Trip to Galway-Part 2

Part-1

Part-3

The major destination of our tour was Kylemore Castle which is now Kylemore Abbey, the monastic home of Benedictine nuns. Though it is a monastery now, the original castle completed in 1871,as a symbol of love, was a honeymoon castle, constructed by Mitchell Henry for his wife Margaret. Gosh, how I wished to be Margaret, for a while!! I have lost count of the no:of castles I saw here in Ireland, not to mention the one in our town centre, Athlone Castle.

Now coming back to Kylemore Castle, for me it was like seeing something coming out live from a fairy tale. Every room in there was fully furnished and arranged as if some one has just left the room, just before we came in. The huge mantelpieces were twice taller than me. Me and hubby got separated once we went inside, and there weren’t any other visitors. I ran around from one room to another, too excited to find later that I was lost. Every room was like magic for me. I was in a daze. The light, the candles, the red carpets, the wooden shining walls, the white table cloths, the chandeliers everything made me feel as though I was in another world. There wasn’t any one, even to supervise. Of course, there would have been hidden CCTVs.

Kylemore Castle



That is me, standing exactly where Magaret Henry would have stood gazing at her castle, 1000 times!


There is a Victorian walled garden in the Kylemore Estate(which is 13,ooo acres!!!) which even had glass houses. Now it is in the restoring phase. But it still looked perfect.


The white house on the right hand far corner is the 18th century glass house!




This stream is also part of the garden!

..from another angle.

There was a kind of summer-house in the garden for the Henry’s, and this seemed to be their living room. The view from this room to the garden is breath-taking.



That’s me waiting for the shuttle bus that took us from the Castle to the garden. Yea, you just can’t walk into the garden, its too far. Remember 13,000 acre premises!



to be cond....Part 3, in next blog.

Trip to Galway-Part 1

We have a major market in Trivandrum, palayam market. It’s called so because its situated in ‘Palayam’, the heart of Trivandrum city. But if you look upwards at the entrance of the market, you can see the name ‘Connemara Market’, inscribed on top of the Victorian style red colour arch. We never knew from where this name came. But my grandfather who was in British police,( before India’s Independence )told me that the market was opened by the British government and they named it that way.

And after more than 25 yrs, I came to know from where that name came.

Yesterday we went to one of the most beautiful places in Ireland.

Guess what? It was Connemara, in Co. Galway. I know now all Trivandrians who read this blog must have got enlightenment just like I did! That townplanner who was in charge of our own palayam market, more than 100 yrs ago, must have been descended from Connemara, may be?

Here in midlands we don’t have beaches. Our nearest is the west coast at Co.Galway (92 kms from Athlone). Another thing is that this county still has some areas, where people speak only Gaelic (Irish). Usually here the road signs are in both English and Irish. But there everything was in Gaelic. We felt as though we are in a foreign land. And we could see even some 18^th century Irish cottages, in good condition.

Some pictures…

looks like Guinness,flowing!
note:Those black substance under water are peat bogs,main source of fuel in Ireland.Acres of land are rich in peat,here.





South Connemara Landscape. (that's the fisherman's hut)




It was raining, so all creeks were over flowing.
note: Here in Ireland we have only 3 climates:


Its going to rain, It is raining or It has just been raining.






This was a small waterfall on the way to Connemara.












An 18th century Irish cottage, still in good condition, surrounded by stone walls.
note:there is no sand, mud or mortar in b/w these stones. I dont know how they dont fall apart.




Thru the wet coach-window! (a fluke photo,which turned out good!)


Me on top of a slippery stone wall...to get a good view of the creek below...can you see water dripping from my face, giving me a wet-chicken look!

Part 2, in next blog!

On St Pat's Day!

This will be my first St.Patricks day in Ireland.

But I am down with migraine and nausea, so I can’t strain too much in front of computer. As work load was too much, I used to blog from home after 11 pm, and that took its toll on me. My hubby is cooking for past 3 days and life is a mess (not because of that!). Even now my head is throbbing!

So, I am posting some pictures of St.Patricks day celebrations, from our restaurant. (it’s the easiest I can achieve!!!)

