This really is one of the best accompaniments that you can enjoy with rice or bread. I just made this for lunch and it came out really well. It consists of shredded coconut, red chillie powder, pepper, lime juice, salt and green chillies. Some people add Maldives fish and tomatoes too. However, I prefer not to. The taste is tangy and sweet. I adore it! 
So there we were, all bundled up into a van scooting off in the direction of the Katunayake Airport. Once there, it was surprising to see that there was hardly any security detail present. The process was certainly easier and more civil compared to previous experiences. Once on the flight, the journey was the usual Sri Lankan Airlines trip. Despite all the bad comments you tend to hear from people who have travelled on the national carrier, all I can say is that the levels of hospitality are unmatched when compared to other airlines. The journey to Mumbai via flight was good. No complaints.
Then we landed. And now the complaints begin. Frankly, I have never come across airport officials who hardly smile and are unbelievably rude. The immigration officials heckled me asking how many countries I have visited and when did I last pay a visit in an obnoxious tone. My reply was a cutting retort, “Goa is not unique enough for me to remember when I visited it last.” After that issue was sorted out, we made our way to the taxi stands. The stink of fecal matter was unbearable. There were plenty of touts and dodgy-looking people asking us whether we wanted a hire. Luckily, we had booked transport to the hotel from Sri Lanka and made our way to a city hotel near to the international airport.
One of the major disadvantages of visiting India is the fact that communication is very difficult. The stay in this hotel was decent albeit mediocre. But it would do for a one-night stay until we took the flight to Goa from Mumbai via the domestic airport. Thus far the journey was becoming one big regret. But then the journey to Goa seemed okay. Yet if I had to complain, it would be the fact that people are unbelievably rude and cannot speak one word of English. The only thought running through my mind was – “How do they expect to be an international destination when they cannot speak English and are so rude?”
Once we landed in Goa, the trip to the Royal Goan Beach Club was a bouncy ride on dusty roads. Compared to the last time I visited, many parts of Goa had given into development and boasted many shops and international franchises like KFC. The resort per se was quite good and the levels of hospitality were decent. As much as I was craving a swim, I chose to avoid the pool since most of the locals were jumping in fully clothed. Having said that the gym and apartment facilities were superlative. The weather I was told would be erratic and it certainly was. There were harsh thunderstorms that led to floods. What this meant was that there were frequent power cuts and the loss of WiFi. None of these would have mattered if not for the fact that I was on work and needed to be online to get my work done.
Travelling around Goa was not going to happen thanks to the thunderstorms. So this was a missed opportunity to say the least. Whatever travelling that was done was to the markets and shops to buy gifts for the folks in Colombo. One should, however, mention the cuisine that was on offer. The resort food was sublime. I swear I overdosed on a plethora of offerings like paneer, buriyani, Kingfisher beer, ice cream and Bacardi Breezers just to name a few. When it came to the food part of this holiday, I was in heaven. When you are stuck in a miserably wet resort with nothing to do, you do have to thank them for having a spa. And so I indulged myself in some surreal and sublime spa experiences all thanks to the resident Karma Spa.
The full body treatment was certainly cheaper and far more blissful than any I have had here in Sri Lanka. The comprehensive packages were much cheaper as well. The staff was really nice and this was certainly welcome having experienced such brutish behavior at the airports in Goa and Mumbai. All in all, the trip was enjoyable and somewhat entertaining. Still for all, I was more than glad to come back to Sri Lanka. I felt the immediate difference when I got on the Sri Lankan Airlines flight from Mumbai to Colombo. There is something about that Lankan smile that puts you at ease.
The trip was in some aspects a waste since I could hardly visit any of the many places that Goa is famous for. For instance, I have heard fabulous stories of how incredible its history is along with the fact that there is so much to see. If I do visit Goa again, I certainly would desire to visit places such as the Fort Aguada, Basilica of Bom Jesus, Church of our Lady of Rosary, Lamgau Caves, Madei Wildlife Sanctuary, Mapusa Market and the Ruins of the Colvale Fortress just to name a few.
If you do plan on visiting Goa, I do suggest you are aware of the fact that communication will be difficult and people are not exactly friendly. There are also plenty of touts and individuals who are willing to rip you off. It is hardly a civilized place and as far as a holiday goes, ensure that you place your trust in a tour operator. Trying to navigate Mumbai and Goa on your own would be a veritable nightmare and it is not advisable at all. Most of all, it certainly would be helpful to have a few friends in a country such as India since this would certainly help you when it comes to finding the right places to shop and the best places to eat. I would also recommend that you look up Tripadvisor when it comes to finding the ideal place to stay, since the reviews that are provided would be objective and neutral.
