travel cravings

an odd journey

blesstravo — Thu, 15 May 2014 10:37:28 GMT

Shiver and sweat were simultaneously happening to my body, without my conscience permission. Closing mine eyes, would only lead me to the same place and situation which finds me in chaos. I was 16 and so as my friend. For us a journey together, to whatever place was bliss. The distance didn't matter, because that time we hardly use to step out alone to travel; so coaching classes was a mode to enjoy mere travels.

Unfortunately, one day we decided to board a rickshaw (a three Tyre cycle) instead of our 2 & 4 wheeler. The journey just began, with a scorching heat, an open air Rickshaw and a thin, tanned man riding it. Adventurous it seemed. Our destination was hardly 4kms away. To reach the destination, one has to cross, few small roads, a 1km long road (rather a service lane), adjacent to the flyover on the right, and big posh bungalows on the left & then a bizarre railway crossing. The trauma yet lingers in the head, as soon as I step on that road.

That very day was an exam for the admission, in the Police Department. For some reasons, there was a delay. The delay enhanced exam givers creepy persona. Irony was they were the future police. Weirdly they displayed rage majorly through molestation.

Our rickshaw entered the 5 feet in width and a kilometer long road. Me and mine friend were chit-chatting, laughing as usual, until we realized, the entire service lane was over crowded with men around us. There was no escape route. We were in the midst of the hooligan type men. Our city Ghaziabad is famous for crime, but we will become the victims, was not expected. They practically raped us through words. Both of us were talking gibberish, just to prolong the confident, unscarred look. We were chasing towards our safety.
Yes! We reached the end of the road, without getting practically raped. Alas! The blankness on our face made us still as statue. Our pause of blankness was twisted and butchered, when two guys came near to our rickshaw. Frightened; we were almost on the threshold on peeing in pants. They said something, which was unexpected, “Leave this place soon.” “The saviors are born”, I have heard and witnessed it. Gathering all the senses, we took a left before the railway crossing.

Yes the ears couldn't believe it, the eyes couldn't witness it. The controlled emotions rolled out in abundance, when we were out of that trap, but the trauma prevailed, disturbing my existence, butchering my dreams & mere enthusiasm of enjoying small travels was murdered.

Photos: beetroot sweet-dish pics

blesstravo — Wed, 5 Mar 2014 04:03:00 GMT

Passport & Plate - Nutritious beet-sweet

blesstravo — Wed, 5 Mar 2014 02:22:22 GMT

Ingredients
Ingredients for 18-20 pieces, are as followed:-

1. Beetroot - 3pcs
2. Oats (any brand) - 250g approx.
3. Jaggery (jaggeree)/ brown sugar - 250g (powdered)
4. Coconut Shavings - 250g
5. Almonds - 15-20 (chopped)

How to prepare this recipe
Method :-

Step 1 :- grate all the three beetroot and keep it aside

Step 2 :- fine blend the oats in the mixer and keep it aside ( this helps in binding)

Step 3 :- light a gas and pour the grated beetroot in a vessel (kadai to be specific) saute it for a while, til you see amount of beetroot looks less than you poured - approximately 15-20min on minimum gas lit.

Step 4 :- pour jaggery powder/ brown sugar and mix it with beetroot. Please note there should be no lumps.

Step 5 :- pour the blended oats powder in the above mixture. stir it well. switch off the gas and leave it idle for a very little time, basically till it becomes little cold.

Step 6 :- pick up the small quantity in hand and make a round ball of it.

Step 7 :- when done, with making of all the round balls (approx 18-20 balls will be made), then garnish them with coconut shavings and top them with chopped almonds in abundance.

Serve it after the meal as a sweet-dish.
"Note - people with diabetes can try it with sugar-free, but only after consulting their doctors."

The story behind this recipe
"The healthy sweet, which takes care of your taste-bud and health at the same time."
Waoo! what a thought isn't it? Its like you get to eat sweet dish and it doesn't affect your calories. Well this was was the basic idea behind this recipe, when it came into mine life with fluke. As far as I see myself, I am a crazy cook, I keep experimenting with mixing tastes, for example cooking fruits, mixing pickles with juice, pouring a vegetable with a cake, eating muffins with ketchup, etc. Well! Coming to the point, I generally imagine how something will taste, "this with that" and impromptu I check it.
So one fine day I was watching a show where a chef was teaching some experimental kebabs with beetroot. I got excited, collected all the ingredients and just I was about to begin a thought came, what's mine contribution to the dish? just cooking? so many blending thoughts but the taste would be like kebabs, not satisfactory! a long pause!
Suddenly a pop up, lets make beetroot balls as the taste of beetroot is sweet itself, than another question, how will it bind? If I add cornflour, it will not sound healthy, then a pop up for oats came into being and then adding jaggery or brown sugar instead of sugar.
Garnishing was the main issue, because now beetroot sweet-dish was almost ready and not lot many people are fond of beetroots and that to in a form of sweet-dish - oops!
So it should be served appealingly, thus coconut shavings and almonds came into picture to transform the salad dish into the "After the meal dish." and when mine family, friends and specially those kids liked it, who hate beetroot, I know I achieved success and went gaga...

