Ornaments of an Indian Bride

Kaleeras of a North-Indian Bride

Kaleeras are worn by a North Indian bride. The dome shaped bells or ornaments are very important for a bride....Kaleeras are tied on bangles of the bride by her sisters and friends to wish her luck in her new life ahead. The kaleeras also represent the number of close female friends and sisters of the bride. They are made of silver, metal or rosewood. They come in various designs...They are worn on both wrists.

Kaleeras are what a bridal bouquet is to a Christian bride. A bride hits kaleeras against each other over the heads of unmarried girls to shower them with blessings and the kaleeras that fall on a girl's head means that she will get married next...These beautiful kaleeras were chosen by my mother for her niece and they are made with velvet and beads too. The bride has designs made on her hands with Mehndi ( Henna ) on her hands as well...

" If you try hard enough, you can achieve just about anything though patience,discipline,strength of mind and faith are required. Never give up even in the  most trying time as your time will also arrive someday..."
                                                                                       -Simrit

Traditional Japanese Dolls

While living in Mie- ken I learnt more about Traditional Japanese Dolls. We have a collection of traditional Japanese dolls at our home. They were presented to us by a close friend and ex- Defencare Attaché of Japan to India in the 80s. But I got an opportunity to study about them when I was teaching in Mie. Most of my seniors there knew the art of making traditional dolls. It was an honour to receive their hand made dolls as gifts. I possess Ichimatsu and Kimekomi dolls...As a child in Tokyo, some of my friends also made paper dolls for me which again is an art form by itself. Kimekomi dolls date back to Edo period and to put it simply are made of cloth and wood. Ki means tree/ wood and mekomi refers to the technique of the tucking of the fabric...Traditional Japanese dolls represent children,warriors and ladies in kimono...They are used in the Dolls Festival- Hina Matsuri and as gifts to friends and family. Ichimatsu dolls represent little boys and girls.They were presented by Japan to the United States  in the Friendship Doll Exchange in the 1920s. I will share the picture of these dolls another time...

Traditional Japanese Dolls Handmade by a friend Ezaki San  in Mie-ken

                                              FAITH

Every person, country or religion follows faith...Faith is important. However different our cultures may be or whatever religion we may follow, faith lives in most of us. It unites people and brings them together .

One can have immense faith in God or a person. It is essential to have faith in something to give life more purpose and meaning. Faith can be placed in a person, place or thing...We visit places of worship because we have faith that we can find peace there and feel the divine presence of God around us. Sometimes we worship some person because we love that person the same way we love God i.e. without conditions. Faith is in fact born from love to start with and it continues to grow strong in time with trust...

Usually Faith is at it's strongest when we receive and feel we are not let down by God or a person and the same Faith is fragile in storms of anger or betrayal. But faith in anything ought to be unconditional...

Faith resides where there is trust ...Trust and honesty attract faith in a relationship and are the two strong pillars of any relationship. When faith is lost in God or a person,everything is lost. Then a sense of direction is lost. Lack of faith can prove to be quite destructive as then we have nothing to turn to in life or get strength from in trying and difficult times. Prayer offered to the Gods in different faiths or faith in a person give us immense strength. In faith do we learn to bow our heads before God or a person we love and respect. 

I feel that no matter how long it takes or how hard it may be, there comes a time when it becomes absolutely necessary to restore one's faith in a person you love or any God you worship to maintain peace and contentment in life. Basically life is simple when we can unconditionally hold our faith in life's decisions and changes however opposed we may be to it to start with. Faith however misplaced it may be at times because of unfulfilled expectations or circumstances has to win in the end. Faith brings hope...

In silence do we find truth about love....?

Sometimes a beautiful relationship may be torn forever...It may be damaged because of repeated doubts,mistrust,disappointments and conflicts but the hearts of two people may silently desire to want to mend the beautiful fabric of the relationship which was once embroidered with love,trust,respect and understanding.

Sometimes a couple may feel that everything has ended in their relationship  but their hearts continue to feel for each other greatly...Their hearts don't cease to believe in each other somewhere and they end up waiting for each other at all times as their powerful connection does not die even in adversity. And that endless wait for each other without expression of words can divide them further forever as most of the time lack of communication and absence of accurate interpretation can harm a relationship severely specially if they are not well -versed in reading silence.

