieces of soft baras (little flat, fried bread.)  These are topped with channa or curried chickpeas and then topped with an amazing cucumber chutney called Chadon Beni Sauce that added spicy heat, coolness and an amazing flavor of culantro to this dish. These are served for breakfast and also as snacks, throughout the day. 

For the main course, we loved the macaroni pie.  It is basically a firm mac and cheese, mixed with creole flavors that is baked in a casserole dish and served with  ketchup. 

Dessert was a delicious coconut roll, made with fresh grated coconut, brown sugar with a hint of nutmeg, rolled up in a buttery crust.  It was divine!

After dinner we decided to put on a little Calypso music and try the limbo.  Did I mention the limbo dance was created in Trinidad and Tobago?  You know the dance, it is where the stick keeps getting lowered as you pass under it leaning backwards, without touching it.  How low can you go?

As we say goodbye to these intriguing islands, I leave you with a few popular sayings:

“Better belly buss than good food waste” - which means, it is better to eat and stuff yourself than to let good food go to waste.

“Every bread has a cheese” - Everyone, even someone unattractive, is bound to find a soul mate.

“Any time is Trinidad time”- a common saying, used as an excuse for being late.

Until Next time,

Warmest regards,

Darlene

How did Thailand get its name?

Thailand is a relatively new name for this beautiful country. The name translates to “Land of the Free” or “Land of the Thai people,” who are also an ethnic group.  The translation of “Land of the Free,” is a source of pride for the Thai people as they were the only country in Southeast Asia among all the others, to not be colonized by Western powers.

Prior to the country being named Thailand in 1939, it was called Siam.  Siam comes from a Sanskrit word meaning “dark or brown,” referencing the color of the natives’ skin.  The country was called Siam once again for a brief period between 1946 and 1948 and has been called Thailand ever since. 

Formally, the Thai people call their country prathet Thai but informally they call it mueang Thai. This is a way to differentiate the place from the people and the language.  

Where is Thailand located?

Thailand is in the heart of Southeast Asia.  Its neighbors are Myanmar, to the west, Laos, to the north and east, Cambodia, to the southeast, the Gulf of Thailand, to the south, Malaysia, also to the south on the peninsula and the Andaman Sea, to the west.  If you look at the shape of the country on a map, many say it resembles an elephant’s head.  The elephant is the national animal of Thailand.

The country has forested mountains, hidden waterfalls in lush jungles, rich, fertile rice fields, plains, and a long-rugged coastline along the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea. It is also home to 400 Islands with glorious beaches, most of them in the Andaman Sea.

Generally speaking, Thailand has a tropical climate.  It is hot and humid.  The best time to visit is from November to March.  March through May has the hottest weather and June through October is the monsoon season.

A Brief History of Thailand

It is believed the ancestors of today’s Thai people began migrating from southern China about 5000 years ago. They worked their way south into Thailand, Burma and Laos. It was these migrants that formed the first city states in present day Thailand.

Multiple Kingdoms were established and abolished throughout the centuries.  It was the Chakri dynasty that ascended to the throne on April 6, 1782 and has remained in power ever since. King Rama, moved the capital to the east bank of the river and it became known internationally as Bangkok (The City of Angels.)

In 1932, King Rama VII approved the constitutional change from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy.  This marked the beginning of a democratic form of government in Thailand.

Democracy is never easy and since that time there have been several coup d’état attempts and martial law has had to be evoked on more than a few occasions.  Today the government focuses on economic development, and international relations. 

The people of Thailand still revere the monarchy and the king.  The motto is “Chat, Satsana, Phra Maha Kasat,” which means “the king serves as the traditional knot,” that binds the whole nation.

Thai Culture

Thailand is also referred to as “The Land of Smiles.”  The people are very friendly, hospitable, and kind. It is something you will notice right away.  But don’t be fooled by every smile.  Each smile has a different meaning as the Thai people literally smile through virtually every situation. There are at least 13 identified, distinct smiles with different meanings, in Thai culture.

The official language of Thailand is Thai, which is taught in schools, along with English.  There are a few different dialects of Thai, especially in the very southern and northern parts of the country.

About 95 percent of the country is Buddhist.  Although Thai people have freedom of religion written into the constitution, the King is required by law to be a Theravada Buddhist.  It is no surprise that there are about 40,000 Buddhist temples throughout the country. Historically, nearly all males have been a monk at one time in their life, usually before the age of 20.

The very small remainder of the population are Muslim, especially in the southern region of Thailand near the Malaysian border and there are a few Christians scattered throughout the country.

When you are greeted by a Thai person, you will likely encounter a gesture called wai . It is a beautiful and welcoming greeting where they put their hands in a prayer position with a slight bow of the head.  The lower they bow their head and the higher they raise their prayer hands indicates their level of respect for you. 

The elderly are revered in Thai culture, as is family. Cousins are often referred to as brothers and sisters and extended family often live together or very near each other.  

Prior to Buddhism in Thailand, many centuries ago, Spirit worship or animism was practiced.

Thai households still have what is known as a spirit house called san phra phum or phi houses.   Typically, they are little colorful, intricate, shrines dedicated to the guardian spirits of the land and are in the front of homes, businesses, parks, and highways.  Daily offerings are made in the form of incense, candles, flowers and even food and drinks. 

Although Thailand is developing and becoming more modern, one of its most charming features is how rituals and traditions are passed down from their ancestors.  Thais learn from a very young age to worship and respect the spirits around them.  They believe that by honoring the spirits, it will bring peace and prosperity to them and to their loved ones.  

Thailand is also known for several celebrations and festivals.  Some of the most popular are Songkran aka the “Water festival,” Loy Krathongor “the Festival of lights,” Visakha Bucha which is “Buddha’s Birthday,” and they celebrate the King and Queen’s Birthdays as well.  There is also a “Monkey banquet festival,” where they literally have a feast for the resident monkeys to thank them for bringing in tourism.  Chinese New Year is also celebrated in Thailand.

Thai Cuisine

Thai cuisine is famous throughout the world.  It is not by accident, as the government of Thailand has wisely subsidized numerous Thai restaurants in other countries as an introduction to their delicious food.  It is no wonder that many people travel to Thailand simply for the food.

Thai food is known to have a wonderful balance of flavor with a combination of five tastes: sweet, sour, salty, bitter and spicy.  Like most countries, Thai food is different depending on where you are, having its regional specialties.  It also has many influences from southern Chinese and Indian cuisines as well as from its other neighbors.  

Some of the most common herbs and spices used in Thai cuisine are: basil, caraway, cardamom, chili peppers, cilantro, cumin, curry powders and pastes, galangal, garlic, ginger, lemongrass, onions, pepper, star anise, and turmeric.

They are also famous for exotic fruits like mangosteen, which is considered the national fruit and the stinky durian fruit, which is something you will love or hate, as well as dragon fruits, coconuts, passion fruit, bananas, lychee etc.  While traveling through Thailand you will see “NO Durian” signs in hotels, on elevators and in public transportation.

Thais use a mortar and pestle for many dishes and if you don’t have one you must get one.  You simply can’t get the proper result without one, especially when making curry paste.  The pounding of the ingredients in the mortar, releases oils from the chilies and herbs and spices that simply are not there when you use a processor or blender. I personally find the process therapeutic, as well.

Street food is ubiquitous in Thailand.  It is cheap and simply delicious.  Whether you go into an establishment or eat on the street, there are several Thai dishes one must try.  The beauty of street food is that each stall has a specialty and if there is a line, well you can be sure their food is amazing.

We went to a night market in Chiang Mai and saw the woman that was featured on an episode on Anthony Bourdain’s “Parts Unknown.”  She was very popular before the show but is now famous in the market.  Her signature style is the cowboy hat she wears.  Expect to wait a long time for her famous pork knuckle, served over rice with a sauce, pickled mustard greens, and one half of a hard-boiled egg,  It is absolutely worth the wait!

Here is a brief list of some of the must try Thai dishes:  Curries in every color, green, red and white, plus Massaman Curry, Tom Yum Soup, Pad Thai, Guay Tiew or (noodle soup), Thai spring rolls, Thai fried chicken, Beef and chicken Satay, Grilled squid skewers, Grilled or deep-fried pork, Som Tam (papaya salad), Mango Sticky rice, banana pancakes, Thai sausage, basil chicken, Thai crepes, grilled fish, ……and the list goes on and on.  

So, let’s enjoy a Thai meal:

The Meal

Starter

Som Tam Papaya Salad

Main Dishes

Pad Thai (Fried Noodles with Shrimp)

Phad Kaprao Gai (Basil Chicken with Rice)

Dessert

Kluay Bod Chii (Bananas in Coconut Milk)

We set the scene in the colors of the Thai flag; red, white and blue.  Red, represents the blood spilled for their independence, white is for purity and Buddhism, and blue is for the monarchy.  

We placed a Buddha statue, an elephant candle holder, (as the elephant is their national animal) and the national flower, which grows on a tree that is called the golden shower or dok koon.  We also placed a wooden long boat to represent the main mode of transportation.  Thai chilies, and a fresh coconut completed the setting, representing two prevalent ingredients in their cuisine.

We began by first learning Thai dining etiquette, which is a little different.  We sat on a bamboo mat with our feet tucked under our body. It is considered rude to have your feet pointing at a person or even a statue while dining.

Generally, Thai people eat with a spoon in the right hand and a fork in the left. The spoon is the main utensil, with the fork assisting in getting items onto the spoon.  A knife should never be necessary as Thai food is served in bite size pieces and can easily be cut with the side of the spoon or fork.  Chopsticks are sometimes used for noodle dishes.

We served the som tam green papaya salad as the starter.  It is one of my all-time favorite salads.  Much of the world agrees and  it has been listed on CNN’s poll of the top 50 dishes of the world.  It perfectly strikes the balance of flavors for which  Thai cuisine is famous.  The Thai chilies can be quite spicy, so when you make it, be sure to add them based on your heat tolerance.  This is a wonderful, refreshing salad that you will love.

The other dishes were served family style (all at once,) which is customary in Thai cuisine.  Rice is always served, whether it be sticky or Jasmine. Rice is extremely popular and is Thailand’s biggest export.  When you ask someone “Have you eaten yet?” you would say ,”Heaw Kaow,” which translates to “Would you like rice?”

Pad Thai is the national dish of Thailand. It can be found all over the world.  It is one of my favorite dishes especially when served with shrimp, but it is sometimes made with chicken, pork or just tofu.  You will be surprised how quick and easy it is to make this at home.  I love the accompaniments of lime, and peanuts.

The other dish was had was chicken with Thai basil and both of which we loved served with rice. 

For dessert, we enjoyed bananas in coconut milk, simply flavored with a pandan leaf, and a touch of palm sugar.  It was a wonderful ending to our scrumptious Thai meal. 

As we say goodbye to this magical country, I leave you with a brief photographic journey of our time there.  From Bangkok to Chiang Mai, we loved every minute of it.  We plan to return, not just for the extraordinary food but we want to experience the islands and more of their amazing Thai hospitality. 

Until next time,

Sa-wat-dii-kha ( goodbye)

Warmest regards,

Darlene

How did Tanzania get its Name?

The name Tanzania is the fusion of two places. The “Tan” part of the name comes from Tanganyika. This name in Swahili means “Sail in the Wilderness.”  It is believed to be in reference to Africa’s deepest body of water, Lake Tanganyika, which is also a national symbol. 

The “Zan” part of the name comes from the island of Zanzibar which means “Coast of the Blacks”, with its origins coming from medieval Arabic terms.  The “ia” was added at the end, well, just because it sounds better. 

Where is Tanzania Located?

The mainland of Tanzania is located just slightly below the equator, on the east coast of Africa.  Zanzibar is an island off the coast in the Indian Ocean.  Tanzania also includes the islands of Pemba and Mafia. 

The mainland is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east and has a whopping eight land borders.  Its neighbors are: Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique.

A Brief History of Tanzania

Tanzania is home to an area that is referred to as “The Cradle of Mankind.”  It is believed to be the birthplace of humanity.  In the area around the Olduvai Gorge in northern Tanzania.  Fossils have been found that are thought to be two million years old, as well as the footprints of the immediate ancestor of humans, the Laetoli footprints, estimated to be 3.6 million years old.

About 10,000 years ago, Tanzania was populated by hunter-gatherer communities.  Different ethnic tribes began moving into the area, bringing with them different languages and techniques for agriculture, food production and later cattle farming. 

Two thousand years ago, it was the Bantu that began arriving from western Africa in a series of migrations. They brought iron working skills and introduced new social and political ideas.  Later, Nilotic pastoralists arrived and continued their stay until the 18^th century.

Trade with Arabia and Persia made the East African coast economically strong as far back as the first millennium CE.  This was when Islam was introduced into the area.  All along the coast, as well as the islands of the Zanzibar archipelago, many trading cities thrived. The period was known as the Shirazi Era, between the 13^th and 15^th centuries.  They were trading ivory, gold and other goods to faraway lands like India and China. Kilwa was one of the earliest trading towns in the world to use money.

The great Portuguese explorer, Vasco da Gama, was the first European to reach the east African coast in 1498.  By 1525 the Portuguese had subdued the entire coast which lasted until the 18^th century when Arabs from Oman established a foothold in the region. During this time, Zanzibar became the epicenter for the Arab slave trade.  

In 1873 a British fleet arrived in Zanzibar to force Sultan Barghash to declare the end of the slave trade.  Although reduced, the illegal slave trade continued.  In the mid 1800s, a German missionary was the first European to see the magnificent Mt. Kilimanjaro, and Richard Burton and John Speke mapped the massive Lake Tanganyika. 

In 1877, the Belgians arrived.  With many factions interested in the area, at a table in Berlin in 1886, Belgium claimed ownership of the Congo River area, the Germans and British focused on taking over East Africa which they partitioned off between themselves, and Zanzibar was left to the Sultan of Oman, for a short while anyway. 

The mainland area became known as Tanganyika, after German East Africa was transferred to the United Kingdom as a mandate by the League of Nations, in 1920.  It was colonized first by Germans, from the 1880s until 1919, then the British from 1919 until 1961. 

Tanganyika became independent on December 9, 1961.  Zanzibar’s Independence was in 1963 and in 1964 an Act of Union between the two countries formed the United Union of Tanzania.  It emerged as a one-party state under Julius Nyerere, whose ideologically driven policy of socialism, is still felt today.

Today Tanzania is run by the ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), who has been in power since Independence.

Tanzania Culture

Tanzania is a very ethnically and culturally diverse nation, with over 120 tribes making up the population.  From the tall, colorful, Maasai warriors, to the Hadza bushman with their ancient practices and the Wameru and the Chaga farmers with their resourceful agricultural ways.  They all have their unique ways: their own language, traditions and customs, but together, they gracefully unite to form Tanzania.  Swahili is the language that unites them and Swahili along with English are considered the national languages of Tanzania.

“Hakuna Matata” is a Swahili phrase meaning “no worries,” “no problem” or ”take it easy.”  It can also refer to time as in “no rush.”  This phrase is heard often in Tanzania and was made famous to the rest of the world when “The Lion King” movie hit the theatres. 

Speaking of the “The Lion King,” Tanzania is known the world over as one of the best safari destinations on the planet.  I had the privilege of visiting and I will never forget the spectacular scenery, the people, and the amazing animals.  

Safaris are usually done with a skilled guide/driver who can spot animals you might have never noticed.  You can stand up in the jeep and look through the pop up lid.  We saw baby cheetahs, camouflaged on a rock waiting for their mother to return from her hunt.  We saw lazy lions sleeping in the sun after a nice game meal. 

We had a mock charge by an elephant protecting her baby, saw a leopard gnawing on its prey where she had dragged it high up in the treetops, and baboons positioning to steal it away. 

We saw hippos grunting and burping in pools of water, leopard turtles and magnificent birds, from pink flamingos to swooping kites to vultures waiting for their turn on a kill.  There were antelopes and zebra frolicking and one can never forget the gracious, poetic walk of the giraffe. 

