81. Noodles

That evening I went to the terrace of our building after a long time.

It was pleasant, cool and beautiful. I started walking.

When I approached the corner, I saw this.

Indian Noodles.

They are generally testy.

What about hygiene though? Is there not a better way to sun-dry those? 

79. Avocado

In the market, my colleague was purchasing some fruits.
"What is it?" I asked.
Because she recommended it, I too purchased it.
I was in the new land and needed as much exploration and experimentation.
The first impression was not very good, I must say.

Opened it, rather cut it.

Tested it. It was good. Liked it.

Avocado. I must look more for more of it here!

70. Food 4: Kharwas

I don't know what Kharwas is in English. I do not know whether it is consumed beyond the world that I know of. What I know is: I like it and it is rarely available. 

So the other day when my friend offered it to me, I was glad to have it served couple of times. 

It is made of Colostrum milk, (normal) milk and Jaggery. 

This is Colostrum Milk.

After mixing normal milk (now, don't ask me the details of measurements etc.!) and adding Jaggery cook this in Pressure Cooker. It looks like this:

Tempting, isn't it? 

Cut it into pieces for ease of consumption.

And I had no hesitation in having it;

Actually I lost the count of plates :-) 

68. Birds: 1

The perspective of human beings is different from other species around us. 
For example, who would call a stream, mostly carrying drainage water beautiful? Who would say it is essential? 

But it is very essential for the birds. 
See Intermediate Egrets and Indian Pond Herons together here.

Their peaceful coexistence for the use of limited resources is a lesson to all of us.  

62. Food 3: Meghalaya: Traditional

On the way from Guwahati to Shilong, I saw it number of times.
Initially I thought it was Radish.
When you think you know, you ignore.

At one spot, where we took a break, I had an opportunity to look at it closely.

Yes, you guessed it right.
These are bamboo shoots.

Well, I do not know how it is cooked .... maybe, that is the agenda for next visit! 

61. Food 2: Manipur

On the way and back to Imphal, on a roadside shop I saw this.

Then I kept on seeing this. I was especially curious with the green round fruit which apparently had some buttons on its surface.

People were purchasing it. Of course, roadside shops won't keep things that are not wanted by customers.

It was kept with fruit, so I concluded that it was something 'eatable'.
"What is it?" I asked.

They purchased it for me. I was opening it - must be in a wrong way.
The driver took it from me and opened in an instant.

What next?

Pull the seed and consume.
Ah! They were really testy.

Lotus Seeds!
No, it is not lunch item - but very popular traditional food item.
I really liked it. 

59. Crab Catching

First I saw their colony.

At glance I could count at least 50.

As the day progressed; they too progressed towards the human residence.

However, only us – the outsiders – were either amused or scared or interested.

First it was Neelesh – a 12^th class student – who caught the crab and threw it.

Second time when another crab appeared (or was it the same?), Yogesh – 10^th class student was around.

Have a closer look.

No, it is not only the expertise of boys. They remember one of their taai (sister, actually one of the elder girls) , who used to catch many crabs and cook for the entire group. Lately she has not been around.

“Ah! That is the reason their number is increasing,” I commented.

“Oh! No! They are not enough to make our one meal,” a spontaneous reply from another 10 year boy.

“Hmm… since these boys are educated by people like us; by next generation this art and skill will completely wither   ….” I was sharing with my colleague.

  “Don’t worry. Will teach our children how to catch crabs”, Yogesh assured me.

56. Food 1. Daman

Like circuit house, I suppose 'Food in India' also deserves a separate series.

Daman and Diu is one of the Union Terretories of India. Their closeness to two big states Gujrat and Maharashtra is obvious. Sometimes I felt that it was closer to Gujrat and at some other times, I thought it was closer to Maharashtra. Being a tribal locality, it also shows lot of Portuguese influence.

I stayed there for three four days and every time ended up eating Gujrati thali.

And if you like pickles, there are many options here.

Try one of these and you will like it. 

48. Ki Noo?

The fruit looked like orange.
But it looked different as well.
The board on the tray said 'Ki Noo' in Devngari script.

I was wondering what this 'Ki Noo' could be.
Is it a Hindi name for orange?

I brought two.
They were glowing and fresh.

Smell?
Very much like orange.

I opened it.
It's skin is more thick within.

Tests almost like an orange.

After consuming it, I 'googled' the word.

And here it is "Kinnow"

Liked it.
Plan to have more of Kinnow now. 

43. Tea Stall

We were traveling from Amaravati to Nagpur. On the way we visited a small village.
One of the homes in the village offered us a cup of tea. However, we were running out of time, so declined the offer politely.
Then on the way the driver(s) of the car wanted to have a cup of tea.
So, we stopped at a roadside tea stall.

The tea was kept hot by using indirect heat.

And I like to have my tea in glass rather than in a cup.

Of course, the tea was good.
We moved forward feeling refreshed.
And I kept on thinking about the 'economics' of such tea stalls! 

38. Queue

It was 1.30 in the afternoon. Summer is still around as Rain has decided to hide for some more time.
I am visiting one of the Government offices in Gumla (Jharkhand)

I ask, "What is the queue for?"
"It is for Dal-Bhaata", I get a quick response.
"Daal -Bhaata? What is it?" I ask.
Apparently it is scheme initiated by Chief Minister of Jharkhand in 2011.

Next day, I am in Latehar district.
Lunch time. I ask, "Can we eat at the Daala-Bhaata scheme?"
I am aware that the scheme is not meant for people like me. It is meant to help the poor and the malnourished.

However, I am told that "On Sunday, food is not served."

Many questions come to my mind.
1. What about food on Sunday?
2. What about dinner?
3. What about those who have limited mobility? Do they have to come all the way to the Government office?
4. Who comes to eat?
5. How were people managing before the scheme came?
6. Do such schemes REALLY help people? (I do not doubt intention of the Government, but still )
7. ......
8. ......

There are many questions in the queue. 

36. Sweet Corn

I was traveling to Kolhapur yesterday evening.
"Madam, would you like to have Sweet Corn?" my colleague asked me.
I was not at all hungry. However, I like Sweet Corn.
So, I said yes.
On the road there were many people engaged in selling sweet corn.

We went to a vendor where there was no crowd - the crowds will increase when it rains - he told me later.

These corns are picked up and purchased by himself from nearby farmers. These are grown in the midst of sugarcane.

The fire burns from morning to evening - sometimes till late night.

During peak season he earns a profit of about Rs. 200/- per day.
He likes his work.







Because of the competition, customer get sweet corns at cheaper rates. Is it a win-win situation.

What does he do to earn his livelihood in 'non-corn' season - I asked.
He smiled but did not answer.
Maybe, as the corn season is ahead, he does not want to think about future - especially worrisome time!
He is right. I don't ask him anything more.