A statue of Buddha from Kalimpong-My favourite !

The Himalayan Earthquake

It was very unfortunate that a strong earthquake struck East India too in September 2011. Once again Nature showed how it can attack our lives without warning and how powerful it is that it dominates and threatens our very existence with it’s strength and force all the time.

My friends in Darjeeling and Sikkim told me how traumatic this experience was for them. It was devastating for them…I fervently hope that they’re able to rebuild their lives and abandon the painful memories and fear of this tragic incident. I feel terrible about all the painful experiences and challenges they had to endure during repeated tremors and landslides. The quakes combined with weather, landslides, electricity cuts and road blocks made it worse for them and the rescue operators though the Army and National Disaster Response Force managed to carry out successful rescue operations with it’s strength and iron-like determination.

I remember how peaceful it was to spend my vacation there a couple of weeks back. It was so serene and calm. I did not know then that in weeks to come this peace and tranquillity would be robbed by forces of nature and destroyed by the powerful hands of earthquake.

When I visited the East in August, on our journey to Gangtok we got stuck on the road for about five hours due to a landslide and as darkness started engulfing the area in the evening we feared that we may have to spend the night on the road. I remember how tiring and unpleasant that experience was but it cannot compare to the fearful experience of those people who must have been stuck on the road in darkness and rain in this earthquake.   

Earlier on this year Japan suffered from an earthquake far worse than this. There was immense destruction and loss of lives there despite their efficient disaster management system. The rest of us are not so well prepared to deal with such calamities in comparison to Japan. Most countries do not take this that seriously and do not realize that the shadows of massive destruction by natural calamities are always present in our lives even if we adopt a careless attitude and choose to ignore it.

We must take strong measures to create earthquake proof buildings and seriously educate the people in dealing with such events. In this recent quake, it was reported that some died of stampede somewhere in Bihar. The lack of knowledge creates people to panic and make matters worse at times like this when it is so essential to try hard to safeguard all our lives. Organizing earthquake drills in schools and neighbourhoods is required to prepare people for such eventualities. Maintaining earthquake kits as well as informing everyone about evacuation routes and places is equally important. In Japanese schools, earthquake drills are held regularly to equip the students in dealing with such events. As a student in Japan in the early 80s, I remember these earthquake drills where we were taught to get under our desks and hold onto the legs of the desk till the quake lasted.We were also given these cushions that could be converted into hoods to protect our heads at that time. 

In Japan, we always maintained an earthquake kit. The earthquake kit contained water, first-aid kit, canned food, can opener, candles, matchbox, flashlight, radio, batteries, medicines, cash & change, passport, some clothes etc. Such a kit aids you in your survival after severe destruction caused by a quake. The world is forever vulnerable to such natural calamities but the absence of knowledge within communities to deal with such disasters makes it all the more dangerous for all of us. A good disaster management system has to be adopted in all countries to train us to respond to such events.  

http://nickiworldtranscendingcultures.blogspot.com/p/japans-die-hard-courage-in-adversity.html

Sikkim



A Gompa in Gangtok, INDIA...By Simrit



DARJEELING by Simrit...INDIA



THE PAST ...

I often hear people say that to move on in life you must forget the Past. And there are some who want to forget their past because they are not proud of it. I don’t believe that as I feel that one can move on in life with your past. One must be proud of one's past as it has been a part of your life. What actually belongs to you is your past as we do not know what the future holds.

 The Past is valuable and stands as testimony to the life you have led. Without a Past, a person would be incomplete and life unaccounted for. As a History student , I have studied Past and have always given importance to it. The facts of a nation’s past are preserved and studied. Past always remains, past is always present even if locked in books and time or buried deep in our hearts. We just have to acknowledge it and seal the cracks of the past if any to move on with the present, to have a pleasant Present and look forward to a calm Future. One also has to look back to understand the events in the past or to bid farewell to any unpleasant memories of the past for a better future. If the past has been good to you then all the more we should appreciate it as the Past has made us who we are today. Either way a Past has to be respected and not forgotten. Past whether it is pleasant or not can’t be ignored. One should be proud of the past even if it may have treated you roughly or made you struggle.