Tanzania is simply a sensory overload of wild animals: the dreaded cape buffalo, elephants, lions, rhinos, cheetahs, leopards, giraffes, wild dogs, hyenas, warthogs, gazelles, elands, waterbuck, dik diks, and the list goes on.

The highlight on safari is the Serengeti National Park.  It is believed the name comes from a Maasai word seringit, meaning “endless plains.”  It is home to the Great Migration which happens annually. 

Each year around the same time, wildebeests, about 1.7 million of them, along with zebras and thousands of gazelles and other plain game begin their migration.   They move in a circle which is basically a grazing pattern that loops clockwise through the National Park to the Masai Mara reserve in Kenya.  It is a truly spectacular sight. 

It was there we also witnessed the shifting sands. This a pile of volcanic, ash about the size of a football field and 20 feet high.  The sands catapult over each other due to the prevailing wind, which effectively walks the pile some 2 meters down the Serengeti every year. Markers have traced its movement since the 1960s. It is thought that if you climb onto it, it will bring you good luck and fertility.

The Ngorongoro Crater is another breathtaking location and a UNESCO World heritage Site. The crater was formed when a large volcano exploded and collapsed on itself some two to three million years ago.  It created a caldera and is one of the highlights for animal viewings in the country. 

In this crater the animals do not migrate as they do on the Serengeti.  It is a microcosm of thousands of African animals living together.  It is in this crater that we spotted the elusive rhino, one of the “Big 5”that  every safari seeker longs to see.  (lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants and cape buffalo)            

Mt. Kilimanjaro is another natural treasure.  It is famous for mountain climbers and hikers.  Kilimanjaro which means “Mountain of Whiteness” or “Shining Mountain” is Africa’s tallest peak and the world’s tallest free-standing mountain.  

Tanzania Cuisine

The cuisine of Tanzania is very similar to other east African nations.  Swahili cuisine is a combination of African, Indian, and Arabic influences.  The British also left their mark on customs and cuisine in Tanzania, most notably the teas, which are grown in the highland area, as well as their delicious desserts.

As with all countries, the food is quite regional.  Fish, for example, is prominent along the coast, whereas meat, is more prevalent in the inland areas.  Game meat, such as: antelope, wildebeest and buffalo, are consumed along with chicken, beef, lamb, and goat.  Pork is rare, as Tanzania is mainly a Muslim country where pork is considered taboo.  Nyama choma is simply grilled meat and is beloved.  You will see street stalls selling it all over the country. 

The national dish is a called ugali and it is a thick porridge made from maize or cassava that is served with meat and vegetable stews.  Rice is also very popular in certain areas of the country as well.

They grow all sorts of fruits and vegetables. The fruits are often used as desserts. Mangoes, papayas, bananas, pineapple, watermelon, oranges, limes, tamarind and especially coconut, are all popular.  Vegetables include: cassava, corn, taro, cabbage, carrots, shallots, onions, and garlic.  Squash and pumpkin are also very common.  Legumes are another staple in the cuisine and especially loved when cooked in coconut milk. 

Chapati is a very popular flat bread that is very easy to fall in love with. Mandazi is another delicious treat made with fried dough, (one of my favorites.) 

Zanzibar is known as the Spice Island and spices are used extensively in their cuisine.  Clove is what they are most known for but other spices like: cardamon, vanilla, pepper, cinnamon, turmeric and many more are grown here. 

If you would like to learn more about the island of Zanzibar and the spices, there is an article I wrote that you may enjoy "A Spice Tour on the Spice Island", along with a cooking class I took in a small village called Jambiani, where you can get additional delicious Tanzanian recipes. "Cooking Class with Mr. Okala"

So, let’s enjoy a Tanzanian meal:

The Meal

Appetizer

Taro Chips

Main Course

Ndizi Nyama (Green Bananas and Beef Stew)

Served with

Maharage ya Nazi (Kidney Beans in Coconut Milk)

Dessert

Kashata (Peanut Brittle with Coconut and Cardamon)

This meal was served buffet style in a safari tent camp on the Serengeti.  I can’t think of a more wonderful place to enjoy a meal.  It would be fun to set up something similar at home, outside under the stars with candles and the like.

We first enjoyed our appetizer of taro chips and wine sitting around a campfire.  They call this  a “Sundowner,” where you just relax and watch the sun go down.  This is another tradition from the British.  

We enjoyed very good wine, mostly imported from South Africa. We also were impressed by the local beer in Tanzania; Kilimanjaro Beer and Serengeti Beer.  

The taro chips are delicious when served warm after frying.  Plantain chips are also often served  as a snack before dinner.

For the main course we enjoyed the beef stew with bananas and kidney beans over white rice.  The meal was made in the kitchen tent and I had the pleasure of being invited in to observe the preparation. 

The chefs wear giant chef hats while cooking and serving, which made it seem so formal even though we were out on Serengeti. 

For dessert, I chose to make one of the  favorite sweets that I discovered while exploring Tanzania.  It is called Kashata and it is basically  peanut brittle with coconut and cardamon. It comes in many shapes, sizes and flavors but this was my favorite combination.  Every time I make it, it makes me smile and is a lovely reminder of Tanzania. 

As we say goodbye to this glorious country, I leave you with a brief photographic journey of our travel there.

p.s. if you are interested in going on a safari, I would be happy to share with you who we used and all the details of our travel. Feel free to contact me anytime.

Until next time,

“Hakuna matata” (no worries)

Warmest Regards,

Darlene Longacre

Darlene

How did Sri Lanka get its name?

“Lanka” is thought to be the first documented name for the island, in Sanskrit, dating back to 5114 BCE. ”Lanka” simply means “Island.”  Another theory is that the name was derived from the Tamil word “Ilanku” meaning “to shine,” or “to glitter.”  This name makes sense due to the glittering of gold and gems found on the island’s surface.

To be honest this island nation has more previous names than can be counted.  I think it must be a record.  In 622 BCE, Arabian Persian Traders called it “Serendib” or “Serendivi” (in Arabic).  The name is believed to have led Horace Walpole to create the word “serendipity” for the English language. 

Back in 960 A.D. an Arab author referred to Sri Lanka as “Saheelan.”  When the Portuguese and Dutch arrived the name remained similar until the British called it “Ceylon” in 1796 which remained until 1978 when it was changed officially changed to the “Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.” “Sri” means “Resplendent.”  So, today Sri Lanka is known as the ”Land of Serendipity” or “Resplendent Island.”

Where is Sri Lanka located?

Another nickname of Sri Lanka is the “Teardrop of India,” which gives you an idea of the shape of the island, which is located just 21 miles at its closest point from the southeastern tip of India, in the Indian Ocean.  Sri Lanka is considered to be part of Asia. The Maldives lie to the southwest.  Sri Lanka is just slightly above the equator in the northern hemisphere and has a tropical climate.  It has two distinct monsoon seasons.  The capital city, Colombo, is known to be hot and humid.

A brief history of Sri Lanka

It is believed that Sri Lanka has been continuously inhabited for more than two million years.  The original inhabitants were hunters and gatherers from the Stone Age.  Somewhere around the fifth century BCE, immigrants from northern India arrived, forming the modern Sinhalese population.  The Sinhalese population was largely Buddhist and set up the first kingdom around Anuradhapura.  Early Buddhist emissaries brought a cutting from the Bodhi tree, under which Lord Buddha attained enlightenment.  This tree is still standing and is believed to be the oldest tree planted by human beings.  The tree remains an important pilgrimage site.

Tamils, from the south of India, arrived about two centuries after the Sinhalese.  Most Tamils are Hindu or Christian and are a minority in Sri Lanka.

The Portuguese arrived in 1505 and by 1518, having established good relations with the king, were allowed to build a fort at Colombo (the capital city today) for trade concessions, in exchange for the king’s protection.

Meanwhile, the Dutch established a trading fort in Galle, destroying the earlier Portuguese outpost.  Soon the Dutch East India Company controlled most of Ceylon.  However, after 300 years of colonial rule by the treaty of Amiens, Britain gave up control of Ceylon, just after the Napoleonic Wars.

Due to unrest during Colonial rule, the Ceylon National Congress was formed in 1919, uniting Sinhalese and Tamils.  Although some concessions were made, Ceylon did not gain independence until 1948.  Ceylon became the “Republic of Sri Lanka” in 1972. 

Unfortunately, tensions between the Sinhalese and Tamils erupted into a bloody civil war, lasting from 1983 to 2009.  It is estimated that the 26 year civil war resulted in tens of thousands of deaths.  After the fighting ended, a Tamil-nationalist, Catholic bishop claimed that 147,000 people, civilians and fighters, remained missing.  The war ended when the leader of the Tamils was killed.  Sri Lanka has been under scrutiny for war crimes against the Tamil. 

In 2004 Sri Lanka was also hit with a massive tsunami, killing 30,000 and displacing 1.5 million people.

Sri Lanka is a much different place today, as it has made huge strides in rebuilding their nation. The remaining Tamils and Sinhalese live relatively peacefully together.  Although Sri Lanka still has plenty of work to do, it is often on the list of the one of the best places to visit, due to the warmth of the Sri Lankan people and its beauty as a tropical paradise destination.  Unfortunately, there was a terrorist attack on Easter in 2019 that left 259 people dead and created travel warnings.  Most recently, the covid crisis will cause even more hardship in the rebuilding of the island.

Sri Lankan Culture

Sri Lanka was colonized by three different cultures all of which clearly left their influences.  The descendants of the Dutch settlers are called Burghers and they are still a considerably influential group.  The British brought over the ritual of high tea, which is still a custom in Sri Lanka today.  Tea plantations were established by the British as the interior mountainous region provided the perfect environment and climate.  Some of the world’s most famous teas still come from Sri Lanka; brands like Ceylon and Lipton.  Visiting tea plantations is a tourist highlight, as they are located in lush, green, picturesque locations.

The largest religious group remains the Buddhists.  The others are Hindus, Muslims and some Christians as well.  Visitors will find Buddhist temples, Hindu kovils, Muslim mosques and Christian churches, throughout the island.

There are three official languages in Sri Lanka: Sinhalese, Tamil and English.  The street signs are typically in all three languages but sometimes, only in English.

There are many UNESCO world heritage sites in Sri Lanka.  Some of the most prominent ones include: Sigiriya, an ancient fortress built atop a huge granite monolith, Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka’s medieval capital, the Sacred City of Kandy, which has the highly revered Temple of the Tooth, along with the Golden Temple of Dambulla and the old Town of Galle.

Sri Lanka celebrates some 30 holidays per year.  Many are religious holidays that are public holidays for all to celebrate.  One holiday that is celebrated each month is called Poya; an island wide celebration of the full moon.  

Sri Lankan Cuisine

The official meal of Sri Lanka is rice and curry, a complete meal of steamed heirloom basmati rice surrounded by all sorts of different curries.  Curry comes in many forms in Sri Lanka: meats, poultry, fish and seafood, vegetables and even fruit.  Jack fruit curry is a specialty curry. 

As a tropical island with an abundance of vegetation, the cuisine uses all sorts of herbs, spices, fruits and vegetables and especially coconuts, which are ubiquitous throughout the country.  As a country that was a hub in the historic oceanic Silk Road, Sri Lanka traders brought in many new food items and inparted cultural influences which all helped to shape Sri Lankan cuisine.  Some say it is similar to South East Asian cuisine as well as the cuisine of the state of Kerala, in southern India.  Sri Lankan cuisine is spicy and hot, with the heat coming from an array of chilies.

Sri Lanka is famous for its cinnamon, which originated there.  It is often blended with black pepper, which is also indigenous.  Sri Lanka is most famous for its unique spice blends which include:  roasted and then ground coriander seed, cumin, fennel, clove, fenugreek and cinnamon, to name a few.  No doubt every cook in Sri Lanka has their own curry spice blend secrets.  Curry leaves are often used fresh, as are pandan leaves.

Sambols, especially coconut sambal, are served alongside just about everything, as are achars or pickled relishes.  It is not unusual to have multiple curries, sambols and achars served at one time.  Often a dhal (lentil) curry, is served as well.

Another famous Sri Lankan dish is the hopper.  It is a bowl made from a fermented batter of rice flour and coconut milk.  There are special hopper pots that they are steamed or fried to make the bowl shape and then are often served with an egg, and sambols. 

Obviously as an island nation, fish and seafood play an important role in the cuisine.  One ubiquitous ingredient is called Maldive fish, which is a cured skip jack tuna that imparts a wonderful umami flavor to their dishes.

So let’s enjoy a Sri Lankan meal:

The Menu

Starter

 Kadala Thal Dala (Spiced Chickpeas)

Main Course

Sri Lankan Roasted Curry Spice Blend

Prawn Curry with Steamed Basmati Rice

Served with

Pol Sambol (Coconut Sambol)

Dessert

Watalappan (Coconut Custard)

We set the scene with elephant statues, the national animal of Sri Lanka (and which happens to be my spirit animal.)  Sri Lanka has numerous national parks and is famous for the amount of wild elephants that gather in groups in the parks.  The island is also well known for leopards, monkeys, peacocks, and a whole array of birds.  Sea life is also a draw, and it is said you can see the largest land mammal, the elephant and the largest marine mammal, the blue whale, in a single day.  Tea was  placed in the décor, as it is Sri Lanka’s biggest export.  Cinnamon and black pepper were added as well as a coconut.  A Buddha statue was staged to represent the largest religion and a photo of a water lily, the national flower, of Sri Lanka completed the scene.

We began with spiced up chickpeas, which would also be considered a short eat (or snack) in Sri Lanka.  They were spicy with flavors of mustard seeds, cumin and curry leaves and spicy hot from the red chilies.  We loved them.

For the main course, we enjoyed the spicy prawn curry with steamed Basmati rice and the amazing pol sambal.  The prawn curry was full of flavor and  spicy hot too.  We scooped up the curry and rice using our right hand.  They eat with only the right hand in Sri Lanka.

The curry and rice were served with the coconut sambol, a perfectly balanced condiment with which I have fallen completely in love.  On its own, it is perfectly balanced, with sweetness from the grated fresh coconut, sour from lime, spice from chilies and umami from shallots and maldive fish.  A heavenly dish indeed! 

For dessert, watalappan was served.  This is has a coconut custard flavor with a kitul jaggery, which comes from the fishtail palm and has a lovely caramel flavor.  It was topped with cashews.  We savored it with a hot cup of Ceylon black tea.

After dinner we sat down to read “The Legend of The Ramayana,” an epic tale of Rama, who traveled to the teardrop island to save his princess bride, Sita.  It is a purely magical story that is part of the culture, the history and souls of the Sri Lankan people.

Until next time,

Be safe and well,

Darlene

How did South Africa get its name?

South Africa was simply named for its geographical location on the southern tip of Africa.  Officially it is known as the Republic of South Africa.  It is also known as the Rainbow Nation, a name given by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, after its first democratic election in 1994, once apartheid ended.  It’s a metaphor for the coming together of all the different ethnic groups who live in South Africa.  There are officially 11 recognized languages in South Africa, each having a unique name for South Africa in their own language.

Where is South Africa located?

It is located on the southernmost tip of the continent of Africa. It has a large, 1759-mile coastline along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans.  To the north it has several neighbors; Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe.  Mozambique and Estwatini (Swaziland) are to the northeast.  South Africa also completely surrounds the little country of Lesotho.  Madagascar is just off the east coast. 

South Africa is blessed with diverse topography.  The great Escarpment forms the longest continuous topographical feature and provides spectacular scenery.  Table Mountain is a flat topped mountain overlooking Cape Town and is one of its most recognized landmarks.  It is a popular tourist attraction with about 900 routes to climb or hike.  It is one of the oldest mountains on the planet, estimated to be over 260 million years old. 

South Africa has beautiful beaches with epic marine life, desolate deserts, massive nature preserves, bush, grasslands, mountains and subtropical forests and even a floral kingdom.  South Africa is home to magnificent Safari parks, like Kruger National Park, which is one of the largest game reserves in all of Africa and also an UNESCO site.  There you can find the notorious big five: lion, leopard, elephant, black rhinoceros and African buffalo.  There are also over 500 bird species, 100 reptile species and 150 species of mammals.  