My next trip would be to Bali towards the end of the year. I look forward to sharing my experiences regarding this journey in the near future.
Lunch today is gotukola, cabbage and thibbatu thel dala, chicken and dhal curries. It tasted so good!
Switched on the telly. Saw the world is on fire. Needed something to get my mind off the evil I see. So I made a chocolate mousse with loads of cream. Don’t you love the look of the snowy minced almond flakes on top?
Cooking really is bliss. This is what I made for lunch today. The dishes perfectly complemented each other. What you see is Chicken, Dhal and Ladies Fingers all curried to perfection.
No one ever said life is easy. I should know. One way to become happier, content and be more in control of your future is to be independent. Here are 9 things that will help you get started on the path of independence.
The truth is that life can be a terrible journey unless you do learn from your mistakes and avoid making those same mistakes again and again. Throughout my life I have learnt a few bitter lessons. Yet it is thanks to such bad experiences I have learned that there are some constants in life as well. I thought it would be prudent to share some of these with you, since helping each other out is what life is all about. I hope this article will make you reflect over life. This is my intention.
Crows are real pests. Supposedly hanging their own feathers helps drive them away. I also heard that hanging shiny objects works too. Any other type of solution is most welcome. Please reply via comments.
Can you guess what this Flower is? It is a Pumpkin Flower. Saw it in the morning and thought it was just too beautiful not to share.
“Moderation is a fatal thing. Nothing succeeds like excess.” – Oscar Wilde
The truth is this. Everything in this life is addictive. Whether it is food, money, drugs, clothes, work or computer games; everything in essence has some addictive quality about it. But what most people are worried about is losing weight and I am in no way an exception to this rule. The truth is I have lived my life being excessive, especially when it came to food. I have always been an “all or nothing” kinda guy. So you would never find me running off to KFC just to buy a Zinger burger. Rather what I would do was grab a Zinger, a Krusher, a Chocolate Sundae and 6 Hot Wings. And this happened to be just one meal.
There are so many places around Colombo these days where you can fill yourself with whatever tickles your fancy. The main problem here is that the older you get, your metabolism slows. You probably could remember when you were in your 20s; whatever you ate just fell off. However, this is no longer the case. So what should you do then? In theory, it may all seem rather simple. Just go healthy and start piling your plate with nuts, fruits and vegetables and stay off the sugar and grease.
Easier said than done right? I know how many diets I tried and the different types of fitness regimes. Yet the fact of the matter is that it is easier to bench-press your body weight than to change your eating lifestyle. Imagine spending days without beer and red wine. That is like a one-way ticket to the loony bin for me. What we also forget is the fact that most of what we eat these days (and this is especially true of junk food) is very addictive.
How does one make a U-turn when it comes to eating the food that makes you obese or overweight? Well, there really is no need to just quit eating all those favorite things you adore. Rather practice moderation. When it comes to food, you are assured of thinking with your heart (dare I say, tongue!) than with your head. So what you need to do is plan ahead. What I did was figure out how many calories I needed to lose weight, and then I got the foods that would keep me full but were not packed with empty calories. I’d get up in the morning; make my mushroom and chicken salad with olives (which I adore!) and then mix in my protein shakes and head off to office.
Thereafter, I would simply divide what I cooked into four equal meals. I would skip dinner and instead have a protein shake. Once a week I would splurge on whatever it is that I crave, which could be anything from Mexican Nachos riddled with Sour Cream, Cheese and Guacamole to a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon. That would keep me going for the rest of the week. I would also work out 6 days of the week for approximately one hour. All this created a nice calorie deficit and I was able to lose weight rather easily.
The journey continues. Every single one of us has different levels of motivation, discipline and will power. So results will vary for sure. In a day and age when we are bombarded with a buff looking Hugh Jackman and lean Ryan Gosling, all we can do is crave for such bodies and delve more into an apathetic state. But remember these are Hollywood stars who are paid millions to get their body pumped. They have personal chefs, gym instructors and the aid of various supplements. Don’t compete with them. Rather compete with yourself to be the best you can be. That is all that counts.
Disclaimer: If you suffer from any serious disease like Diabetes or Heart Disease you need to get the permission of a Doctor before you embark on a nutritional diet and/or fitness regime.