In the face of obstacles of doubts and fears, they may not be able to express clearly but their hearts want to say so much...At such times one needs to be able to read in between the silence...As difficult as it may be two people should be able to feel the love they have for each other and not seek it entirely in words and actions. Love can sometimes be silent but it still exists anyway in every way possible and it's intensity has to be felt some way or the other...But the subject of silence cannot be translated by everyone.

Not always can people comprehend the language of silence. All the more such people should try hard not to allow the desert of silence enter their relationship which creates this endless distance between them or they will be lost to each other forever. In silence we may find love but it is hidden from many who cannot unveil it every time...

Life may surprise you most of the times. Some of us love surprises as long as they are pleasant ones while some of us don't want any surprises at all. But obviously in life we have no choice in the matter .

We  always hope to be pleasantly surprised but sometimes life offers us unpleasant surprises. Unpleasant surprises are unwanted as we are caught off balance and we don't know how to deal with them. But time helps us to find the hidden strength in us to meet the challenges and cope with the unpleasantness. When there is no way out the only way we know then is to find a way to battle the unpleasant circumstances and come out of it somehow...It may take long but we manage to survive many bitter moments and this is a sign of living. Life forces and teaches us how to survive as long as we are breathing...

We often may possess reserves of inner strength and courage and we may not be aware of it till time makes it's move. In problems and in crisis do we come in contact with our true self. In the most difficult times, gradually time prepares us to finally accept things the way they are even if we keep resisting or expressing opposition to the turn of events and bad circumstances.I have always noticed that when the storm of shock,denial and tears have passed, then comes acceptance...That is how nature tunes us I guess. There will be times when your heart will be heavy with pain and bitterness about how life may have treated you, yet somewhere with it comes acceptance of those events too. In time we learn to accept things we cannot change...

The best known first two verses of  Serenity Prayer state- " God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change...
Courage to change the things I can and the
Wisdom to know the difference. "

We have heard of wedding vows and everyone gives a lot of importance to the words of the vows they take only to misplace it somewhere in time during the course of life...Most of the vows are similar. It is so important to actually feel and mean what you say...It is important to try to follow what one promises to another person however hard it may be. Just recently I heard someone say on TV that when you show someone a dream of a lifetime together it is your responsibility to protect that dream and not let it break.

Words have value only if they are truly meant from the heart or they just remain words...A lot of people promise a lot of things just to break their word later. A lot of people say a lot of beautiful words at the time of their wedding perhaps because the situation demands it or romance calls for it.

Wedding vows are important and have their own beauty...But I would like to believe that there is something called Pre-Wedding vows too which lays down a strong foundation for the wedding vows that follow it. According to me, Pre -wedding vows should be more demonstrative and not merely remain words so that the vows taken on your wedding day blossom from them and straight from your heart. Promises should be made to each other in the knowing process or the dating period before the marriage. There are pre-wedding events, pre-wedding rehearsals and pre-wedding counseling and there should be pre-wedding vows as well.

It is essential for two people to interact with each other and get to know each other well before they set a wedding date. In conservative cultures couples may not be allowed to interact with each other freely before their wedding but today's world calls for two people to get to know each other well before getting married even in the case of an arranged marriage. This time in getting to know each other will enlighten them about each other and how well they relate. Such time together also shows them whether they are prepared to accept an entire life with each other. That's when these pre- marital vows play their part...As part of the vow, the couple should promise to stand by each other in life's decision making and challenges...A couple should vow to be there for each other in the tests of life, in doubts and misunderstandings because as it was said by one of the ladies in the movie " Barfi" , a long silence between a couple can silence the love...A vow should be taken to keep their connection alive even in their differences of opinions and arguments because once the communication is lost, a relationship is lost. A fair argument is also some form of communication. It is better than being silent with each other because of the fear of offending each other. Withholding and hiding things from each other can damage the relationship gradually. A pre wedding vow should also include the promise that they would be no secrets...A long silence between two people in love creates a wide gap between them. The threads of love that once connected them slowly break with the strength of the winds of separation each day during that silence .