A Brief history of South Africa

Somewhere between 200,000 and 100,000 years ago, modern humans began to evolve throughout Africa. They became known as the San. They met up with south bound Khoi pastoralists from the north and became known as the KhoiSan. 

Somewhere around 250 CE the Bantu people began to migrate into South Africa from the north bringing with them iron tools and knowledge of farming.  Many of the people that live in South Africa today speak some form of a Bantu language. The oldest human remains, believed to be 160,000 years old, were discovered in South Africa. 

The first Europeans to come to South Africa were the Portuguese in 1488.  Bartolomeu Dias sails around the southern tip of Africa and names it the Cape of Storms.  John II of Portugal changed the name to the Cape of Good Hope as he felt its discovery that India could be reached by sea from Europe was a good omen.

It wasn’t until 1652 when the Dutch East India Company established the Dutch Cape Colony.  It was meant initially to just be a small port town for ships traveling to India, but eventually became a full settlement.

The British arrived in the late 1700s and many battles for control happened between the Dutch and the British.  In 1814, the Dutch formally agreed that the colony was part of the British Empire.  In 1833 slavery was abolished by the British. The Great Trek was begun by the Dutch settlers called Boers, as they moved inland and formed their own Boer Republics, called the Orange Free State and Transvaal.  Labor was brought in from Asia and India.

In 1866, diamonds were discovered at Kimberley and in 1886 gold was discovered.  The city of Johannesburg grew rapidly due to the gold rush.  Today, Johannesburg is the largest city in South Africa.  During this time there were two Boer wars.  The second war in 1889 was won by the British and they took over the two Boer republics.  Also during this time many more Europeans moved in, including Germans, French and English settlers who became known as the Afrikaners.  About 1/5 of the world’s gold comes from the mines of South Africa.

In 1934, the Status of the Union Act declared South Africa’s Independence from the United Kingdom.  In 1939, when World War II began, South Africa served as a valuable sea port for the Allies.

In 1948, the National Party was voted into power.  They started a policy called apartheid.  This is where people were separated based on their race, particularly whites and blacks.  The white people ruled the land, even though they were only about 20 percent of the population.  In the 1950s, the African National Congress, (ANC) and other groups protested against apartheid.  These protests almost always ended with brutality and widespread massacre by police.

In 1961 South Africa was declared a Republic and an ANC leader, named Nelson Mandela, formed an armed branch to fight against apartheid.  In 1962, Nelson Mandela was jailed and sentenced to life in prison.  He became a worldwide symbol against apartheid.  He spent 27 years in prison while fighting for equal rights.  In 1993 Nelson Mandela was awarded the Nobel Peace prize.  In 1994 apartheid was abolished and black people were finally allowed to vote.  Nelson Mandela was elected president of South Africa.  He was beloved throughout the country and the world.  The whole world mourned his death in 2003. 

Despite improvement since the end of apartheid, poverty and unemployment still remained high.  South Africa is just now considered to be a middle-income, emerging market with an abundant supply of natural resources.  Their stock exchange is Africa’s largest and among the top 20 in the world. 

South African Culture

South African culture is complicated, dubbed the Rainbow nation, due to so many diverse cultures coming together.  It is the unification of these cultures that contributes to its uniqueness.  As South Africans have become increasingly urbanized and westernized, aspects of traditional culture have diminished.  However, the South African majority still has a substantial number of rural inhabitants and this is where the cultural traditions thrive most strongly.

South Africa has a population of about 57 million.  Eighty percent are black African, about nine percent colored, (a term used in South Africa for persons of mixed race, ancestry who developed a distinct cultural identity over several hundred years) eight percent are white and the balance are Indian or Asian.  HIV/AIDS hit South Africa extremely hard, affecting about 20 percent of the black population.  Life expectancy plunged to less than 43 years in 2008 but has since recovered to almost 63 years, and continues to improve.

Christianity is the main religion in South Africa, with 86 percent of the population devoted to it.  Ancestral, animist and tribal African religions make up about six percent, with the balance being Muslim, Hindu or atheist.

There is a great diversity in music that stems from South Africa.  Many black musicians developed a unique style called Kwaito.  This grew in popularity after apartheid died and when musicians began to sing in traditional African languages.  South Africa has also produced world-famous Jazz musicians.

South African Cuisine

South African cuisine is heavily influenced by the Dutch, British, Indian and Cape Malay immigrants.  The famous South African Braai is what we know as barbecue throughout the rest of the world.  Meat is common and popular; sheep and goat are loved but beef is the most prized.   Ostrich is a consumed meat, as is Springbok; both low in fat and high in protein.  However, you usually won’t find a braai without their famous boerewors (coiled shaped sausage) sizzling on it.  Biltong, a dried meat snack, similar to a beef jerky, is beloved.  Seafood and fish are also main ingredients in dishes along the coastal cities and rivers.

Other famous South African dishes are Bobotie; a curried meat dish with a custard topping and considered to be the National dish.  It is always served with yellow rice, called geelrys.  Stews are also very popular, called potjiekos, literally translated this means “small pot food.”  This stew is often cooked in a three legged, cast iron pot, outdoors.  Bunny chow, of Indian origin, is another unusual dish.  It is a quarter of a loaf of bread, stuffed with curried meat and cheese, and is popular throughout the country. 

More traditional cuisine includes pap, a porridge somewhat similar to grits, along with chakalaka, a vegetable dish.  Many stews and desserts are made from vegetables like pumpkin and squash as they are easily grown in local gardens.  The mopane worm, which is actually a caterpillar, is a unique treat that is either dried or fried and considered a delicacy.

The French brought their wine techniques to South Africa and now they have become a leader as wine producers.  In fact, they have the longest wine route in the world, which stretches over a span of 620 miles.  A major tourist draw for South Africa is their variety of wines.

South Africa also grows a surprising amount of fruit, especially exotic fruits, in the sub-tropical region of the country.  Desserts are also loved, with malva pudding and melktert and koeksister (fried dough) being just a few of the most popular.

So let’s enjoy a South African meal:

The Menu

Starter

Biltong (Dried Cured Meat)

Main Course

Bobotie (Curried Minced Meat Casserole)

Served with

Geelrys  (Yellow Rice)

Dessert

Melktert (Milk Tart)

We set the scene with a photo candle featuring the national flower, the King Protea, then added a few statues of safari animals as well as a penguin. Yes, they have penguins in South Africa and you can even swim with them near Cape Town.  A gold and diamond ring were added to represent South Africa’s robust mining. Grapes were placed to represent their wine industry. 

Our first course was the famous biltong, a dried cured beef that was flavored with coriander, sugar and vinegar.  It was quickly devoured and it is clear to see how you can never get enough biltong. 

For the main course, we savored the national dish called Bobotie; a flavorful, curried, minced meat casserole with an egg topping.  It is a true comfort food that is always served with a yellow rice called geelrys, that gets its color and flavor from turmeric and curry.  It was a wonderful combination.

For dessert, we enjoyed the famous melktert.  The milk tart was light and not too sweet.  We loved it!

“A winner is a dreamer who never gives up.”

“There is no passion to be found playing small – in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.”

“It always seems impossible until it’s done.”

“What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.”

“When people are determined they can overcome anything.”

Until next time,

Stay safe!

Darlene

How did Somalia get its Name?

Ancient Egyptians called it the “Land of Punt.” Punt is also mentioned in the Bible, and ancient Romans called it, “Cape Aromatica.”  They valued its trees, which produced the aromatic gum resins, frankincense and myrrh.  Somali is an ethnic group so, it is believed Somalia means, “Land of the Somali.”  It is the most homogenous country in all of Africa, with Somali making up 85 percent of the population.  Bantu and other non-Somali make up the balance.  The official name is the “Federal Republic of Somalia” and the people there call it “Soomaaliya.”

Where is Somalia Located?

Somalia is the eastern most country of Africa; located on the strategic Horn of Africa.  It is bordered by Ethiopia to the west, Djibouti to the northwest, the Gulf of Aden to the north, the Somali Sea and the Indian Ocean to the east, and it also borders Kenya to the southwest.  It occupies a strategic geopolitical position between the countries of Arabia and southwestern Asia.  Its capital city is Mogadishu, located just north of the equator on the Indian Ocean.  It has the largest coastline of any African country.

A Brief History of Somalia

The origin of the Somali people is not certain but it’s believed that they originated in the southern Ethiopian highlands and migrated into northern Kenya during the first millennium, BC.  Later they migrated onto the horn or peninsula.

Due to its strategic location, influences from both Africa and Arabia are present.  There were multiple Somali empires during the middle ages that had a large impact on trade.  Some of these empires included: the Sultanate of Adal, the Warsangali Sultanate and the Gobroon Dynasty. 

Arabs introduced Islam to Africa beginning in the seventh century and by the tenth century, Arab trading posts thrived in southern Somalia, along the Indian Ocean.  Most Somalis converted to Islam by about 1100 AD.  They fought multiple wars against the Ethiopian Christians and became the dominant people in the land.  Their capital, Mogadishu, was at its height of influence and wealth during the 13^th century, when it controlled the gold trade along the East African coast.

In the 1800s the British and Italians arrived and established British Somaliland and Italian Somaliland.  The Dervishes fought off the British from the interior for years under the leadership of Muhammad Abdullah Hassan, until they were eventually defeated in 1920.  The Italians controlled most of the area until after World War II, when the British took it over completely.  In 1960, Somalia gained full independence from Britain.

Unfortunately, in 1991 civil war broke out.  Since that time, the country has been in anarchy with no real central government.  It is also home to the jihadist terror group known as Al-Shabaab.  As a result, it is one of the most violent and one of the poorest countries in the world.  They have suffered mass casualties from war, disease and famine and many Somalis live as refugees in their own country or in neighboring ones.  In the north there is an autonomous region known as Somaliland but it is not recognized as such by the international community.

Somalia Culture

The population of Somalia is a guesstimate of about 14 million.  The official language is Somali however, it did not become a written language until 1973.  Arabic is also an official language and is spoken and read for religious reasons.  A small percentage of Somalis speak Italian and a growing number speak English.  The official religion is Sunni Islam; traditionally Somalis practice a moderate form of Islam, influenced by Sufism.  However, the Salafi movement, a reform branch, has gained more political influence in recent decades.

About 3/5^th of the population are nomadic herders, the others are city dwellers.  The Nomads spend nearly all their time outdoors. The traditional shelter of the herders is called the aqal, which is a dome shaped, collapsible hut, made from poles and covered with hides or woven, fiber mats.  It is easy to take down and reassemble and is the responsibility of the women of the family.  It is carried by camel.  Typically only a bed is inside the aqal, made from wooden stakes and covered with hides.  They have few possessions and just enough household items for cooking.  Many nomadic camps are surrounded by a fence made from thorn bushes to keep out predators.  Animals are kept in corrals, also made from thorn bushes.  They typically will make camp near a shade tree which is used as a gathering place and class room.

Clan groupings of the Somali people are important social units.  Clan membership plays a central role in Somali culture and politics.  They are patrilineal and are divided into sub clans, resulting in extended families.  Unfortunately clan rivalries are one of the problems they face in establishing a central government for the nation.  Somalis have a very high fertility rate, an average of six children born per woman.  However, they have a very low life expectancy, with only 51 years for a man and 55 years for a woman.

Somali Cuisine

Somali cuisine is varied with different local foods in every region of the country.  Its main influences come from East Africa, Arabia, Turkey, India and Italy.  

The camel was first domesticated in Somalia and there are more camels in Somalia than any other country in the world.  Camel milk is to Somalia what cow’s milk is to the west.  They even have a common phrase which is uttered to guests, “soo maal” which means, “go milk” (the camel.)  Camel meat is also consumed however, goat is much more popular.

Goat meat is often cubed and seasoned with a spice blend called xawash, similar to Ethiopia’s berbere.  They make the cubed meat into what is called suqaar, a common dish like a stew which is often eaten with rice or anjero, a flat bread, similar to Ethiopia’s injera.  Spiced rice called bariis iskukaris, which is similar to a pilau, is beloved.  Sambusas, little fried pastries stuffed with meat or vegetables, are a go to snack.  Generally speaking, the cuisine of Somalia has many spices with cardamom being extremely prevalent.  They like to buy cardamom in pods and grind it, just before use.  Cumin, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, coriander, ginger and fenugreek are all common spices.  Somalis also like their food spicy hot, from chilies.  However, they like to put it on the side, so they can add heat to their liking.

So let’s enjoy a Somali Meal:

The Menu

The Meal

Muufo (Somalia Bread)

Main Course

Baasta Iyo Suugo (Somali Pasta)

Made with Xawaash (Somali Spice Blend)

Served with

Somali Salad with Bizbaz (Jalapeno Dressing)

Dessert

Kac Kac (Somali Doughnut)

We set the scene with a leopard print cloth to represent the national animal of Somalia.  A white star, which is prominent on the flag of Somalia, was placed along with a photo of a camel.  A banana was added because they eat them with almost everything, and we included their national flower, the King Protea.  We used incense with the fragrance of frankincense.  The meal was served all together, which is customary there, except for the dessert.

The pasta dish was made with small cubes of beef and seasoned with their famous xawaash spice blend, which was excellent.  Somalis eat bananas with all sorts of things and this Somali Pasta was served with a banana on the plate.  I was skeptical at first but oh my goodness, it was delicious.  It provided a wonderful sweetness to the dish which perfectly balanced the flavors.  We also loved the thick bread called muufo which was made with fine semolina and flavored with fenugreek.  It was perfect to soak up the spicy sauce. 

A basic salad of lettuce, tomato and onion was served as well but the jalapeño dressing called Bizbaz was out of this world.  I have made the spicy, creamy dressing many times since I cooked this dish and it goes great as a dip for grilled meats or as it was intended, as a salad dressing. 

For dessert, we enjoyed kac kac, a delicious fried dough, gently flavored with a hint of cardamom.   We had them with a cup of Somali tea, known as shaah bigays; a simple black tea that is served after heavy meals.

Afterwards, we sat down to watch a film called, Black Hawk Down, a war film about the true story of the U.S. military’s 1993 raid in Mogadishu.

I pray the people of Somalia will find their way to rid the country of radical ideology and  can finally live in peace.

“Rajada ugu fiican!” which means, “Best Wishes!”

Until next time,

Warmest regards,

Darlene

How did Singapore get its name?

Singapore is a tiny country that has had several names.  Originally it was known as Temasek, which is believed to originate from the Malay word for “Sea town” or a piece of land surrounded by water.

Later the country was renamed Singapura, which is a Sanskrit word for “The Lion City.”  It was a Sumatran Prince who named it this, because he thought he saw a lion when he landed on the island.  However, there have never been lions on Singapore, only tigers. 

Although the names were used interchangeably from the 13^th to the 15^th centuries, when Portuguese traders arrived in the 16^th century, Temasek was no longer used and Singapura remained.

Singapore is also known as “The Little Red Dot”, a term coined by Indonesian President Habibie who referenced the country’s appearance on a map, where it always showed up as a red dot.  Singaporeans do not like this term as it serves as a reminder that their small size makes them vulnerable.

Where is Singapore Located?

Singapore is an island city-state, one of only three city-states in the world; the others are Monaco and Vatican City.  It is located at the end of the Malayan Peninsula, between Malaysia and Indonesia.  It has no land borders and has a total land area of only 278 square miles.  However, Singapore is not just one island.  It has 62 small, outlying islands, nearly all uninhabited.  The mainland of Singapore measures 31 miles from east to west and 17 miles from north to south, with 120 miles of coastline.

Singapore is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor and from Indonesia by the Singapore Strait.  Singapore is one of the few nations that is growing in size, as it reclaims land with earth obtained from its own hills, the seabed and sand from neighboring countries.  It is expected to grow by another 62 miles by the year 2033.