Passport & Plate - Nutritious beet-sweet

blesstravo — Wed, 5 Mar 2014 02:22:00 GMT

A 'place' I have visited

blesstravo — Wed, 3 Jul 2013 08:01:33 GMT

Born Traveler,the best example to convey this-I was born & we shifted our residence from village to the city.Creativity resides in me, whether I’m cooking, conveying message, presenting any idea in any form, entertaining or irritating. I very well know that I’m not perfect, not even in the things of daily life, but I’m a learner, initiator & an explorer.Learn from every possible thing available.Desires are many,failures are co-existent but not everlasting.Being a talkative child & simultaneously a patient listener has helped me to be friendly & understanding to identify with the whereabouts of any situation.
In few words,“I’m a complete Package”.I am someone who’ll stand for u as a friend,will cook for u, will entertain u with humor & sarcasm,will lecture u & will click pictures of u.
These adorable admiring features of mine are mentioned,to totally inform u that I’ll be the best ever companion for the “Greenland Trip”.I should be chosen becoz I’m keen to work with National Geographic since ages & I’m always ready for challenges.
The best part if I get selected is,“Two way benefit” U’ll get an amazingly adorable co-traveler & I’ll get to learn Photography, directly from experts.

Photos: Ghaziabad

blesstravo — Wed, 3 Jul 2013 04:41:00 GMT

exploring the place, where I have been living since childhood. I live in a posh area and me and my family is pretty broadminded, thus exploring my own place was an eye opener to me.

Ghaziabad - City without a psyche

blesstravo — Mon, 1 Jul 2013 23:52:00 GMT

Ghaziabad – city in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh

It has a history, which I explored, for the 1^st time, in 23years of my life -

Ghaziabad was founded in 1740 by Ghazi-ud-din, who called it Ghaziuddinnagar, after the opening of the railway line the name of the place was shortened to Ghaziabad. Ghaziabad district was carved out of Meerut district on 14/11/1976.
SamudraGupta, Sultan Muhammad-bin-Tughlak, Sultan Nasiuddin, few other Mughal Kings,Maratha’s and Rajputs, the 7 wars from fourth century till 18^th century, out of which the most important war was fought in 1857 with British, the first war of independence, which brought Ghaziabad much of its glory.
This land has given birth to, many freedom fighters, those who played a leading role in the 1949 August revolution and also fought under the guidance of the father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi.
Shrines/ Temples could be witnessed, almost after a kilometre or 2. The famous, “Dudheshwar Nath Mandir(Temple) is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is believed to be a 5000 year old structure. It also has old churches and mosques.
The place has traces of history from the Period of “Ramayana” and “Mahabharata” as well.

Its boundary is adjacent to Delhi (the capital of India); exactly 19km East of Delhi and it acts as the main entrance of Uttar Pradesh and that is why it is also called the Gateway of U.P. This city is becoming popular day by day, because of these very few reasons –

a) It has been tagged the second fastest growing city in the world due to the construction boom, it has been facing.

b) It has approximate 40 years old temple, which has a cave and similar shrine like “Vashno Devi”

c) It has one of the best MBA college, i.e. IMT, Ghaziabad

d) Few notable people like – Rajesh Pilot, Kumar Vishwas, Donald Crowhurst(noted British businessman and amateur sailor, Suresh Raina(cricketer), Rajnath Singh (National President, Bhartiye Janta Party)

e) The most important reason of being popular is – “ THE HIGH CRIME RATE”

I wouldn’t have searched internet or roamed in scorching sunlight to explore Ghaziabad, if I wouldn’t have seen WorldNomads scholarship Photography Competition. I thought I’ll send pictures clicked in past or so, or plan a new trip or so. Then I thought why I cannot explore the place where I am living. I did know few of the things but after researching, I know better.

Thanks to WorldNomads…

My Scholarship entry - Learning How to...

blesstravo — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 13:54:13 GMT

A 1. I was living independently,for almost 5 years, when i moved to bigger city from small place, to do my graduation and work. I was enjoying my work, but my family also wanted me to spend time with them. I left work and came back. I wasn't happy. Physically present, mentally absent. Then I thought of working things out and trust me I am seriously happy, most important contend to be home. Though my film making work is less here.. but its there or me to grab it & support of family keeps me going. When i saw your subjects..."learning how to" inspired me... to tell you how did i start living, which only few do.

A2 I completed my graduation in specializing in film making, producing, scripting an directing, 5 films- 2 documentary, 2 fiction and acted in 1. later made an adv. and made a small 2 d animation film.

A3 My ambition is to make feature films, to be known in the world, for my work. more important is to go for a world tour, to know, to understand different people. this is my aim since childhood. so whatever opportunity i get, i grab it. Best part - film making and travelling is connected. so your scholarship will mean treasure to me.

Photos: learning to live

blesstravo — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 13:25:00 GMT

planning to shoot for the brazil film festival.. made me explore few places.