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kirukkals · 6 years

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GEORGIA - The little Europe!

When I mention Georgia, not many people living outside the middle east have even heard of this tiny beautiful country. It borders Russia, Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan, and just about 3 hrs flying from UAE. This was on the cards right from 2016 as a quick getaway holiday place. It happened now in Jan 2019 and we never imagined it would be another different experience all together.

Two reasons we chose Georgia - small country close to UAE which meant 3 to 4 days would do, and this time of the season would mean experiencing snow. We did a 3 day trip but I wish I had another couple of days to explore all parts of the country. Our friends had just been to the place for over a week, so we took their advice, booked ourselves the same guide for the entire 3 days.

We landed early morning in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. We headed west to Bakuriani, in search of some snow and were not let down. It was my first time to see an entire city covered with snow. Houses, fir trees, cars buried in snow, white roads and it felt like we were a part of a Christmas fairy tale movie. Our hotel apartment had a beautiful mountain view where all the Christmas trees were covered with snow.

Then of course, we did all the things that someone who has barely seen snow does, throwing snow ball at each other and attempting a snow man but what came out was infact a snow witch. We even tried sledging in steep slopes. Skipped the skiing, partly coz we were already tired after these games. It was freezing and though we had jackets and caps, it was too windy and cold. We weren't prepared with the right footwear, thought we could rent them, there was no such option and had to manage with ours. The first night we stayed in Bakuriani and experienced heavy snowfall. The entire night it rained snow. And WOW! The next morning, I couldn't take my eyes off the mesmerising mountain view. Nature is truly wonderful.

The next morning we wanted to do the Bakuriani to Borjomi train journey. So when our guide dropped us at a place, it didn't look a bit like station and all of a sudden a real sized train emerged from the corner. Only after the train arrived, did we notice that the place had tracks, had a platform that was hidden and a station exists and it was covered with a blanket of fresh snow. This train, with just 3 coaches, lazily covers 37kms in 2.5 hrs, just the right thing to do first up on a holiday morning. The train journey was absolutely snow scenic. We passed through snow forests, villages with colourful huts covered with snow, distant snow capped mountains and I could go on & on about the snow! If you have watched The Polar Express movie, you will know what I am talking about. Borjomi is yet another beautiful little town which is popular for its mineral rich water. We did a quadro bike ride in the Borjomi park which took us deep into the snow forest, middle of nowhere and white and blue were the only covers. That evening we moved to Tbilisi, the town centre.

Now, our guide Sukho is a Georgian, a proud native and he thoroughly enjoys explaining the richness of his country. All the 3 days that he showed us around, he made sure we appreciated the history behind the place. He was very helpful, open, good natured, friendly, humorous and all that. But what I could not stop noticing was that how much he enjoyed portraying his country and its culture to all other people. He is a good singer, a guitarist, worked earlier in media and quit his regular job to do what he likes the most.

Now you might even wonder why I am writing so much about him in my travel blog. We felt good to have had a guide who is a local. That way, we got to learn a lot about their way of life, food, festivities, history, culture, languages, their music, and so on. Can you imagine that Georgian music recorded on a golden disc and sent on the Voyager into space?! UNESCO has termed one of their writings as an ancient one?! Pagan was their religion and Christianity came in much later?! Their territory is still unstable and they had a war as recent as 2008?! They have been invaded over and over that they are always ready for a war?! Well, this and a lot more inside info is possible only with a native guide. That too a proud one! I definitely don't regret being an Indian, but at the same time I might not be a proud one. But looking at such people, I feel I should try to be more appreciative of my own culture and country and propagate it better to people around me. So, I started with Sukho himself and told him to visit India someday soon!

