The influence of Lord Buddha and a life changing experience

To close the year, I've decided to go down memory lane and come up with a piece with some real 'Food For Thought'.

Serene and beautiful -Lord Buddha

(Pic Source- From the internet)

Buddham Sharanam Gacchami
Dhammam Sharanam Gacchami 
Sangham Sharanam Gacchami

These are among the most beautiful, appealing and thought provoking words I've heard and when I think of them even today, in fact, even as I write this piece, I remember the first time I heard them and how they influenced me.

And now to go back in time ....

Have you ever been to a place that influences you so much that you decide to make an immediate change in your way of life and living? Many years ago, I had exactly such an experience, one which was so powerful and intense that I get goosebumps even as I think of it today. 

I was in Class 8 in Sophia Convent in Meerut when a busload of girls accompanied by three teachers and our Principal, went out on a school trip to Nepal via Bihar. En route we first stopped stopped at Lucknow for the night then went on to Sarnath and Rajgir so that we could see these historic spots where the Buddha had lived, walked and attained enlightenment. 

It was a lovely and very memorable trip in more ways than one. 


                                 

                        The sacred Bodhi tree 

                  (Pic sourced from the internet)

The photograph above is believed to be the tree under which Prince Siddhartha Gautama meditated and attained Enlightenment on the full Moon day of 'Vaisakh Purnima.' The present version is probably the fifth succession of the original tree earlier destroyed many times by man made as well as natural calamities. The other main attraction of Bodh Gaya is the Mahabodhi temple which has been restored and rebuilt over the centuries. The Mahabodhi Temple has now been declared as a World Heritage site by UNESCO. 

It is believed that for six years Lord Buddha practiced severe asceticism thinking this would lead him to enlightenment. He sat in meditation eating only roots, leaves and fruit. and at other times nothing. Sadly, this did not take him anywhere. Then one full-moon day in May, he sat under the Bodhi tree ( above) in deep meditation and said. "I will not leave this spot until I find an end to suffering." During the night, he was visited by 'Mara', the evil one, who tried to tempt him away from his virtuous path. One by one, Gautama met the armies sent by Mara and defeated them with his steadfastness and virtue.As the struggle ended, he realized the cause of suffering and how to remove it. He had gained the most supreme wisdom and understood things as they truly are. From then on, he became the Buddha, 'The Awakened One' and was refereed to as 'Shakyamuni Buddha.'

And so to where I began my story.

That early evening,  I stood under that Bodhi tree and felt something change inside me. It was almost as if I could see Lord Buddha sitting there and meditating. 

In my ears and possibly within me, I could hear the beautiful sounds of the words

Buddham Sharanam Gachammi, 

Dhammam Sharanam Gachammi

Sangham Sharanam Gachaami 


And in those moments, something inside me changed. I felt cleansed and whole and it was a 'new' me that walked away from that tree. 

From that day, I turned vegetarian. I knew that Lord Buddha had said that and that was how life was going to be. I was a person who loved chicken and fish but it was over in those moments. Nothing and no one could convince me to eat it again.

Time passed and I was happy. I grew into a confident and independent girl who could tackle almost anything after that.I did well in class as well as in extra curricular activities and in my heart I firmly believed that it was all due to that particular moment in my life.

Did I ever go back to being a non vegetarian? 

I did after about two and a half years. My brother Navtej was instrumental in that and how he managed it when no one else could is another story. 

For another day.

On that note, here's wishing all of you a very Happy and healthy 2015! 

A visit to 'Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem', the oldest pub in England

Looks old and beautiful from outside

1189 AD was when it was first commissioned and its still up and running!

Located in picturesque Nottinghamshire, 'Ye Olde Trip To Jerusalem', the oldest pub in  England, is an extremely fascinating place as it takes all its customers into a real journey back in time.

One beautiful summer evening, some time back, we had an opportunity to visit it and found it to be a really beautiful and intriguing place.

 It was an interesting mix  of cobbled stones, narrow passages, eerie shapes and sounds, yet an there was an element of hustle and bustle as the evening regulars made their way in for the evening pint or as the case might be,  their particular choice of beverage.

We placed our orders for our drinks, in this case, ale, accompanied by a great supper, served by the most helpful waitresses that we've seen in a long time.

Beautiful flowers add to the charm

Some historical facts about Ye OldeTrip to Jerusalem-

It was a favourite watering hole for the crusaders on their way to the Holy Land.

Richard the-Lion-Heart is said to have stayed here on one of his brief stops in England.

