Gorgeous Goa in Monsoon!

Gorgeous Goa in Monsoon! Who said Goa sucks in Monsoon. They can take a flying kite. Technology mixed with little bit luck can leave you with a lifetime album of Goa. Technology coz jus check the weather report and choose the weekend which shows less rain, cloudy weather and pray to rain gods for it to be true. Both were in our favour when we made JLT trip to Goa in August ( yeah i m writing this post a  little late). Yeah make sure, you are in north goa than south else you will find yourself the only one wandering

Lovely weather, slight drizzle only when we signalled the clouds, lush greeney all around, no scortching sun and free of aimless crowd. Though you would not find as many shacks and hippies as you would in season but there are enough for you to visit on a three day holiday. We stayed on baga beach in Chalston beach resort.....

Not a great resort in terms of rooms(were clean but small-good value for money though-Rs 1800 per night with bfast) , but yeah they have a decent swimming pool and a lovely beach shack. Good food I reckon. And most of all its on baga beach...a little faraway from main Calangute and Baga beach.....almost looks secluded.

So We started the day as most of the tourists do.....hiring a bike(costs about Rs200 a day) and spirits flowing:-). We went to the pool, shopped for sometime, soaked on the beach and in the night headed to Mambos on baga beach....Rs.500 for the entry with no cover charge. it pay and party. Good music, decent crowd and loads of fun. We kept roving till 2 am with almost a lot of shops open.

The next day was even more fun with a slight drizzle in the morning and thereafter a beautiful day. We started beach hopping with small stopovers to refill our spirits! visited anjuna, vagator and for the first time Arambol ( i have been to goa 3 times before but not visited this one). Can be called a black beach...though arabian sea has black sand, you wouldn't find it that black on Calangute, baga . Arambol is about 20-25 kms from baga and is still a a part of north goa. Use your GPS navigation to reach there or rely on locals and signboards.

Sat by the beach with a glass of tea.A big glass of Tea. Chairs in the open with cool sea breeze and cooler rocks view. Oh! how could i forget to mention my experience in this roadside Mango tree restobar by Vagator beach. loved the ambience...Right on the road with a lot of antique look to it still feeling modern.
Evening was for Mandovi river cruise....have done it before too but this time it was different.....remained on the top of the cruise with lovely breeze....almost feels like you are with yourself (jus wait for all others to go down for that not so amazing dance performances). Some people will try accosting you on the road saying that cruise tickets will be over by 6....don't buy anything from them. Head Straight to the tickets counters and choose the best cruise yourself. We fell prey to one such accoster and ended up on a cheap cruise.

Returned to the room, the night was still young and inviting. So changed in partywear and landed in Anthony's pub. Best experience in Goa. Live Karaoke(check the days though, they don't play it everyday). Candle light dinner on the beach with hookahpot. Not very expensive. Lovely and mesmerizing ambience.....wonderful crowd. And now while returning to the hotel it started pouring....well the rains had some good in store for us. We stuck to that place for some more time and enjoyed more performances

The next morning we checked out our luggage in our swim wear! yeah that's right....it had started pouring as the forecast had mentioned. Went to the pool in rains. loved it. And my hubby dear struck a idea of walking on the beach in rains. I had never done it before and gosh loved every moment of it in the pouring waters. Though didn't explore the dangerous sea, a walk on the beach in rains is carved in my memory. Food was in amazing in the hotel beach shack. Goan prawns vindaloo with some coconut fenny(yeah its something different...try it you may like it) Boarded the bus back to bangalore in the evening. Please don't book any other travels than Paulo (we had booked some seagulls or seabirds), they are pathetic with wet mattresses, rude staff and cramped space. Paulo sleepers are spacious and great. Their punctuality is even better.

So next monsoon, don't curse the rain gods and pack your bags for Goa. U would actually send me roses  for a wonderful experience. Oh yeah don't forget to look into the forecast.

Bengali Kali Mandir/kalibari n Purohits

October - a month of festive spirit and high spirits too! Recently we celebrated Lakshmi puja and during shopping for the puja I realised that many are still unaware of a Kalibari (Bengali kali temple) that exists in bangalore and do not really have contact numbers of various bengali priests. So thought of writing this blog on bengali spiritual culture with addresses and contact numbers to enlighten others!

