Just finished reading Amish Tripathi's 'Scion of Ikshvaku'. I just loved what Ram says about marriage at one point and couldn't resist the temptation of quoting the dialogue here:

'Well, to begin with, it is not a necessity; there should be no compulsion to get married. There's nothing worse than being married to the wrong person. You should only get married if you find someone you admire, who will help you understand and fulfill your life's purpose. And you, in turn, can help her fulfill her life's purpose. If you're able to find that one person, then marry her.'

What can I say? I agree wholeheartedly :-)

Raja, Rasoi Aur Anya Kahaniya (Epic Channel)

Last Wednesday's 'Raja, Rasoi Aur Anya Kahaniya' episode - perhaps the last one - talked about food in Western India.

First to be featured was a dish made from rabbit - called 'खट खरगोश' - in royal kitchens of Rajasthan. They used to stuff the rabbit with spices and put it in a ditch to cook over some leaves. Then there was mention of the famous laal maas. The characteristic red color is imparted to the dish because of Mathiyani chilli which some king in some Rajasthani village had specially got for his farmers.

Then it was the turn of Goa and the famous dishes like Sorpotel and Vindaloo. Much of the credit for these dishes goes to the Portuguese. The Sorpotel uses vinegar. It keeps the meat fresh for longer duration and must have come handy during long see voyages. Some of the Portuguese married local women and settled down. The local women of course disliked the bland taste of the original Portuguese food and added their own spices to enhance the taste.

When it came to Maharashtra, the vegetarian Peshewa food was mentioned. Kolhapur's famous Tambda and Pandhara rassa was talked about. It seems the original pandhara rassa has lot of cashewnuts in it but the version served in restaurants makes ample use of corn flour to impart the white color as the restaurants cannot afford to use so much of cashew.

Mumbai's legendrary Wada Pao and the Pao Bhaji were the next dishes to be featured. There are many stories about how the Pao Bhaji came into existence. Some say it was prepared for the mill workers to keep them sustained for longer hours. Some say the traders at the BSE - working later hours while performing trades with foreign countries - needed something to eat during the night so the nearby restaurants started the practice of putting together leftovers of the day's vegetables gravies along with spices and Pao Bhaji was born. The word 'Pao' has interesting origins. Some say it was sold in a quartet hence the name Pao as in quarter. Another legend goes that the dough for making this bread was kneaded by feet hence the word Pao :-)

The episode ended with the mention of Gujarati Thali.

एक दिन सोने ने लोहे से कहा
'हम दोनो ही लोहे की हथोडी से पिटते है. लेकिन तुम इतना चील्लाते क्यो हो?'
लोहा बोला 'जब अपना ही अपनेको मारता है तो दर्द ज्यादा होता है'

(Forwarded)

Tree Appreciation Walk at Rani Baug, Byculla

When: 3rd January
Venue: Ranibagh, Byculla Zoo (VJB Udyan)
Time: 9am
Duration of walk: 2 hours

For more information, visit http://mumbaicommunity.net/tree-appreciation-walk-sunday3rd-january-2016/

Sunday,3rd January, 20163rd

Sunday,3rd January, 2016
Venue: Ranibagh also called Byculla Zoo, [VJB Udyan]
Time: 9.00 a.m.
Duration of walk: 2 hours - See more at: http://mumbaicommunity.net/tree-appreciation-walk-sunday3rd-january-2016/#sthash.NOinpP53.dpuf

Sunday,3rd January, 2016
Venue: Ranibagh also called Byculla Zoo, [VJB Udyan]
Time: 9.00 a.m.
Duration of walk: 2 hours - See more at: http://mumbaicommunity.net/tree-appreciation-walk-sunday3rd-january-2016/#sthash.NOinpP53.dpuf

Sunday,3rd January, 2016
Venue: Ranibagh also called Byculla Zoo, [VJB Udyan]
Time: 9.00 a.m.
Duration of walk: 2 hours - See more at: http://mumbaicommunity.net/tree-appreciation-walk-sunday3rd-january-2016/#sthash.NOinpP53.dpuf

रायगड महोत्सव

कधी: २२ ते २४  जानेवारी

कार्यक्रम:

शिवराज्याभिषेक (नाट्यरूप)
शिवकालीन  नाणी प्रदर्शन
किल्ल्यांच्या प्रतिकृति
शिवाजी महाराजांच्या हस्ताक्षरातली  पत्रं
व्याख्यानमाला
लोककला, ढोलताशे
कथाकथन, पालखी

नोंदणीसाठी raigadmahotsav.com ( रोप -वे  साठीही आगाऊ आरक्षण आवश्यक)
(वेबसाइट आणि एमटीडी सीच्या  कार्यालयात नोंदणी उपलब्ध)

Banana Leaf, R City Mall, Ghatkopar

Since Komala's closed down in High Street Phoenix, I have been dying to have a good South Indian Thali meal. Unfortunately, by the time I managed to step into Banana Leaf the Chalupa that I had greedily wolfed down a few hours back hadn't yet been digested. So I wasn't hungry enough to go for a Thali. But that didn't stop us from ordering Sri Lankan Style Idli with Potato Stew (Rs. 180) and Ragi Dosa (Rs. 140).

Sri Lankan Style Idli with Potato Stew

Now, I am not too big a fan of Raagi. So I was a bit skeptical about its dosa form. Turned out my worry was totally unfounded. The dosa was even better than its rice flour version. Crisp & seasoned to a perfection - I just couldn't eat enough of it. The tomato chutney and sambar served with it were absolutely divine. The huge idlis with the rich-looking stew (later investigation on Google revealed that coconut milk goes into it) made me wonder if we will be able to finish them off. But those too were polished off within no time.

A lunch that filled the tummy, nourished the soul and was light on the purse. Now that is a rare combination!

NYPD Red 2 - James Patterson

This one is a straight whodunit - no two ways about it. We have a killer loose in New York. He seems to have made it his mission to punish those high-profile people who have managed to commit a crime and get away with it. He is recording their confession and putting them in a Hazmat suit after killing them. Detectives Zach and Kylie are under immense pressure to solve the case as the mayor's re-election campaign hinges on it.

A good read for those who like murder mysteries!

The Great Zoo Of China - Matthew Reilly

I am scarred, forever! Never again will I be able to visit a zoo without wondering about what will happen if any of the carnivores escape. :-( Sure, I did do a double take when the plot revealed that the Chinese have somehow managed to resurrect the dragons to create a park that will give Disneyland a run for its money. Sounds too Jurassic-parkish, doesn't it? But hey, the usual suspects (read Sergei, Yuri, Victor and assorted Russians out to destroy the world!) seem to have taken the back seat as our Chinese neighbors emerge as the bad guys. I could have done with lesser scientific explanation about the dragon revival process though. It appeared as if the author is trying hard to placate those readers who might say 'how on earth can the dragons be resurrected'?.

Well, at least the novel has a female protagonist who saves the day instead of the usual dare-devil superman. And though she has a perfect figure, she doesn't have a perfect face. :-)

http://raisingamathematician.com/