And copying the mail from my friend Dhanya, who is also a mallu(keralite) from Ireland. Dhanya, with your permission, may I?

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Saint Patrick's Day is celebrated on March 17th, the feast day of Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. It is a national holiday in Ireland. It also is celebrated outside of Ireland in cities with a large number of people of Irish descent.

The Shamrock

The Shamrock, a 3-Leaf Clover, is Ireland's most recognized National Symbol. Here are some interesting facts about the Shamrock:

* Before the arrival of the Christians to Ireland the plant was sacred to the Irish Druids because the three leaves formed a triad.

* St. Patrick used the Shamrock leaf to illustrate the mystery of the Holy Trinity: How one God divided into three, The Father, The Son and the Holy Spirit. when preaching Christianity to the Irish people.

* The word shamrock comes from the Irish word seamróg or seamair óg, meaning "little clover".

* The tradition of wearing Shamrock on Saint Patrick's Day can be traced back to the early 1700s.

* For good luck, it's usually included in the bouquet of an Irish bride, and also in the boutonniere of the groom.

St.Patricks day official site

in wikipedia

History Channel

.......

and more authorised blog on St.Patricks day, by an Irish blog friend..

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Trivia:

1) Ireland doesn’t have snakes because, St Patrick(Ireland patron saint) is believed to have driven all the snakes from Ireland.

2) We are going to Galway this weekend (Monday is off!). If Irish climate and my health (both unpredictable) supports me, then may be I can post some nice photos!

3) Ireland’s flag is same tricolour like India’s. So I felt like we were celebrating Aug 15!!

4) Today we had complete Irish menu. I had “Beef in Guinness pot “ aka beef and vegetables cooked in Guinness draught!!!! And yes, I am still on my senses!

English and me!

I had never read an English story book other than my school books, till I reached 7^th std. I still remember a day when I was in 5^th std , and got almost zero in an English grammar test. Being in an English medium school, where students were punished for speaking Malayalam,(!) I was expected to read/write and speak fluent English. But to my parents and teachers’ utter horror I didn’t do either. I didn’t understand what English grammar was! We had 2 library periods each week but I don’t have even a vague memory of reading any kind of English books on those periods. But contrarily I was more than good in Malayalam(my mother-tongue). I was thorough with all those scholarly(!) and equally tough Malayalam grammar which didn’t make any sense to common people(and to me!). And even before I was 8, I had read “Oru Desathinte Katha” 10 times. I had read almost all books of S.K. Pottekkadu, Thakazhi, M.T Vasudevan Nair, M.Mukundan, C.Radhakrishnan, U.A Khader, Uroob, Punathil Kunjabdullah, Madhavikkutty, Lalithambika Antharjanam, and Vaikkom Mohammed Basheer. (These are all the best and famous authors in Malayalam!) I even used to read “Sahithyavaarabhalam”, a weekly literary critic column(in Kalakaumudi) by Prof.M.Krishnan Nair while I was in 6^th std. But I haven’t even had a glimpse of either Archies or Tintin or Asterix then! I remember seeing a thin book of Noddy for the first time, while I was 11, and got utterly confused about the meaning of Noddy.

This was mainly because my dad used to take me to all “pusthakamela” (book festivals) that came to our city. He bought me huge collections of Malayalam books as pre-paid publications. He even bought me “sabtha thaaravali”- the ultimate malayalam dictionary with grammar. He combed thru all streets and got me used books in bulk. I remember one day when he bought me almost 10 kilos of Malayalam children’s books from a street vendor.

My achachan (mom’s dad) on the other hand, used to urge me to read spiritual books like “Thathvamasi” (by Sukumar Azhikkode) and books of NithyachaithanyaYati along with Gita Vyaghyanam.

Though I was bombarded with Malayalam literature in all forms, from all sides, they never thought about English. Did they think that being in English medium school automatically makes me proficient in English? Or were they not familiar with those, themselves? Any way, when I reached 6^th and 7^th std, I was among the poorest in English, in my class. I tried to mug-up grammar, but it didn’t work. I didn’t know anything..anything at all in English grammar.

