How Do I Love Thee?

How Do I Love Thee?
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight For the ends of being and ideal grace. I love thee to the level of every day's Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light. I love thee freely, as men strive for right. I love thee purely, as they turn from praise. I love thee with the passion put to use In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith. I love thee with a love I seemed to lose With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath, Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose, I shall but love thee better after death. by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

The Miracle of Green Tea

Better to be deprived of food for three days, than green tea for one day

Why is Green Tea so Special and What are the Health Benefits of GreenTea?

Presence of Anti Oxidants: Green Tea is the store house of epigallocatechin gallate, an antioxidant. This antioxidant effectively protects the cells of your body and helps you get rids of malignant cells without creating any negative side effects.

Weight Loss Tool: it is proven that green tea when consumed 5 times per day on a regular basis helps you in reducing your weight by 70 calories a day.

Raises HDL and Lowers LDL: it reduces the bad cholesterol content and increases the good cholesterol count in your body.

Panacea for Blood Pressure and Type 2 Diabetes: Green tea is rich in polysaccharides and polyphenols. These antioxidants present in green tea when consumed lower your blood pressure and sugar level thereby preventing the onset of Type 2 Diabetes.

Green Tea has the power of smothering angiotensis II, a chemical that causes the choking of blood vessels within your body. This in turn keeps your body's blood pressure under control.

Relives You Of Skin Problems: Green tea is one of the natural solutions that helps you to get rid of your skin wrinkles. It has proven to be the best solution for skin acne, psoriasis, rosacea and warts.

Increases Body Immunity And Frees You From Allergies: The antiviral and anti bacterial properties of green tea prevent you from getting into contagious flu, cold and common cough.

Due to that anti bacterial property of green tea, it has proven to prevent the decay of tooth to a very great extent by killing the harmful germs that cause the decay.

Practical Solution for Retarding the Development of Arthritis, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's: Green tea has the power to subdue the enzyme that ruins cartilage and thus helps you in keeping away from contracting arthritis. Alzheimer's is mainly caused due to reduction in the level of acetylcholine in the brain. Green tea defends against the reduction of acetylcholine and aids in slowing down the process of Alzheimer's contraction. Green tea protects the destruction of brain cells thereby making the probability of contracting Parkinson's to minimal levels within our body.

Why don't other teas have similar health-giving properties?

What sets green tea apart from the black tea is the way it is processed. Green tea leaves are steamed, which prevents the useful compound from being oxidized. By contrast, black tea leaves are made from fermented leaves, which results in the useful being converted into other compounds that are not effective.

copy pasted from: forwarded emails

Vanilla Sky

Photographed: Ammar Fakhruddin

The First Day of Winter

Today was the first day of winter

Its coming

Its on its way

I can smell the crispness in the air

The lazyness of the mornings

The incomprehensible urge to just lie in bed

...tucked under the covers

The smell of brewing coffee more heightened than before

Snuggling into the tunnels of the nostrils

... aah winter is here!

The Mystic Sea

The smell of the sea in my nostrils, The sound of the sea in my ears; The touch of the spray on my burning face, Like the mist of reluctant tears. The blue of the sky above me, The green of the waves beneath; The sun flashing down on a gray-white sail Like a scimitar from its sheath. And ever the breaking billows, And ever the rocks’ disdain; And ever a thrill in mine inmost heart That my reason cannot explain. So I say to my heart, “Be silent, The mystery of time is here; Death’s way will be plain when we fathom the main, And the secret of life be clear.” by Paul Laurence Dunbar

Weathered Periwinkle

Photograph by: Shabbir Fakhruddin

A trip to Marjan Island

Marjan means coral in arabic and various other regional languages.

Situated a little away from the hub of Dammam Corniche, the Marjan Island was built by Saudi ARAMCO ....hmmm lets say a lot of years ago. The island is small, consists of patches of green and cement; perfect for a day out for all activities.

Families usually crowd around to have a fun time barbecuing, the children playing around and a lot of serious fishermen and fisherwomen.
In the centre is a tower in the shape of the coral and one can climb up the winding stairs to get a 360 degree view from the top.

There is no restaurant, so pack up a stack of your own ration. However, there is a tuck shop , commonly known as boofiya. If you chance to come here, try the cone icecream.... slurp

... and you can catch a boat ride from the island everyday.

At night, the skyline is lit up with lights from the Corniche area.

The Sleeping Muse

It has been a long time since my last post. Infact about 4 months gone by and the "I" in me has... rather hopefully had disappeared.

Stuff happens.... and then for a long time one thinks about getting back on the horse but it just doesnt happen. And the muse inside, starts to ignore you as you had ignored her.

She sleeps unperturbed until one day with fresh energy she blooms out and refreshes everything.