The word "Trip" or "Trypp" is said to come from an old word for halt or stop.

Much of the fabric of the building is carved out from the living rock on which the castle above stands.The pub has two bars on one level, with a further bar up a short flight of stairs known as the Rock Lounge.

Watch your head as you go up these stairs

There are of course many stories of ghosts and other worldly spirits who have been sighted here time and again, and if one lets the imagination wander ever so slightly, it is possible, just possible, that one might catch a whiff of what it supposed to lie there beneath the surface.

But since we seriously believe in letting sleeping ghosts lie, all we  did was eat, drink and click. 

And happy to share the pics with you..

Cafe Ceramique, Oman- A great little place that asks, Would you like to eat first or paint first?

Cafe Ceramique in the Bareeq Al Shatti Mall, Muscat

The other day we decided to go to Cafe Ceramique in Muscat for  a weekend breakfast. Must admit the fact that there was a very special offer was the real draw but we came back converted into Cafe Ceramique fans. 

For more reasons than just one.

Located centrally in the Bareeq Al Shatti Mall, Muscat.Cafe Ceramique is   a cafe cum art-workshop. The highlight of the place would have to be the fact that  the cafe serves food  as well as offers customers ceramic pieces which they  can purchase and paint at the cafe itself.They can then enjoy creating unique personalized gifts, keepsakes, dinnerware and home decor pieces that will be cherished  forever. All one has to do is to pick a piece of ceramic off the shelf (that has many great  pieces to choose from ) and let your imagination run wild. These are then painted, glazed, fired and soon ready for pick up.


Once you select the piece you want to paint, you are given a paper,  five  colours and two outliners. These colours are handed over along with a sponge, water, and a set of brushes. Customers can paint away till they are happy and  satisfied and once completed, the piece has to be left  in the cafe for them to fire and glaze the piece (about seven days).Customers are are given a receipt which must be used to collect the piece.The pieces are microwave as well as dishwasher friendly and we were informed that  the colours do not contain any toxins, so that everyone can eat or and drink out of them.

Baking in the oven 

We are shown exactly how the operation works

The paints used 

  

Bright and Beautiful 

At our table- Puffy Paints

Starters- a delicious salad and toasted bread

The Arabian Treasure, a great start to the day

Can't close before I tell you about our meal which we enjoyed thoroughly.Called 'The Arabian Treasure', it had a range of Mediterranean favorites, Foul Medammas, Hummus, Grilled Halloumi Cheese, Zattar Crisps, Labneh with a choice of tea or coffee. 

Will we be going back soon? Well, the weekend really isn't too far away..

On the New Delhi Palate Fest 2014 and winning the # SelfieatOberoi contest

Last Saturday, the 29th of November, my friend Poonam Kodesia and I decided to visit the New Delhi Palate Fest 2014 which was on at the Nehru Park Delhi. It was a beautiful afternoon and once our immediate concern of finding a suitable parking was tackled, all we had to do was head straight into the park and make the most of all the fabulous food, fun and activities out there. 

The New Delhi Palate Fest was the first of its kind international level food festival to be held in New Delhi, India. Running for 3  days in November 2014 from the 28th till the 30th of November 2014 it showcased some of India’s best chefs, produce growers, entertainers and musicians. 

Entering the park 

On those three days, New Delhi truly came alive with a host of culinary experiences that explored a medley of tastings, events, promotions and celebrations for the first, and I'm convinced, certainly not the last time!

There was a real buzz about the whole event and before long, queues had formed in front of the popular counters. Or maybe, they were all equally crowded, it was just that we were focused on eating some authentic Indian and preferably, Tandoori food.

 Bright and Beautiful- loved the colours

And before we knew it, the number of people coming in through the gates seemed to increase. But if I was to be completely honest about it, that was a great part of the charm- there's probably nothing better than a buzzing, happening event on a beautiful November afternoon with delicious aromas floating all around.

Poonam smiles

It was a really beautiful afternoon and the flowers were in full bloom

Loved these flowers in a jar at our choice of restaurant- the Great Kebab Factory

Rang De Basanti, my favourite shot of the day.

 Moving on we discovered this beautiful stall put up by the Oberoi, New Delhi. Featuring a whole range-  coffee, cakes, delicatessen and savouries, this one really got our attention.

 What attracted me even more was the fact that there was a contest # SelfieatOberoi. All one had to do was click a selfie on the spot, post it on Instagram with the hashtag,# Selfie atOberoi and hope for the best. 

