Colours

Doing this is when I lose complete sense of time - the joy of paints and pencils rediscovered :)

So after being back to art after ages, this year tried hand at following:

1. Warli (acrylic on canvas)

2. Madhubani (acrylic on canvas)

3. Dry brush (water on paper)/ Chinese brush

4. Rangoli (coloured powder on the floor)

5. Pot painting (acrylic on earthen pots)

6. Quilling (paper strips on paper)

7. Water (on paper) - my all time favourite type of art

Will try to keep the art work updated to a FB album.  I'd love to see more of other's work for inspiration! 

Quick Fix Breakfast - French Toast

What's better than a very easy, quickly made, yummy breakfast on Sunday at home?

Ingredients*:

• 1 Egg
• Bread Slices (yes, I use the healthier whole wheat)
• Half a small bowl of milk
• 1/2 teaspoon of sugar (I use less quantity of brown sugar esp. considering the honey topping, but if you have a sweeter tooth can put 1 teaspoon)
• A teaspoon of butter
• Few teaspoons full of Honey/ Maple syrup for the topping
• Vanilla essence or Cinnamon powder (both are optional flavouring agents)

* portions for 3 slices

Procedure:

• Whisk the egg, milk, sugar in a flat big (bigger base than the size of bread slice) bowl
• Heat a non-stick pan with butter
• Soak the bread slice in the egg mixture and coat on both sides ( just a few seconds, do not soak for too long or it will become soggy and break)
• Let it turn nice golden brown on medium/ low flame
• Sprinkle cinnamon powder if you will
• Remove from flame and top with Maple Syrup/ Honey

    Voila!

Consistency

Working in a manufacturing setting in a company which has been around for 175+ years has made me value the power of systems and consistency. I was thinking about how a simple thing as the concept of 'Run to Target' at work is re-applicable to personal life. This basically provides a mindless way to initiate action. You do not have to weigh various options every time, or spend time thinking what to do or let other 'urgent priorities' take precedence over this routine task because it is imbibed so naturally in your system.

Let's take an example of something most of us want to do but get stuck in the way - yes, gym (or whatever form of exercise one wants to do). The key to any exercise routine being effective is consistency and the factor which puts off most people is the quest for motivation and gathering the willpower.

One does tend to lose enthusiasm in the search of motivation, I mean, practically you are not going to have a date everyday with your crush for you to look your best, or a picture- perfect trek lined up every week needing you to be at your fittest but there will be the many in-the-comfort-zone-nothings to do instead of sweating it out, everyday. 

Have you felt this before?  Finding the energy to reach the gym feels more daunting a task than exercising for a few hours there. I have felt this is true for most things (The Law of Physics - Inertia does keep things in the state they are!) - finishing a task is easier than starting it in the first place. Keeping myself focused on getting out of the house, starting the car and driving to the gym everyday at 6:30 pm has helped me with following the next steps of working out more easily. Making something a set ritual daily eliminates the thought process behind it thus putting our favorite buddy (actually a foe in disguise) procrastination off the radar. 

What is that you have been wanting to do for a long time but cannot find the motivation for it? Try mindlessly initiating that task as a drumbeat, instead of relying on the elusive motivational factors to take action.

The Euro Bucketlist

Came across this today morning.

Super excited about my next year there :). Let the planning begin - few things give me the high like travel planning does!

Travel Map

Loving tripadvisor of late! Very helpful travel site. Check it out.

Updated the map today, and it says only 8% of world travelled.
#somuchlefttosee  #bucketlist  #travelbug

Travelogue- 9 things to do while in Kashmir

When to visit: Atleast twice in a lifetime - once for winter beauty (Mar end) and once to witness the spring glory (Jul end/ Aug)! 

My itinerary (April first week) -

Day 1: Chandigarh - Srinagar (by direct flight)

Day 2: Srinagar - Gulmarg (by road ~2 hours)

Day 3: Gulmarg - Pahalgam (by road ~ 4 hours)

Day 4: Pahalgam - Srinagar

Day 5: Srinagar - Chandigarh

Based on my own limited experience I've compiled list of 'touristy' things to do while you are there:

1) Relax and stay in a houseboat in Srinagar

Highly recommended to spend a night in a houseboat.  The wooden carvings and beautiful views of the lake at dusk and dawn are worth it. I stayed at Fantasia Houseboat in Nigeen Lake, as I wanted a calm and peaceful location versus the clutter of Dal Lake. Nigeen Lake separated by a causeway from Dal lake is much serene, quiet and picturesque. One can take a Shikara ride to the Dal Lake from here for a 2-3 hrs round trip.

2) Admire the splendor of the gardens built in the Mughal Era in Srinagar

Spend half a day walking through the three gardens of Shalimar, Nishat and Chesmashai early in the morning (open around 10am) to avoid mid-day crowds. Nishat, with unique design of terraced gardens, is my favourite pick.

3) Be amazed at the picturesque little town of Gulmarg 

Gulmarg was easily my favourite location of the 3 towns visited. The small town stretching over just 2-3 kms was covered in 6-8 feet deep snow, making it a sight to behold! Stayed overnight at Nedous Hotel, offering great voews and away from centre with majority of crowd. If you visit in summer, the slopes transform into meadows filled with flowers and for snow you can take the cable car to top of Mt. Apharwat.