The person who showed me the wonderful world of English books was my friend Veena. M. I don’t remember how we became friends, in my 7^th std. But she was crazy about English books and used to read “Hardy Boys” even inside class. And I admired her so much that I wanted to copy her. It took me almost 1 month to complete my first “Hardy Boys“. But I was happy. Veena, was an all-rounder. She was brilliant, participated in all kinds of quiz and competitions and won everything. She gave me books of Nancy Drew, Agatha Christie, Archies & all Enid Blyton books. Once I fell into the groove, the transition was fast. I reached a stage, where I could finish a Nancy Drew within a day, and that too inside class!.I was 13,then!

But my struggle with English grammar continued. Though there was some progress, it didn’t help me close those big voids. It was finally solved by a notorious tuition master of mine. For one complete year he did home-tuition for me and insulted me very badly , every single day , for my poor grammar. I cried and cursed him to the extent. It ended when he made me score 93% in English on my 10^th std .

Now a days its been almost 10 years since I read a proper Malayalam book. Its limited to just magazines now and that too, when I am in India. But, I think in Malayalam and write in English. May be that’s why, my blogs are too simple. I wish I could write like Brenny, who plays with words and sentences and their meanings!

I am always in so much awe at his style!

Bad Habits !

Now a days I am under a very bad addiction. You can say it as a very bad influence Or a very nasty habit to keep my mind off! And I blame Ireland for thrusting me with this bad habit (along with wine , red bull and KFC!). I never used to read any kind of glossy film magazines, while I was in India. No ‘Stardust‘, no ‘Filmfare’, nothing. According to me, those were all for those rich women who didn’t have anything better to do. I strongly believed that.

But to my utter disbelief, I am hooked onto British tabloids now. I started it as fun by reading Sun and Daily Mirror newspapers on weekends. They were cheap with almost 30 pages, had free glossy magazine inside and even a free DVD. Those were my reasons. It had everything to read about… all those gossips about celebs… about who dumped who, who is seeing who, who is in rehab now, who gave birth on her honeymoon, who got divorced and who is cheating on whom. It was harmless fun, it served the basic human inquisitiveness of peeking into others lives. To get relieved at the thought that they too have miseries like us. Yes I was just being human!

I first read Sun, when Saddam Hussein got hanged. It was different because it gave all those bits and pieces that were missing in ordinary ‘respectable’ news papers! Then came the CBB (celebrity big brother) hype. I think it was the golden time for British tabloids with all those controversies hanging around all the time. It was when Shilpa Shetty became the ‘ultimate’ lady and Jade,Jo and Danielle became ‘ultimate’ bullies. Ok, that phase too went. Then they ran a special on Princess Diana, with all those rare photos from her life.

Then came Britney shaving her head off!!! I still remember the day when I stared at ‘Sun’ for more than 5 minutes to make my brain believe what I was seeing. A half-shaved Britney with hair clippers!!! I read Sun‘s editorial, predicting Britney becoming next Anna Nicole, and was shocked at the state of the once squeaky clean celeb, like every other reader.

And now I started buying other celeb magazines too. And that too, 2 each week. I just don’t know what I gain by reading who lost how many pounds and who put a new tattoo, where. I don’t gain anything by reading that Jade and Britney are in rehab, or Danielle has been dumped or Jo tried to kill herself or Shilpa Shetty may become next The Xfactor judge!!! (All CBB participants). I know Victoria Beckham moving to US or Johny Depp moving to UK doesn’t change my life, a bit. I know Liz Hurley’s wedding to Indian business tycoon, Arun Nayar or Hugh Grant’s break-up with Jemima doesn’t makes me feel different.

Yes….I have developed this very bad habit. And honestly what I feel now is that, instead of probing into Hollywood , I should have tried Bollywood first, while in India.

Chicken-Biriyani-Fried-Rice

Getting inspired by Sabs “virgo power”, here goes my recipe for Chicken Fried Rice with Biriyani Masala… yes, you read it right…I use Biriyani Masala for making Fried Rice, which should be actually called ‘Chicken-Biriyani-Fried-Rice’. This is the easiest and only version, as far as I know!

Disclaimer: My husband and I survived doesn’t mean that every human stomach survives!