 One should appreciate the chance to be together instead of losing that one chance to time. Whatever questions life may present the pair, they should promise to stand united in solving them and getting past their misunderstandings. There has to be honesty , trust and a sincere desire to be with each other between them to start with to deal with what life has to offer them in the future.

A promise should be made to be willing to share almost everything with each other in terms of their past, present and future. A couple must be willing to reveal everything about themselves to each other to invite trust and confidence in each other.  Pre- marital vows should be taken seriously and should be lived and fulfilled. The fulfillment of these vows reflects in the time the couple takes time to know each other before the wedding date. The completion of these vows will be visible in small things...When a couple has proved the willingness to stand by these promises before they get married will they actually live the vows taken on their wedding day in the days that follow their wedding. Actions speak louder than words and the sealing of these promises would naturally be visible in the times they interact with each other. The music of a relationship should keep playing through the notes of expression,emotions,sensitivity, understanding,love, acceptance and mutual respect to begin with even if the songs may be unpleasant sometimes till the time you perfect it. Once the musical record of a relationship breaks, it will be broken forever and will never play the same way again even if you try fixing it...It may not be possible to revive the beauty of a special relationship  when it is ruined by endless misunderstandings, lies and mind games. A relationship is actually quite fragile and it can vanish in an instant leaving behind  tears and heartache.  So promise each other to create a beautiful melody in life and live by it. The fulfillment of the  pre-wedding vows would add a magical touch to the day when you finally promise each other your lives before everyone.

The Dark Hours of Crisis

Once again Nature strikes and it's fury is evident in the massive disaster caused by the floods and landslides in Uttarakhand. It is severely heartbreaking to hear about the loss of so many lives . What is most devastating is to hear people relate their horrific stories about how they helplessly saw their closed ones being swept away by the strength of these floods . So many are still missing or waiting to be rescued. Some survivors struggled to survive in nearby forests till they were rescued only to be robbed and beaten by gangs of robbers who had crossed over from the border. It is sad to see how certain people can take undue advantage of those in misery. Fortunately these gangs have been caught now as our soldiers had been air dropped in these jungles to locate survivors.

In this crisis the Army and Air-Force are doing everything in their power to help and rescue people. Private organizations and local people are providing all the support and assistance to aid the rescued victims and their relatives...It is inspiring to see how common people are uniting to assist without any governmental support. In times of crisis people either come together to tackle and combat  the challenges or they fall apart. But in this disaster, ordinary people have demonstrated immense sensitivity ,incredible courage and humanity in helping out those affected by these floods and landslides. News channels have showed how people are setting food camps for the rescued victims and their families who have gone to receive them.

This recent calamity brings back bitter memories of the floods in Ladakh.We may not be able to fight the inevitable and we may not be able to match the fury of the natural calamities. But time and again we are reminded that while we may not be able to contradict the decision of such calamities ,we can at least find ways to decrease the disastrous effects of such calamities. What is needed is more effective and organized disaster management by the government. It is also important  to receive almost accurate weather predictions beforehand to warn people to some extent.

Pilgrimage sites and religious  destinations which attract large number of people every year should be untouched by too much modernization in the form of illegal construction of many hotels along the river  to attract tourists. Lately these religious places are attracting more tourists than pilgrims.  The damage of such a calamity can be reduced if  unplanned construction, river bed mining and cutting of trees are prohibited . There should be restrictions on the number of pilgrims visiting the religious site at one time in a day so that not many gather there at the same time as this may result in more loss of human lives when such calamities strike. Pilgrims should be distributed in groups and they should allow only a certain number of groups a day. As it is overcrowded temples often witness stampede. People should not be allowed to extend their stay for too many days after their  visit to the temple or shrine.The idea is to visit the Temples to worship and not to spend an entire vacation there. Since these areas are not accessible easily, all the more necessary measures and precautions have to be taken to protect the safety of the people living there who have to face natural calamities time and again.

The  weather forecasts have to be taken seriously too before planning trips. Rest is upto the will of God and Fate. But still we must take precautions. It costs nothing to take precautions. I feel that unlike other countries, some of us here do not give importance to weather forecasts. We actually don't follow it as regularly as we should.