4) Buy Pashmina and local handicrafts in the village on way to Gulmarg

Pleasure to just look at the artistic paper machie handicrafts, Pashmina shawls and carpets. The local artisans have their own shops here and you will get cheaper rates than in the main city.

5) Shop in the land of real Saffron fields and dry fruits on way to Pahalgam

On way to Pahalgam, stop at the village of Pampore where you can see actual saffron fields (bloom in summer) and buy original saffron and dry fruits and reasonable prices.

6) Walk along the banks of the river Lidder in Pahalgam

Pahalgam is a picturesque small town with a river running throughout and surrounded by pine forests and mountains. Stayed at Hotel Himalaya House just by the river, away from market place and offering great views.

7)  Ride a pony in Pahalgam

Explore the valleys for gorgeous views on a horseback

8) Savour Kahwa and flavours of Kashmiri Wazwan

Kahwa is a refreshing green tea with saffron and spices added to it, and must have while in Kashmir. If you are a non-vegetarian do try the Kashmiri Wazwan (Ahdoos, Mughal Darbar and Taj in Srinagar are good options) and for veg food Krishna Dhaba in Srinagar is a great option.

9) Trek to the Great Lakes of Kashmir in Summer

First hand details coming up in August! :)

Trip album up here.

For more info on any of this feel free to ping me/ write an email, I will be happy to assist, if you are planning a trip to Kashmir!

Vegetable Omelette for Breakfast

A good way to have share of both vitamins and protein on a Sunday morning

Ingredients*:

• 3 Eggs
• Vegetables (lots of sliced mushrooms, onions, red tomatoes, and green pepper).You could add more like red, yellow pepper, baby corn etc.
• Freshly ground small piece of ginger  and few cloves of garlic (optional)
• A small bunch of coriander leaves 
• 1 tbsp oil (I use extra virgin olive oil)
• Oregano, chilly flakes (I use extra generous amount) for garnishing, salt to taste

* portions for 1 omelette

Procedure:

• Heat 1 tsp of olive oil in a pan, add few red chilli flakes and saute the diced onion, green pepper for couple of minutes
• Add the remaining veggies (they cook quicker so add later - (mushroom/ tomatoes etc) and saute for another 4-5 mins. Set stuffing aside.
• Heat a pan, sprinkle very less oil and spread the beaten eggs (add little salt while beating)
• Turn over once bottom is sunny yellow and spread the precooked mushroom stuffing
• Once other side cooked (takes 2-3 mins), roll the omelette to ensure stuffing doesn't spill out
• Good to go!

South Indian Breakfast - Pesarattu

A request from a friend made me experiment with home made version of Pesarattu.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup whole green moong
• 1/4 cup of raw rice
• A small piece of ginger (I use an extra generous amount)
• A small bunch of coriander leaves 
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 2 green chillies
• 2 tbsp of oil, for the dosa while cooking
• 1/4 cup of minced onions for garnish 

Procedure:

• Soak the moong dal and rice together overnight. Grind together with rest of the ingredients (ginger, garlic, some of the coriander) and some salt + water. Consistency is the key: The batter should be little coarse and not too watery (a bit on the thicker side - more thicker than regular dosa batter)
• Heat a pan and spread one ladle-full of batter into a dosa
• Sprinkle some oil and spread the minced onions, coriander, green chillies on top
• Cover it with a lid for few mins, turn over carefully once bottom side is golden borwn and again toast for few mins
• Serve with ginger chutney/  pickle

Hampta Pass Trek Review

Hampta Pass Trek review

This is account based on Sep 29th batch, and a trek review would vary largely based on the time of the year you undertake it. 

Apart from common takeaways of every trek like meeting diverse set of people, making great friends and other learning one gets (which in itself can be another article :)), below points are restricted to only Hampta Pass specific points.

Top 5 pros of the trek:
1. A good trek to start with for non- experienced trekkers.  Relatively  easier of the Himalayan multi-day treks. Distance per day being only 6-8kms (except pass crossing day at ~12kms)
2. Altitude gains and drops are not very drastic but gradual making it easy to acclimatize.
3.  Terrain is easily manageable with basic fitness. No technical expertise needed (atleast in conditions witnessed in Sep/Oct).
4. Visit to the hidden blue jewel of Chandertaal Lake in the Spiti and Chandra valleys, is definitely a big bonus in this trek
5. Accessibility is a plus point, one can conveniently reach Manali with good overnight bus connectivity from Delhi & Chandigarh. One can ofcourse sight see around Manali or even extend trip to cover Lahaul Spiti on own as last day of trek serves as gateway to this region.

Top 3 cons:
1. The trek is rugged for most patches and you just wish there were less boulders.
2. Landscapes are pretty much monochrome in brown & barren (at this time of the year), thus leaves one yearning for more twists or breathtaking moments as one can find in lot of other treks.
3. Leaves a nature lover slightly disappointed due to lesser variety of fauna and almost absence of flora. Heard valley is in bloom in Jul/ Aug though.

Album up here.

-Neeta Dixit
Hampta Pass batch, Sep/Oct 2013.

Year 2013 in Travel

Jan - Mumbai

Feb - Hyderabad,Gwalior, Agra

Mar - Kedarkantha

Apr - Amritsar, Hyderabad

May - :(

Jun - Hyderabad

Jul - Mumbai, Ladakh

Aug - :(

Sep - Bangkok

Oct - Hampta Pass, Nashik

Nov - Hyderabad

Dec - Jim Corbett National Park, Hyderabad, Mumbai