Temples n pujas are an integral part of Bengali lifestyle. We are quite religious people by nature..oh yeah i m not kidding....you ll know if you  have met one....lots of finger rings to overcome various hazards....given by many so called servants of god. if u have an eye for detail, you might have even observed those little box shaped articles either hanging from our necks or on our arms.

Being hindus and idol worshipppers, we worship many many deities. infact i have a uncle who has house full of deities of different regions...on his fridge, vehicle, kitchen, bedroom, as a showcase article and puja room. Sometimes i find it as his hobby than his spiritual inclination:-)

If you hear of Goddess Kali, you may be quick to recall bengalis. Though we worship other lords too, this particular goddess reigns in our life for the most. Out of the context, someone recently pointed out that Bengalis usually worship a lot of goddesses than gods....and seriously if you gave it a thought...it is somewhat correct. Think of it...Kali, durga, lakshmi, saraswati....all goddesses!

So coming back to Ma Kali, we all long for a Kali Bari (kali temple). Having given Bangalore 18 years of my precious life:-), it was only recent that i came across this place and to my surprise it has existed for over 25 years. So all you waiting to know where it is....

It's in Ramamurthynagar. Nearest Landmark is FCI godown gate (its near the popular landmark Uttam Sagar Restaurant. you can ask people for directions from there or contact the priest directly). Right opposite the gate you will find a lot of dirty small roads cutting through. One of the roads (see a chicken shop at the beginning and a lot of dirt) houses kali bari, which is clean. Gives a feeling of a village temple. Priest resides with his family and is handy if you want to conduct any puja at your home too.
His name is Pradip i guess...coz i refer to him as Thakurmoshai. His contact no is 9972807880.

Also below mentioned are a few contact numbers of other priests if you would like to perform any pujas at home.

          1.              Ratan Chakraborty : 9945082590

2.              Nirmal Shastri : 080-25700962,9901245752

3.              Deepak Chakraborty : 9740579278

4.              Tapas : 9945634504

So now that you have their details, as a courtesy don't forget to send me an invitation for the events you conduct:0) 

 

Pepper Chicken - My style

This is one chicken dish that i looooove. And if made with care and patience (its actually quite simple) turns out to be a great eye catcher and mouth catcher too! Try my style Pepper chicken

Ingredients:
Chicken - 400 gm

Onion Sliced - 1 big
Cardamom - 2 broken
bay leaf - 1 small
Oil - 2 tbsp
Salt - as per taste
Vinegar - 1 tbsp
Chilly powder - 1 tsp
Coriander leaves chopped - 1 tbsp
Milk - 1/2 cup
Water as required

Make a paste of
Green Chillies - 5-6
Kaju - 5-6 (i didn't have kaju last so used some almonds. Phew!)
Yoghurt - 4 tablespoon
Cinnamon - 1/2 inch stick
Peppercorn - 5-6
Garlic - 5-6 flakes
Ginger - 1/2 inch

Method:

1. Wash and marinate the chicken in vinegar (i used wine vinegar), salt( don't put any salt later so measure it once in for all) and chilly powder and put it in the refrigerator for 2 hours
2. Now in a pressure cooker (i use it instead of kadai given today's LPG crisis) add oil and heat it. Add cardamom, bay leaf, onions and fry it for 2-3 minutes till onions turn soft. Do it on a high flame with continuous stirring else it burns.
3. Now on the same flame, add chicken and fry for 3-4 mins.
4. Add the paste and fry for another 2 mins
5. Pour the milk and some crushed peppercorn and close the lid of the pressure cooker. Reduce the flame slightly and make sure it not too low else your chicken would turn watery.
 6. Ensure max 2 whistles depending on the size of the chicken pieces. For medium size - 2 , small size -1
7. Let it cool and the steam escape. Now open the lid and cook on high flame for about 2 mins to make it a thick gravy.
8. Add coriander leaves and you r done!

Serve it with hot Chapathi. my mouth has started watering and feel like making it again today. so here i head to my chicken leaving you guys with some food for thought.