When I was working in Japan, I was always advised to take the weather forecast seriously and consult it before going anywhere. My office used to warn me about typhoon much before so that I could stalk up my place with food and water beforehand as the typhoon restricted any movement and paralyzed life. The news channels there would give such weather warnings many hours before the typhoon would hit our area and keep updating us periodically. Also we were kept informed about the direction and course of the typhoon. Sometimes Tsunami alerts were sent out instantly and we were always informed by our local governments about the evacuation points.

It is said that the request by the meteorological department for a Doppler weather radar for Uttarakhand has been denied time and again by the government . Uttarakhand has witnessed  floods very often and something has to be done to issue timely weather warnings in those areas.

In this darkest hour of crisis , the people of India stand united in helping each other without any strong governmental support. It is surprising that many demonstrated their indifference to this crisis by not providing any humanitarian aid or assistance in the beginning. The  politicians and nations are gradually coming forward to provide some support now but it has to be said that their responses are delayed . It is the Army and Air-Force who reacted instantly to salvage so many lives. The resolute strength of the Army and Air-Force and their continuous efforts day and night to deal with the damage caused by these floods as well as courage to rescue so many can never be forgotten. Without their prompt action, thousands of lives could not have been saved.They have air-dropped food,medicines and drinks in unreachable area of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh till the time they are able to reach them to evacuate them. They have risked their lives for others as always and are determined to save each and every life.

 In recent years the Armed Forces have shouldered most of the responsibility outside their job description  in reaching out to the people in internal crisis than the government or Police Force. It is time that we assist them so that they could concentrate more on our external security. It is time that people and specially volunteers are given training in dealing with disasters with the supervision of the military. Many countries make military training compulsory for a few years. Perhaps that is what is needed in our country as well.

Our prayers are with the victims of this floods and their families. And our prayers and respect are also with those who are leaving no stones unturned to save so many lives day and night.  The soldiers are carrying out evacuations by foot and their contribution to rescue so many lives will always be remembered in times to come. People are so grateful to our Army , Army Aviation and the Air Force. The ITBP and NDRF has done it's bit too and has contributed in saving many lives.  Without the Army and Air Force rescue operations on such a wide scale would not have been possible. They have actually considered this disaster as a very severe natural disaster and have carried out rescue and evacuation operations accordingly to combat the great damage caused by this tragedy.

There are still so many stranded in inaccessible areas and we pray that God gives them the will and strength to survive till they are rescued. Our heartfelt condolences to the families of the people who have lost their lives in this tragedy and our deep respect and condolences to the families of the courageous men of our Forces who have sacrificed their lives in these risky rescue operations. May their souls rest in peace.

It is often said that this too shall pass but the sadness of this tragedy will always remain with us...

Life is a Circus...

Yesterday I watched the movie " Mera Naam Joker ". It is a famous movie of the legendary actor Raj Kapoor. Raj Kapoor movies have been widely acclaimed everywhere in the world specially in Russia. A lot of people who met me abroad always associated India with Raj Kapoor. His movies have touched many hearts till date.

  I was deeply touched too by the movie.  A joker or a clown laughs in all circumstances...What may come, what may go he always laughs...He suppresses his tears to make other's laugh. A joker is always an entertainer. He believes that the show must go on. But behind the smile of the joker hides deep sadness.

It is true that whatever may happen in life ,the show must go on. That is what life demands from us.So many times I have thought about how people continue to live even after losses and heartbreaks. They do so because life only has place for those who move forward as the play of life doesn't stop at one point.Such is life ! People are compelled by life to move ahead despite the tears and sadness.

In this movie " Mera Naam Joker" too, Raju states that Life is a circus and there are three stages in life- Childhood, Youth and Old age.

His first love is his teacher who is very sensitive and caring towards him. His second love is a Russian girl who is caring and loving but countries and cultures divide them.  His third love needs him and in that need develops caring. But she gives up everything in their journey together for new things and that brings about differences of thoughts in their  relationship because she is driven solely by ambition. It is sad go see how Raju always gives his heart for it to be only returned back to him. Every time he presents a toy joker to whomever he gives his heart to as the joker represents him...But the ladies in his life always return it back to him eventually just to move forward without him.Everybody in his life comes to just leave him in the end.

And that is what Raju the joker believes that nothing belongs to nobody in life as everything gets taken away from everyone at one time or another...It is true nothing in life can be contained. Nothing lasts forever be it human being or relationships.