Despite its small size this country packs a large punch on the global scale.  It is one of the richest countries by GDP, the cleanest, the most honest and yet heavily urbanized.

A Brief History of Singapore

It is believed that the history of Singapore may date back as far as the third century.  It became a significant trading settlement by the 14^th century.  In 1819, Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles negotiated a treaty to allow the British to locate a trading port on the islands.  This led to the establishment of The British Colony of Singapore in 1819.  During the subsequent decades, Singapore grew to become an important port in the region.  It was set up as a free port, which was a great advantage to the other nearby ports of Manila and Jakarta who levied tariffs on trade.  It allowed the introduction of the Chinese market, which greatly reduced the time and cost of shipping goods to Europe, after the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869. 

By 1880 over 1.5 million tons of goods passed through Singapore each year.  The Chinese, mostly Peranakans, who were descendants of early Chinese settlers, became the largest ethnic group in Singapore.  Malays were the second largest ethnic group but they were eventually outpaced by Indians as the second largest group. The Indians were brought in to carry out public works projects.  Despite its growth, Singapore was mismanaged with a predominantly male, transient and uneducated society.  Prostitution, gambling and drug abuse (mainly opium) were widespread.

During World War II, the Japanese occupied Singapore.  The fall of Singapore was the largest surrender of British-led forces in history.  Singapore was renamed by the Japanese to “Syonan,” which means “Bright Southern Island”  and was under their control from 1942-1945.  However, this three year period was not at all bright, but rather a very dark time in Singapore’s history. 

After the Japanese surrendered to Allied forces, the British returned to Singapore.  The failure of Britain to defend Singapore had destroyed their credibility in the eyes of the Singaporeans.  This led to the beginning of self-governance.  After many trials and tribulations and alliances, Singapore gained Independence on the morning of August 9, 1965, after the Parliament of Malaysia voted 126-0 to expel Singapore from the short lived federation. 

Singapore wasted no time to seek international support and recognition of its sovereignty.  The new state joined the United Nations on September 21, 1965.  Although Singapore is a top country in many categories, it is rated one of the worst for freedom of the press and not so great on the level of democracy.  Generally speaking, Singaporeans have imposed the “surveillance” of its citizens to protect them. Today, Singapore’s economy is one of the best in the world.  The current president of Singapore is a woman, Madam Halimah Yacob.

Singapore’s Culture

One of the most beautiful things about Singapore is the way in which so many diverse people with varying religious beliefs, live in harmony.  This can be attributed to Singaporeans’ learning early on, the religious customs and traditions of each others religions.  They celebrate each other’s holidays as public holidays including Christian, Muslim, and Indian holidays, to name a few.  I happened to visit Singapore during the Chinese New Year, which was celebrated in large pagentry by all.  The state is home to ten major religions including: Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Hinduism and Christianity. 

There are four official languages; English, Tamil, Malay and Mandarin Chinese.  Despite this, most people speak what is known as Singlish, another reflection of Singapore’s diversity.  It is a Creole language made up of local slang and expressions from the various official languages.  You will hear it spoken right away when visiting there.

Despite Singapore’s fast paced and rapid growth, it remains a very conservative and religious society.  Here are a few things you should know about how to stay out of trouble when visiting Singapore.  Respecting elders is of the utmost importance and you should never call someone older than you by their name.  They  should be called Auntie or Uncle or Grandmother etc.  Homosexuality is still illegal there.  Smoking in a non-smoking area is strictly enforced.  Don’t even think about trafficking drugs, it is punishable by death.  Littering or vandalism can result in hefty fines including  caning, and public shaming.  Chewing gum is against the law, as is not flushing a toilet after using it.  Perhaps it is these laws and punishments that make it one of the cleanest cities in the world, with one of the lowest crime rates.

Singapore has become a major tourist destination with several famous landmarks.  One of the newest is the Jewel Changi Airport, which opened in April 2019 and has a nature-themed entertainment and retail complex adjacent to the number one rated airport in the world.  The Marina Sands Hotel is one of the most Instagram-able hotels in the world; famous for its boat shaped infinity pool that overlooks all of Singapore. Another landmark is a giant observation Ferris wheel known as the Singapore flyer, that held the record as the largest from 2008 to 2014.  They have the second largest Aquarium in the world, which is part of the Adventure Cove Park.  A botanical garden, that is a UNESCO world heritage site, houses their beloved orchids, which are also a symbol of Singapore.

Aside from new attractions you will also find older establishments such as: the old Buddhist and Hindu temples, shop houses, mosques and areas like Little India, Haji Street and Chinatown.

Singapore Cuisine

Singapore imports nearly all of their food, as they only have 6% arable space.  They do try to grow what they can and recently put an emphasis on building vertical and growing roof top gardens.  Being a wealthy metropolitan city-state, you can find just about any type of food in Singapore.  I would argue the best can be found in what are known as hawker centers.  These are food stalls where you will find inexpensive but authentic cuisine of the people.  These food centers dot the country.  There is one food center that boasts a Michelin star which serves their famous chicken rice for only $1.42 per serving.  A few of Singapore’s favorite dishes are: chili crab, a spicy and delicious treat, laksa, a thick noodle dish often served with prawns and fish cakes, and a pulled tea, called Teh terik, made with black tea and condensed milk.  Make no mistake, you can find authentic Chinese, Malaysian, Indian and Indonesian food all over Singapore.  You can also enjoy a traditional Peranakan meal by the famous Violet Oon, who is hailed as the Julia Childs of Singapore.  She has been the food ambassador of Singapore since 1988.  Also a trip to Singapore would not be complete without a stop at the famous Raffles Hotel, where the Singapore Sling cocktail was invented and is still served with warm peanuts.  Culinary excellence is an integral part of the culture of Singapore.

So let’s enjoy a Singapore meal:

The Menu

Appetizer

Singaporean Chili Crab

Main Course

Hainanese Chicken Rice with Sauces

Dessert

Pandan Chiffon Cake

We set the scene with orchids, as that is their national flower, along with a candle, decorated with the merlion, (the official mascot of Singapore, a mythical creature with a lion’s head and the body of a fish.) The colors used in our décor were red and white, to represent their flag.  A crab shell and other seashells were placed to represent the island’s seaside.  We also added symbols of the different religious faiths represented there.  Finally, a little F1 race car was placed, as Singaporeans were the first to introduce a night time Formula one race in the series.

We sat down with our Singapore Slings and said  “yumseng”, which is how you say “cheers” in Singlish.  Our first course was the amazing chili crab.  I had the privilege of eating this dish while in Singapore at the famous Jumbo’s restaurant.  I can attest that this recipe is just as wonderful.  It is spicy, rich and simply sensational.  It was served with steamed buns, as is customary there.  This could typically be a meal unto itself but I felt like it had to be only part of the IC menu.

For the main course, we savored the national dish called Hainanese chicken rice.  This dish can be found in all the hawker centers and is a true specialty of Singapore.  It is unique way to cook chicken, by poaching it.  The result is excellent, especially when served alongside seasoned rice.  The sauces that accompany the chicken and rice are what makes it truly extraordinary;  a chili sauce and another sauce made of ginger and spring onion oil, as well as a dressing, made with sesame oil, soy sauce and the poaching liquid.  Per their tradition, cucumber and tomato was served alongside the main dish.

For dessert, we enjoyed the pandan chiffon cake.  Pandan is a leaf, also known as screwpine, which is a very common ingredient in Singapore and Southeast Asian cooking.  It adds a nutty flavor and scent, as well as a bright green color.  This cake was light, fluffy, but not too sweet.  Delicious.

As we say goodbye to this intriguing little country of Singapore, I leave you with a few Singaporean proverbs:

Where there is a sea, there are pirates.

A given excuse that was not asked for implies guilt.

Never take a quiet person for granted.  He might have great qualities underneath his quiet nature.

Until next time,

Warmest regards,

Darlene

How did the Seychelles get its name?

Just hearing the name Seychelles conjures up dreamy, white sand beaches and oceans of every shade of green and blue.  It is known to be an island getaway and is very popular as a honeymoon destination.  It is pronounced, “Say-shells.” 

The name of one of the islands, Mahe’, was renamed by the French in 1776 after King Louis XV’s Minister of Finance, Jean Moreau de Sechelles, named it “Isle de Sechelles.”  The name has since been anglicized as Seychelles and is applied to the whole archipelago.

Where are the Seychelles located?

The Seychelles are an archipelago of 115 islands.  The islands are located in the Indian Ocean, about 1000 miles off the coast of Kenya in East Africa, and northeast of Madagascar.  The Seychelles are considered to be part of Africa but they do meet at the crossroads of Asia as well. 

The capital city is Victoria, which is on the largest island of Mahe.  About half of the islands are of granitic origin, with narrow coastal strips and ranges of hills.  The highest range is Morne Seychellois, which rises to just shy of 3000 ft.  The rest are coral atolls, many of which are uninhabited.  All together the islands are about the size of the tiny country of Andorra.

A Brief History of the Seychelles

The beautiful and bountiful islands were a must stop for early Islamic traders and they were known to be a sanctuary for pirates in the early 17^th century.  In fact, to this day, it is thought the famous pirate known as The Buzzard, hid his treasure there, which still remains undiscovered.  The Seychelles were charted by both Portuguese and Asian explorers.  However, it was the French who originally inhabited and colonized the islands, having laid claim in 1756 to establish spice and coconut plantations. 

The first settlers were slaves and French planters who arrived in 1770.  When they arrived, one of the biggest problems they faced were saltwater crocodiles.  It is believed they became nearly extinct around 1819.  It was ultimately the British who ended up with the Seychelles in 1814 as part of the Treaty of Paris, after the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars.  The Seychelles became a crown colony, separate from Mauritius in 1903.

The British transformed the islands economically with the establishment of cinnamon, vanilla  sugar cane, coconut and tea plantations. They also built up the capital city of Victoria (renamed after the Queen).  There are many landmarks that remain today which were built in the early 1900s.

The Seychelles gained independence in 1976, which was then quickly followed by a coup and eventually socialist rule.  It has been a newly established, free country since the 1990s.  Tourism is the main industry, making up most of the country’s revenue.

Today the Seychelles is known for its pristine beaches, fishing, birding and scuba diving as well as a honeymooner’s haven.

Seychelles Culture

The locals are called Seychellois and are a melting pot of cultures, mainly from Africa, Europe, India and Asia.  They speak Creole, English and French, all of which are official languages.  The Seychellois’ government is heavily invested in protecting the integrity of the Creole language.  The national newspaper is printed in both Creole and English.

The main religion is Roman Catholic, practiced by about 90 percent of the population, but there are members of other Christian denominations as well.  There are also Hindi Muslims and adherents to the Baha’i Faith.

Many Seychellois believe in ghosts.  In fact, there is an entire island, Moyenne Island, that is believed to be haunted, (many believe that is where the buried treasure is hidden.)  Shaman, known as bonom di dwa or man of the woods, are regularly consulted for solving problems through supernatural guidance.

The Seychellois family unit is matriarchal.  Institutional marriage is not widely practiced and unwed mothers are the societal norm.  The law, however, does hold fathers accountable for financial support for their children.  Nearly 75 percent of the children are born out of wedlock.  This structure is known as en menage and it carries no negative social stigma.

Under the constitution women enjoy the same status as men and comprise 45.8 percent of the total number of delegates; having one of the highest numbers of women in parliament in the world.  Despite the country being a land of many colors, racism is non-existent.

Music is very important to the Seychellois and has evolved over the years.  African influences dominate, mainly in the moutia and sega music, that are often accompanied by dance.  The moutia dates back to the days of slavery and is a slow, erotic dance that was actually banned by the British.  Sega has a Calypso like rhythm and is also very popular in Mauritius.  This is the dance where your feet are not lifted from the ground. 

Seychelles Cuisine

The original French settlers arrived with their legendary skills in the kitchen.  Their ability to blend spices and herbs was adapted to island living, where seafood is particularly abundant.  Coconut, mango, papaya, banana, pumpkin and the golden apple are often used to make tangy salads.  It is said that if you eat breadfruit on the Seychelles it will guarantee your return.  Pork, chicken and beef are available but seafood remains king.

When the British arrived, they added their influence to the Creole cuisine with tea, cakes, custards and crumbles, as well as corned beef.  This influence however was mild compared to what the Chinese brought with their love of noodles and rice, the Indians who introduced, curries, beans, chilies and dahls, and the Africans  who contributed their use of creamy coconut milk, cassava and bananas.  Add in the local spices such as: vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and lemongrass and you get a fusion Creole that is simply mouthwatering.  Fruit bat curry is considered one of the Seychelles specialties along with boudin, a blood sausage, sausage rougay (pork sausages in a rich tomato sauce.)  Freshly barbecued fish and kebabs can all be found in the night markets. 

So let’s enjoy a Seychellois meal:

The Menu

Appetizer

Molouk (Crispy Fried, Flavored Dough)

Salad

Smoked Fish Salad

Main Course

Octopus Curry over White Rice

Dessert

Daube de Banana (Caramelized Bananas)

We set the scene with the national flower, an orchid, called tropicbird.  We included other tropical things like palm leaves, coconut and bananas to the décor, as well as cinnamon bark and the vanilla bean, as they remain huge exports.  A bit of sea life and shells were added, (after all it is the Seychelles.) 

We lit two candles, one of which had a picture of the famous tortoise, named Esmeralda, who is still living at 170 years of age on Bird Island.  He is the biggest and heaviest, free-roaming tortoise in the world, weighing a whopping 670 pounds.  Bird Island is home to the largest wild Aldabra tortoise population in the world and is a UNESCO world heritage site.  Speaking of large, every visitor to the Seychelles will learn about the Coco de Mer or “Love Nut.”  It’s the largest seed in the world and stands out due to its voluptuous shape.  The other candle we lit had a picture of the black parrot, the threatened national bird.  With candle light glowing, we put on Calypso music to set the island mood.

For the first course, we loved nibbling on molouk, as it is called there.  In India it is called murruku.  Molouk is served in most bars on the islands as a popular snack.  They are made with rice and chickpea flour with added spices, such as hot chili powder and cumin.  The dough is drawn through a noodle press to shape it into thick noodles with curves.  We enjoyed them with an icy cold beer, which is also quite popular there. 

For our next course we had the smoked fish salad.  Salads of all types are served in the Seychelles.  This one was made with smoked marlin, shredded cabbage, carrots and onions.  It was served with a lime and olive oil dressing.  I think I could savor this salad every single day.  A true keeper recipe from the Seychelles and I am certain any type of smoked fish would be equally amazing.

For the main course, we served octopus curry and quickly learned why some consider it the most famous dish in the Seychelles.  It is a creamy curry made with coconut milk but so flavorful as it is spiced with masala and chilies.  Octopus is one of my favorite seafoods and we absolutely loved this curry over steamed white rice.  The original version comes from the island of Praslin and is a must try recipe.

For dessert, we wanted to enjoy something with bananas.  The Daube de Banana was perfect.  Bananas are loved and abundant on the islands.  What an absolute joy to savor this dish with all the special flavors that come from the Seychelles like: vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon and of course, coconut.  This was yet another perfect ending to an International Cuisine meal.  The Seychellois cuisine was reminiscent of delicious Mauritius, which makes sense since they share much of the same history. 

As we say goodbye to the beautiful island nation of the Seychelles, I leave you with a poem written by  Terry Brewer called, Thoughts from the Seychelles Islands:

The sun carresses this granite isle

Where quietness rules the day.

The other world is sometimes grim,

here we smile, it is the Seychelles way.

Morne Seychellois stands tall, touching his cloud

Guarding, watching, massive and proud.

While flying foxes, sea birds, giant tortoises roam

Making this peaceful green island their home.

Red earth roads scurry through verdant hills

Clinging to mountains with desperate wills.

Sometimes destroyed by furious rains,

Making cataracts where there are no drains.

In Victoria, the Cathedral clock strikes twice at noon

Reminding time – move on, slowly, well soon!

Why hurry, there’s time to do what is to be done

And time goes slower if you stand, so much quicker if you run.