 Cherish the Past and learn from it …A past can’t touch you. So why do we fear it or run away from it ? A past has it’s own place i.e. in the past or in a time that has already passed. But it sure can haunt you if you run away from it.  

 If you try to strangle your past you will feel only suffocated and uncomfortable in times to come as it’s a part of you. One can’t erase History. One has to preserve History. We have to remember who we are and where we came from as said in the movie “The Last Samurai”. This also applies to people who are settled abroad away from their home countries. While they may have changed their nationality they still must not forget their origin.  

  Past is a proof of  one’s identity and gives a glimpse of who you really are or for some it stands witness to the fact how far they can go to stand up for what they believe in…The mistakes from the Past stand to be great lessons in life. A Past that may have been painful has to be addressed with time and dealt with thoroughly to be free from it.

 Don’t be a slave to your past and don’t let it dictate your present completely but learn from it and don’t be embarrassed about it.  By denying your past, you are denying yourself an important part of yourself. Acceptance of your struggles in the past will make you work harder to do well for yourself. Walk into your past, do not abandon it…

Yin & Yang in a Relationship

HEAVEN OR HELL - THE TWO SIDES OF MARRIAGE…

There are two opposite sides or two aspects of marriage...There are two realities of a relationship as life cannot be perfect. These two co-exist like the two opposite but complementary poles of Yin and Yang of Taoist Philosophy or Darkness and Light.

There are two faces of marriage. There is happiness and sadness...It’s alright if the balance is maintained but the day the evil twin takes over the relationship or that side becomes more dominant and only sadness prevails, the marriage becomes a living hell…that’s when the law of love gets violated. At such times the balance of equality would be lost in that relationship and there will be only be disturbance. Everything in life has a Yin and Yang aspect and these two sides survive with each other to create the reality of life. Like many natural dualities a man and woman are also manifestations of Yin and Yang. Whenever one side rules over the other, there will be imbalance and the relationship will disappear.  

Sometimes the side you oppose is the most closest to you. So one must not take someone for granted and lose them in bits and pieces in your relationship with them everyday. Just don’t be on the wrong side.

Follow your heart. In a relationship worth saving, don’t give up so easily, so simply. If you feel something is worthy saving, be it your dreams, conscience or relationship fight for it. But in life you have to establish some parameters…There’s no point fighting for a love that is not willing to be saved. I say this as much as I believe in love and commitment.

 Marriage should be a new beginning where love should be the important part of both lives. Both should try to give all the happiness in the world to each other emotionally. But if unfortunately that love withers away and has no chance of surviving whatsoever in the darkness of insecurities and distrust or any other reason, then one may just have to walk away from it and make it a decent parting rather than degrade each other every moment and in turn create bitter memories to last for a lifetime.

At such a turn of life the love that held the couple together once turns into pain that embraces them now only to stifle them. All have the right to be respected and honoured in love. One does not deserve to be constantly nagged at and put down or be let down constantly. One doesn’t have to withstand a series of insults and injuries everyday. 

 At times like this a person cannot always bear things thinking they’ll change or one day you’ll find happiness in that relationship. If you want to be happy then you have to choose that path in life and sometimes embark on it alone unfortunately. Happiness in short is the making of your own choice.

Love is not conditional and it should not ask you to sacrifice self-respect. If one bears it all quietly…one will get only deeply hurt in the soul. In your heart, there should be a place for forgiveness but not at the cost of endless suffering.

SUMI-E

Sumi-e painting ( Japanese Ink Painting on Rice Paper)
The artist is my father



Sumi-e originated in ancient China and was introduced in Japan by Zen Buddhists and since then has become a very important part of Japanese culture...It was introduced in Korea too.
Painting is a form of meditation. This art form requires immense skill, concentration and discipline. In sumi-e once a stroke is painted it cannot be changed. It reminds me of life in a way where fate and time don't grant you second chances…
Sumiye involves one stroke…can’t have backward strokes. Such is life too as in life too each day cannot be painted again and a moment cannot be revived. So we must live every moment and paint a beautiful memory on that moment as once that moment escapes us, that moment can never be brought back or altered...    