The song " Jeena yahan Marna yahan" is a beautiful song from this movie which means that We live here, We die here...in the circus of life.

What is inspiring about Raju's character is that he remains a real joker all his life...true to himself as very early in age he decides to become a joker to spread happiness in all's life. He gives himself completely to others only to lose them and yet he always wishes them well. Even in his tears he gives happiness to others.He has a big heart and is always giving by spreading happiness in everyone's lives even if his heart breaks. But a person who is a giver always loses something...

I feel that somewhere we all have a joker in us as we know that without entertaining people around us we will be left alone. It is true life is a circus as whatever may happen in your life, people expect you to remain happy all the time as nobody has time for tears. If you cry, you cry alone...If you laugh, everyone will laugh with you.

Tomorrow we may not be here to entertain but some others will replace us in life to entertain in the circus of life as the show has to go on. Performers come and go...Life remains the same.

In the world of materialism people are losing the meaning of emotions as they have no time for it. Thoughts are absent somewhere... Emails are replacing hand written letters...Handmade cards have given way to readymade ones and we are living on borrowed words as well as borrowed thoughts...Gifts are bought keeping in mind mostly designer labels and price tags even though sometimes they may not be all that appealing or tasteful. Today the  value of a gift is measured by it's cost...

I personally like a thoughtful gift than an expensive gift most of the time though I always appreciate all types of gifts. Of course gifts could be both thoughtful as well as expensive as long as there are true feelings behind it. Actually the thought behind a gift matters the most and not the cost.

A gift should never be judged by it's size or cost...The emotion behind a small inexpensive gift can be actually more valuable than anything as long as it is given from the heart.  Sensitivity must be demonstrated in giving and receiving gifts...There should be a personal touch in giving gifts and deep appreciation must be expressed in receiving...People always tell me that they enjoy giving me presents as they feel that I genuinely appreciate whatever they give me and I always demonstrate the joy of receiving them  through words of appreciation. I also make it a point to wear or use anything a person gifts me to show my sincere appreciation to them. It is always nice to make someone's day. Everyone needs to feel special. There should be happiness and pleasure involved in giving and receiving gifts...Never forget to compliment somebody on their choice of gift for you !

~Yeh Dil~

                                                      Yeh Dil

Kismat (Kismet) ka kehna maan bhi lein toh Dil toh kuch aur hi chahega...

Duniya ke dastoor (dastur) ke  saamne sar jhukha bhi lein toh Dil ka toh alag farhmaan hoga...Dil ka toh alag faysla hoga...

Dil par toh kiska zor nahin. Dil ki toh apni marzi hai...

Dil ka bhi to haq hai ki woh apni manmaani kare chahe rok le zamane ke faysle  ise...


                                             This Heart

Even if one listens to what fate or destiny  says,the Heart will always desire something else...

Even if one bows ones's head before the norms or customs of the world, the order of the Heart will be different...the decision of the Heart will be different...

Nobody can have a way with the heart,it has it's own will...

The Heart too has the right to do and act as it pleases even if the decisions of the society may try to stop it...

~Rehmat-

Rehmat Hai un par jinhe khwaab ke muqammal  hone ki khushnaseebi mile...

Warna aise bhi hain jo is jannat ki manzil ki talaash  mein sari zindagi bitaa dete hain par phir bhi mehroom ho jaate hain iski roshini se...

Phir bhi  woh is ek pal ko haasil karne ki koshish mein qaim rehete hain...

Samet lo in muqammal khushiyon ke lamhe aur sajaa do inme Yaadon ki khushbu...

Abaad kar lo zindagi ko chaen ke lamhon ke rangon se, jise waqt se karz par liye hain...

Jab tak hai inayat, bhar lo jholi ek ek haseen pal se...

Na jaane phir kab  taqdeer dastak de aur maang le apne diye hue lamhon ko...

Blessings are on those who are fortunate enough to see the completion or fulfillment of their dreams...

Else there are others who spend their entire lifetime in search of the destination of such a heaven...but are still deprived from the brightness of it .( i.e.  the brightness of the happiness of the completion of dreams which feels like heaven on earth ) 

Still they continue to live trying to get or obtain this moment...( i.e.  the moment where they will experience the joy of witnessing the fulfillment of their dreams)

Therefore gather these complete moments of happiness and decorate them with laughter or smiles and fill in them the fragrance of memories...

