HAPPY NEW YEAR

A Very Happy New year to all friends of blogsphere.

January always marks the beginning of everything fresh.As we know, the night is darkest just before the dawn;and the dawn of new year has come.

We ve all gone busy with our routine &I hope we ve overcome the initial confusion of writing 2008 still on the papers;)) and keeping ourselves busy with life's adventures & astonishments. Also I expect to read new &lovely posts from my blog friends......

This New Year is all too special for me & my husband as it s an year of expectations. Let it be a surprise!

I wish every one of u a Wonderful new year filled with lot of unveiled surprises..Enjoy every minute of life..

Unborn tomorrows
Dead yesterdays
Why we fret ;
If today is beautiful?

Easy Tasty & Healthy

Chitrana- a mixed vegetable rice




Ingredients

• Basmati rice-2 cups
• mixed vegetables-1 cup
• (carrots,beans,peas,cabbage)
• Oil-2 tablespoon
• Urdu dal-i teaspoon
• Onion -1
• Green chillies-2
• Garam masala-1/4 teaspoon
• Ghee-1 spoon
• Cashewnuts-a handful
• Salt-a pinch

Method of preparation

1. Bring to boil 2 cups of water in a suitable vessel(preferably pressure cooker)
2. add a pinch of turmeric powder &salt to it
3. Add the rice to it &cook on a low flame.
4. Meanwhile pour oil to a pan,add the urdu dal ,onion & green chillies one by one
5. Add the vegetables to the pan &cook it for 5 minutes
6. Once the rice is cooked add the cooked vegetables to it &mix well.
7. Add ghee to a hot pan &fry the cashewnuts
8. Add the cashewnuts along with the ghee to the vegetable rice
9. Add the garam masala
10. Serve hot with salad &pappad

ENJOY!!

and please let me know how you went on...:))

A trendy fashionable question

Hi friends ,I am back...........:)))))))Almost a 3month gap from blogging....though not deliberate:))))))

             Its so amazing to see a whole different change in culture while travelling from east to west,especially in the clothing.Though not fashionable,I am always a good observer of the trendy wears.Its so beautiful to see the lovely Irish girls treading in style with their ultra modern outfit esp in the capital city ,Dublin.Another fact is that they are wonder struck by the Indian traditional wear too.The foreigners are so thrilled to see the mirror works and the dupattas of the salwar kameez..& the mundu-shirt for men,the variety of our outfits bla bla bla...

              A recent joke I could recollect is that me & my hubby were having a photo session around our house in our traditional wear.We planned to capture some snaps & send 'em home.I was in a salwar kameez...the patiala model & my hubby in a mundu-jubba(a long sleeved shirt)...we needed  help as we couldnt capture us together.Our Irish friend was more than happy to help us.We took some snaps with her &her boyfriend.Before saying goodbye she wanted to know the names of our dress &the various traditionl Indian outfits...

            After a  class of mine she left us with a question  ''Why do women wear trousers & men wear skirt in India?" 

          Oh my God!That was something unexpected;))))))

                                  

My favorite 5 quotes

I have been tagged for the first time by bindhu.. hurray! I am asked to jot down 5 quotes of my choice from the favorite books I have read or came across...
I liked it.Thanks Bindhu

Here are a few quotes...

1) With great power comes great responsibilities.

- a memorable quote from the movie Spiderman (2002) .

2) "This is my belief: that through difficulties and problems God gives us the opportunity to grow. So when your hopes and dreams and goals are dashed, search among the wreckage, you may find a golden opportunity hidden in the ruins."

- Dr.A.P.J.Abdul Kalam, Wings of Fire

3) "Great dreams of great dreamers are always transcended."
(സഫലം ആക്കാന്‍ തക്ക വണ്ണമുള്ള ഒരു സ്വപ്നം ഉണ്ടെന്ഗിലെ ജീവിതം അര്‍ത്ഥപൂര്‍ണ്ണം ആകൂ )

-Dr.A.P.J.Abdul Kalam, Wings of Fire

4)"When you want something, the whole universe conspires in helping you achieve it"

- The Alchemist

5)A kind word can warm three winter months.

- A Japanese proverb

I m hereby tagging you friends:)))

scorpiogenius
nishanth nair
keshi
deeps
devika

My sonnet in solitude

An old anecdote from my diary.

