Allô Chatrath

                                 Self Discipline.....................Politeness................................Hard Work                           Respectful salute to the Japanese for inculcating the right values in their children.

  Friends sometimes ask me about my favourites amongst the countries that I have visited. While I always place India at the top for its sheer diversity and rich cultural heritage, the second and third places go to Greenland and Egypt. I found Greenland, which I have visited twice, to be the country with most unspoilt natural beauty.    Egypt surprised and humbled me with its incredible man made structures. Quite a few of these were made during what is called the Old Kingdom Period (roughly 2650-2150 B.C.). To put it on a rough time scale, while these were made in say, 2,500 BC, our Ajanta Ellora caves are dated around 5th-10th century AD and Khajuraho & Konark date to 9th to 14th century AD.

                                                       Lieutenant Nitika Kaul Dhoundiyal                                                                                                                                              Jai Hind!

 

    After having lived a virtuous, though somewhat boring life, there I was, at the Gate of Heaven. But before I could really enter, the Holy Soul keeping records at the gate asked me a question which floored me- "Vegetarian or Non-Vegetarian"? I take both vegetarian and non-vegetarian was my reply. No, you have to choose one between the two, advised the Holy Soul. In that case 'Indian Non-Vegetarian' I replied, having used to giving this as my food preference to airlines while travelling when I was alive. No, sorry old man answered the Holy Soul, our computer does not offer this option. At this I gave in tamely and settled for Non-Vegetarian. Whether I managed to enter the Gate of Heaven and what was the food like inside, is another story.

   ..... DISCLAIMER: This is a not for profit blog and no infringement of copyright laws is intended. If some of the published images violate any copyrights, please contact us by email  chatrath@gmail.com and those will be removed immediately with apologies.

    I 'discovered', a huge stone statue of Lord Hanuman in Copan, in the thick jungles of Honduras in Central America. I 'discovered' it in the same sense as the Europeans 'discovered' the Americas. The statue has been there for centuries and the fact known to many archeologists. For me it was an opportunity to go to that spot and see the statue myself. So it was a visit to a place known the world over, but something new for me. A detailed write up and  photos would follow on my blog.

  My favourite cinematic couple/partners- He, Ingmar Bergman, a Swede and an exceptional film maker and she Liv Ullman, a Norwegian, an actress & director par excellence.    She has been described as the muse that stirred the best works of out of Ingmar. They made such a lovely pair as friends and complemented each others cinematic pursuits. And of course he was dashingly handsome and she remains, even today, a classic beauty.      You are invited to take a look at my earlier posts on Ingmar Bergman & Liv Ullman:   'Vintage ads & posters, No. 58, Ingmar Bergman's film Persona'- by K J S Chatrath    https://allochatrath.blogspot.com/2021/03/vintage-ads-posters-no-58-ingmar.html     'The amazing Liv Ullman' - Presented by K J S Chatrath https://allochatrath.blogspot.com/.../the-amazing-liv...

  Believe you me, with temperature going upwards of 40 degrees celsius, 'chhach' is much more cooling and healthy than beer. Come on, go ahead and challenge me!  ..... DISCLAIMER: This is a not for profit blog and no infringement of copyright laws is intended. If some of the published images violate any copyrights, please contact us by email  chatrath@gmail.com and those will be removed immediately with apologies.

 

 

 

  Thank you Supreet Dhiman for sharing this old advertisement. This ad is perhaps from a Pakistani newspaper and the product is being advertised as 'Rooh- e- Pakistan'.

  A Punjabi meal. During the current pandemic, the Punjabis have once again shown that helping those in distress and sharing whatever they have got with those in trouble are essential elements of their DNA. I am proud to be an Indian first  and then proud to be a Punjabi.                                                       Oye Balle Balle Ji.    ..... DISCLAIMER: This is a not for profit blog and no infringement of copyright laws is intended. If some of the published images violate any copyrights, please contact us by email  chatrath@gmail.com and those will be removed immediately with apologies.

   ..... DISCLAIMER: This is a not for profit blog and no infringement of copyright laws is intended. If some of the published images violate any copyrights, please contact us by email  chatrath@gmail.com and those will be removed immediately with apologies.

                    Konark Temple, Odisha, India. Odisha is one place you must visit before you die.

   .....   DISCLAIMER: This is a not for profit blog and no infringement of copyright laws is intended. If some of the published images violate any copyrights, please contact us by email  chatrath@gmail.com and those will be removed immediately with apologies.

  Picking up threads from my earlier posts - I am 78+ and have had both the doses of vaccine....You would surely shut me up here saying yes you have already heard it a number of times. Tell us something new.... My response would be that I have been practically under 'flat arrest' on the fifth floor since the last one year....This time your shout would be louder- We all are passing through it. Tell us something new... So here we go- I am thinking of joining one of the Covid Vaccinattion organised trips. It includes 24 days in hotels in Moscow & St. Petersburg plus two shots of Sputnik V + airfare+ breakfast+ limited local sight seeing - I blurted out in one breath. I have not been to Moscow though I went to St. Petersburg a few years back and that is where I lost my… Suddenly you interrupt me with a dirty, quizzical look in your eyes, you lost your what, you want to know the details. I lost my passport in St. Petersburg, in fact it got stolen was my innocent but true

 

  Hamam is a brand of soap made in India and marketed by the Indian unit of Unilever. The brand was initially started and owned by Tata Sons.   It   was established in 1931 as a mild soap that could be used by families. This soap used natural ingredients long before using all-natural ingredients was a trend. It was, at one time, the only Indian-made natural soap. The name comes from the Arabic/Persian word hammam , which refers to a public-bathing establishment in the Middle Eastern countries. It was once a leading bath soap brand in India. .....   DISCLAIMER: This is a not for profit blog and no infringement of copyright laws is intended. If some of the published images violate any copyrights, please contact us by email  chatrath@gmail.com and those will be removed immediately with apologies.

 

                                                                Samosas with chutney A samosa is prepared with maida (a derivative of wheat flour) and stuffed with a filling, often a mixture of Diced and cooked or mashed boiled potato, onions, green peas, lentils, ginger, spices and green chili. A samosa can be vegetarian or non-vegetarian, depending on the filling. It is deep-fried in vegetable oil to a golden brown. It is served hot, often with fresh green chutney, such as mint, coriander or tamarind. It is supposed to have arrived in India around the 13th century AD from Middle East/Central Asia.  Title of Work: The Ni'matnama-i Nasir al-Din Shah - http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00routesdata/1400_1499/mandu/nimatnama/nimatnama.html *"Preparation of wada for the Sultan Ghiyath al-Din, the Sultan of Mandu. Samosas being prepared. Small inscription 'sanbusa', samosa. Ghiyath Shahi seated on a stool in a garden is being offered a dish, possibly of