Chicken – 1 kilo (preferably, cleaned medium chicken-breasts/legs)

Curd/Natural Plain yoghurt – 3-4 tb spoons.

Ginger-Garlic paste—2 tea spoons.

Salt -- to taste

Grandma’s Biriyani Masala – 3 tbsp (don’t use more, it may taste very sour!)

NOTE: There are a lot of taste differences between N.Indian and S.Indian Biriyanis. As I am from South, I prefer Grandmas, which is a S.Indian brand.

Mix all the above together in a bowl and keep aside for 3-4 hrs.

NOTE: Curd tenders meat .

After 3 hrs…

Cook Basmati Rice in a rice-cooker (so that you don’t have to drain water after that) to an extent so that the grains are not broken and don’t stick to each other. I meant don’t over-cook, use less water while cooking.

And while rice is being cooked…

In a non-stick wok (kadai, round-bottomed cooking vessel), heat 2 tbsp of oil. Then put 1 medium size onion finely chopped, 2-3 green chillies finely chopped and stir till they turn light brown.

Add chicken mixed with curd and Biriyani Masala into it and cook with medium water.

NOTE: Curd already has water content in it .

As per your preference you can add sweet corn or/and fresh green peas into the chicken.

Once the gravy dries up to a medium level, take the dish off from hob.

In a big mixing bowl, add rice and chicken with gravy layer by layer, alternately.

You can either mix or serve in layers. I like it mixed.

NOTE: That’s why I said earlier that basmati rice shouldn’t be overcooked, because the grains can break and be sticky and turn this into a mashed-chicken-rice(which is also edible)! while mixing.

Put fried cashew nuts and raisins on top!

NOTE:If you are lucky, it won’t be a disaster! And…don’t sue me!

As, I am writing from office, I dont have a picture!

Ooops..i forgot...
this is my very own entry to Sab's Food Festival!

Recent news:

I tried GMAT's shanghai stir fry yesterday and turned out WONDERFUL!!

thanks Sabiha and GMAT!

this is what i made from her recipe....

I used chicken stock cube, as a modification!

Based on shops' names...

Here the shops are named after people, mostly. Eg: the one in which I spent most of the time in Ireland ..Penny’s.. Or Claire’s or Siobhan’s or Pat O’ Connors’ or Linda’s or even pubs named as Dan’s Tavern or so. But it’s so different from our local shops in India. There we had all the possible names. From the nameless shops in junctions, which are locally known as the ‘shop of ’ to those numerous <ABC> Stores, where ABC can be replaced with virtually anything.

There most local textile shops where ‘Textiles’ and most local hotels will be ‘ Hotel or ‘ Restaurant and most tailoring shops will be ‘ Tailors and every pharmacy will be Medical Stores.

When I was 3 or 4 yrs old, my dad had my clothes done in ‘Happy Tailors’. He cut my hair in ‘New Hair Dressing Saloon’ though it was a very old shop, in which he used to cut his hair when he was a boy! And my mom shopped for my clothes ONLY in

‘Good Morning Stores’. It didn’t get to me how funny the names sounded, till I went to school.

My friends asked: “swathi, from where did you buy this from?”

“Good Morning Stores”

***giggles giggles and more giggles ***

How funny is that?

I was made fun of for virtually every shop I / my parents went. And that too even by my grown-up neighbors. And that was not even for my choice.

Finally, getting desperate, I told mom,

“Could you please take me to a shop with some good name? All my friends are making fun of me, for ‘Happy Tailors’ and ‘Good Morning Stores’ “. I want to tell them that I bought something from a shop with a respectable name.

May be that was when she realized for the first time, the complexity and variety of problems a 6 yr old can face!

But she didn’t take me to any shop with fancy names. Because obviously she was saving money.

Now when I look back, I still don’t understand why they made fun of me (and NOT my parents), for not going to fancy shops. Here I go to “Mary’s Discount Stores”, or “€2 Shop”(where everything is 2 €) to save money. But still, I am not being made fun of. At least openly!

May be my kids will be made fun of for MY 2€ Shop visits?

May be kids are evaluated by the choices their parents make , hmm… even on the basis of the kind of shops they visit?