Inside the Drawing Block part III

Green Tea for three

Inside the Drawing Block part II

Cinnamon and cardamom

A bit of sweet Cinnamon

and a couple of cardamom split open can transform the drawing room tea to the tea on top of a hill.

Inside the Drawing Block I

Chinar Cottages- Flipping through Past Pages

Morning

The mist has left the greening plain, The dew-drops shine like fairy rain, The couquette rose awakes again Her lovely self adorning. The Wind is hiding in the trees, A sighing, soothing, laughing tease, Until the rose says “Kiss me, please,” ‘Tis morning, ‘tis morning. With staff in hand and careless-free, The wanderer fares right jauntily, For towns and houses are, thinks he, For scorning, for scorning. My soul is swift upon the wing, And in its deeps a song I bring; Come, Love, and we together sing, “ ‘Tis morning, ‘tis morning.” By: Paul Laurence Dunbar

Dreams

Dreams
by Langston Hughes
Hold fast to dreams For if dreams die Life is a broken-winged bird That cannot fly. Hold fast to dreams For when dreams go Life is a barren field Frozen with snow.

Learning to ride the waves

I am a little boat.
Looking for a big adventure

I get tossed in the wind
I get towed by the current
I get farther and farther away from my home
The excitement fills me
The fear thrills me

I yearn for my comforting bed
I long for a warm bread
But I cannot go back now
I am made to ride the ocean
I am made to sail the seas
But for now, just this present,
I am still learning to ride the waves

Alight! Flipping through past pages

This chandelier sets the mosque alight... and alive.

While flipping through my travels to the northern areas of Pakistan, I selected this beautiful chandelier in a mosque in Rawalpindi. 

Reine des Violettes

Freshly cut from the Garden, beautiful Reine des Violettes

O Glorious Sunset

Olive Garden

Two food lovers go to this warm Italian restaurant. This place has only goodness to offer.

We are offered some homemade bread out of the wood oven and olive dipped in olive oil to go with it. Of course this would be incomplete with out some butter.

We order a Pizza and Pasta, some Saudi Champagne to go with it. 

The food is right out of the oven, delicious and tantalizing. 

The sweet and delicate herbs with flavoured cheese and savoury sauces break havoc on the taste buds.

Simply Incredible.

The ambiance adds miles and miles to the journey we make towards eating. Our senses are drunkenly transported away to some far country side.

And on our way out, neat piles colored of earthen ware bid farewell.

I feel like a big fat cat who has smugly indulged and feels the warm fuzz all over.

and in the end, goodbye to The Altar of Happiness... for now.

An Altar to Happiness

A Wooden Secret

I fell in love with this piece of furniture. It seems to smile, just a simple smile with a twinkle in the eye saying, "I can hide things beautifully".

Saudi Champagne

When I first came to Saudia, I was hyped up about this drink by my husband. He kept it all hushed up and didnt reveal the contents till we went out and had our very first drink.

The most unique thing about it is that its non alcoholic and absolutely fresh.

How to Make it:

Cut, slice or dice Oranges (with peel), Apples and a bit of Lemon.

Fresh Mint

Apple Juice and Soda

Stir.

Drink.

An Exquisite Cupboard

How Pakistani's Have Tea

All throughout Pakistan, we have variants in how to make tea. I am listing three below:

The Karachi Tea a.k.a Karak Chai

Boil water and put tea, boil awhile and lower the flame, add milk and sugar to make a nice skin brown shade.

Pour through the strainer and have it straight away.

Doodh Patti a.k.a Milkshake Chai

Boil milk on moderate temperature, let it reduce. You can reduce and make it half the size or less for an evaporated flavour. Add Chai and put lid on. Let it steep for a while. Add sugar and enjoy.

Kashmiri Chai a.k.a Pink Chai

• 1 tsp. Loose Tea 
• 4 Cardamom Pods (Choti Ilaichi) (bruised)
• 1 small Cinnamon Stick (Dal Cheeni) (broken upin half)
• A pinch of Saffron Threads (Zaffron) (this gives the tea the pink color.)
• 4 cups Water
• 2 tbsp. Almonds (Baadaam) (finely powdered)
• Honey (Shehed) (to taste)

Combine all of ingredients above except the honey and almonds in a saucepan. Bring to a boil on a medium flame. Reduce heat to a simmer and let it simmer for 5 minutes.
Add a teaspoon of almonds in the bottom of each cup for serving and pour the hot tea over. Sweeten with honey to taste before serving.

Origins and Myths of the Mystic Tea

The history of tea is around 5000 years old, so its beginnings are steeped in legend.  The most prominent one being about the Chinese emporer and herbalist Sheng Nung.  Worshipped as a god for the many gifts he gave to China, the discovery of tea is attributed to him and dated to 2737 B.C.He was apparently sitting near a tree shrub, boiling his drinking water, when leaves from the shrub fell into his water and he enjoyed the resulting 'brew'.  