Getting back to the places, we visited the Uplistshike cave town which lies near the Gori city. The cave town is an amazing place to visit if you like to see and hear about ancient history. Made out of sandstone many centuries back, it still stands out as a massive structure on that mountain. We got some climbing to do and it was a windy place. The hill town has seen many great rulers, influencial queens, successful clay pot wine making, pagan worship, sun god worship, back to back invasions, it has been burnt down a few times and reconstructed, Christianity started taking form, and so on. The prison, fireplaces of common people, rulers main hall, pharmacy and many such spots are still seen. It takes us back to that age to imagine people would have lived there and walked the sandstone steps. The highlight was the secret tunnel through which they escaped during war. Easy steps are now built for us to pass through, but to think that people used that way to get out to the fast flowing river and escape, it is all quite incredible. What an easy, comfortable, modern life we live in today!

Gori in itself looked like a city that has been in and out of war many times. Burnt down structures, isolated houses, and the winter trees gave an eerie war feel to it. When mentioning this to our guide, he briefed us about the prevailing unstable conditions and the war that took place in 2008 between Georgia and the separatists with Russian backing. It is terrible to hear about such war in the 21st century. Joseph Stalin the great communist leader was born here in Gori. And on the way, we saw a few refugee camps, neatly built row houses with basic amenities given by the Georgian government. And to mention again, felt the sincere patriotism in our guide who said every Georgian will fight till his last breath to save his territory and culture.

Mtskheta is a beautiful old town with shops lined up showcasing the artisans work. Local sweets made out of walnuts, hazelnuts, honey, apples, pomegranates etc are mouth watering delicacies. Georgian salt and pepper tastes unique, similar to our Indian spices and could make a good seasoning for salads and soups. Honey is also a popular product being sold there. Georgia's main export is wine. Woollen clothes and art on clay wine pots are not to be missed. The cathedral in Mtskheta and Jvari Monastery are historical buildings. The belief is that the sacred robe of Jesus, the one that covered him during his crucifixion, is buried there. The winding roads up the hill to Jvari is a beautiful drive.

In Tbilisi, we stayed right at the city centre. Freedom Square is a popular happening place in the city and Hotel Marriott stands facing this. Well, being a budget trip (always!), we stayed in a small hotel apartment just behind the Marriott. All Seasons Hotel had a spacious comfortable room, neatly done. For the location, room, and breakfast, the rent was very less. Just like in the European cities, we saw cobblestone streets, freelance music bands, people wining and dining merrily. Because Romans & Greeks lived there ages back, we see a lot of their influence in the architecture.

The other attractions in the heart of the Tbilisi city are the Bridge of Peace, Roman bath, waterfalls, Narikala fortress, river cruise and the St. Trinity church which is the modern day construction. Georgians celebrate Christmas on Jan 7th and walking around on the eve helped to see the colourful city. The city was lit up and it was a festive mood all around.

For the very short time that we had, we could only cover so much. Still, it is a very memorable holiday which will be cherished.

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foundtheworl · 7 years

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New Post has been published on Found The World

New Post has been published on https://foundtheworld.com/guide-eating-colombia/

The Guide to Eating in Colombia

Along the northwest coast of South America is the beautiful country of Colombia, which is has a diverse array of amazing foods. Coming across authentic Mexican, French, Greek or Argentinian restaurants are not difficult to find, however the local foods need to be sampled as well. Food is a pivotal part of Colombian culture, because Colombians are some of the most welcoming and hospitable people in the world. Being invited over to a Colombians house for a meal is such an incredible experience, and guaranteed you will not be hungry when you leave. The rich culture allows tourists to fully immerse themselves in the culinary world of South America by eating all of the food offered in this amazing country.

In capital of Bogotá is known as a huge city that has many people who have different types of socio economic and cultural backgrounds, which makes for a diverse spread of restaurants. There are many street vendors, burger and arepa joints, and high-end restaurants. After spending a week in the city, my friend and I felt like we had tasted food from around the world, yet our favorite meal was always the common lunch special of Bandeja Paisa. This platter is just filled with protein, beans, meat, and a fried egg. It also usually comes with a small salad, plantain, rice, fruit and a drink. This meal is so large that my friend and I would share it everyday and both be comfortably stuffed. Ranging in price form 7000-1500 pesos, which is approximately $2.50-5.00 American dollars, it is the best way to stay on budget for a trip. Arguably eating lunch specials are cheaper than buying groceries and preparing it daily.