When you were very near,
Never did I feel any fear
Loving you is my duty
for it made me very happy.
I wished you to be beside me
so I would see no one besides you
Solitude was very painful
though hard to be very cheerful;
Happiness came in a glimpse
and ordeals came in tons
When I was heartless
For life seemed mirthless;
Yonder I saw a smile
welcoming me into life

Scintillating Switzerland

My trip to Switzerland would be my most memorable travel experience in life.Switzerland is impregnated with its alpine beauty which would invigorate any jaded traveler.Though Switzerland looked neutral,it was never flavourless.
The journey started with joy & ended up in bliss.It was our honeymoon trip,and we started capturing photos form our doorstep until we reached back there.The most fascinating fact for us to chose Switzerland was that we didn't need a visa to go there,so the waiting hassles had been solved:))

The full name of this country is Swiss Confederation &the currency is Swiss Franc(CHF).It s a mixture of different cultures,the German,the French&the Italian;so the cuisines were definitely different &delicious.We tried all these dishes,but opted for the Indian one finally.To our interest,we found an Indian restaurant in Zurich where we tasted our Kerala cuisine food we never tasted before.Well I think all the Indians would go for their traditional food,if they get a chance; though they respect other cuisines.
The alpine ranges were marvelous which really made it exquisite.Such a beautiful experience to be on top of the alps,full of snow,2020m from the ground level!!!!.We were taken there in a cabin car,with glass windows absorbing the beauty of the mountain range.It was so freezing on top,that we could hardly take our hands out of the gloves to click a snap.......








































the skiing lessons


You wouldn't miss the most exciting pleasure there,the skiing ,after all this journey.I can't recollect if I have ever laughed like this before in my life.Such a funny experience we had there!


On our way to the shop to hire the skiing boots,we saw a child of approx. 9years coming with a fractured ankle after skiing!That made us more adventurous .We reached our way to the shop ,and put on the heavy skiing boots.Alas!We weren't able to make one step forward with it.I felt as if my legs were tied up & had to walk against resistance.However I tried to manage the 5 minute walk in half an hour,where my skiing instructor was waiting for the 2 hr session of skiing lessons.


We saw people skiing & snowboarding from the heights coming down to the beginning point where we were standing.As soon as we were managing to climb up the snow mountain,we saw a person snowboarding down to us & fell right in front of us with a banging noise.:'\;;'!@#$%$#@terrifying us:)))))We could see many tourists skiing with difficulty & many native kids skiing with so ease that we doubt if they are skiing or running.

















Somehow we managed to reach the point where we had to be ready to ski down.The instructor did it with ease turning right & left on the way & asked us to do the same.I stated skiing,never could turn a bit,had no controls ....& skiied right down straight into a shop,where I could stop at its steps atleast Thank God!!I burst out into laughter,&turned back to see my hubby laughing loud:))))))))))We had a dozen of falls on the snow clad mountains,but it was really funny.I have saved a video clipping of my funny skiing.




I am very happy to share such experiences through the blog.Still more to write about the transport,the stay,the tidiness of the cities,the friendly people,the Zurich zoo,the Water jet in Geneva etcetc...Had a lovely enjoyable time.

The whispering dawn......

Dawn is my favorite time of the day,though I don't always wake up at that time:)).It is the twilight before sunrise,often recognized by a weak sunlight,when we can distinguish objects& commence our outdoor activities.Another day with God's grace.I feel it great to enjoy the refreshing air at this time.It brings a positive spirit in me & gives me energy to work.

When I get up in the morning,I sit up & stay quiet for a while praying for a good day.Today while I was meditating ,I tried to concentrate on the soft whispers of the dawn around me;as if I was testing my hearing acquity.

the sound of gushing wind could be heard out of my window,the trees swaying in wind,the water getting heated up in the geaser,the tic-tic of the clock needle reminding me to get ready to go for work,the church bells ringing,the chirping birds& my darling snoring he he he:))))

I sank into memories of my childhood, when I used to wake up in the morning,never bothered to listen to any of these whispers,rushed out of the door with the badminton racket to play with my friends .I was often a school-girl,cos I always had more friends at school than at home.My mom never had a trouble sending me to school:)).My thought snaps went on &as I was dreaming through my childhood days,the alarm went on & on,breaking my dreams in the middle& reminding me of the trouble if I am late.
ooooops....Bye bye...miles to go before I sleep...