MEDITATION

Meditation helps maintain peace and tranquillity in life by eliminating stress. It is so important to meditate at least once in a day to keep the right balance and focus in life. It helps in developing a calm and positive attitude towards life. Meditation helps in maintaining a healthy mind. 

 I have different ways to meditate. At times I concentrate on a favourite oil painting painted by my mother and focus on that. Other times I visualize a place or chant a mantra. Visualization Meditation is even mentioned in the famous Law of Attraction that basically advocates that you attract what you think. You could meditate any way you want. The idea is to relax, absorb the present and free yourself from stress by controlling your mind through meditation. Another method of meditation I have adopted is to concentrate deeply on what I have and focus on that. It is said that Happiness is not having what you want but wanting what you have…Meditation also helps in achieving acceptance, appreciation, contentment and happiness in what you have in your life.

It gives you a sense of power to control the direction of your life through your thoughts.  A mind has a mind of it’s own and thoughts dictate words. Everything is a state of mind. The mind readily makes you believe what it wants you to. So all the more your mind has to be tamed and thoughts have to be given a positive channel. Meditation is a discipline and a healthy exercise for your mind.      

But meditation only works if you have faith in it. As it is, it is said that faith can work miracles. There are various forms of meditation like Guided Meditation or Self Meditation. Today different types of meditation are practiced. Meditation is widely recognized. I believe that according to scholars, the earliest mention of Meditation is found in the 5000 years old Hindu scriptures. It has been a part of many cultures and is interpreted differently in every culture. In some cultures, meditation is done in the form of chanting and singing or dancing at temples and shrines.

There are different postures in meditation. Sitting Meditation is done in an upright seated position cross-legged on a cushion on the floor. When meditating, your eyes could be closed or open depending on how you want to meditate. You could mediate with your eyes open too by concentrating on some object at a distance and this is a form of meditation that I really like.

The way to meditate is to deeply concentrate on something be it God, a place or thing and focus on it for long. In meditating, you can concentrate on a sound, object, breath or visualization… The correct mode of meditation will divert your mind from everything difficult and stressful. It will release your tired worn out spirit from the daily challenges of modern life.

You could perhaps burn incense or play soft music to create an atmosphere of spirituality around you which will enable you to meditate. Incense burning brings inner peace and fills the mind with inner calm and spirituality. Incenses are therapeutic. They uplift your mood.

Learn to be alone with yourself to explore yourself spiritually and emotionally…to explore your strengths and weaknesses. Meditation helps combat weaknesses of any kind through deep contemplation. By meditating serenity prevails in mind and your mind becomes powerful. In between the silences one finds truth and gets in touch with one’s inner self spiritually.

                                                

  
Japan's Die-Hard Courage in Adversity
Ganbatte Nihon!!! (Good Luck Japan !!!)

The news about the massive earthquake and tsunami in Japan was devastating. I feel terrible about the loss of human lives that such calamities always bring with them. I have been very sad about this tragic incident and have been getting in touch till date with all my friends out there to find out how they're doing. What surprised and deeply impressed me was how calm they are even in this adversity. They're concentrating on how to help each other and how to deal with the setbacks rather than complaining about the injustices of Nature...Any other country would have crumbled by now...They are sad but not letting the sadness become their weakness. They're not letting the destruction retard their strength. 


One can only hope and pray that there is an end to such destructive designs of Nature...Nature reminds us how powerful it is by intimidating us with such force that causes damage beyond comprehension.


Japan is at it's best when it comes to disaster management though. The strength of the Nation of the Rising Sun can never be diminished...They may have been crushed by the unfortunate disaster of Nature but they can never be defeated. Japan always rises above setbacks and challenges and overcomes them successfully...