Which is exactly what  I  did.

Then forgot all about it till yesterday, when I found out on Twitter that I actually had won the contest! Talk of luck.Or being at the right place at the right time...

The Winning Entry# SelfieatOberoi

As for the prize- its a voucher for two at the Oberoi's award winning Italian restaurant, the Travertino.  Looking forward to it and really happy that we went to the New Delhi Palate Fest, 2014. 

For more reasons than one could have possibly imagined.

An Unforgettable Coffee at the Peacock Alley, Waldorf Astoria Hilton, Ras Al Khaimah

Coffee is my favourite 'any time of the day' beverage and is truly something that keeps me going. So  when I recently had the opportunity to have an extra special cup of that beverage in the exquisite Peacock Alley at the Hotel Waldorf Astoria, Hilton Ras Al Khaimah, it was a special moment. I must add here that it it was made extra special by the fact that our daughter Neha Singh is currently working in the Pastry section of this stunning hotel and this visit to the beautiful property was  something that we had really been looking forward to.

Probably the most memorable cup of coffee I've ever had.

Inspired by the palaces of the Arabian Peninsula, Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah is ideally located 50 minutes from Dubai International Airport. This is true luxury defined and then some!A palatial spa and golf resort,it brings the legendary Waldorf service to one of the most stunning locations in the Middle East.

Entering the stunning foyer and looking straight at the signature Waldorf Astoria Clock

Peacock Alley is also home to another signature Waldorf Astoria attribute - a special legendary timepiece. This exquisite clock designed and built by Smith of Derby, a family of clockmakers who, for over 300 years, have created and cared for some of the world's more recognized public clocks. The grand lobby clock at Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah has been exclusively designed to honor regional Arabic culture and includes the five daily prayer times.

The beautiful peacock- the mascot of the Peacock Alley

A famed Waldorf Astoria tradition, Peacock Alley is an impressive signature lounge with all the signs of the magnificent plumage and parading that is assimilated with the Peacock. Serving the world's finest coffees and light bites, the lounge is a fabulous meeting place throughout the day where Waldorf signature dishes are served, including the renowned Waldorf Salad. Here, the design mixes local touches with contemporary style inspired by the brand’s New York City flagship. A ring of banquettes encircle a tiered, marble fountain, a spectacular chandelier with handcrafted glass elements suggest stylised peacock feathers is the centre piece.

Loved the ambience and beauty all around us

Very happy to be here

The polished coffee percolator 

The tea trolley is wheeled in and we are spoilt for choice

My choice- an exquisite creation-the Red Velvet cake

Avi chose his favourite, a decadent chocolate creation 

The Peacock motif is echoed throughout the Peacock Alley.This cake is another example of how beautifully it all blends in

Look carefully and you will see the same motif on the grand staircase.

Leaving the hotel as the sun was just about to set

Driving back to Dubai and already looking forward to our next visit!

A glorious afternoon at Naschmarkt-Vienna's most famous fruit,flowers and vegetable market

A riot of colour- these blooms could really make anyone's day!

It was a glorious October afternoon and we had spent the morning at Schonnbrun palace soaking in all the rich Austrian tradition and architecture. Next on our list was heading towards Naschmarkt to get a taste of all the buzz and action that we had heard so much about. 

Naschmarkt, Vienna which is located between Kettenbrückengasse and Karlsplatz is Vienna's most popular premier open-air fruit and vegetable market that should be on everyone's itinerary. Just over 1.5 kms long, Naschmarkt is truly an ethnic melting pot full of vibrant life and exotic scents. With endless rows of stalls selling fruit, vegetables, seafood, spices, homemade pasta, pickles of all kinds, cheeses and breads, this superb market can satisfy the most demanding culinary requirements. Interspersed are small bistros, as diverse and multi-cultural as the stalls and the market itself and if you know what you are looking for- you can have an absolutely delightful as well as memorable morning or  afternoon as the case might be. 

Naschmarkt is open Monday to Friday from 6am to 6.30pm and Saturday from 6am to 5pm. Mornings are the best time to absorb the market's sights and flavours. One of the highlights of this time of year( October) is that you can also find a glass of Sturm - semi-fermented grape juice/wine from this year's vintage.

With Halloween approaching you can see pumpkins in all shapes and sizes

And some more

Candies and sweets from all over the world.

