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The Year that was 2015

The Year that was 2015

Another year has passed and it’s time to stop and look back; take stock of my journeys, not only in terms of travel but the journeys which opened a new horizon for me and helped me see the world with diverse perceptions.

I know it is so cliché to reflect back but it’s something I have been doing all these years…. to see how enriching my walk has been.

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Did I achieve something in year 2015?

Yes and No.

World Heritage Day

Today is World Heritage Day. There are 30 World Heritage sites in India, and 981 in the whole world. Can anybody visit them in one life? Yes, I know of a person who visits only Heritage sites and he’s been doing it for last 6 years! Slowly, one by one.
While I am not fortunate enough to be like him, I am contended with my own pace. When I look at the pictures of the sites I’ve visited, I feel quite happy.

Today I share pictures of few of the Heritage sites visited by me. I have many more but then this post will be very long. 🙂

Rice terraces Batad @lemonicks.com

Rice terraces of Batad, Philippines

Celebrating Chinese New Year

Celebrating Chinese New Year

If you ask me one reason why I like Chinese New Year, my reply would be that it’s very colorful and exotic. The streets and houses are decorated with red and golden lamps & lanterns of different shapes and designs, the markets are buzzed with all kinds of gift items, decorative pieces and flower and there is a festive mood everywhere.

street selling new year lamps in China @lemonicks.com

A street in China town, Kuala Lumpur.

The Chinese

Looking back at Year 2013

Another year has passed and it’s time to look back and take stock of my journeys, not only in terms of travel but the journeys which opened a new horizon in front of me and helped me see the world with diverse perceptions.
As I always say, I count my memories, not the places and I am happy that my travel memories are far more and better than the destinations.

marina bay sands Singapore @lemonicks.com

Marina Bay sands, Singapore

For this recap

Ramadan Recipes

It is that time of the year when we celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi. There are a variety of sweets made on this occasion and offered to the Lord Ganesha. Today I’ll talk about the delicacies prepared in Malaysia…. not for this festival but for another festival called Eid or Ramadan.

ramadan delicacy lemonicks.com

Ramadan bazaars are full of Malay dishes – curries, rendang, porridges, roasts, and rice cakes in endless varieties together with sweets, pastries and traditional juices. What better way to start with sweet dishes which I learnt in a

Feasting on Ramadan Delicacies

I returned yesterday after soaking myself in the local culture & feasting on local culinary delights of Ramadan of a few countries. It was that time of the year again. The followers of Islam in India, Malaysia, Turkey and other parts of the world fast during the daylight hours of the month long festival of Eid-ul-Fitr or Ramadan maintaining their self-resistance towards their needs and urges. Come evening, they break their fast with mouth watering dishes in this holy month with much gusto.
This year I followed the Ramadan food trail from Istanbul to Kuala Lumpur to Singapore. Each city had its own variation of certain culture and eateries that specialize in certain types of cuisines.

ramadan delicacy lemonicks.com

In Turkey I roamed

Malaysian Food Festival

Last week I was invited to attend the Malaysian Food Festival which is being held in Mumbai. When I reached there, I was welcomed by the very warm & courteous staff of India Jones, Hotel Trident and was guided to a corner table near a French window.

The ambience was perfect for a quiet lunch. From my seat I could see almost whole of the restaurant. On right hand side a large family was seated on a long table. They were celebrating some occasion. It wasn’t a birthday; perhaps somebody’s achievement? On another table a family of five from three generations was having a quiet lunch. The table next to mine on left hand side was occupied by a young couple, who was discussing spirituality while savoring the Malaysian delicacy.

Ikan bakar @lemonicks.com

Interview with an international chef

I was invited to attend the Malaysian Food Festival which is being held in Mumbai. So when I went there yesterday, I was welcomed by the very warm & courteous staff of India Jones, Hotel Trident to a corner table near a French window.

After the regular customaries, the Malay Chef Kamarudin Bin Dali was informed and he came to my table to greet me. We exchanged greetings and he asked me what I wanted to order from the menu, so that he could start preparing it for me. He also gave me his business card and left for the kitchen.

A recipe has no soul. You, as the cook, must bring soul to the recipe.” -Thomas Keller

I wanted to speak to the person who puts soul in those dishes. I put in request to the staff asking if it would be possible. The Chef was kind enough to oblige me for a few minutes from his busy schedule.

Here is a short interview with him. I can actually call it a chit chat.

malaysian chef @lemonicks.com

The Chef Kamarudin Bin Dali, along

Looking back at 2012

Looking back at 2012

Another year has passed and it’s time to look back and take stock, time to update the set of to-dos, time to see how was the year 2012 for me in terms of travel and otherwise.

As I always say, I count my memories, not the places and I am happy that my travel memories are far more & better than the destinations. Some road trips, some train journeys and a few flights took me places almost every month. I made some new friends, consolidated my bond with old ones.
I also moved to a new place.

Apsara dance @lemonicks.com

This was also the year when

Mask from Malacca

Before we even realize, it’s another month and time for another souvenir from my treasure box ! 😀

If you were to see souvenirs at my place, you’d find different cultures from different countries, showcased around in abundance, collected over past many many years. They vary in size, shape, color and texture. They speak of different stories and histories. And sometimes they remind me of the moment when they were bought !

For this month, what better than to show you something from Malaysia since I am sitting here in this country.

mask from malacca @lemonicks.com

A wooden mask with two birds on forehead.

When I was in