We trade with the world, who know not quite where we are

Vanilla, salt fish, green snails, beche de mer, copra

Go to far distant lands with a skilled sailors ease,

In schooners creaking slowly through fickle green seas.

Praslin Island is not too far away

The Garden of Eden, General Gordon did say

With the Coco de Mer in the Valley de Mai

Black parrots, peace and the silence of creation day

No airstrip yet intrudes and defiles

These untouched, unique, so, so beautiful isles.

Though there will be one soon, I’ver heard them say

Sadly, progress will change the quiet Seychelles way

Until next time,

Oo-rer-vwa  (“Goodbye” in Creole)

Darlene

The Saints

St. Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines

How did the Saints get their names?

It was Christopher Columbus who discovered the islands of St. Kitts and Nevis.  He named one after his patron Saint, St. Christopher.  Later it was shortened to his nickname, St. Kitts.  It was considered to be the mother colony of the West Indies.  People who live on St. Kitts are known as Kittitians and people that live on Nevis are called Nevisians.  The name Nevis is derived from the Spanish “Nuestra Senora de las Nieves” which means “Our Lady of the Snows.” This was in reference to its cloud cover, which resembled snow.  Originally, Nevis was called “Oualie” or “Land of Beautiful Waters” by the early inhabitants, the Caribs.  It was also for a time called “Dulcina” or “Sweet One” by early British settlers.

St. Lucia is one of the only countries in the world that was named after a woman.  It was the French who named it, after St. Lucy of Syracuse, because they were shipwrecked on the island December 13^th, 1502.  It was previously called “Iounaloa” by the native Amerindians and “Hewanorra” by the Caribs.  The names are purported to mean the “Land where Iguana is Found.”  St. Lucia is sometimes referred to as “Helen of the West Indies” because it was traded between colonies 14 times.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines were also named by Christopher Columbus.  St. Vincent was sighted by him on January 22, the feast day of the patron Saint of Lisbon and Valencia, Vincent of Saragossa.  Prior to that, then island was called “Hairouna” by the Caribs.  The Grenadines were named due to the proximity of the larger island to the country of Grenada.

Where are the Saints located?

All three countries are Caribbean islands located in the Lesser Antilles.  Saint Kitts and Nevis are made up of two main islands. They are separated by a shallow channel called “the Narrows.”  The capital of Basseterre is located on the larger island of St. Kitts.

St. Lucia is one large island about 238 square miles.  The capital is Castries.  St. Lucia is famous for its two giant volcanic spires called “the Pitons,” a world heritage site.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines are made up of 32 islands, however, only nine are inhabited.  The largest is St. Vincent, which is considered the mainland and the other eight are all part of the Grenadines.  Kingston is the capital which has a nickname of “City of Arches.”  It is known as the City of Arches due to its preservation of colonial era architecture.  It is filled with cobbled stone streets, arches and historic stone buildings and churches.

A Brief History of the Saints

St. Kitts and Nevis were first inhabited by the Ciboney who were followed by the Arawak and the Tainos, who were then overrun by the warlike Caribs.  The English were the first to settle the islands in 1623 and St. Kitts was the first English colony in the Caribbean.  Over the next several years the French and English fought over the islands.  England eventually took over full control.  These two islands are the Caribbean’s oldest colonized territories.  They were once known as the “Gibraltar of the West Indies” due to its volcanic advantage point offering sight to nearby islands.  Despite the two islands being only two miles apart they were historically thought of as two separate entities.  They were forcibly united in the late 19^th century.

Alexander Hamiliton, the first United State Secretary of the Treasury was born on Nevis.  Both islands have suffered from natural disasters; mainly devastating hurricanes and earthquakes.  The islands’ earliest cash crops were tobacco, ginger and indigo dye.  These crops were later replaced with sugarcane.  Nevis became the richest British colony in the western hemisphere by 1652.  By 1776 St. Kitts was the richest per capita.  Initially indentured servants were used to work the plantations but fewer than half survived, which is when African slaves were brought to the islands.  In 1778, the Bath Hotel was built over the site of a hot springs on the island of Nevis making it the first place in the Americas to officially practice tourism.  This became a trendy destination for the elite in Britain.

The African slave trade was terminated within the British Empire in 1807, and outlawed in 1834.  Between the two islands, 28,500 slaves were freed.  St. Kitts and Nevis became fully independent from England on September 19, 1983 and is the smallest sovereign state in the Western Hemisphere in both area and population.  The sugarcane industry was closed in 2005 after 365 years in the business.  Today tourism has been the main focus of the economy.

St. Lucia has a similar history. Arawaks were the first inhabitants followed by the Caribs.  The first attempt at colonization occurred in 1605 when an unfortunate group of English colonists, headed to Guyana and were blown off course.  Sixty-seven colonists waded ashore where they purchased huts from the resident Caribs.  After a month the party had been reduced to just nineteen who soon fled in a canoe.  A few decades later a second English party failed in a settlement attempt.

By the mid 17^th century, it was the French who arrived and purchased the island to be part of the French West India Company.  The English were not happy with this idea, which began a bitter rivalry lasting for a century and a half.  The islands first settlements were all French and a large number of sugarcane plantations had been established.  By 1814  after a prolonged series of destructive battles, the island was finally in the hands of the English.  The country remained under the British Crown until it became independent on February 22, 1979.  Its sugarcane production was replaced with bananas, which today remains an important export for St. Lucia, alongside their tourism and small manufacturing.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines share a similar history with the other Saints.  It was the same Amerindian groups that inhabited the islands originally; the Ciboney, Arawaks and the Caribs.  The Caribs aggressively prevented European settlement on St. Vincent until the 18^th Century.  It was a safe haven for African slaves, whether escapees or shipwrecked from St. Lucia and Grenada.  Many intermarried with the Caribs and became known as “Black Caribs”.  Today they are known as Garifuna.

They also shared the same struggle between the French and British colonists with the British ultimately winning the battle.  The French were the original colonists to settle the Islands and cultivated coffee, tobacco, indigo, corn and sugarcane on plantations worked by African slaves.  After emancipation by Britain, the economy went into decline.  Many land owners left their plantations, which resulted in a labor shortage.  This attracted Portuguese and East Indian immigrants to the islands.  St. Vincent and the Grenadines gained full Independence on October 27. 1979.

Today the economy remains highly dependent on agriculture.  Bananas account for sixty percent of the workforce and fifty percent of their exports.  They are the largest producers in the world of arrowroot.  Tourism is also very important to their GDP and employs most of the rest of workforce that is not involved in agriculture.

The Saints’ Culture

English is the official language of all three countries.  They also speak a creole language and French Patois as well.   All three countries have a majority of Christians as the primary religion, whether it be Anglican or Roman Catholic.  The ethnic makeup is largely African and the rest are a mixed descent.

All three Saints have important festivals that they celebrate around Carnival and music festivals are also extremely popular, year round.  The music ranges from traditional storytelling  to reggae, calypso, soca, big drum as well as other specialties like quadrille, steelpan and bele’ music.  Dance is also prominent in all three countries; each with their own style and traditional dress.

Another interesting fact all three countries share is marriage, later in life.  Typically done long after living together and having children.  Children are adored and often raised by everyone in the family.  It is not uncommon to see multi-generational households.  All three Saints have a relaxed vibe where people simply enjoy the slow pace of island time.

All of the Saints have established ports that are common cruise ship stops, especially during the winter months.  This has been a big boost for tourism and a great opportunity for locals to sell their handicrafts to the tourists that come to shore.  Painted masks, handcrafted pottery, wood carvings,  honey, cocoa sticks, conch shells, hot sauce, batik and of course rum, are a few of the favorite souvenirs.

The Saints’ Cuisine

It is no surprise that all three of these countries have similarities in their cuisine; they are islands in the Caribbean after all.  Clearly they all have influences from their history with England and France.  However, it is the sea and what is grown locally that has the most influence along with their large African populations.

Spiny lobsters, crabs, conch, shrimp and snapper are common delicacies especially when paired with West Indian curry.  Other popular dishes are roast suckling pig and salt fish.   In St. Kitts and Nevis, goat water is considered to be the national dish.   This is a goat stew with breadfruit and root vegetables and dumplings they call “droppings.”   St. Lucia’s national dish is salt fish with green figs, aka green bananas and St. Vincent’s national dish is roasted breadfruit with fried jackfish.

All three have good volcanic soil for growing things. however due to limited land, all the countries import food as well.  Being tourist locations, you can find everything from local street food to fine dining.

Rum is by the far the most popular alcohol, with each of the islands making their own brew. Beer is also common.  Fruit juices are abundant, as all three countries grow an array of fruit.

So let’s enjoy a Caribbean meal:

The Menu

Appetizer

Octopus Carpaccio with Mango Salsa

Salad Course

Green Fig & Salt Fish Salad

Main Course

Grilled Lobster with Melted Butter

Served with

Tania Fritters (Malanga Fritters)

Dessert

Caribbean Black Cake

We set the scene with palm fronds and shells, bananas and sugarcane, along with a rose (the national flower of St. Lucia) and a parrot (the national bird of St. Lucia & St. Vincent.) We added a brown pelican (the national bird of St. Kitts.)  We put on calypso music to get us in the Caribbean spirit and began with a rum punch to kick off the meal.  Rum punch is made with grenadine syrup, pineapple juice, orange juice, lime juice and of course a combination of rums.

Our first course was an octopus carpaccio.  Octopus is found in the warm ocean waters of the Caribbean Sea and this is a lovely way to enjoy it.  Cooked and sliced pieces of octopus were arranged in circles and topped with a light and refreshing mango salsa with a little kick from a scotch bonnet pepper. The combination of flavors was perfect.

Our next course was a green fig salad.  Green bananas are called green figs on all these Caribbean islands and this salad also had salted cod, a staple in these parts, simply known as salt fish.  The salad had lots of root vegetables and reminded me of a potato salad but with a twist by adding the salt fish.  It is hearty and could easily be made as a lovely light lunch on its own.

For the main course we served sweet, succulent, grilled, spiny lobster tails.  They were accompanied with melted butter and old bay seasoning.  Honestly, if you ever have the opportunity to try the spiny lobster, I highly recommend it.  It is so much sweeter than an ordinary lobster.

They spiny lobsters were served with  chip like tania fritters.  Tania in the Caribbean is malanga and goes by many different names.  It is somewhat like arrowroot, dasheen or eddoes.  The Latin name is xanthosoma.  It has a natural stickiness to it when grated, so you really can just grate them and cook them in oil for a wonderful treat, without adding a binder.  We used chives and salt and pepper for added flavor.  Trust me, you will eat more than one or two.  They are scrumptious, with a bit of a nutty flavor.

For dessert, we indulged in the very moist, dense, boozy Caribbean, black cake.  This cake is loaded with dried fruits that have been soaked in rum for quite some time.  It is often served at Christmas time or on special occasions.  We enjoyed it with a cup of coffee to end our three Saints’ meal.

As we say goodbye to these three Caribbean countries, I leave dreaming of these nations; each with their pristine black and white sand beaches, old colonial architecture and lush green mountains, filled with exotic birds and waterfalls.  But ultimately, it is the people and their warm hearts and hospitality, and the slow island vibe that are most irresistible.

Until next time,

Darlene

Finding solace in the winter solstice. During the holiday season it is easy to get lost in the hustle and bustle, worrying about spending money, getting the right gift for loved ones, how much to decorate, which party to attend, what to bake, the list goes on and on.

One of our dearest friends, who has since passed, by the name of Dr. Charles Pfeiffer, would send out a winter solstice letter each year. I miss them as they were always a beautiful reminder of the commonality we share as humans.

No matter what beliefs you hold, the fact remains that the winter solstice will occur in the northern hemisphere this year on December 21 at 10:59 AM EST.

It will be the summer solstice at the same time in the southern hemisphere. The solstice occurs each year between December 20th and December 23rd as it has throughout time.

The solstice gets its name from “sol” meaning the sun and “sistere” meaning to stand still. In the northern hemisphere, it is the longest night of the year.

The winter solstice has been celebrated all the way back to ancient times, all over the world. The ancient Egyptians believed it was the rebirth of the sun.

In ancient Rome it was called, “Dies Natalis Invicti Solis”, or the birthday of the unconquered sun. This was a time when grudges and quarrels were forgotten, wars were interrupted or postponed and where masters celebrated as equals with their slaves.

Iranian families kept fires burning all night to assist in the battle between the light and dark forces.

The Soyal, a winter solstice ceremony of the Zuni and Hopi Indians, also known as the peaceful ones, is a celebration for purification and the beginning of the ritual of the Kachina season. Kachina is the presence of life in all objects that fill the universe and the spirits come to visit during this time.

The ancient Celts celebrated the winter solstice with the festival of “Alban Arthuan”, a fire festival which translated means, the Light of Arthur. This celebration was also known as “yule” and is the birthplace for many of our Christmas traditions.

As the holiday season is upon us I thought I would share some ideas to take a break and embrace the early nightfall of the winter solstice.

Take a moment to become quiet and introspective. It is in fact a beautiful time to cultivate a deeper connection to nature, family and all the things that matter most; feed the spirit and nurture the soul.

Here are some ideas:

• Make a real yule log: A log that is decorated with feathers, holly, mistletoe and pine needles and is meant to be burnt over the longest night of the year. Save a few ashes from that special log in a satchel for good luck and safety from storms.
• Stuff pine cones with your wishes, written on little pieces of paper and tucked under the scales, then they can be used as kindling for the yule log.

• Take a nature hike, with a journal, and a thermos of good soup to warm your soul. Take a moment to reflect on your life and set your intentions for the coming year.
• Mediate and do some yoga, perhaps a sun salute or mountain pose.
• Make a yule log cake. This tradition supposedly began in France when Napoleon would not allow people to burn in their fireplaces because he was concerned about disease being spread. So the French answered with a beautiful cake made to look like a log, called Buche de Noel.

Yule Log Cake

• Commit to one day of no electronics.
• Have dinner by candlelight.
• Make solstice Wassail; a hot ale with cinnamon and cloves.

Winter Solstice Wassail

Whatever you choose, I hope you will stop and take in the moment. Feel the connection of all humanity, knowing that we are all in this together. Know that you can face darkness with grace and faith, because no matter how dark a day, the sun always returns.

Happy solstice and happy holidays,
Darlene

Craving even more?  Be sure to join the culinary and cultural journey around the world so you don’t miss a thing,  it’s free,  You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook ,  Pinterest and youtube to follow along our journey.

How did Qatar get its name?

The origin of the name Qatar is uncertain.  However, it dates back at least 2000 years.  A term catharrei, was used by Pliny the Elder, in the 1^st century AD to describe the inhabitants of the peninsula.  The Catara peninsula was depicted on a map by Ptolemy, in the 2^nd century AD.  The Capital City of Doha may have gotten its name from the Arabic word Ad-Dawha, meaning “the big tree”; a reference to the prominent tree that stood at the site of the original fishing village.

Where is Qatar located?

The small peninsula jets out about 525 feet north into the Persian Gulf from the Arabian Peninsula, making it a sub peninsula.  Qatar has a small land border with Saudi Arabia to the southwest and they share maritime borders with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Iran.  Its northwest coast lies just thirty kilometers, or 19 miles from Bahrain.

Qatar is generally a barren land.  It has a dry, subtropical, desert climate, with low annual rainfall and blistering hot and humid summers.   Much of the country consists of sand dunes and salt flats, with only scattered vegetation.  There is a small range of hills in the northwest, the highest point reaching just 328 feet.  The coastline has a number of beautiful sandy beaches, the best of which lie in the north and west.  Due to the topography, Qatar is susceptible to intense sand storms.

A Brief History of Qatar

Qatar has been occupied by humans for at least 50,000 years.  Stone Age encampments and tools have been unearthed on the small sub peninsula.  It fell under the domain of numerous empires during its early years of settlement.  In 628 AD the population was introduced to Islam.  By the 8^th century it became a pearl trading center.

