Though we are fond of trying world cuisines but at one point we too feel like having our own traditional home cooked food...and there we were hunting for Indian groceries during our Seoul sojourn which brought us to Itaewon this weekend.

After thorough surfing the net,I discovered that the only place that stocks Indian stuffs along with food from most other Asian countries like Thailand,Indonesia,Pakistan,Bangladesh,etc is located at Itaewon also nicknamed as the global community in Seoul,it is a street full of restaurants and stores from all over the globe.

It was a cloudy evening and though we kept on postponing our trip,atlast we set out to catch the subway line no.6 but since our regular route was line no.2 we boarded it to the Seoul National University,changed it to line 3 to reach Yaksu station and then boarded line 6 to reach Itaewon...which sounds like a long trip but is actually not so.

Click here for a subway map of Seoul

http://www.blogger.com/map%20http://www.nsubway.co.kr/korea/seoul/seoulsubwaymapen.htm

Exit at gate no.3 and just a few metres away after crossing the police station on your right, Hamilton hotel on your left across the road and the fire station on your left side take a right turn which is a slightly hilly area and try to locate Kings club...right next to it is the Foreign Food Mart.

The address is # 137-8,Itaewon dong,Jungeun Bldg,Yongsan Gu,Seoul City.Tel :02) 793-0082 and email: foreignfood_mart@yahoo.com

You can also log in to their website: http://foreignfoodkr.com/

As it was the weekend the shop was too crowded but the ready stock of all our groceries...be it basmati rice,dal,atta,papad,Haldiram sweets and snacks,spices,hair oil, ghee,mustard oil,Indian cosmetics,etc...made us feel at home and delighted. We bought the things but left it to be delivered to our residence after making the payment and there it was at our doorstep after a day.

It is always recommended to buy in bulk as you get good discounts. And don't forget to relish some Indian dinner available right next and opposite to the shop at two restaurants named..Foreign Restaurant and the Taj which has serves both a la carte and buffet style(16500 korean won per person at the FR) which includes an array of salads,soups,snacks,rice,naan,chicken,chole,dal,veg curry and pakodas,papadums and also loads of Indian desserts for those having a sweet tooth.

Hope it helps and do keep coming back for more interesting and valuable posts on Seoul as we continue our sojourn in this global city and the largest metropolis of South Korea.

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Our long awaited dream of moving to South Korea finally materialised this year but it was not an easy task to move from one land to another as it calls for a lot of detailed planning if you don't want your life to be jeopardised in a foreign land.

The first challenge starts with house hunting. As we moved from India where big sized apartments are readily available we could not get out of that frame of mind when we started our house hunting process. In most Asian countries as we had heard earlier the size of houses are pretty small but when we practically saw it in Seoul,it was a source of dissapointment as we could not get anything better then studio type villas for USD 1500-2000 with everything in one open room. At most you can get one with a sliding door which doesn't make much of a difference.

However if you are willing to invest a lot of money as deposit for the house you may end up in a big place like an apartment. It is only in the Kangnam area that one can pay one month's rent as deposit which we chose to though it is one of the most expensive areas in Seoul as it had all the amenities in close proximity and was easily accessible by the subway lines.Or else have 10-12 months rent ready to be paid as deposit.Utilities and maintainence charges are extra.

Realtors do a good job in helping you find a home and in most cases you have to pay them 30% as brokerage. We found our home sweet home via http://www.nearsubway.com. Run by a lady named Sue,very professional and helpful, she helped us locate this place which was fully furnished at one go without any hassle unlike in most apartments where you have to buy all things on your own,this villa(usually a 5 storey building in S.Korea) had everything from TV,Fridge,Washing machine with dryer,AC,Gas stove,floor heating,bed,dining table,etc to make your stay comfortable.

A few other realtors that we explored were...nicerent and acerent but most were not prompt in their replies when we tried to contact them via email.

Once you are settled in the house,the next few things to be kept in mind are that Koreans are very particular about garbage disposal. Food,clothings,paper and plastics are all to be separated before disposing.Be sure to ask the manager of the place before doing so or it may be sent back to you.

For shopping one can opt for E Mart ,Home Plus, Diaso etc for reasonably priced groceries and other home items. Communication is very convenient in Korea as most places are easily connected by the subway lines..make sure to get a subway map...they have it english too. Once you buy a ticket it's easy to move around the city though call taxis are readily available too on the roads but make sure to tie your seat belts as they drive really rash and most cannot speak in english so learn a few basic korean verses before boarding to explain your destination.

As we continue our sojourn in S. Korea and undergo new and numerous experiences, I shall keep coming back with more tips and tricks on how you can make your stay more enjoyable and easy in this wonderful land called Seoul which is indeed the "Soul of Asia"

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Yet another creation during my craft sessions was a wall hanging made with sand paper. Very simple yet elegant and something kids would enjoy doing.

