Go .. Goa..

Anjuna

There is no end to fun, adventure and thrill on Anjuna. Once there leave your inhibitions and get into the party mood. It’s difficult to say what the main attraction of this beach is, the beach parties, walking through the beach on moonlit night or the ever so famous Flea market. On the way from Arambol, we will pay a visit

At Calangute, its heavens. Just let your hair down and experience the magic spell drown you in the calm serene solitudes. It’s another world. While some laze around, others can get adventurous with water sports. In the evening we have Funny time here in this, if time permits, we go for a cruise compel in the night.

Baga Beach, Mapusa

Well, there is not much of sightseeing’s options available on this small beach. Yet it is popular among tourists. Though the beach doesn't boasts of any big time adventures yet whatever little it does offer is quite sought after. We will make our trip on Sunday..
The scenery here is unspoiled. The land and sea meet here in a picture perfect manner. White waves rush towards the brown sand to sweep the feet marks. Unlike other beaches, Baga beach is free from any hustle bustle.

Candolim Beach

The beach in itself is very calm and peaceful; at times tourists come here from Rajneesh Ashram in Pune to take a break. What adds to the scenic beauty of the sand and sea are the scrub covered dunes at the back of the beach quite popular with tourists. (For Sunday, if possible..)

In Calangute, for morning I prefer any restaurant and for the noon, Plantain Leaf or Meat & Loaf, and in the evening Green Bar n restaurant.
In Anjuna , I would Prefer Amigo / Olive's Garden.

The Third Eye.

The third eye (also known as the inner eye) is a metaphysical and esoteric concept referring in part to the ajna (brow) chakra in certain Eastern and Western spiritual traditions. It is also spoken of as the gate that leads within to inner realms and spaces of higher consciousness.

In the Hindu & Buddhist Stream:

In the Indian tradition, it is referred to as the jnana-chaksu, the eye of knowledge, which is the seat of the 'teacher inside' or antar-guru. The third eye is the ajna chakra (sixth chakra) also known as brow centre. This is commonly denoted in Indian and East Asian iconography with a dot, eye or mark on the forehead of deities or enlightened beings, such as Shiva, the Buddha, or any number of yogis, sages and bodhisattvas. This symbol is called the "Third Eye" or "Eye of Wisdom", or, in Buddhism, the urna. In Hinduism, it is believed that the opening of Shiva's third eye causes the eventual destruction of the universe.

In Taoism …

In Taoism and many traditional Chinese religious sects such as "chan", "third eye training" involves focusing attention on the point between the eyebrows with the eyes closed in various qigong (Breathing exercises like pranayama & vipasana) postures.

In Science.

The third eye is in fact the partially dormant pineal gland, which resides between the two hemispheres of the brain.

A popular chakra model
Sahasrara chakra of consciousness
Ajna Chakra of envisioning (Third eye)
Vishuddha Chakra related to communication (Throat)
Anahata Chakra related to complex emotions (Heart)
Manipura Chakra related to transition of base to complex energy (related with adrenal glands & Pancreas)
Swadhistana Chakra related to swing moods & sexuality.
Muladhara Chakra related to human potentiality.


In Hinduism, Lord Shiva has got a third eye, and the rest is known.

In Greek mythology, Zeus, the sky god, believed to be having a third eye.

It is believed that the Dalai Lama’s have a third eye, (Dalai Lama is not a name, and it’s a post. The first Dalai Lama is Gendun Drup). More about Dalai Lama’s and the present Lama, and his Himalayan connections in the next post.

Until then.. What else (?)…

Love all.

“Not merely a Dhabdhaba”…

As the earth revolves around the sun, the every thing flourishes. Courtallam a waterfall located 150 km’s from where I stay, and just 5 kilometers from where I was born. Every year, I visit my home town particularly on this festive season (June, July or august), to enjoy the nature’s cosmic dance. Where, I enjoy the monsoon, with drizzling (Saaral).
Normally I go with one or two of my friends, or some times I go alone, book a hotel (Very nominal, a 3 star abode may cost you just 400 to 500 bucks), and for the taste of the food I stay there for two days normally.

Famous places to Dine:

Pandiyan Hotel: Lakshmipuram Street.
Raj Mess in the way to Main Falls.
Kannan Cafe: Lakshmipuram Street.
Senkottaai Border dhabba (Ultimate taste)
Aravind Restaurant Tenkasi
Hotel Thavamani Tenkasi
Ananda Bavan Tenkasi
Manee’s cafe Sengottai.

For the people who want to visit courtallam (Must!!!!), Some tips, Le Lo…There are 5 such waterfalls.