Laozi (ca. 600-517 BC), the classical Chinese philosopher, described tea as "the froth of the liquid jade" and named it an indispensable ingredient to the elixir of life.By the third century, the Chinese had the symbol "ch'a" for tea, so it's popularity was growing. Another legend is about Prince Bodhidharma from India who lived during the sixth century.  A converted Buddhist, he traveled to China and started chewing tea leaves to keep himself awake during meditation and prayer.  Another story has the Bodhidharma cutting off his eyelids because of his frustration of falling asleep during meditation - and, you've guessed it - the discarded eyelids grew into the first tea plant!  The Chinese and later the Japanese developed many traditions around their green tea - including the famous tea ceremony.

Catherine of Braganza brought tea to Britain when she married Charles II.  Now the history of tea took another route.  The British soon loved their tea, which was by then fermented black tea.  It was ridiculously expensive though, so the rich enjoyed it 'black', the middle class added milk (which was cheap), and the poor had a dash of tea in a cup of milk.  As the British conquered much of the world, their taste for tea went with them and many of these countries in the British Empire began drinking tea.  The Boston Tea Party is a tribute to how much Britain valued their tea - insisting on imposing tea taxes to the American colonies.  As we know, this resulted in the 'new Americans' throwing chests of tea from British freighters into the Boston harbor.

So whilst today, the British still love their cuppa, the Americans are basically coffee drinkers but iced tea being popular (particularly in the south).  The Australians, New Zealanders and South Africans all enjoy tea.  Indeed it is the second most popular drink on the planet - the first being water.

Shamelessly Copy Pasted from:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea

http://www.about-tea.com/

http://www.teamuse.com

My Person or My Kindred Spirit

I am a child of the subcontinent. The remnant if the British Colony and been handed over their custom of drinking a hot cup of chai twice a day... or so all the old folks say.

I am very fond of my tea. I take particular pleasure in drinking my cuppa every morning and evening. I am so possessive about my tea that if I havent drained a cup in a whole day I make a huge tantrum and basically have "donot approach" sign on my forehead. My husband says its a self fulfilling prophecy, but I seriously sincerely end up with a headache if I dont have tea. Nothing else will do.

Nothing.

Its like my "person".... or my "kindred spirit" like out of an Anne of Green Gables' novel, which I gulp heartily away.

Tea

Tea refers to the agricultural products of the leaves, leaf buds, and internodes of the Camellia sinensis plant, prepared and cured by various methods.

After water, tea is the most widely-consumed beverage in the world. No coffee is the third or maybe cola.

The four types of tea most commonly found on the market are black tea, oolong tea, green tea and white tea, all of which can be made from the same bushes, processed differently, and in the case of fine white tea grown differently.

The term "herbal tea" usually refers to an infusion or tisane of leaves, flowers, fruit, herbs or other plant material that contains no Camellia sinensis. The term "red tea" either refers to an infusion made from the South African rooibos plant, also containing no Camellia sinensis, or, in Chinese, Korean, Japanese and other East Asian languages, refers to black tea.

Tea is harvested after each flush - the sprouting of the top two leaves and bud. The top two leaves and bud are hand plucked and then processed into any of the four types of tea.

Black tea is withered, fully oxidized (fermented) and dried. Black tea yields a hearty, amber-colored brew. It is the type of tea most consumed in the West. Some of the popular black teas include English Breakfast, and Darjeeling.

Green tea skips the oxidizing step. It is simply withered and then dried (sometimes roasted). It has a more delicate taste and is pale green / golden in color.

Oolong tea, popular in China, Taiwan and Japan, is withered, partially fermented (between 30% and 70%), and dried. Oolong is a cross between black and green tea in color and taste.

White tea is the least processed. A very rare tea from China, White tea is not oxidized or rolled, but simply withered and dried by steaming.
The main chemical substances in tea are essential oils, caffeine, and polyphenols (mistakenly known by many people as tannins). The essential oils give us the aroma of the tea, the caffeine stimulates the central nervous system, and the polyphenols account for the much publicized antioxidant and anti-disease properties.
Tea is not to be confused with herbal infusions. Herbal infusions are packaged like tea, infused like tea, and enjoyed like tea, however the herbs do not come from the camellia sinensis bush and therefore are not teas (see previous article). Herbal infusions are made of grasses like lemongrass, barks like cinnamon, fruits like orange peel, flowers like chamomile and hibiscus, and many other botanicals.

Footnote: I have in the writing of this article shamelessly taken matter out of the following websites and books.

References: 

www.Wikipedia.com

http://www.about-tea.com/

^ ^a b Alan Macfarlane; Iris Macfarlane. The Empire of Tea. The Overlook Press. pp. 32. ISBN 1-58567-493-1.

 Dictionary.com search Herbal tea