In the metropolitan of Bogotá, in the heart of the downtown district La Candelaria there is this tiny restaurant hidden from the road that only sold the daily special. Compared to restaurants down the block this place was incredibly cheap yet had amazing food and a great atmosphere. Often traditional lunch specials are very similar to Bandeja Paisa, with one or two changes, and at this little food truck their lunch special was sancocho with chicken, rice and the worlds largest avocado. Sancocho is a stew that includes meat, vegetables, yucca, plantain and cilantro. I was surprised to see this as a well-known dish in Colombia because I had first learned to cook this in The Dominican Republic; I suppose many foods are shared between South America and the Caribbean. My friend was horrified when she looked at the color of the soup, yet after trying it she joined team sancocho and has actually admitted that she misses eating it. At this food truck we had a two-course meal and were served fruit juice with our soup as we waited for our main course.

After receiving our massive bowl of soup- which was the same size as my face, we were then given a heaping plate of food. My friends and I struggled to finish our main course, the avocado stretched across the entire plate and it completely filled us up. After paying our bill we had to practically roll down the street back to the hostel.

One of the absolute best things about Bogotá and all large cities in Colombia was the fact that there is an endless supply of street food. For someone like myself who is constantly hungry, it made my experience in the city that much better because on every corner someone would be selling fruit, obleas, meat, snacks, or freshly squeezed juice. In the mornings, there would be no need to buy a full breakfast because on the way to walking to different attractions we would stop so many times to eat. First we would start by buying a cup of mangos or watermelon for 2000 pesos ($0.60) after this we would buy fresh juice, followed by having a midmorning snack of tamales or arepas. Then before we knew it, it would be lunchtime and everyday we would eat the special of a day at a local restaurant. After this in the evening we would continue to eat street food and usually would end the evening by sampling an international restaurant.

Two foods that are well known specifically in Colombia are tamales and arepas. Tamales are a traditional dish that includes wrapping dough stuffed with meat or vegetables in a banana leaf or a cornhusk. They are steamed to perfection and do not make the mistake of trying to eat the outside leaf or cornhusk holding the tamale together. Arepas are popular in both Venezuela and Colombia and are circular flat balls of dough, which are slowly heated on a pan or grill until they fully cooked. For people who have very sensitive stomachs, maybe street food isn’t the best idea, but in general it is the most delicious and convenient way of experiencing authentic Colombian culture.

One of the most common desserts in Colombia is the oblea, this consist of two thin wafers with sweet toppings inside of it. One of these options includes cheese, for some reason the idea of chocolate, arequipe, jam and cheese did not sound appealing to me. However, one of my local friends convinced me to try it, and I will say that it is actually pretty good with cheese. Yet, obleas are so much better without cheese, and they are highly addictive. I now understand why they are sold everywhere because if I lived in Colombia I would need to eat at least one everyday. Even in secluded beaches in the north coast of the country people would be selling obleas, which was the perfect thing to eat after playing in the ocean. What makes obleas so amazing is the topping choice of arequipe. This is a thicker version of caramel; it is so sweet and delicious. Before leaving the country I bought a massive container of arequipe from the supermarket because I was so dependent upon this magical caramel like substance. All across the country the chain restaurant of Crepes y Waffles can be found, it is a combination of the classic European styled crepes and waffles cooked with ingredients from South America. Recommended to my travel partner and I, this quickly became our go to spot during our month abroad. There are crepes styled after local dishes, but there are also many international favors on the menu. It is an amazing restaurant to visit at all times of the day and it serves really good coffee. Many airports around the country also have this restaurant, and it has free wifi, which can be essential during long trips.

In big cities, more specifically in Medellin the international food and café scene is incredible. The neighbourhood of El Poblado is like a mini Europe inside of Colombia. The entire area is filled with botique shops, cafes and restaurants. The cafes were amazing breakfast places that served rich colombian coffee.