The materials required are:-

Black and Brown coloured sandpaper

Glitters

Satin ribbon

Cone Liners

Glue

Scissor

Scale for measurement

First take equal measurements in the sand paper (I took 4cms on both sides) and cut it into equal pieces using a sharp pair of scissors. Now place them one on top of each other (you can also place one above and one below like I did in a criss cross pattern using both colours).

Now using glue stick them as you see in the picture. You can use either 3D cone liners or glitters or even any paint to create any patterns on the sand paper. You can also make rose with satin ribbon and stick on it.

Once it is done you can frame it and hang it in your child's favourite spot in the house!!!

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My next class during the summer workshop was on pot painting, something simple but very pretty!!!

The materials required are:-

An earthen pot

Fabric colours

Glass colours

Glitters

Brush

A piece of cloth.

We first start by painting the base colour of the pot in any shade.preferably white or black. My students mostly did it in white so they would have a choice of variety of colours to add on to it. At first paint the entire pot including the inside portion ( to where it can be seen) with white fabric colours using a thick paint brush and let it dry for some time.

The most easy design is to pour glass colours onto the pot and let it flow down naturally on its own. We started from top of the pot where we poured four drops of glass colors in equal quantity and let it flow down. Let it dry. Now take the glitters and put different coloured lines in between the glass colours. You can also give glitter borders. Be Creative!!!

The same pattern could be followed for the outside of the pot. You can start pouring four drops of different shades of glass colours and let them flow down on their own. Let them dry and then glitters could be used to draw line in between the glass colours and on the neck of the pot some chain pattern could be done with golden glitters and put a pink glitter drop in between each loop of the chain.

Here are a few pictures of such designs done by my students. In pots with black coloured base use more of glitters then paint. Let your creativity flow and keep checking my forthcoming posts for more crafty ideas!!!

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One of my favourite pastime activities besides art and cooking includes craft work too!!! This time during the summer vacations I decided to organise a craft workshop,the activities of which I am planning to post one by one so that everyone sitting at home this summer can utilise their time in a fruitful way.

On the first day I started with Glass colours on Canvas which is pretty simply and looks beautiful. The same colours can be used to paint on glass or stick glass peices on canvas and pour paint on them to create a wonderful item. But I didn't want to take risk with the small ones and hence decided to keep it simple on Canvas.

Here is how it goes....

Materials required:-

One Canvas board

A set of Glass Colours (I used Camel)

Carbon paper

A pencil

Pallette

Any medium sized paint brush

A piece of Cloth.

First, select any design for your canvas and trace it out with the use of a carbon paper and pencil. Once the pattern is on the canvas,use the liner provided in the glass colour kit and outline the entire drawing on canvas and let it dry for about 15-20 mins.

Then start filling the glass colours according to your taste. You can either pour it directly if you think you have control over them or else can use a pallette and brush,but remember glass colours are not easy to be removed from your pallete!!!

Once you are done let it dry for sometime and frame you beautiful painting for display at the favourite spot of your home!!!

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It's BIHU again-the harvest festival of ASSAM-the time to make merry, the time to feast as the laborious months of harvest is over and one's kitchen is loaded with granaries.

So,here I am re-posting my BIHU recipes once again for my friends and fans all across the globe who can prepare them with the simplest of ingredients and relish them during this festive season.

For me,the usual fanfare associated with any festival is seamless until and unless my kitchen is stuffed with loads of food for feasting.And,Bihu(especially Magh or Bhogali Bihu),a festival celebrated by the Assamese community of the north eastern state of India,to mark the end of the harvesting season,when granaries are full,is the perfect time to indulge in gastronomic delights.

The very word 'Bhogali' relates to eating and feasting and Magh is a winter month in the Assamese calendar.The festival is my favourite as it brings back nostalgic memories when I lent a helping hand to my mom as she prepared several typical Assamese delicacies from days before the festival.

This time,I tried out a few of such cakes(called Pitha in Assamese) and they really turned out well.So,I decided to post the recipes on my site along with a few pictures of my preparation so that you can relish these homemade sweets the next time you celebrate any festival.

The Ingredients for Til(sesame seeds) Pitha are:-

100 gms black sesame seeds-cleaned,roasted and pounded.

150 gms jaggery or sugar

3 cups of glutinous/sticky/botan/waxy/mochi rice-soaked and pounded

Enough water

Method:-

For the stuffing,wash,clean and dry the sesame seeds.Then roast them for a while and pound them in a grinder.Heat a wok or pan,mix jaggery or sugar to the sesame seeds and stir them for a while till the sugar leaves the sides of the pan.