Peraruvi (Main Falls) The most popular and frequented waterfalls are the Main falls. Not only during the season, but also during the period November to January, the crest receives the Northeastern monsoon emptying itself on the slopes to swell the falls and the Chittar River. From a height of 300 ft., the Chittar River makes its last descent to the plains. A water fall one can take bath at water coming from this height is possible only here in this heaven. Taking an ayurvedic massage (just for 100 or 200 bucks) and getting wet in the flood is heaven come true. (Haven’t seen heaven as such)...
Chittraruvi Adjacent to the Main falls is a small cascade called “Chittraruvi”.
Shenbaga Devi Falls A mile away from the Main falls is the Shenbagadevi falls, so called because of its location near to the temple of Shenbagadevi. During full moon days large crowds visit this temple. During my N number of visits I have met number of saints
Thenaruvi (Honey Falls) About 3 miles from the Main falls on the upper crusts of the rocks is the Honey falls. It is so called because of beehives on the promontory. It is a romantic place of solitude and those who seek seclusion come here to meditate on reality. Water sleeks as a stream from the cascade, where once I and my friend sat in a tree that has fallen and it seems to be a natural bridge is constructed just for us. we sat there in the trunk by letting our legs down in the stream, by sipping VSOP (malted whisky famous in south India). Suddenly I felt some thing struck in my legs, and my friend noticed it was a beautiful deer, just died before minutes. I could see the last fear in her (?) eyes… might have taken by the forest flood above the waterfall.
Aintharuvi (Five Falls) Connected by a good road about 3 miles from the Main falls are the Five falls, so named as the cascade spreads in five heads like a hooded cobra. This spot is venerated highly as it presents an image of Adishesha with several hoods.
(To be cont’d …)

Apart from forks & spoons..

The recipe (that I have promised) is yet to come, [ it is a simple recipe of vegetable stew of the god’s own country] before that,

I would like to take you to some destinations (stop less)... Try to steer a bit left or Wright... if you can...

Spots that you can smudge:

Sea Lords:
Butter Roti / Naan, Veg Kheema, Dhal kichadi, Peenacolada.

Kalpana:
Curd Rice (Hot/Cold), Veg HAndi (smashed), Kashmiri Kurma (Smashed) …

Maniss:
Sevai (Lemon, Coco), Pongal, Filter Coffee, etc..

Malwan Hotel near Shiv sena bhavan:
Veg Thali…

Sind Durg:
Non-Veg dishes (as told by my friends).

Ayyapa’s:
Kal Dosai, Pongal, Thavala vadai…

Milan Punjab:
Neer Dosa, Tomato fry, Dal Tadka, Dahi Rice (Cold)…

Rice Boat:
Mind blowing Keralite Veg & Non-Veg Dishes…

Mahesh Lunch Home (Juhu tara Rd):
Veg & Non-Veg Dishes (as my friends prescribed).

Maharaja’s (Andheri):
Kozhukkattai (in varieties) & other mouth watering dishes..

To be continued ….

Directions from a Dietician:

Directions from a Dietician:

I have only 5 rules as a good chef… (House wives’ & husbands) in preparing and presenting the dishes…

Both P P's:-

1) Your ingredients should be visible clearly, even after cooking (while presenting the dish).

2) There should not be any garnishing factor.

3) It should be, not a pinch more or less needed,

4) Decide before presenting, are you going to present dry or a chymic one... don’t get confused in between..

5) The dish should not be too oily, salty or masalic(?) (Spicy).


I wanted to give a south Indian recipe with this: (Useful to gratify your better half)…
That will be followed in the next post.. Till then gud nite dear’s …

Pause… It’s my Birthday… and when am writing this post, the time is 12:00 A.M and the star once again is appearing after 24 years…

So here is a rhyme or a poem...

“It’s a sacred day
The day is well Saturday
I could not meet u on this day,
So any way... Keeping u on my way…”.

This is the one that I thought and written on the fly…. (Believe me … Yaar.)

Love,

Shravan.

All about VANIL(L)A:

Why I chose the name vanil(l)a (Now onwards its vanila) as my pseudonym for this blog?.

Vanilla's that great smelling liquid in the little brown bottle. By itself it doesn't taste nearly as good as it smells. You put it into cookies and cakes for more flavor. Vanila has remained mysterious and elusive. Yet it is an essential flavor and fragrance.
The real truth about vanilla is that it has a remarkable story, filled with history, intrigue, passion, and piracy. It’s unavoidable. More over vanila is clear, creamy and scar less. In that way, it resembles me… :-)

Sambar, Rasam & Aviyal.

21’st June. The day, before 24 years in the place called Madurai, A star revealed the birth of a sacred spirit, Shravan. As a mark of the auspicious day, a small Lunch is arranged on 24th June (Tuesday) at Nirlon house 2nd floor. So, please don’t bring Lunch Pack on that day.
So come and join the Luncheon, that day.

Some other people who came to this world on the same day:

1694 Jean Francois Voltaire – renowned Philosopher,
1905 Jean-Paul Sartre - Famous French Novelist,
1921 Jane Russell - American Actress & Former Sex symbol,
1929 Alexandre Lagoya – Classical Guitarist,
1944 Ray Davies - English rock musician,
1946 Brenda Holloway – an Afro-American singer,
1973 Juliette Lewis - Hollywood's most talented and versatile,
1982 HRH Prince William of Wales


21 June is also:National Aboriginal Day (Canada)National Day (Greenland)

On This Day In History:1788 New Hampshire admitted as 9th US state.1898 US forces capture Guam, during the Spanish-American war.1982 John Hinckley found not guilty by reason of insanity, for the attempted assassination of US President Ronald Reagan.2004 SpaceShipOne becomes the first privately funded craft to achieve space flight.