Enrich life with the Colours of Moments of Peace which we have taken on loan from Time...

Till there are blessings, fill the bag of your life with each beautiful moment...

One never knows when Destiny may knock and ask you to return those moments it has given you...

A table 4 Organic Food

At a restaurant specializing in organic food...Ise-shi, Mie-Ken Japan  

Such restaurants catering to health are very popular in Japan specially in the countryside...

Lets go Organic ! A Table 4 Organic Food...



A Touch of Spain in Japan

" Spain Mura" - Ise-Shima, Mie-Ken Japan 



A Buddhist Temple in Ise, Mie-ken Japan

Sushi...

                                                                      SUSHI

I developed a taste for "sushi" when I re-visited Japan as a teacher on JET programme. My interest in the history of sushi deepened as I sampled and enjoyed various types of sushi during my stay there. That's when I realized that the world of sushi is so vast. Each prefecture has it's own kind of sushi. 

I particularly enjoyed "Tekone sushi", a speciality of Ise, Mie prefecture. It is fish piled on rice but is well-mixed. My Japanese friend's mother introduced me to this new kind of sushi as a part of my ongoing study of sushis.

Sushis have made traditional Japanese cuisine more famous worldwide. I have been reading about different types of sushis lately. "Nigiri-zushi" and "Maki-zushi" are quite popular everywhere and naturally I too enjoyed it's flavours. Nigiri-zushi as we all know it is basically a clump of sushi rice (folding vinegar into rice) pressed together and decorated with a topping of raw fish or cooked fish. I read that Nigiri means “press in the hand".It is best to have it at restaurants than at home.

The traditional sushi takes a long time to prepare. Funa-zushi from Shiga Prefecture is one of the oldest. Fish is pickled in rice and salt for about half a year and allowed to ferment. When it matures, you have a thin slice of the fish accompanied by hot water. It's quite delicious actually.

Maki-zushi reminds me of swiss rolls for some reason. Maki-zushi or Nori-Maki is rolled sushi and is again very popular in other countries too. A bamboo rolling mat is used here to wrap the sushi rice and various ingredients in nori (seaweed).It is then sliced.Maki-zushi can be easily prepared at home. 

Sushi doesn't always have raw fish. Some are just seasoned with sake, vinegar and soy sauce. Ingredients are at times just mixed in sushi rice and then seasoned with soy sauce and vinegar. Talking about raw fish, I love sashimi too ( raw fish served by itself ).  

For some, life is a bed of roses...For others a constant struggle...And for some life is a never ending pain… Life sure has difficulties but in spite of these challenges and problems we should be willing to try our best…

It is important to think positively and responsibly about every situation once the storm of anger, denial and tears have passed. Sometimes life is sweet and sometimes bitter. Life is sometimes happiness and sometimes sadness... " Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gam " Such is the reality and truth of life ! 

There’s more to life than happy endings. Such is life !What is important is to live positively by living today to it's fullest. One life to live ! " Zindagi na milegi dobara..."



Taiko performance at Sake Matsuri (Festival)





Red chillies from Kalimpong...Was told that these are used in pickles.



Asi es La Vida !

Meet Life ! A child is first greeted by life at time of birth... Then Life is a series of introductions... Gradually  as time passes by , life introduces us to joys,laughter,sorrows,tears,pain and dreams...It introduces us to new emotions everyday. We meet expectations and disappointments through life and we have to live and accept each meeting. Some introductions of life are pleasant, some unpleasant. But we have to mingle with all aspects of life and we have to interact with all the experiences it introduces us to.Through the journey with life, one has to greet every chance and every opportunity that comes our way...There is no escape from these moments life makes us meet. Through people and places, life acquaints us with ourselves as well...It acquaints us with our strenghts  and weaknesses as well...It also gives us hope. Such is life. Asi es La Vida...Life continues as usual.   

KALIMPONG

INDIA

Famous Sakes& Shochus introduced at a Sake event recently ...

Recently I was honoured to assist a delegation of Presidents and owners of Sake & Shochu Brewers in introducing exclusive sakes and shochus at Wasabi restaurant, Taj Mahal Hotel. It was really nice interpreting for them and getting introduced to sake brewing process.