I always draw inspiration from Japan in difficult times...About a year back I'd even mentioned this in my article “My Inspiration Story". Japanese people are a fine example of strength who despite having suffered in a Nuclear War rose from the ashes like a Phoenix ...I am confident that as courageous as they are they will once again re-construct their lives...Even in this tragedy they are demonstrating immense courage and stand united in combating the destructive forces of Nature in silence with faith and determination. The series of earthquakes and tsunami may have crippled the great Nation's life in every way but it has not scarred the country's silent determination to fight whatever may come their way. My heartfelt respects to the Japanese people who have suffered in this tragedy and my sincere prayers for Japan to overcome these challenges. These are harsh and difficult times for Japan and I fervently hope that they're able to shine brightly once again. We all are with you Japan... Good Luck & All the best Japan !  Gambatte Japan!!!  


[ Ganbatte or Gambatte means good luck or do your best... Ganbatte is sometimes pronounced as Gambatte or atleast sounds like Gambatte even though the spelling is with a 'n' and not 'm' . In Japanese an 'n' followed by a 'b' sounds closer to 'mb'.  ]  
   

FRAGRANCES OF CULTURES

Incenses and Candles have always surrounded me wherever I go. I feel that fragrances must be present in a woman's life in different forms. I have a huge collection of fragrances from various cultures. I have incenses from everywhere from Ladakh to Auroville in India. I also have candles, incense cones and incense sticks from Japan and Thailand as well. I love collecting incenses, incense holders and candle stands from all over the world. Fusion of cultures in fragrances creates beautiful aromas around your daily life…Fragrances soothe and heal the mind.

 No dinner or bath is complete without scented candles, perfumes or naturally fragrant herbal soaps. All time favourites in scented soaps are Yardley’s Rose and Lavender soaps. India's Mysore Sandalwood Soaps are also an all time favourite. Sachets lend fragrance to clothes for a long time as well. I like sandalwood and spiced rose sachets. I particularly enjoy buying sachets. Incenses leave a lasting fragrance in a room…I like Patchouli, Sandalwood and Rose incense sticks.

Scented candles come in all colours, shapes and sizes. They’re easy to carry when one is travelling. Candles can be put in attractive and colourful glass containers or can adorn glass, porcelain, brass or copper candle stands at parties. Honey Suckle, Lavender, Rose, Sandal and Lemon are some of my personal favourites in fragrant candles.

The Art of incense is known to many cultures and in some countries they’re used mostly for religious purposes though now people all around the world appreciate the fragrance of incense in their daily lives as well. Incense is appreciated everywhere and has been used in many cultures since ancient times (India, China, Japan, Persia, Greece and Rome) . Incense is used for religious ceremonies, meditation and aromatherapy.



Charcoal based incense

 The oldest source on incense is the Vedas. Since time immemorial, the Holy Men or Rishis of India had knowledge of the Art of Incense and used them for various religious and healing purposes. Since the time of Ayurveda, fragrances and perfumes had been part of Indian culture while it was still obscure and not known in other cultures. In Ayurveda, incenses were used to aid healing and thus had medicinal properties.



Sandalwood Dhoop in Marble incense holder

Dhoop, Agarbatti (incense sticks) as incenses are referred to in India are handmade and are obtained from nature’s essential oils and prepared from herbs and fragrant woods like sandalwood. India is famous for the most calming Sandalwood incenses which are used a lot in meditation. The most valued Sandalwood comes from Mysore, the State of Karnataka in India. My brother recently gifted me a beautiful white marble lotus shaped incense stand with “Mysore Sandalwood” cones (charcoal based). In India, incenses are used for both religious ceremonies and prayers at home as well as to purify the atmosphere. In ancient India, it was also used when drying one’s hair to leave a soft fragrance in the hair.

Recently I was doing a research on the Art of Incense. As we know, Buddhism originated in India and later when Buddhism spread in China, the Buddhist monks introduced the Art of Incense making to China. There are different forms of incense. For instance “Cored stick incense” (stick incense having a support core of bamboo or sandalwood) is produced in India and China and are sometimes referred to as “joss sticks”. Charcoal incense is also used in India. This type of incense (Dhoop) is mainly used for religious ceremonies and for purification.



