Thursday, October 29, 2009

Wandering



Although the Buddha says that we should not look for solutions in distant lands, but within our own hearts, regular readers here will know that I have a tendency to look to distant lands quite often! Not for solutions necessarily, but to feed my imagination - feed my heart, if you like - so perhaps it works out as amounting to the same thing?

At present, I am feeling that tingle in my wandering feet again and as well as my favourite locales - Japan, Europe - I am thinking too of India. I have been watching "The Jewel in the Crown" on one of the new digital channels here late every Sunday night and although I watched it with my parents when it was first released in the early 80s, I didn't really understand it then. Critics I'm sure could (and probably did) call it 'Brideshead in a Hot Cilmate' (with apologies to Nancy Mitford) since they were made at about the same time, but I am really enjoying it. I studied Indian history for a year as an undergrad at uni and so I am slowly recalling bits and pieces of long-forgotten facts as it goes along. As well as that, I have also just started reading E.M. Forster's A Passage to India which, although I have loved the film for some time, I dismissed the book as boring. I am now finding it to be really engaging and so vividly depicted. Has anyone else read it? I would have loved to put a clip of either "The Jewel in the Crown" or "A Passage to India" up here but there were no clips of the former to be found on You Tube and the latter's clips had been disabled. Huh. However, last but by no means least, I can bring you a gorgeous clip from "Monsoon Wedding", a lovely, lovely, lovely movie which you have to seek out if you haven't seen it already. And, needless to say, it presents a more modern view of India than the titles mentioned above! This song is one of my favourites from the soundtrack (the sound is a little subdued, so crank it up a little if you can). I defy you to not be cheered by it.

Has anyone been to India? What's it like?

And one last thing while on the topic of India (sort of), I have lately discovered a very nice little side dish which I have now had two nights running. It sort of reminds me of the cucumber dish which is generally served with pappadums at Indian restaurants. Combine sliced or diced cucumber with natural yoghurt and a little finely chopped or minced garlic. The proportions of each are to your own taste. Mmmm.

8 comments:

Pina said...

My colleagues were in India, mostly observing birds. They say that it is very crowded, dirty and loud compared to our country, but they liked it a lot anyway. Don't hesitate, go for it!

Feronia said...

You're absolutely right, Pina - I think 'go for it' should become my motto...too much procrastinating going on with me of late! So happy to read you've had some good news too! :)

Stardust said...

Never been there but my friends from India told me, people there are very restricted by tradition, and very conservative. A whole lot different from what we see in movies..

Just follow your heart. =)

By the way, about the porridge, it's just rice cooked with water to softness, so it's entirely plain. As for congee, the flavoured type, that would require some secret recipe, which I haven't got hold of any. =P

Feronia said...

From what I've heard, I think the Bollywood movies are a real escape from everyday life so, yes, probably a lot different to what happens in reality! Monsoon Wedding actually has a very serious plotline running through it, as well as all these gorgeous songs, so perhaps it tries to do both...

Thanks for the porridge tip, Stardust. So, is it normal, long grain, white rice? With Marmite? I'm going to try it!

Pina said...

I ate rice porridge for breakfast in a tiny village in China, it was plain white rice cooked in water, no salt added. At first the taste was strange, but when you get used to it, it is very delicious. I have never tried to cook it at home, as I use only unpolished rice.

Feronia said...

Yes, we had a sort of sticky rice porridge wrapped in a banana leaf for breakfast in Hong Kong. It was an interesting and really different flavour.

Stardust said...

Yes dear. I always have my bowl of porridge with a (heavy) teaspoon of marmite. Heavenly...

Feronia said...

I am *so* going to try that, Stardust...two of my favourite things - porridge and marmite.