Soak rice overnight in water.Drain and grind in a grinder.Add enough water to make a batter.Heat a girdle or non-stick pan and pour a ladle of batter to make a pancake.As it roasts from below,place some prepared sesame stuffing on the pancake and carefully roll from sides.Let it cool to become firm.Relish your til pitha during Magh Bihu or anytime of the year.

The recipe of Til Ladoo is the most simplest of any sweet made ever.The Ingredients are 250 gms black sesame seeds-cleaned,roasted and pounded coarsely.500 gms jaggery or sugar.

Method:-

Heat a wok.Melt jaggery or prepare a sugar syrup by mixing equal quantities of water and sugar.Add the coarsely pounded sesame seeds and keep stirring till the jaggery or sugar leaves the sides of the pan.Take off from fire. Rub ghee(clarified butter) on both palms and try to make balls while still hot.Be careful,not to burn your hands.Your Til ladoo is ready to store or serve.50 gms of roasted and coarsely pounded peanuts can be optionally added to the sesame mixture.

So get going...Bihu is round the corner....stack up your kitchen shelves with loads of delicacies and enjoy them with your friends and relatives.And don't forget to tell me how do they like it.

Among the dozens of delicacies prepared by my mom during the Bihu festival,Narikol(Coconut) ladoo and Muri(puffed rice) ladoo were top most priority as they are my favourite. My mom's traditional recipes were simple and it was not hard for me to try them out faraway from home.

The ingredients for Narikol(Coconut) Ladoo(balls) are:-

2 medium sized coconut grated

2 cups sugar

camphor or cardamom essence (optional)

Method:-

Heat a heavy bottomed pan.Add the grated coconut and sugar.If you wish to add the essence add it just before taking the preparation off the fire.Keep stirring continuously as it easily gets burnt.As the sugar leaves the sides of the pan,it is an indication that the mixture is ready.Rub ghee(clarified butter) on both palms and make lemon sized balls of the coconut mixture while still hot but be careful not to burn your hands.

Muri or puffed rice balls or ladoos can be easily prepared by any one and stored in an airtight container for several days.The ingredients are:-

100 gms (puffed rice or muri)

200 gms Jaggery

30 gms ghee(clarified butter)

Method:-

Prepare a syrup with jaggery and water and mix in the muri or puffed rice and ghee and stir till the mixture thickens and becomes sticky.Take off from the pan and make lime sized balls.Store them in an air tight container for several days and relish them even after Bihu is over and don't forget to share your experiences.

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We had been exhausted, bored of the monotonous daily schedule and wanted a break desperately and what could be a better option than to connect with nature.A perfect destination for romance, to enjoy the cool gentle pollution free mountain breeze as one enjoys the azure blue sky above.The fluttering of leaves,twittering of birds,breathtaking mist enshrouded hills, trekking in the aromatic coffee plantations,scenic beauty...this is how I would like to describe Coorg...the perfect holiday spot which could be visited at any time of the year.

As we were visiting it enroute from Wayanad we decided to take the long route for thorough sightseeing via Nagarhole NationalPark,Periyapatna,Hunsur,Bylakuppe,Madikeri,Siddapur and then reach Polibetta where our resort(www.porcupinecastle.com was located.Though it had an excellent location,the price was on the higher side and one doesn't have much to do at the resort besides relaxing in a hamoc whilst enjoying binfire at night.The buffet spread didn't offer variety either.However the sunset from the hotel was breathtaking). Though it added another extra 150 kms which would otherwise be around 85 kms it was worthtaking it and we would be missing out a lot.

Our first sighteeing option was Irpu falls where we took the diversion to Nagarhole. As we entered the Nagarhole National park now renamed as Rajiv Gandhi National park we spotted lots of wild animals in their natural habitat(though we could not go for a jungle safari as the timings were odd when we reached there),Nisargadhama near Kushalnagar, the Tibetan settlement in Bylakuppe where we also bought a few Tibetan crockeries and relished fresh hot dimsums(momos as the Tibetans call it),visited the Abby falls( about 9 kms from Mercara main town), Omkareshwar temple,Raja's seat,Mercara fort,shopped honey,spices and who can forget Coorg coffee.

Though Thalacauvery(the birthplace of the Cauvery river) was on our list, we decided to opt out of it as the sun was setting behind the hills and soon would become very dark and we didn't want to take a risk on our very first day there. By the time we reached Polibetta it was pitch dark.Still we did not have any difficulty in finding our hotel as the locals were very helpful in directing our way.

Since most of our sightsseing was over we decided to relax the next day and go for a trekking into one of the coffee plantations in the afternoon besides visiting the HO of Tata Coffee and their British style Bungalows.