A Japanese Incense Stand

 “Solid stick incenses” (without supporting core) are commonly produced in Japan and Tibet though they’re used everywhere. This type of incense can be broken into pieces leaving you to choose the amount of incense you want to burn. I picked up some Tibetan solid stick incenses from Ladakh and they’re so therapeutic and enable one to meditate easily with it’s soothing fragrance.  Incense Cones were developed in Japan. The Art of Incense in Japan is known as ‘Koh-do’ or Kodo.



Our collection of atthars for abroad  

 I like ‘Atthar’ too. Attar or Atthar is the purest form of perfumed oil obtained from various flowers, herbs and spices and does not contain chemicals or alcohol. Attars are natural herbal concentrated perfumes. Attar is derived from a Persian word meaning "to smell sweet". They too come in various fragrances like Rose, “ Raat ki Rani” etc. My grandmother used to add attar to her bath for lasting natural fragrance. It is the perfect essence of flowers for a bath. Atthar is usually dabbed on cotton to apply on pulse points.

I feel that fragrances from all around the world are the perfect gifts for any woman. While in Japan, I would always carry incenses and fragrant herbal soaps for the other foreign teachers as they were greatly appreciated. Sometimes my friends from Scotland would request me to bring different types of incenses. It is nice to spread fragrance in everyone’s life!  Through fragrances I could share the scent of my culture with my friends abroad …Fragrance connects various cultures through history.   



 Autumn of Life

There comes a time of pain and sadness in everyone’s life however much people may deny it. Nobody can escape sadness and pain. There are different seasons in life and seasons always change too… Happiness and sadness are two sides of the same coin. Life doesn’t play according to rules or what is fair…It cheats us and escapes us at times. So does happiness. One cannot rely on happiness to stand by you forever and always. God has created all these seasons of emotions and we have to experience them one way or the other.

I find it very unrealistic when people say that they can never be sad or pained. Unfortunately, nobody can elude pain or sadness. I feel that nobody can have a “No Complications” life. But, most of the time it’s in our power to heal ourselves with time. No season lasts forever even though they may visit our lives time and again. The leaves of life constantly change colours.        

There are Setbacks, Failures, Loses and Disappointments in every life. At such a time one may feel deeply sad or pained. Sometimes people close to us may let us down or hurt us. Yet sometimes in losing we gain…

Crossing over hurts, you have to be willing to suffer a little, push harder to forget sad memories. One can be free of it only once you face the stark reality courageously as hard as it may be. You should not be in a state of denial by pretending that everything is alright as that’s not right and definitely not healthy. One cannot ignore pain. One has to feel it to deal with it.

Sometimes somebody very close to us is lost forever in life or to life. These are loses greater than the loss of something brought about by disappointments and failures. The pain the loss of life brings with it cannot be taken lightly by anyone or dealt with that easily. The kind of pain such a loss brings with it is very different from the above as this kind of pain deeply pierces you and remains within you even in better times.  Such a loss can never be filled…At such a time, it is only natural and only human to feel severely anguished and it is important to try not to suppress it. Sadly, life leaves us no choice but to acknowledge and accept such pain whether we like it or not. That’s really the misfortune of being a human being that you can’t evade pain.

But as far as Failures, Setbacks and Disappointments are concerned, don’t ignore them or they’ll return. Don’t run away from them or they’ll overtake you and consume you. It is natural and normal to feel bad and one shouldn’t ever try to conceal it or one will suffer more. The more you run away from problems the more it catches up with you….deal with all problems in the sense that you may want to address them and try to solve them so that they don’t haunt you afterwards…

Don’t accumulate painful memories somewhere deep inside your heart as that’ll make you feel so heavy and highly burdened. You must release them and be free of them by facing them courageously. It may appear difficult at first but it’s just a matter of time when it will not be impossible. You must try as long as it may take. Sometimes it may take very long to be released from a painful experience but what is important is that you take the first step to make things better, to feel better…

The best way to go about it is to process all your painful memories and address the pain one at a time. The important thing is to deal with the painful memories, even feel bad a little, cry a little…In life one has to cry a little as well as laugh a little. No matter how difficult life gets, live it with hope that Spring will one day arrive in your life. Life is beautiful…you’ll find when the shadows of sadness and pain have faded. Walk into fear of pain , don’t fight it .