Each night we went out for a different style of food, which near the end of our trip I really needed. I craved thai, indian, and greek food even though I loved the Colombian diet of rice, beans and arepas. However, I was in the mood for something different. This neighbourhood was absolutely perfect for this, on our first night in Medellin, it happened to be the day of my graduation from university- which I skipped to travel. In my opinion spending time touring Medellin was a much better way to spend my graduation instead of sitting in a hot robe. To celebrate, my friend took me to an authentic Greek restaurant because she knew how much I was craving hummus. It was honestly some of the best Greek food I have ever had. The owner had come from straight Greece to start a business in Colombia, he even spent time talking to us to make sure we were enjoying everything. After such a lovely experiene with international food, the following night we wanted to explore more food options avaliable in the neighbourhood. After wandering around the charming streets we saw an authentic mexican restaurant. My friend ordered a burrito and I ate some of the freshest tacos that I have ever tasted. As if the food in Medellin couldn’t get better on our last night we went to an extremely fancy Argentinian styled restaurant that served perfectly cooked meats. They had a wide variety of aged wines to choose from that were paired with entrees. In summary, all of the food in the El Poblado area is amazing and I highly recommend for all visitors of Medellin to take time to eat in this district.

Colombia is a fun country to visit, and the food scene is a combination of local, international and modern cuisine styles. Do not go to this country trying to lose weight, it might happen from all of the hiking in the incredible national parks, but enjoy the food and eat a lot. Try a new style of trip that includes planning your days around the meals you eat and discover new places to dine. Even go walking down the street in a big city and discover all of the different fresh juices and street foods avaliable. Eating out, in general is much less expensive in Colombia than it is in North America or Europe. Exploring the country through its unique authentic foods and diverse spread of international restuarants is a different and exciting way of travelling in Colombia.

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irenenorth · 7 years

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New Post has been published on Irene North

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A walk down (mostly food) memory lane

Ed explains to Paul that if you sit quietly, you’ll eventually hear the woodland creatures and they may even come up to you. Location: near the top of a trail at Winding Hills State Park in Montgomery, New York.

The only two things I miss about living in New York are the trees and the food.

There’s nothing better in the summer than to walk under a lush, green canopy in one of the many state parks, the sun poking through spots here and there. If you sit and listen long enough, the forest comes alive with the sounds of all the critters that live there.

In the fall, the reds and oranges and yellows blend together in a beautiful array that is difficult to look away from. Raking them up isn’t fun, but six-foot high piles to jump in with your dog, Conan, certainly is.

Then, there is the food. There are so many different kinds of food to try, you would stay away from chain restaurants for most of your life.

You should, however, always start with dessert. Why? Well, why the hell not? New York State has many delicious options, from the sultry homemade cheesecake at the I-84 Diner to Drake’s Cakes’ Funny Bones.

The I-84 Diner in Fishkill, New York still has the best cheesecake on the planet.

When you could still carry your food, cooked, uncooked, in a baggie, or in your hand, onto a plane, I once brought cheesecake from the I-84 Diner. It comes in a nondescript box. It is a large box. I was bringing it back to my coworkers in Nebraska so they could get a taste of what cheesecake should taste like. Even after the trip across the country, it was still silky, smooth and scrumptious.

As I walked down the aisle to find my seat on the plane at Newark International Airport, several people, including a flight attendant, asked me, “Is that I-84 cheesecake?” It was. Most smiled, but one passenger said, “Whoever you got that for is one lucky person.” My five coworkers were lucky. They loved every bit.

I could eat an entire box in one sitting.

I have loved Funny Bones my entire life. The whipped peanut butter center, surrounded by chocolate cake and dipped in milk chocolate is not a healthy snack by any means, but the three are perfectly blended together that my mouth waters at the thought of eating one. There is no better snack in the world and I have eaten plenty of snacks around the world.

Decent ice cream in Bloomingburg, New York.

My cousin Kaylie took me for some ice cream. Friendly’s was the place I went for that whenever I was home, but they’re closed now, so she too me to the Quickway Twin Cone in Bloomingburg, New York. I got my favorite, vanilla dipped in chocolate, and proceeded to eat like a five-year old. The ice cream dripped all over my hand and I didn’t care.

