International Cuisine

  • Home
  • About Me
    • Privacy Policy
  • Journey by Country
  • Recipes
  • Travel
  • My Cookbook
  • Exploring the world through food
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • About Me
    • Privacy Policy
  • Journey by Country
  • Recipes
  • Travel
  • My Cookbook
  • Exploring the world through food
  • Connect with us

    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • About Me
      • Privacy Policy
    • Journey by Country
    • Recipes
    • Travel
    • My Cookbook
    • Exploring the world through food
  • Connect with us

    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Featured

    A Taste of India

    November 12, 2015 By Darlene at International Cuisine

    306 shares
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    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".

    India-1
    Varanasi Doorway photo by Eliot Beebe

    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.

    India-2
    A girl in a Jain temple in Rajasthan Photo by Eliot Beebe

    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)

    Indian chicken butter masalaGarlic Naan Bread

    Indian 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.

     

    Himalayan Prayer Flags
    Himalayan Prayer Flags photo by Eliot Beebe

    Ayurvedic Tea with Ginger, Lemon and Honey

    Ayurvedic tea

    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.

    The Blue city in Rajasthan Photo by Eliot Beebe
    The Blue city in Rajasthan Photo by Eliot Beebe

    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.

    India-5
    Jaisalmer Camel Trek Photo by Eliot Beebe

    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

    More Featured

    • Symbols of Turkmenistan including wheat, a rose, cotton and a tea pot.
      Our Journey to Turkmenistan
    • Symbols of Turkey, the flag, cotton, tulips, whirling dervish, evil eye, and Turkish coffee cups.
      Our Journey to Türkiye
    • Symbols of Tunisa, the flag, citrus, dates, jasmine, camels
      Our Journey to Tunisia
    • Items representing Trinidad and Tobago, their flag, ships, shells, a little drummer.
      Our Journey to Trinidad and Tobago
    306 shares
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    Filed Under: Featured

    Welcome to Internationalcuisine.com! thank you for stopping by!

    I'm thrilled to share my passion for food, travel, and cultural exploration with you. My name is Darlene Longacre and I am a culinary enthusiast turned global nomad.

    Imagine a journey where your taste buds can travel the world, experiencing new flavors and aromas of every country on earth.

    More about me →


    My Mission

    At Internationalcuisine.com, my mission is to bring the world to your kitchen and inspire a global culinary adventure. I believe that food is a powerful bridge that connects people, cultures, and traditions. My mission is to celebrate this unity and diversity by sharing authentic recipes, engaging stories, and immersive travel experiences.

    Come join the journey, explore new countries and embark on a fantastic culinary adventure.

    Join the Journey It's Free!

    Sign up for my culinary, travel and cultural adventure delivered right to your inbox so you won't miss a thing.

    Categories

    Genesis Theme Framework for WordPress

    Archives

    • November 2024
    • April 2024
    • August 2023
    • June 2023
    • May 2023
    • October 2022
    • May 2022
    • February 2022
    • January 2022
    • December 2021
    • September 2021
    • May 2021
    • March 2021
    • February 2021
    • January 2021
    • October 2020
    • September 2020
    • July 2020
    • June 2020
    • May 2020
    • April 2020
    • March 2020
    • February 2020
    • January 2020
    • December 2019
    • November 2019
    • October 2019
    • September 2019
    • August 2019
    • July 2019
    • June 2019
    • May 2019
    • March 2019
    • January 2019
    • December 2018
    • November 2018
    • October 2018
    • September 2018
    • August 2018
    • July 2018
    • June 2018
    • May 2018
    • April 2018
    • March 2018
    • January 2018
    • December 2017
    • November 2017
    • October 2017
    • September 2017
    • August 2017
    • July 2017
    • June 2017
    • May 2017
    • April 2017
    • March 2017
    • January 2017
    • December 2016
    • November 2016
    • October 2016
    • September 2016
    • August 2016
    • July 2016
    • June 2016
    • May 2016
    • April 2016
    • March 2016
    • February 2016
    • January 2016
    • December 2015
    • November 2015
    • October 2015
    • September 2015
    • August 2015
    • July 2015
    • June 2015
    • May 2015
    • April 2015
    • March 2015
    • February 2015
    • January 2015
    • December 2014
    • November 2014
    • October 2014
    • September 2014
    • August 2014
    • July 2014
    • June 2014
    • May 2014
    • April 2014
    • March 2014
    Genesis Theme Framework for WordPress

    Meta

    • Log in
    • Entries feed
    • Comments feed
    • WordPress.org

    Featured Posts

    A colorful bowl of Turkmenistan Fried Eggplant Salad

    Turkmenistan Fried Eggplant Salad Recipe

    Slices of Ichlekli- a thin meat pie.

    Ichlekli Recipe - The National Dish of Turkmenistan

    a plateful of Chak-chak fried dough pieces smothered in a honey syrup

    Chak-Chak Honey Cake Recipe

    Get to know Darlene at International Cuisine

    Darlene holding a dish made with Mama Naz and her daughter in law, in Arusha, Tanzania

    Welcome to International Cuisine

    Hello my name is Darlene and thank you for stopping by!

    I am cooking a meal from every country in the world. I do extensive research and choose a menu that I feel best represents the country and their cuisine. Of course that also includes the authentic, delicious recipes. Simply click on the link or the photo in the journey by country posts to get them. I also share important information about the country as well.

    I love to cook, photograph, and especially travel. I hope you enjoy this culinary and cultural adventure around the world. Be sure to join the journey so you don't miss a thing. It's free!

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Privacy Policy

    Copyright © 2024 International Cuisine All rights Reserved

    306 shares