Mr. Hideharu Ohta (Pres. DAISHICHI Brewery, Fukushima-established in 1752), Mr. Ryuichiro Masuda (Masuizumi Junmai Daiginjo), Mr. Sudo (Pres. Sudohonke) & Mr. Watanabe (Pres. Kyoya Shochu Distillery founded in 1834) introduced their best sakes and shochus in India at the hotel and the Japanese Embassy Matsuri (festival). It was a great honour and pleasure to meet them.
I am looking forward to learning more about sakes and sharing my knowledge with you in the coming days. So I have decided to have a separate section that will talk about sakes and how best we can absorb it in our daily lifestyle and cooking. My mother has been using sake in Indian cooking since the 80s when she published a book on healthy Indian cooking in Tokyo which catered to Japanese tastes. Inspired by her, I would like to share some tips to acquaint you with Sake so that you could welcome it in your house too. Sakes complement a lot of Indian dishes too.

SHOCHU

Shochu is Japan's traditional distilled hard liquor. Authentic shochu is distilled once unlike beer. It is mainly made from sweet potatoes but it is also made from barley, rice, buckwheat, brown sugar, dates, sesame’s seeds and various vegetables.
It derives it's characteristics from sake and koji. Shochu is on par with Scotch/Whisky. Shochu can also be used for marinating and seasoning. It enhances the taste of ingredients and softens the smells of meat and seafood.
Shochu can be served chilled, warm, hot, and straight on the rocks .It can be added to cocktails. Sweet potato Shochu can be served tea ceremony style.

SAKE

Lately I have been reading a lot about how Sake (Sa-ke) is made. Sake is a Japanese alcoholic drink made from fermented rice. Sake is known as Japanese rice wine around the world. There is so much of information available on the internet regarding sake brewing. It was interesting to sharpen my knowledge about Sake.

In honorific Japanese it is referred to as O-sake. Actually sake refers to alcoholic drinks in general. In Japan, Japanese rice wine is known as 'nihonshu'.

It can be served cold, lukewarm or hot. Sake is usually drunk in small porcelain cups or wooden box like cups but now there are different ways of serving it. It can be served straight or can be used in cocktails now.

There are pasteurized sakes and those that are not.  Sake can also be used in cooking, sauces and marinades.There are various varieties of sake. For instance Junmai Diginjo-shu, Junmai Ginjo-shu, Junmai-shu etc. Junmai Daiginjo-shu is a very special brew of pure rice with rice polishing ratio of below 50 %.  Junmai Ginjo-shu's rice polishing ratio is below 60% and Junmai-shu's is below 70%.

 Sake is produced by a brewing process which may be similar to that of beer yet very different. Rice is used in case of sake instead of barley which is fermented to make beer.  Sake is called rice wine and is compared to beer at times. But Sake is a unique type of fermented alcohol. Sake would be the only beverage in the world using koji. Koji is one of the key ingredients in sake brewing.  Basically there are five elementsinvolved in brewing Sake-

Water, Rice, Yeast, Land, Weather and Technical Skill

I would like to talk about the Sake brewing process at length sometime. To summarize Sake is a result of brewing process that uses lots of water and rice-

1. Polished Rice is washed, soaked and steam cooked without water. Steam is brought through the bottom of the rice. The steaming method is called 'koshiki'.

2. Then the rice is mixed with yeast and 'koji' (rice cultivated with a mold).

3. The whole mix is allowed to ferment with more rice/koji/water added in 3 batches over 4 days.

Fermentation occurs in a large tank (the process is called 'shikomi'...the quality of rice, the degree to which koji mold has propagated, temperature variations and other factors are different for each shikomi) .There are different methods of fermentation.  

4. This mash ('moromi') is allowed to sit from 18-32 days after which it is pressed ('joso'), filtered ('roka') and blended.