RAJASTHAN

The Cultural Heritage of Rajasthan, India

My trip to Rajasthan was short but truly adventurous and memorable. Rajasthan, the city of Forts and Palaces has been a source of curiosity and wonder to me for years. I often thought how it must have been for the people there to have lived so close to palaces and in the shadows of Royalty for such a long time. Royalty has always fascinated me. There are several stories we’ve heard over the time about " Rani Padmini ", the beautiful Rajput Princess and the great Rajput warriors and Kings like  "Maharana Pratap Singh ".

The courageous wars the Rajputs fought are etched in History. But, I find that there is still so much to delve into. There are so many untold stories which envelop Rajasthan in an air of mystery. The barren deserts of Rajasthan stand witness to this rich and colourful history it has inherited.

I was deeply impressed to see that the people there still closely hold the traditional values in their lifestyle and outlook. What astonished me was that women mostly wear ethnic clothes and are still in the sanctuary of ‘ghoonghat’. The world may have moved on but it seems as if they are still stuck in time. Traditions are still enshrined in their culture. I loved the vibrant colours people wear there specially in turbans and veils. The bright colours actually break the monotony of the dry sand dunes and it appears that even in the heat and dust of the dry deserts, their spirits are still very fresh and cheerful. Their hearts seem to celebrate the precious gift of life through lively colours.


The culture there is so inviting that I also got  immersed in their culture. I too covered my head with a veil most of the time while I was there and wore traditional clothes. I also enjoyed wearing delicate glittering glass bangles of various shades that I picked up from the local market while I was there. In Rajasthan, one gets covered completely in the colours of customs and traditions.

My trip to Rajasthan was short and I couldn’t discover as much as I’d wanted to because of the constraints of time and days. But, still I tried to absorb as much as I could in that short time by talking to the locals there over tea and finding out more about their lifestyle and culture. It was really enjoyable visiting the local shops where the atmosphere and customs of the olden days still prevail in some shops. In such shops one was required to take off one’s shoes and sit on the ground (luckily on thick white cushions) while being served hot ‘masala’ tea to make the shopping experience more pleasurable. Such personalized attention and warm hospitality persuaded me to shop more than I thought. I could not resist buying  ‘bandhej’ veils, ‘bandhani’ saris, traditional ‘jutties’ in calf leather and fresh Rajasthani snacks.

On my entire trip in Rajasthan, I felt like Royalty specially whenever somebody addressed me as ‘Hukum’ and greeted me respectfully with a bow or folded hands.

Mandore Gardens

The magnificent palaces and forts too greeted me with the treasures of history and knowledge. I visited Mehrangarh Fort, Jaswant Tharra and Mandore Gardens in Jodhpur. I was delighted to see the intricate work on the imposing structures. The view from the Fort as in the case with Jaisalmer Fort was spectacular. I just couldn’t help imagining the King observing his kingdom from a distance. From that height in both the forts ( Mehrangarh & Jaisalmer Forts ), the city appeared to be blue in Jodhpur and golden in Jaisalmer and truly lived up to its name of the Blue City and the Golden City respectively…

The magnificent Mehrangarh Fort fascinated me the most. It is so impressive and till today truly symbolizes the rich era of royalty. The fort despite housing so many tourists and workers had a very calm and quiet atmosphere. It seems all were completely mesmerized with the surroundings and didn’t want to spoil the moment by talking. People were actually whispering as if feeling that they still might be in the presence of a King. Such is the air in the forts-it hypnotizes you and transports you back to the olden era. The fort enthralled me and charmed you.

The area around Jaswant Tharra was very serene and scenically stunning too and I wished I had more time where I could spend the whole afternoon there. Some tourists were just sitting in the gardens and absorbing the silence that surrounded the place as well as the beauty around them. Actually such places naturally invite meditation.