In 1783, Arab tribes conquered Bahrain and the Al Khalifa imposed their authority over both Bahrain and Qatar.  After a war broke out, the British installed the religious ruler, Muhammad ibn Thani-al-Thani, the head of a leading Qatari family.  In 1893, the Ottomans who expanded their Empire into the area, made incursions into Qatar.  They withdrew from the area after the beginning of World War I, in 1913.

In 1916, Qatar became a British Protectorate and Abdullah Al Thani was put into power.  The Al-Thani family has been in control of Qatar ever since.  The country is run as a constitutional monarchy.  It gained independence from Britain on September 3, 1971.  Oil was discovered in the 1940s, bringing great wealth to the country.  Oil and gas make up 85% of the GDP.  Today Qatar is one of the richest nations on earth, based on per capita GDP.  There are no taxes in Qatar and the people get free health care, education (including higher education) and a corporate tax rate of 10% as a flat tax.  Women were allowed to vote in 1999, at the same time as men.  It wasn’t until 2003 that it was put into the constitution.  Qatari women make up about ½ of the labor force, which is above the world average and among the highest in the Arab world.

In 2003, Qatar became the nerve center in the US-led military campaign in Iraq.  In 2010 Qatar won the bid to host the 2022 Fifa World Cup.  They are spending billions of dollars to get ready for it, with new hotels, buildings and infrastructure.

In recent times, there has been a diplomatic crisis due to its neighbors Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, as well as the UAE and Egypt, which have imposed an air, land and sea blockade.  They are hoping Qatar will cut its alleged connections with terrorism and distance itself from Iran.  Qatar which is known to have the best airline in the world, has to avoid these air spaces in its flight patterns.

Qatar Culture

Qatar has about 2.6 million inhabitants.  However, foreign workers, mainly from India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan and the Philippines make up 88% of the population.  Qatari nationals make up the other 12% of the population.  Its culture can be traced back to three main influences: the desert, the sea and Islam.  The desert, Bedouin culture is intrinsic to Qatari identity.  Arabic is the official language, although English is widely spoken as well.

The Arabian Peninsula is one of the last places in the world where falconry is still actively practiced.  In fact, this 5000 year old tradition was introduced by the Bedouin as an effective means of hunting.  Today the practice is a national heritage and passed down from generation to generation.  In the famous Souq Waquif there is a falcon hospital where falcons can be bought and sold for thousands of dollars.  Some birds are even issued their own passports to prevent them from being taken out of the country illegally.

Camel racing is known as the “sport of sheikhs” and is big business in Qatar, with races held on nearly every Friday.  Today the riders are robotic jockeys and some of their best camels can cost more than luxury cars.

Poetry and storytelling remains an integral part of the Bedouin culture.  Nabati poems, which are a source of local tribal pride, are regularly broadcast on Qatari TV and radio as part of their cultural heritage.  By the way, Qatar is home to Al Jazeera, a very popular news station, worldwide.

Qataris are very proud of their maritime traditions, which are based around pearl diving, fishing and boat making.  Their folk music lyrics are closely associated with the sea, describing pearl diving, the hoisting of sails and rowing.  These folk songs are normally sung together, as the traditional sailors would have sung them.  Each year there is a dhow festival that celebrates not only the boats but all aspects of the old sailors.

It is Islam, however, where most of the cultural traditions are found.  Traditional dress for example requires modesty by both males and females in the public realm.  The thobe, is a long white robe typically worn by men, along with a head covering, known as the gutra, which is held in place by a black rope called an agal.  Women wear a black robe called an abaya and a head covering called a shayla.

The Islamic month of Ramadan is widely revered in Qatar.  Fasting is required during daylight hours, so all the restaurants are closed during the day.  About 67% of the population of Qatar are Sunni Muslims with a few Shiites as well.  Islamic instruction is compulsory of Muslims in all state-sponsored schools.  Despite Islam being the state religion in Qatar, they do have freedom of association in their constitution.  Both Muslims and non-Muslims are tried under the unified court system which incorporates both secular law and Sharia law.  The Islamic holy days of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha are national holidays.

Why Visit Qatar?

Doha, the capital city, is the highlight of this quickly growing nation.  It is home to a spectacular modern skyline, one of the best Museums of Islamic Art in the world, plus a fine traditional souq with a burgeoning arts and culinary scene.  Being one of the richest nations on earth, here you can find the finest of everything.

As Qatar prepares to host the FIFA 2022 world cup, they are building at a stunning rate, adding new parks, buildings, high speed rail and gigantic stadiums.  Watching the sunset over the sand dunes will make you feel as though your Arabian fairy tales have come true.  Whether you are sand dune bashing or sleeping out in the dessert with camels, experiencing an authentic Bedouin meal along with traditional music is a dream come true, and you can find it all in Qatar.

They also have a stunning waterfront promenade called the Corniche, which lies on the Doha Bay in an elegant crescent shape.  The Corniche is a beautiful place to walk and see their famous dhow boats.  The Qatari people pride themselves on their Arabian hospitality.

Qatari Cuisine

Qatar has very little arable land, so most all of their food must be imported.  The sea provides for locally caught fish, which is always plentiful and is prominent in their cuisine.  As the country has become world class, nearly every conceivable type of cuisine can be found there.  However, they pride themselves on keeping the local traditions and foods alive.  The cuisine is heavily influenced by the cultures of the peninsula, as well as India, Iran, the Levant and North Africa.

Machbus is considered to be the national dish, as it is for its neighbor, Bahrain.  Machbus can be made with chicken, seafood, or meat.  Mutton served with yogurt is another staple, as is ghuzi, in which a whole roasted lamb is served on a bed of rice and nuts.  Goat and sheep are also very popular meats in the cuisine.  Dates are grown locally and are often served with a cup of Kazak tea or coffee as a means of showing their hospitality.  Pork and alcohol are forbidden in Qatar, unless served in an international hotel. The best places to experience an authentic Qatari meal are in Souq Waqif or Katara.

So let’s enjoy a Qatari meal:

The Menu

Starter

Warak Enab (Stuffed Grape Leaves)

Main Course

Harees (Beaten Wheat and Chicken)

Khubz Arabi (Arabian Bread)

Dessert

Esh Asaraya (Sweet Bread with Cream)

Served with Karak Tea (Spiced Tea with Milk)

We set our table with a small carpet, placed on the floor, with cushions.  It is customary to sit on the floor in a cross legged position to eat a traditional Qatari meal and to use only the right hand.  It is believed that eating in this sitting position, aids digestion, and the movement of reaching for the food and going back to a straight posture, helps with arthritis.

We decorated with a statue of an oryx, their national animal that lives in the desert there.  A picture of a falcon  was placed to signify their national bird.  Dates were added, as they are the national fruit, along with pearls to represent their pearl diving heritage and a little can of oil, to symbolize their great wealth.

Our first course was stuffed grape leaf bundles, filled with sweet, lamb meat, herbs and spices.  With one bite we were immediately transported to the region.  Stuffed grape leaves are a loved tradition in many of the countries surrounding Qatar.

For the main course, we had harees, which is a hearty, beaten wheat and chicken dish, quite similar to the dish we had for Oman, called madrouba, (which was a beaten rice and chicken dish.)  The harees are seasoned with ghee and toasted coriander.  It is a true comfort food and each heavenly bite was scooped up with the Khubz Arabi (Arabian bread).

For dessert we enjoyed the sweet bread and cream dish called esh asaraya.  It was topped with pistachios and was a lovely, sweet end to our Qatari meal.  We enjoyed our dessert with their Karak tea; milk tea with a hint of cardamom; a true delight.  Coffee and tea are always served to guests in Qatar and when you are finished, you simply shake you cup from side to side to let the hostess know you are satisfied.

As we say goodbye to this little nation of Qatar, I leave you with a quote from their tourism board.

Qatar

“A land that understands, a traveler can never be a stranger, just a friend not yet met.  That ultimately everyone is on their own journey, seeking the warmth of a friendly embrace, unique experiences, new stories to share.  Where a meal is not a meal unless it is shared.  A land rooted in ancient cultures, authentic soul, where past learning informs contemporary vision.  Progressive spirit ignites new futures.  A land offering enlightenment, invigoration and inspiration through its warmth of soul and spirit of vision.”

Until next time,

Shukran (That’s “thank you”, in Arabic)

Darlene

Craving even more?  Be sure to join the culinary and cultural journey around the world so you don’t miss a thing,  it’s free,  You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook ,  Pinterest and youtube to follow along our journey.

Please note that this page may contain affiliate links in which I will earn a small commission however, it will in no way affect the price you pay. I thank you for your support!

How did Portugal get its name?

Where is Portugal located?

Portugal is located in the western most point of Europe and lies on the west coast of the Iberian Peninsula.  It shares its northern and eastern borders with Spain, the only bordering country.  The Atlantic Ocean lies to the west and south, providing a stunning coastline loved by locals and tourists alike.  Portugal is divided by the Tagus River, which separates the rugged north from the rolling plains of the south.  The landscape in the north contains the mountains of the Iberian Peninsula.  The country of Portugal also includes the nine islands of the Azores, and two islands, well off its coast, named Madeira and Porto Santo that was once a home of Columbus.

A Brief History of Portugal

It is said that Lisbon is one of the oldest European capitals, founded 400 years before the Roman era.  It was inhabited by Celtic and other tribes as well as Phoenicians-Carthaginians, along the coast.  The Romans took over the area, known as Lusitania which is why speakers of Portuguese today are known as Lusophones.

The Romans began to occupy the area in 140 BC and made it famous for mining and agriculture, especially for the production of sweet wine.  The name Lusitania comes from the Roman god, Lusus, son of Bacchus, who was the god of wine.  After the fall of the Roman Empire, a Germanic tribe took over the Iberian Peninsula and established the church in their kingdom.  The church remains an important part of Portuguese culture.  The peninsula was later invaded and occupied by the  Arab Moors for more than 800 years.  After the partial Reconquista, Portugal finally became a kingdom, independent of Spain, in 1279.  The borders that were established then still remain the same today.

During the Imperial Era from 1279 until 1578, Portugal made many discoveries through its strong naval power and established colonies all over the world.  Brazil was one but also Mozambique and Angola in Africa, along with many others on several different continents.  Portugal became a world power and one of the most important empires of the time, with Spain being one of Portugal’s biggest rivals.

After the death of King Sebastian I, the empire went into decline.  Portugal then engaged in numerous European wars, including the Restoration war which resulted in fending off of the Spanish King who was trying to take over Portugal.  In 1755, Portugal lost much of its wealth with the destruction of Lisbon by a powerful earthquake.

Portugal had a good relationship with the British Empire and when Portugal refused to give in to Napoleon, which resulted in military attacks, the British helped Portugal restore their independence in 1812.  There were many problems that arose until 1910, when the First Portuguese Republic was established which brought about the King's resignation. The republic was ended in 1926 in a coup d’etat that resulted in a military dictatorship.

In 1933, there was a second revolution called the New State, established by Salazar.  His motto was, “Proudly Alone.”  His belief in nationalism and isolation saved Portugal from taking part in both World Wars.  Salazar always tried to maintain Portugal’s colonies under his rule and many Portuguese had to fight in those colonial wars.  This eventually led to the end of his dictatorship on April 25, 1974, when a peaceful military coup d’etat took place.

Portugal was then led into democracy (which remains in effect today) when elections took place, in 1975.  They became part of the EU with the guidance of Portugal’s most popular politician who became Prime Minister of Portugal. His name was Jose Barroso. Portugal has become a diversified and increasingly service-based economy since joining the EU.  Its last colonial hold was Macau, which was given back to China in 1999.

Portuguese Culture

There was a strong influence from the country’s geography, its history and its culture.  The cultural heritage stems from the people, having been part of its colonies in Africa, South America and Asia, and its tribal history.  Many more cultural influences come from being a global empire in the 15^th and 16^th centuries.

Portugal is famous for their exquisite, hand painted tiles.  They are used to adorn interiors and exteriors of houses, churches, palaces and other buildings. Originally of Muslim origin, the production of tiles began in the 15^th century but reached its peak in the 18^th century, with their famous blue and white tiles.  The train station in Porto tells the story of the city in grand style, with the use of these tiles.

Portugal is also known for the introduction of Manueline Architecture, a style that featured elements inspired by the sea and by symbols of Royal power, such as armillary spheres, which is the national symbol featured on their flag.  The Jeronimos Monastery and The Belem Tower are good examples of this architectural style but Manueline style buildings and features can be found all over the country.  Baroque and Romanesque styles also abound.

Fado is a type of music that has was named by the World Heritage as part of Intangibles. The history of Fado dates back to the 1820’s and 30’s however some believe it may have much earlier origins.  It is a form of song that is characterized by mournful tunes and lyrics.  The Portuguese word saudade which means longing, symbolizing a feeling of loss.  Fado performers were typically sailors, bohemians and courtesans who not only sang but also danced.  Today, it is performed as just song, without the dance.  In recent years, Amalia Rodrigues, known as the “Queen of Fado,” is credited with making Fado popular throughout the world.  Taking in Fado is very popular with tourists, especially in Lisbon, and why not?  It is an important part of Portugal’s culture.

Portugal has no official religion, as the church and state were formally separated during the Portuguese First Republic in 1910.  However nearly 81% of the population is Catholic and important traditions have a significant bearing in Portuguese society and culture. The official language is Portuguese, considered a Romance Language. A direct descendant of Latin, however many speak English, French and Spanish as well.

Why Visit Portugal?

The country itself, with its long coastline and most of the cities and population living along it, make Portugal one of the prettiest countries in the world.  Each city and village has immense history as it is considered to be the oldest in all of Europe. Lisbon. the capital, has become a vibrant modern city, and to deal with its extremely hilly street levels, has installed elevators downtown to transport people up and down some 45 meters.  The lifts are disguised inside buildings on the low end of the city, so it is good to learn where to find them.

The architecture and signature black and white tiles and cobble stones, that line the streets make it picture perfect.  It is home to 15 UNESCO World Heritage sites.  One of them is the oldest, continuously operated, University in the world, established in 1290.  In Lisbon, you can find the oldest operating bookstore in the world.  Bertrand Bookshop, was established in 1732.  It was destroyed in the great earthquake of 1755 but has been in its current location since 1773.

Portugal is also known for exceptional surfing with 364 days of surfing each year.  Home to the largest wave ever surfed, it was an incredible 80 feet high.  Portugal is also the largest cork producer in the world, supplying nearly 70% of the world’s cork.  Needless to say, they are not happy with the screw on caps that have recently become popular for wine.  They are innovative however, making cork into belts, purses, shoes and the like.  There is a beautiful monastery near the town of Sintra that is made from cork.  The whole town of Sintra is a UNESCO site and simply like a fairytale that should not be missed on a trip to Portugal. It is filled with castles, palaces, churches and parks that date back to the 15th and 16th centuries.

Did I mention the wine, famous for Port and Madeira, as well as Vinho Verde, my personal favorite?  You will also find bottles of ginja, a liqueur that people make themselves from ginja berries (sour cherries) and store in bottles.  The country is a wine-lover's paradise.  A trip down the Douro River Valley, where most of the wine is made, is popular with tourists.  Of course, the Portuguese people are friendly and welcoming and are probably the biggest reason to visit, although the food is a close second.

Portuguese Cuisine

The cuisine get its roots from ingredients obtained through trade routes established centuries ago.  Bread, rice, spices, pastries, sausages and seafood, especially cod, remain the staples of many Portuguese meals.  It is often referred to as peasant food, although it is now becoming a gourmand’s destination.  The Portuguese get the credit for introducing tempura to Japan, tea to the British and hot chilies to Asia.

Many of their pastries are made with sugar, which started arriving in the 15^th century, originally from the island of Madeira and later from Brazil.  A visit to a Pasteleria is a must.  Interestingly, the pastries are made with lots of egg yolks, to include their most famous pastry, Pais de nata.  It is said that the nuns used the egg whites to starch their habits and preserve wine, so they had an abundance of egg yolks, with which they masterfully crafted into pastries.