[ SAKE BREWING PROCESS :  POLISHING  RICE (Seimai)-->  WASHING & SOAKING--> STEAMING (koshiki) & COOLING--> KOJI MAKING(seigiku)--> YEAST STARTER (moto)--> MASH (moromi)-rice/water/koji added in 3 stages over 4days --> PRESSING(joso)--> FILTRATION(roka)--> PASTEURIZATION--> AGING/MATURING ]

                                             Bunraku

In Japan, another traditional performing art Bunraku is delightful too. It’s a refined form of puppet theatre which involves music played on ‘shamisen’ (a three-stringed instrument… which I tried to play once).In Bunraku the story is narrated through singing. It has been popular and widely acclaimed since 16^th C.

                                                        Monsoon Trip

                                   Darling Darjeeling...         

 In August 2011, I went on a Monsoon trip as I call it. I visited Darjeeling, Gangtok and Kalimpong with my parents. While this may not have been an ideal time to visit the East because of monsoons, we enjoyed ourselves even in the rain. I have a lot to say about these places but I would like to begin with Darjeeling (West Bengal, India) .

We travelled via Mirik where we stopped for a revitalizing hot cup of Darjeeling tea and delicious pakoras. I loved this picturesque route . It was such a pleasure to finally see the lush green tea gardens and I thoroughly enjoyed the drive on the winding roads in such pleasant weather. Mist was gradually descending on us in patches on our drive and that added to the mood and delighted us.   

When we first arrived in Darjeeling, fog greeted us and yet in patches of visibility we could catch a quick glimpse of the mountains, impressive architecture of one of the schools and illuminated lamps along the pavement which left a lasting impression on our minds. Darjeeling was enveloped in thick mist that night on our arrival but the energy and positive aura of the place reached me even though the place was hidden from the eye.

My trip to the zoo and Himalayan Mountaineering Institute the next day in Darjeeling was interesting. Reading about the magnificent mountaineering stories at the museum in HMI inspired me to reach new heights in life. That afternoon I went shopping in the busy streets and visited some nice cafes like Glenary Cafe as well. We made a quick trip to Keventers restaurant and the famous Das Studio too which brought back fond memories for my father. I wanted to visit the famous club too but unfortunately I couldn’t because of the constraints of time. My parents had a lot to tell me about all these places as they’d visited Darjeeling in their youth. It was a trip down memory lane for them.

On my second and last day there we went up to Tiger Hill early in the morning to experience the beautiful view of the Kanchanjunga mountains (the third highest peak in the world) but the weather conditions prevented us from witnessing the sunrise in those mountains. On our way back, we stopped at the small Ghum Station of the Darjeeling Himalayan  Railway to take photographs of the Toy train.It is the highest railway station in India.  I could not visit the Gompa nearby but took a wonderful snap of the Gompa from a distance. That picture will inspire me to visit it someday.

I could not leave Darjeeling without buying Darjeeling tea. I bought tea at Golden Point where they were kind enough to make us taste samples of various teas before buying. Walking along the “chaurastha” (chowrasta)was fun. We visited some of the gift shops there and I liked that the shop owners did not coerce us into buying things but instead told us the history of the place and offered to guide us to make our trip more interesting. 

   

The generosity of  the people of Darjeeling touched me and the imposing British architecture of some schools impressed me a lot. Everything there left a lasting impression on my travel memories. Everyone there offered me knowledge and served affection with flowing generosity. I felt a part of them.

The permanent mist in Darjeeling at the time actually refreshed my senses and calmed my tired city mind. The rain washed streets cleared my mind and opened my heart to new possibilities. Rightly Darjeeling mesmerized and charmed me completely. Two days was too short a visit and I’m thirsty for more experiences that Darjeeling invites me to.

The atmosphere there relaxes your mind and lures you to dream. The students walking on the road encourage you to pursue paths of knowledge again. There is something about the atmosphere there that makes you a poet. Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder but give it a chance and Darjeeling will embrace you with all it’s beauty, energy and warmth. It will transport you to a serene world of peace and caring.

I fell in love with Darjeeling right away- The misty weather, the people and streets bustling with energy and positivity, the streets lined with benches, the roads alive with students, toy train, cafés beckoning you to piping hot cup of tea and mouth-watering delicious confectionary can never be forgotten.The romance with darling Darjeeling has just begun and it will reach greater heights in times 2 come as and when I visit it time and again. I fondly refer to Darjeeling as “Darling Darjeeling” as this place in just two days made me fall for it easily and took a place in my heart immediately.

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...