The ancient temples enveloped by the Forts (Jain Temples in Jaisalmer and the Hindu Temples in Mehrangarh Fort- "Chamunda Devi" Temple & "Shivji's" Temple) gave me an immense sense of of calmness. These temples have an aura of divinity I could actually feel the presence of a power of some sort…Sitting in Shivji’s Temple in Jaisalmer made me find what I was searching for all this while i.e. true calmness. A great sense of peace prevailed over me out there.

The beautifully carved " Patwon ki Havelis "  ( Havelis of Patwons ) in Jaisalmer spell grandeur in the real sense. It was sheer delight to see the display of luxury and wealth in every corner of the haveli in the form of paintings etc. What surprised me was the variety of sophisticated kitchen items the kitchen held even in the olden times.


The vast golden deserts of Jaisalmer encompass many folklores, music and dances. I spent an evening in the desert listening to a young boy and his father singing for me in the silence of the desert. The camel ride before that was a bit challenging though and strained me a bit but I’m glad I took on that adventure. A visit to the desert is not complete without it.

The beautiful Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur introduced me to Royalty of present times and their rich history and legacy. I think everyone who goes there fervently wishes and hopes for a glimpse of the Royal family. Unfortunately one could not wander around freely on the palace grounds there on the side that has been converted into a Hotel. But it was interesting to see the old portraits and photographs of the Royal family.

Rajasthan depicts the real India. It’s the heart and soul of the culture of India. I would definitely like to go back there again sometime to find new adventures and create new memories...

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CULTURAL SENSITIVITY IN THE KITCHEN

A Table for many Cultures

It is essential to cater to different cultural tastes as the perfect host. Adaptability to the availability of ingredients and matching the cooking to the palates or tastes of your guests is so important in preparing for a party.  One must take into account not only the cultural tastes but also the individual preferences as well of all your guests. A detailed and careful preparation will never let you down.

Your sensitivity towards your guests specially in food will be felt and appreciated greatly as well as create a lasting impression on them in the form of a most perfect lovely evening. My parents were a famous couple in the diplomatic circle in Japan as in entertaining and hosting parties they demonstrated a lot of sensitivity. A leading magazine “Good Day” featured them too as one of the famous Diplomatic Parties Hosts. My mother always introduced a tinge of flavours from various cultures in her cuisine. No wonder her book and TV programs became so famous too at the time. The same special touch was added to the music and the drinks for the party as well.

My parents won prizes in “Kikkoman” Cooking Contests as well because of the fact that they introduced a tinge of Japanese flavour in their Indian dishes. They always kept in mind the preferences of their guests and catered to the tastes of all countries at their home parties. The food at their parties truly represented a fusion of many cultures. Today it has become even more important to find out more about different cultural preferences in food in order to combine those tastes with your food to entertain well...

http://colouredbyminna.blogspot.com/search/label/Minna%27s%20Test%20Kitchen

SHALL WE DANCE???

Life is a Tango 

Life in a relationship is a dance…I want him to lead and I want to follow…

I was reading about Tango and it’s different forms. This dance has always fascinated me. I feel in many ways Life is a Tango…in a relationship. A man leads in life and if he misses a step or falters, the dance could end there and then…It also depends on both the man and woman as to how to create a beautiful experience in the journey of their relationship …

What is important is how he leads and how she follows… to create a beautiful dance in life without tripping each other. A dance like Tango can be experienced in a marriage with beautiful and precise  steps. Each step must be taken with care and each movement must be graceful in a relationship to create such a beautiful dance.

The Tango dancers dance in a closed embrace with legs relaxed and slightly bent…that’s how a relationship between couples should be. Love should embrace the couple yet it should not suffocate them. There should be optimum communication.  They should find solace and peace in each other’s love and bend the rules a bit to avoid rigidity of any kind in that beautiful emotion. They should flexibly adjust to each others’ needs in a relationship just like the Nuevo Tango’s frame called an ‘embrace’ or ‘abrazo’ where the embrace is not rigid but it actually adjusts to different steps. Of course occasional gymnastic lifts, kicks and drops like Tango are natural in a relationship to make the journey of love interesting. But whatever may come, the dance of a relationship should not lose grace and beauty.