The sausages are also famous and butcher shops all over are stuffed with cases filled with an array of sausages, along with legs of cured ham.  Chourico is a spicy sausage, used in many soups and stews, like their famous caldo verde.  Morcela, a blood sausage, is also extremely popular.  You will also find assortments of delicious cheeses, many made from sheep’s milk that are prepared using an ancient method of coagulating the milk with thistle flower.  Olives and olive oil are also exceptional products coming from Portugal.

Spices from all over the world are also used in their cuisine but it is probably the abundant use of seafood, that is most renown. The Portuguese are one of the top countries in the world when it comes to seafood consumption.  It is said that there are over 1000 Portuguese recipes that use salt cod as the main ingredient.  Sardines are also loved.  They even have a month long sardine festival that is held each year when they are the most abundant.  A couple of other dishes that should be mentioned is bifana, a pork sandwich that is a specialty, as is francesinha, a sandwich covered in a hot thick tomato and beer sauce.  Oh and their beer is highly regarded too.  They will tell you Super Bock is the best beer in the world.

So let’s enjoy a Portuguese meal:

The Menu

Starter

Peixinhos da horta (Fried Green Beans)

Soup Course

Caldo Verde (Portuguese Kale Soup)

Salad Course

Salada de Polvo (Octopus Salad)

Main Course

Bacalhau a Bras (Salted Cod with Eggs)

Dessert 

Pasteis de Nata (Egg Custard Tart)

We set the scene in the classic blue and white dishes for which they are famous.  We placed several ships to represent there impressive naval exploration. They have a history of great explorers, like Ferdinand Magellan, the first person to circumvent the globe and Vasco de Gama, who discovered the sea route to India.  Bartholomew Diaz, was the first to sail around the southern tip of Africa and others who discovered new lands like Brazil, parts of Africa and the Far-East, claiming them for the Portuguese Empire.  A can of sardines was set in place, as was an olive branch, a cork, a cross and a good bottle of port wine.  We put on some soft Fado music to complete the mood.

We said Saude which means Cheers, and toasted with a taste of port.  We began our meal with fried green beans, that were battered.  This is the original tempura that was introduced to the Japanese, which the Japanese later embellished.  The name Peixinhos da horta, literally translated means, little fish from the garden.  The name comes from the end result of the fried beans resembling slender, fried fish.  We loved them as our first course.

Next, was the famous caldo verde or Portuguese kale soup.  It is literally my husband's favorite soup and therefore had to be included in the meal.  It is hearty and the flavor superb, especially with the chucks of chourico and linguisa sausages.

Next we enjoyed the main course, Bacalhau a Bras, a salted cod with eggs and potatoes.  This recipe was given to me by our guide in Sintra named Lidia.  After many inquiries during our trip to Portugal, this was the dish that nearly everyone told me to make as the main course for the Portuguese meal.  It  is lovely and the combination of flavors; comforting and delicious.

It was served alongside a octopus salad, as octopus is another much loved seafood.  This Portuguese version was excellent with red onion, sun dried tomatoes, coriander and lime.  I could eat this everyday!

Lastly, we just had to indulge in the famous pasteis de nata, the famous egg custard tart, that was sublime, and went perfectly with a shot of espresso called um bica, literally a shot of only 2-3 ozs.

As we say goodbye to this beautiful and intriguing county, I leave you with some Fado lyrics, which cannot be explained but must be felt and experienced.

Is both mine and yours this Fado

Destiny that tides us (together)

No matter how much it is denied

By the stings of a guitar

Whenever one hears a lament

of a guitar singing

one is instanly lost

with a desire to weep

Oh people of my land

Now I understand

This sadness which I carry on

Was from you that I received

And it would seem tenderness

If l let myself be soothed

My anguish would be greater

My singing would be less sadder

Oh people of my land

Lyrics by Mariza, an international Fado star

Until next time,

Abrigada (thank you, in Portuguese)

Darlene

Craving even more?  Be sure to join the culinary and cultural journey around the world so you don’t miss a thing,  it’s free,  You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook ,  Pinterest and youtube to follow along our journey.

How did Peru get its name?

Garcilaso de la Vega, was the first one to shed light of how Peru got its name.  Vega was born, the son of a Spanish conquistador and an Incan princess, in 1539.  He was one of the first to write detailed accounts of the Incas and Spanish conquests in Peru.  His book was published in 1609, was called, The Royal Commentaries of the Incas.

The story goes that in 1513, Spaniard Vasco Nunez de Balboa discovered the South Sea.  He spotted a native Indian who was quietly fishing at the mouth of an estuary.  His crew captured the native and hauled him aboard the boat.  After finally calming him down, the Spanish attempted to ask him questions about the unknown land.  Scared and confused but wanting to please his captors, he blurted out the word Beru, which was actually his name.  He then blurted out a second word, Pelu, which means, “river” in the Inca language.  The Spanish combined the two words to create what we know the country to be called today; Peru.  (The Incas and natives knew their country as Ttahuatin-Suya, meaning, “the four-quarters of the world.”)

Where is Peru Located?

Peru is located on the western border of South America.  Her neighbors are Ecuador and Columbia to the north, Brazil to the east, Bolivia to the southeast, Chile to the south and the Pacific Ocean to the west.  It is the third largest country on the continent, behind Argentina and Brazil.  Lima is the capital city and its main economic hub.

Peru has enormous biodiversity, with ninety distinct microclimates.  It is listed among the ten most biodiverse countries in the world.  The coastal plain, (costa) is a narrow strip of desert land that runs the length of the country.  There is an upland region, (sierra) the highland, which includes the very high mountain ranges of the Andes, as well as gorges and deep valleys.  There are many rivers that are born in the Andes and descend to the Pacific, allowing for irrigation to serve a very arid region.  The east is home to the tropical Amazon basin’s rain forest, jungle (selva), and the Amazon River.  Lake Titicaca, lies between Peru and Bolivia and is the largest lake in all of South America.  It is also the highest in altitude, navigable lake in all the world.  In Andean belief, Lake Titicaca is the birthplace of the sun.  Its waters are renowned for stillness and bright reflections.  Jacques Cousteau discovered ruins of an ancient city under the lake’s surface, He also discovered the descendants of the Quechua people, who still live on the islands today.

A Brief History of Peru

Peru has an ancient history, stemming from various tribal groups that lived there.  In the 12^th century, the small city state of Cuzco was formed by the Killkes tribe.  This began the formidable era of the Incan Empire.  Over the next several hundred years, the Incas managed to conquer not only Peru but also parts of Ecuador, Bolivia and northern Chile.  They had a highly developed civilization when the Spanish arrived there in 1531.  Spanish conquistador, Francisco Pizarro, conquered and captured Cuzco in 1533.  Peru was a great source of wealth and power for the Spanish, mostly from the gold and silver discovered in the Andes Mountains.  In 1535, Pizarro established Lima as the capital of Peru, which remains so today.  With the help of others, from Bolivia and Venezuela, Peru was able to defeat the Spanish and become a free country in 1821, when they declared their independence.

Like many newly independent countries, Peru went through a difficult time with coups, dictatorships, military rule and wars with guerilla groups fighting against the government.  In recent history, Alberto Fujimori, won three consecutive terms, despite being accused of fraud.  He then stunned the nation when he resigned during a trip to Japan.  Revelations that Fujimori secretly held Japanese citizenship outraged the populace, since he could not be extradited to face corruption charges.  Eventually he ended up in Chile to pursue his political ambitions.  There he was arrested and sentenced to 25 years in prison.  He was recently pardoned, after serving only 12 years, as he is suffering from cancer.  The pardon caused outrage, once again.  Despite Fujimori’s crimes against humanity, he did some good things for the economy, which continues to thrive.  Their economy is dependent on its many commodities, but prices do fluctuate with the world markets.  They are the world’s second largest producer of silver and copper. They are the sixth largest producer of gold; mining 162 tons of gold a year.  Peru’s coastal waters provide for excellent fishing grounds.  Fish and agriculture are very important to their growing economy, as are minerals and natural resources.  Tourism continues to contribute more than ever to this nation’s economic growth.

Peruvian Culture

With more than 10,000 years of history, Peru is filled with a great wealth of culture and tradition.  As the oldest civilization in South America, Peru is home to many riches.  Peruvians fully recognize the importance today of their heritage and the value the Andes and the Amazon offer in natural resources and ancient traditions.

Spanish is the official language, along with Quechua and Aymara.  There are 45 other native languages that are spoken as well.  Catholicism is the predominant religion in Peru and is very important in the lives of Peruvians.  Yet they exist peacefully alongside other belief systems including indigenous beliefs, with shamans and medicine men playing important roles.

The coca plant (the same one used to make cocaine) has been used for thousands of years in the Andean world.  It is used for its medicinal properties and religious significance.  Coca leaves, which are brewed in tea, are particularly effective against altitude sickness, which is helpful at high elevations.

Since pre-Hispanic times, music and dance have played vital roles in Peruvian society.  Ancient Peruvians used seashells and reeds, along with animal bones, to produce sounds.  Weaving is another prominent art form in Peru.  It is believed that every form of weaving known today, was invented by the Peruvians.  It is estimated it takes somewhere between 500 to 600 hours to spin, dye and weave a traditional poncho.  They are typically given as gifts to one who enters adulthood and it is expected to last them a lifetime.

In Cuzco, Peruvian history is displayed in the architecture.  Here you will find Spanish, colonial style churches and dwellings built directly on top of their old Incan stone temples.

Why Visit Peru?

Peru, being home to amazing biodiversity, is one of the most unique and colorful places to visit on the planet.  Peru has 25,000 plant species, it ranks first in the world in distinct fish species, second for species of birds and third for amphibians and mammals.  It is home to 12 UNESCO world heritage sites, including the famous Machu Picchu that was recently deemed one of the Seven New Wonders of the World.  It was uncovered in 1911 by Hiram Bingham and today displays the pride and complexity of the ancient Inca civilization as one of the most popular tourist destinations. The stone work, masterfully constructed to be seismically stable, is one of the mysteries of this ancient site.

Peru is also home to numerous natural wonders, including Rainbow Mountain and the Painted Hills, where mineral deposits color the landscape like a rainbow. The Cerro Blanco sand dune, located in the south of Peru, is the highest in the world.  Peru’s Nazca Lines, are a collection of more than 70, giant, human and animal geoglyphs.  There are 10,000 lines, some of them are up to 30 miles long and it remains one of the world’s biggest, archeological mysteries that was never even discovered until man took flight.  The Andes, the beautiful coastlines, deserts, the Amazon basin and rivers, and Lake Titicaca are all great reasons to visit Peru.  However, it may just be worth a visit there for the gastronomy alone; it is one of the best cuisines in all the world.

Peruvian Cuisine

The diversity of Peru’s agricultural production comes from its microclimates and varied geography.  Peru’s multiple cultures along with the brilliance of her chefs, have enriched the cuisine to the point of it being recognized as one of the best in the world.  Gastronomy has become such an important element in the lives of Peruvians, it is part of the national identity.  The cuisine of Peru is both ancient and modern.  It is a fusion of the indigenous population along with contributions of immigrants from Europe, (mainly Spain, Italy and Germany), Asia (China and Japan) and West Africa.   Imagine a cuisine where there are the over 3800 varieties of potatoes.  Corn is available in every color, shape and size, along with rich grains, like quinoa.  We certainly can’t forget the abundant seafood, especially their amazing ceviche, available all along the coast.  High in the Andean region, cuy (guinea pig) and alpaca, are popular sources of meat.  It is, however, the native aji chilies, pureed into amazing sauces, that just might be their most delicious contribution.  The flavors of Peruvian cuisine are bold, rich, and spicy.  Yet they can be subtle and complex, as well.  You will certainly want to enjoy the amazing flavors of this cuisine with their famous pisco sour; Peru’s national drink.

So let’s enjoy a Peruvian Meal:

The Menu

Starter

Peruvian Ceviche (Peru’s National Dish)

Main Dish

Split Roasted Chicken (Pollo a la Brasa)

Served with

Two Peruvian Sauces ( Aji Verde & Aji de Huacatay)

Dessert

Caramel Meringue Parfait (Suspiro de Limena)

We set the scene with the colors of the flag; red and white.  We placed dolls, hand crafted by natives, to represent the Incan empire, a photo of the magnificent Machu Picchu, a yellow aji pepper, silver and gold coins to represent their wealth, potatoes, a rope, with knots, representing the ancient system of record keeping, called quipus, a penguin statue (yes they have penguins in Peru), and palm fronds to represent the Amazon rain forest.  Finally, a soccer ball was added, as it is their national sport.

Our first course was ceviche; the national dish of Peru.  Ceviche is so loved and is part of its national heritage.  It actually has its own holiday on June 28^th of each year.  This ceviche was one of the best we have ever had.  It was unique in that, besides the delectable seabass, it had sweet potatoes and giant kernels of toasted corn.  It was flavored with aji peppers, red onion and a citrusy flavored marinade, made with fresh lemon and lime.  The ceviche was served with the marinade, in the tradition of cevicherias and is called, leche de tigre or “tigers milk.”

For the main course we had their famous, pollo a la brasa.  This dish is loved in Peru but may be more famous in the USA.  It just may be the best chicken ever.  It was a split, roasted chicken, lightly seasoned with vinegar, cumin and pepper.  It was tender and succulent.  But it’s the sauces, for which the Peruvians are so famous, and into which you dip the bites of chicken, that make the dish.  The two sauces we had were, aji verde and aji de huacatay,  (which was my favorite.)  Both sauces are phenomenal and the dishes you can use them on are endless.  The aji verde is very common and flavored with aji paste, chilies, cilantro, lime, garlic, oil, cheese and mayo, all blended together.  The aji de huacatay is also made with cilantro, aji paste, garlic, and oil but has the addition of huacatay paste, which can be found in your Latin market.  Huacatay is a fresh herb, that tastes somewhere between basil and mint.  It is sometimes called black mint and is related to the marigold and tarragon families.  These sauces were off the charts, amazing.  We actually did not have a side dish, but potatoes, cooked anyway you like, would be a great accompaniment  and totally authentic.

For dessert we enjoyed suspiro de limena, which is a caramel meringue, parfait that is exceptionally sweet and delicious.  The name of the dessert, literally translated means, “the sigh of a Lima lady.”  I think that pretty much sums it up.

After our feast, we took our pisco sours, (made with Peruvian pisco, as the base liquor and lime, which makes up the sour, along with bitters, egg whites and a simple syrup,) to enjoy, as we watched Wild Peru, by National Geographic.  This film highlights the amazing biodiversity of the land and sea of Peru.  Did you know you can swim with pink dolphins there?  By the way, Peru also has a national holiday, in honor of the cocktail, pisco sour, which happens the first Saturday of every February.

I leave you with my favorite Peruvian Proverb:

“It is better to prevent than cure.”

Until next time

Warmest regards,

Darlene Longacre

Craving even more?  Be sure to join the culinary and cultural journey around the world so you don’t miss a thing,  it’s free,  You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook ,  Pinterest and youtube to follow along our journey.

How did Panama get its name?

Theories abound about how Panama got its name.  Some believe that it was named after a tree known as the Panama tree (Sterculia apetala).  Another theory is that the first settlers arrived in August, when butterflies are abundant and that the name means “many butterflies” in an indigenous language.  The most believed version is that a fishing village and beach were called Panama, which meant “an abundance of fish,”  It was discovered by the Spanish, while they explored the area in 1515, and stopped in this small fishing village.  The official definition, approved by the Ministry of Education, is that Panama means “abundance of fish, trees and butterflies.”  However, there are some that believe the name means “distant or far away” which stems from the word “bannaba” in the Kuna Language.  Today it is officially known as the Republic of Panama.

Where is Panama located?