The lush green valleys,sprawling tea coffee,teak wood plantations,rich verdant green vegetation, Coorg is blessed with unbound natural beauty and is a nature lover's delight.So,next time you are planning a vacation to the hills to unwind in the lap of nature,don't foget CoorG!!!

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This is one of my favourite salad for a super sunday brunch! When you want to create that great salad with the freshest of ingredients smothered in your favourite italian dressing...this is something you can make instantly.

The ingredients are:-

Fresh chopped carrots,bell peppers,onions,lettuce leaves, cauliflower and any other veggies of your choice.

Cottage cheese and coriander leaves for garnishing.

For the Dressing:-

Combine vinegar, ground pepper, garlic powder,oregano,basil ,a pinch of sugar and salt to taste.

Blend in the dressing with the veggies and garnish with grated cottage cheese and chopped corainder. Savour your crunchy munchy zesty salad and smack your lips for more!!!

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Potatoes have always been my favourite vegetable not only because they taste terrific but because they go very well with almost all varieties of vegetables.

When there is dearth of time and yet you want to relish something really delicious...here is what you can opt for...Cajun Potatoes grilled in your microwave.

The Ingredients are:-

250 gms small potatoes

3 medium sized onions

bunch of coriander leaves

salad or sandwich dressing of any variety

A little thyme

2 green chillies

salt to taste

Method:-

Wash the potatoes but do not peel them. Prick them with a fork ,boil a little and grill them in the microwave for 10-15mins. Once they are done chop onions very fine alongwith coriander and green chillies. Keep aside. In a bowl blend sandwich spread (I used fun foods), add salt to taste and all the chopped items and alongwith thyme.Take out the grilled potatoes,put between your palms and press to flatten them. Pour the mix over it to enjoy your fresh grilled potatoes at any time of the day..be it as a snack or a whole meal!!!

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If you want to discover life enriching,all natural,soul soothing and a vacation with enduring effects, plan it to pepper green village,Wayanad for your next holiday.

Had an unforgettable stay at this simple,secluded,friendly resort during our Christmas holidays.Situated amidst paddy fields,this resort is an excellent place if you want to be with nature far from the madding crowd and rejuvenate completely.

The staffs are very friendly,rooms properly maintained,food quality though not lavish but had variety everyday. Infact since we wanted to relish traditional keralian cuisine, the staff got it specially prepared for us despite not being there on their menu.Infact they also packed our breakfast the day we departed as we left early morning as they bid a warm farewell.Also witnessed fabulous traditonal Keralian cultural programmes every night during our stay.

Since we were there during the Christmas holidays and the next day happened to be a sunday all shops were closed at Mananthavady,but the staffs were courteous enough to take us to the tribal village nearby to fetch some fresh pepper,coffee and ginger at highly affordable rates.

Also I should not forget to mention that they helped me in getting an appointment at the nearby Ayurveda yoga villa resort (www.ayurvedayogavilla.com) for a traditional keralian massage despite they going full.

The nearest sightseeing option is the Kuruva island where there is not much to see and if you are there on a short stay,just opt for Banasura dam and may be the Karalad lake nearby.Another option would be to go on a night safari to Tholpetty wildlife sanctuary by jeep. If you prefer to see them at daylight you can opt for the Muthanga wildlife sanctuary which lies between Sulthan Bathery and Wayanad,which ofcourse you will find if you take the long route via Nanjagud,Gundulpet.The shortest route is to go via the one mentioned at their website from Bangalore,that's...

• Bangalore to PG village: Distance 260 Kms, Route - Bangalore --> Mysore Road --> Srirangapattanam(from here right turn to Madikkeri) --> Hunsur (enter Hunsur town and take Nagerhole road near the bus stand) --> Nagerhole --> Kutta -->Tholpetty --> Kaattikulam
  
  
• Kaattikulam is a small place with few shops, HD Kottey road joins here, at the T-junction, right is Mananthavady, left is HD Kottey Road. Take HD Kottey road which has got pointers for Kuruva Island. About 1 kms on this road, you will find the right deviation to Kuruva Island. Around 5 kms from there is the resort.

However if you are a first time traveller to this place then try to make it at broad daylight as it's location is quite far from the main city,roads are in bad shape and no street lights. But that's the beauty of the place...with glow worms buzzing around you,something you will crave for in city life!

Hence if you are planning for a vacation to unwind,relax and enjoy amidst perfect natural settings,get away from the world, strengthen your spiritual focus, delve into a healing, introspective adventure and rejuvenate with joy and come back inspired and recharged don't forget to check www.peppergreenvillage.com for that perfect weekend getaway or midweek splurge.

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