Nowadays, you can buy fresh fruit and vegetables from around the world, exotic herbs, cheese, baked goods such as bread, kaiser rolls, and torte, meats, and seafood. There are also a lot of small restaurants which offer sushi, kebabs,fish, seafood, traditional Viennese food such as Kaiserschmarrn  or Palatschinken ( rolled up crepes) as well as other stalls which offer clothes and accessories. 

The crowd builds up as the day progresses

It was very interesting to learn a bit about its history.The Naschmarkt has existed since the 16th century when mainly milk bottles were sold ("Asch", for milk bottles led to the name "Aschenmarkt").  From 1793 onwards, all fruits and vegetables brought to Vienna with carts had to be sold here, while goods arriving on the Danube were sold elsewhere. 

'Must haves for all'- real as well as decorative tea pots  

Typical Austrian fare- Sausages and cheese of all types

Exotic spices that add a dash of flavour to any cuisine

Cheap and very fresh- these fruits taste fabulous!

More candy- this time from the Middle East

Cookies, sweets and bakes- the variety is huge

And if you thought this market sells only fruit, veges and flowers- think again. We found a wide range of scarves, sweaters and caps there as well.

We walked around for a long time - till the delightful aromas around us became irresistible. It was then that we found this lovely open air bistro and settled down for our lunch, accompanied by a delightful glass of chilled Rose

 However, since we had no idea that the portions would be so generous, we had to ask for a takeaway..

Lunch at an Open Air bistro

Satiated and very, very  happy, we made our way out of the Naschmarkt and headed towards our next adventure.

Goes without saying, it will be detailed in my next blog post....

A Piece of Vienna- Sacher Torte and Coffee with Mozart at the iconic Landtmann Cafe

No trip to Vienna can be complete without trying out the famed  'Sacher torte' and we certainly couldn't be the exceptions. 

The Sacher-Torte has been the most famous cake in the world since 1832 and the original recipe remains a well-kept secret. The basis of this uniquely fabulous confection is a chocolate cake, thinly coated by hand with best-quality apricot jam. The chocolate icing on top of it is the crowning glory. It tastes best with a portion of unsweetened whipped cream.

Cafe Sacher, a landmark in Vienna

There is a very interesting story about the origins of the Sacher Torte. In 1832, Prince Wenzel von Metternich charged his personal chef with creating a special dessert for several important guests. The head chef, having taken ill, let the task fall to his sixteen-year-old apprentice, Franz Sacher, then in his second year of training in Metternich's kitchen. The Prince is reported to have declared, "Let there be no shame on me tonight." 

While the torte created by Sacher on this occasion is said to have delighted Metternich's guests, the dessert received no immediate further attention. Sacher completed his training as a chef and afterward spent time in Pressburg and Budapest, ultimately settling in his hometown of Vienna where he opened a specialty delicatessen and wine shop. Sacher's eldest son Eduard carried on his father's culinary legacy, completing his own training in Vienna with the Royal and Imperial Pastry Chef at the Demel bakery and chocolatier, during which time he perfected his father's recipe and developed the torte into its current form. 

You can easily understand the relevance of this torte when I tell you that 5th December is National Sacher torte Day in Austria.

 

 The Display insidethe Landtmann Cafe

One late, very cold evening after a show at the Opera House, we decided to take a chance and try out the Landtmann Cafe, which we had heard so much about. This cafe was founded in 1873 on October 1st when Franz Landtmann opened Vienna’s most elegant Café.

This legendary Café has been and continues to be one of the most popular in Vienna with regulars such as: Peter Altenberg, Sigmund Freud, Gustav Mahler, Max Reinhardt, Marlene Dietrich, Romy Schneider, Burt Lancaster, Hans Moser, the Dutch Queen Juliane, Hillary Rodham Clinton and Sir Paul Mc Cartney, among many others.

The lovely Menu

Even better from Inside   

As it happened, we were in for an initial disappointment as the waiter informed us that the Sacher torte selection for the day was over. Then looking at the very obvious dismay on our faces, added that there was a very wide selection of other cakes that we could choose from.

 Which is exactly what we did!

Late night coffee and cakes 

My order- A Mozart Torte and a Melange cappuccino

Coffee and chocolate cake for Avi 

It was absolutely delightful- sitting in that wonderful restaurant which has seen artists,musicians, and celebrities from all walks of life walking in through its doors and making a morning, or as the case might be, an evening of it. 

The Logo is unmistakable- after all we are in the city of the greatest music composer of all time, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

As to our share of the Sacher Torte, the most amazing coincidence was that we found it served up in our Breakfast Buffet at the  Hotel Maria Theresa the very next morning!