Panama is located in Central America.  It is an “S” shaped isthmus that connects north and south America and separates the Atlantic Ocean (Caribbean Sea) from the Pacific Ocean (Gulf of Panama).  Its unique coastlines run east and west, rather than north and south.  Panama is the only place on earth where you can see the sun rise over the Pacific and set on the Atlantic.  It is also a place where, if you hike up to the highest peak, you can see both coasts on a clear day.  Panama is also blessed with no hurricanes or earthquakes, a rarity in this area.  Panama lies in between Costa Rica and Colombia.  It has a year round tropical climate, with high humidity.  This tropical environment supports an abundance of plants and jungles.  About 40 percent of Panama is wooded.  Subsistence farming is the way of life of Panamanians, from the northeastern jungles to the southwestern grasslands.   They grow mainly corn, beans, sugarcane, coffee and tubers.  There are also large banana plantations, in the swamp areas near Costa Rica.

A Brief History of Panama

The first humans that lived in Panama are believed to have arrived there around 11,000 B.C. By 2,500 B.C., the indigenous people were making pottery, and trading with others as far north as Mexico, and as far south as Peru.  The original native American tribes were, the Cocle and Cuevas people.  The Spanish were the first Europeans to arrive, in 1501.  As is typical after colonization, most of the native people died from diseases brought in by the Europeans, for which they had no immunity.  The Spanish also enslaved the native people and when they did not have enough people left, they started importing slaves from Africa.

In 1513, Vasca de Balboa made his famous trek from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific, across the isthmus of Panama.  This trip was a critical turning point for Panama, in becoming a major trading center.  This was a short cut, saving ships from having to travel all the way around the cape.  For years, goods brought to the shores of Panama, trekked across the land and were put on ships bound for Spain.  It was, however, a dangerous road, nicknamed the “Camino de Cruces” or “Road of the Crosses”, due to all the people who died along the way.  Spain ruled over Panama for nearly 300 years, until Panama left the Spanish Empire and became part of Columbia.

In 1903 Colombia and Panama had a disagreement about the United States building a canal across Panama.  With the support of the USA, Panama broke away from Columbia and declared their independence on Nov 3, 1903.  There are three days celebrated each year in Panama:  November 3-5.  It begins with Separation Day, then Flag Day and ending with Colon’ Day, celebrated for when the citizens of Colon’ averted a march on Panama City by the Colombian Army.  They also celebrate their independence from Spain on November 28, each year.

The famous Panama Canal was completed in 1914 and Panama remained a US territory until 1979, when they took total control over the canal on December 31, 1999.  The canal is an artificial waterway that connects two oceans.  It was widened to allow the larger ships to pass.  The widening project was completed in June of 2016.  The canal accounts for 1/3^rd of Panamas GDP, as tolls are paid for the ships to cross.  The lowest toll was $.36  and was paid by Richard Halliburton who swam through the canal in 1928.  Today, the average fee is $54,000 for shipping vessels.  The canal has been named one of the seven wonders of the modern world.

Panama has suffered, like many countries, with dictators that did not have the people’s best interest at heart.  One such dictator was Manuel Noriega, who spent many years in US custody on drug trafficking charges.  He was then extradited to France where he spent a seven year imprisonment for money laundering.  In 2011, France extradited him back to Panama where he was incarcerated for crimes committed during his rule and where he ultimately died.  Panama has since had fair elections and even elected their first woman president in 1999.

Today Panama is on a great path of prosperity with tourism, and banking. They have excellent tax incentives for foreign investment and for Americans who want to call Panama their home.

Panama Culture

The population of Panama is a mix of creoles, mestizos, European immigrants, Africans and indigenous Indians.  It is a popular place for Americans to retire. There is also a small Chinese population.  The total population is nearly 4,000,000.  About 85 percent of the population is Roman Catholic, while traditional beliefs have been maintained among the native Americans.  The most important ritual celebrated is Carnaval, for which the capital closes down for five days, before Ash Wednesday.

The currency is the US dollar and the official language is Spanish, although many speak English and indigenous languages as well.  Panama is also famous for its traditional dress. Women wear the pollera, which is a blouse and long skirt.  It is formed by multicolored cloth and intricate embroidery.  Panama celebrates Pollera Day each July 22.   The men wear a white long sleeved shirt called a camisilla, black long pants and a straw hat with black lines.  A small bag hangs on the left side of the body and black and white shoes are worn to complete the outfit.  These costumes are worn during Carnaval, folklore events and town festivities.  Their costumes have received international praise, mainly due to the pollera’s complex design.

Why Visit Panama

Panama City is the capital city and where most of the population resides.  It is famous for its ultra-modern skyline.  Panama has become important for banking and insurance.  It is known as the financial hub of Latin America.  Aside from the tall modern buildings, Panama City also has a historic old quarter that is four avenues wide and completely filled with charm.   It is called Casca Veijo and is protected by UNESCO.  The old Quarter has narrow brick roads and grand old colonial houses with stunning pastel facades.  It is a wonderful place to enjoy dinner and drinks.  Panama City is also the only metropolis that boasts a tropical rainforest within the city limits.  The Natural Metropolitan Park is a draw for nature lovers.

Panama, having two coasts and 500 rivers, along with jungles and rain forests, makes the country an adventure traveler’s dream.  Water sports of every imaginable type are found here.  Turquoise water and golden beaches are also a huge draw, as is the canal  itself.  Home to all sorts of wildlife, there are 125 animal species found there that are found nowhere else in the world.  Panama is also a birdwatcher’s paradise, with over 900 species.  One of the most sought after birds, the harpy eagle, can weigh up to 20 lbs. and is the national bird of Panama.

Panamanian Cuisine

Panamanian cuisine is as diverse as its population.  Each ethnic group brings its own blend of spices, recipes, ingredients and cooking methods.  The cuisine is generally a fusion of Latin, Afro-Caribbean, Asian and indigenous cultures.  Along both coasts, the diet consists mainly of coconut, seafood, root vegetables and tropical fruits.  Inland, the communities are based on agriculture, so they enjoy mainly root vegetables, plus, beans and rice and fruits.  Livestock, such as cows, chickens and pigs are also commonly eaten.  Corn is a staple ingredient but not too many greens are consumed.  However, they do use a cousin to cilantro, in their national dish called, sancocho.  Beer is popular all over the country.  Generally speaking, the cuisine is somewhat mild, except for a few spicy dishes on the Caribbean side.

So let’s enjoy a Panamanian meal:

The Menu

Starter

Ceviche de Corvina (White Sea Bass Ceviche)

Main Dish

Sancocho (Traditional Chicken Soup)

Dessert

Cocadas (Coconut Cookies)

We set the scene with the colors of the flag; red white and blue.  We placed orchids of purple and white, as that is the national flower of Panama, with over 1200 varieties.  A ship was added to represent the very important Panama Canal and a piggy bank to represent the financial haven Panama has become.  A butterfly represented the land of butterflies.  We included a cart of coffee, as it is an important crop and also a Panama hat (that are actually made in Ecuador) but made famous in Panama.

We began our meal with buen provencho, which means bon-appetit in Spanish.  Our starter course was an amazing white sea bass ceviche.  The dish was made with fresh white sea bass and shrimp. It also had celery, which added a wonderful texture. The fish was “cooked” in lemon juice.  It was served with chips and saltine crackers and was an immediate hit.

The main course was sancocho which in Spanish means, “to parboil.”  It is a popular dish in many Latin countries, although each country adds its own interpretation.  This sancocho is made with chicken and root vegetables, such as yam or yucca.  It is the flavoring of culantro that makes this Panamanian dish unique.  Culantro,tastes similar to cilantro, but is a bit stronger.  Ultimately, this is a hearty chicken soup that is known to cure whatever ails you, (especially a hangover.)  We loved it!

For dessert, we had delicious coconut cookies, called cocades.  They are similar to a macaroon, except they are made with sweetened, condensed milk, instead of eggs.  They were perfect with a cup of Panamanian coffee, for which they are now famous.  They grow a particular type, called Geisha that originally came from Ethiopia but has been growing very well in Panama.  This coffee lacks the bitter or sour notes and sells for about $40/lb.  You can pick some up here if you would like to try it.

After dinner, we decided to go for a dance lesson.  Panamanians love to gather together and dance.  Punto panmeño is considered to be the most elegant and beautiful of dances.

Until next time,

Warmest regards,

Darlene

Pakistan is officially called the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.  Pakistan means “Land of the Pure,” in both Urdu and Pashto.  It is believed it was named by Chaudry Rahmat Ali, by using the first letters of the five provinces that make up Pakistan: P for Punjab, A for Afghania, K for Kashmir, S for Sindh and TAN for the Balochistan province.  Chaudry was the author of a famous 1933 pamphlet titled, “Now or Never; Are We to Live or Perish Forever”, which is where the acronym first appeared.

Pakistan, located in south Asia, is bordered by India to the east, Afghanistan to the west, Iran to the southwest, China to the northeast and the Arabian Sea to the south.  Pakistan is blessed with an array of different landscapes; deserts, plains, forests, hills and coastal areas.  Pakistan has the only fertile desert and the largest glacier outside of the polar regions. The northern area has five of the seventeen highest peaks and in the world.  K2 is the second tallest mountain, after Mt. Everest and rises to an imposing 28,251 feet above sea level.  Its name comes from the mountain range, Karakoram.  Its nickname is “Savage Mountain,” due to the extreme difficulty of ascent.  Pakistan has many beautiful natural sights and historic landmarks.  Lonely Planet says "Pakistan may become the next big thing in travel".

The area of Pakistan was home to the Indus Valley civilization, one of the oldest in the world.  The city of Harappa flourished along the Riva River between 3000-1500 BC.  It has a rich history of invaders including the Aryans, the Persians, Alexander the Great, the Greeks, the Parthians and the Turks.  Babar, a Muslim ruler from Afghanistan, established the Mogul Empire.  In the 1700s, the British took over control of the East India Company.  In the 1940s, the Muslim League demanded partition from the British, of a separate nation for India’s Muslims.

Pakistan gained independence from the British on August 14, 1947.  Pakistan is the only country to have been created in the name of Islam.  It was the result of the Pakistan movement, led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who is considered the founding father of Pakistan.  He died of tuberculosis very shortly after Independence, when he was named Governor-General.  Had the man who was asked to make the partition (Cyril Radcliffe) known how sick Jinnah was, it is very likely the lines would not have been drawn at all.  Those lines resulted in 12 million people becoming refugees and between a half a million and a million people being killed in religious violence.  Unfortunately, the lines drawn to establish Pakistan, remain some of the most hotly contested land borders in the world.  India and Pakistan, to this day, are bitter enemies over them.

In 1948, war broke out with India over the disputed territory of Kashmir, which still remains in turmoil.  Bangladesh, formerly known as East Pakistan, declared Independence on March 25, 1971.  This precipitated a horrible. nine month liberation war between the two countries, which killed millions more innocent people. There has been way too much bloodshed over these borders.

There is also a dangerous border area with Afghanistan where it is believed terrorists are harbored and operate on both sides of the border.  The Taliban (one of the terrorist groups) is present in both Pakistan and Afghanistan.  Pakistan is accused of not doing enough to act against extremist groups; an issue which just caused the USA to put Pakistan back on the “gray list,” a global-terrorism, financing watchlist.  They have a year to prove they are doing the right things to prosecute extremist leaders, and shut down their financing streams.  Pakistan is also the place where Osama bin Laden, the mastermind of the 911 terror attacks in the USA, was hiding out. That is until he was killed in an undercover mission by the US special forces.

Today, Pakistan is a nuclear power, ranked ninth in the world as a super power, because of this arsenal.  They have the sixth largest army in the world and have some of the top, air force pilots. They also are known for manufacturing fighter jets, which they now are exporting and they have some of the best missile technology in the world.  Pakistan is also the world’s fifth most populous country and has a growing economy.  The official languages are Urdu and English, although, some 60 languages are spoken there.  The literacy rate has been poor in Pakistan, however they have been making great strides in recent years with a 250 percent increase in their literacy rate through education.  Education is important in Pakistan and they are listed as having the seventh largest pool of engineers and scientists.  The Lahore University of Management Sciences attracts thousands of international students. It is considered to be the best university in the country.

As we look into the cuisine of Pakistan, we see it is heavily influenced by its past, when it was part of India.  It has influences from Central Asia, as well as their rich Mughal legacy.  As with most countries, the cuisine of Pakistan is regional and largely based on the ethnicity and diversity of its people.  Generally speaking, the eastern region is known for its highly seasoned and spicy cuisine, reminiscent of the Indian subcontinent.  Cuisine from the western and northern provinces are characterized by milder dishes, with more influence coming from Central Asia.  It has Middle Eastern flavors, as well.  Pork and alcohol are forbidden, as 97% of the population is Muslim.  Mutton, beef and chicken, as well as seafood from along the coast, are the proteins of choice for the wealthy.  Lentils (or dahls) supply protein for the rest of the population. Nearly 2/3rds of the population lives on $2 a day.

The main spices used in Pakistani cuisine are: chili powder, curry, ginger, garlic, coriander, cumin, cinnamon, saffron and turmeric.  Sabzi (fresh herbs and vegetables) or kachumber salad are typically served with the main meal.  Flat breads like naan and roti, are also served with the meals and rice is ubiquitous as well.  Pakistan is the one of the largest producers and exporters of both rice and wheat in the world.  They also have one of the largest irrigation systems in the world. The spicy, main dishes are often accompanied by dishes that soothe the spicy flavors.  These come in the form of chutneys, made with coriander and mint, raita (a yogurt dish) and lassi, (a delicious drink made with yogurt) which is often flavored with mangoes, for which Pakistan is also famous, and is the national fruit.   A sugarcane drink called roh is the national drink.

So let’s enjoy a Pakistani meal:

The Menu

Starter

Shami Kababs (Chicken Kebabs)

Main Course

Chicken Karahi (Chicken Curry)

Served with

Kachumber Salad (Cucumber, Tomato and Onion Salad)

Dessert

Shahi Turka (Bread Pudding)

We sat down on the floor on our dastarkhan (a floor covering) and surrounded it with cushions.  We began with handwashing, as we would eat the meal with only our right hand, which is customary there.  We decorated with the colors of Pakistan; green and white.  We also breathed in the fragrance of jasmine, which is the national flower of Pakistan.  A soccer ball was also part of the décor, not because it is the national sport (which is cricket), but because Pakistan makes them for the rest of the world.

Our first course was shami kababs, a delicious patty style, kebab made of chicken and yellow split peas.  They were soft and flavorful and perfect when dipped into the green coriander chutney, served as an accompaniment.

The main course, chicken karahi  (chicken curry), was served with raita, a creamy yogurt mixture.  It is a cooing agent for the spicy curry.  A kachumber salad made with cucumbers, tomato, onion and fresh herbs was also part of the main meal.  It was dressed simply, with lemon juice, making it extremely healthful.  It was sprinkled with a spice mixture called chaat masala, that was tangy and spicy, at the same time.  Aside from being used on this salad, chaat masala is also loved on hard-boiled eggs and fruit.  We had fresh, naan bread, which makes just the right scoop to enjoy the salad and the spicy goodness of the chicken karahi.  You can get the naan recipe here.

For dessert we had a dish made for royalty, called shahi tukra.  It was a scrumptious, bread pudding, made from crispy pieces of bread that were fried in ghee (clarified butter) and then smothered in a rabadi or milk sauce, flavored with saffron and cardamom.  The whole dish was garnished with three different types of nuts.

After our meal, we sat back on our soft cushions and contemplated how different things would have been had the British chosen not to make a partition, leaving India whole, as it was in the past.

We then watched the documentary, He Named Me Malala.  This film is about the young Pakistani girl, Malala Yousafzai, who was shot in the head and nearly killed by the Taliban for going to school.  She is the youngest ever Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and a superstar advocate for girls education and children’s rights.  I leave you with a few of her famous quotes.

“We realize the importance of our voices only when we are silenced.”

“When the whole world is silent, even one voice becomes powerful.”

“One child, one teacher, one book, one pen, can change the world.”

Until next time,

Warmest regards,

Darlene

Craving even more?  Be sure to join the culinary and cultural journey around the world so you don't miss a thing,  it's free,  You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook ,  Pinterest and youtube to follow along our journey.