My small vanilla ice cream dipped in chocolate at the Quickway Twin Cone in Bloomingburg, New York. Yes, I asked for a small. I couldn’t finish it before a good portion dripped all over my hand.

Once you have eaten your dessert, then you can move to main course. There are so many options, but I have a few favorite things to eat whenever I return to New York. I need to visit Coney Island in Middletown. I want some Indian food. I want a Bavarian Kreme Donut from Dunkin’ Donuts. Then, I want to taste the world.

A trip to Middletown isn’t complete unless you visit Coney Island.

Since 1924, Coney Island has served up food to locals and travelers. As a child, I didn’t care what else they had, still don’t, I went for the hot dogs. Their homemade chili sauce is a recipe that has been passed down through five generations.

A proper Coney Island chili dog has their famous chili sauce, mustard and onions on it. Since I’m not a proper American, I eat mine with just the chili sauce or ketchup only. I know. I’ve been told many times how wrong I am. I don’t care. Eat your hot dog however you want. I won’t make fun of you for whatever toppings you chuck on it.

a Bavarian Kreme donut from Dunkin’ Donuts.

I got my Bavarian Kreme donut this time at the Dunkin’ Donuts in the Hoboken Train terminal in Hoboken, New Jersey. It’s a good donut. So is the Boston Kreme. Still, nothing will ever beat the sweet taste of their honey-dipped donuts. It’s a shame they switched to the crappy glazed donuts because the honey-dipped donuts were glorious perfection, especially if you got one while it was still hot at about 5:30 a.m., after delivering 250 newspapers to the good citizens of Middletown. It also sucks that Dunkin’ Donuts no longer make their donuts fresh every day, but that is a story for another time.

https://youtu.be/petqFm94osQ

Although Colandria’s Pizza is good, I enjoy pizza handmade, homemade and with the flavors of the local pizza shop. I let my mom choose a place. We ordered by the slice, like you can do in civilized places and I grabbed a Yoo-hoo in a glass container to go with it. If your Yoo-hoo isn’t in a glass container, you’re missing what makes it taste so good.

A perfect lunch. Pizza by the slice, Funny Bones, and yoo-hoo.

After hitting the required foods, I look for whatever else I can eat or try. While spending time in New York City, there were two restaurants within a couple of blocks of our hotel this time, so Paul and I decided to try them out. After walking a dozen or so miles each day, we had worked up an appetite.

Shepard’s Pie at D.J. Reynolds in New York City.

D.J. Reynolds Irish Pub and Restaurant had some great food. I’m always up for trying Shepard’s Pie and this place did not disappoint. It was like every pub I’d been into across the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland and Europe. We were close to the table next to us and eavesdropped on their conversation. It was pleasant to hear a Dutchman, an Italian, and an American discuss world affairs in engaging conversation. I often only get to hear right-wing shouting where whoever shouts the loudest thinks they’ve won. This was thoughtful, well-thought out arguments with discussion that covered all sides. It was refreshing to listen to while I ate my Shepard’s Pie.

Our next dinner was a ABA Turkish Restaurant. I had never eaten in a posh Turkish restaurant before, though I have had Turkish food in European fast food joints.

Homemade bread and olive oil.

The homemade bread to dip into olive oil was a great way to start after spending most of the day walking.

Lebni, thick homemade yogurt with walnut, garlic and fresh dill and herbs. The dill was a bit too much to take, but otherwise, not too bad for the first time I tried lebni.

For the first course, I chose lebni, a thick, homemade yogurt with walnut, garlic, and fresh dill and herbs. I’m not fond of dill, which is probably why I kept squinting my eyes every time I took a bite. While it was tasty, I’m not sure I would eat it again. Dill just isn’t my thing. Paul had a homemade lentil soup.

Döner Kebab.

For the main course, I went with Döner kebab, a ground lamb and beef cooked on a rotating spin then thinly sliced. It was served with rice, lettuce, and red cabbage. It was what I expected, though it tasted like there was much more lamb than beef. Paul got the Adana kebab.

The third course was drinks. Paul had Turkish coffee while I had Turkish tea. Everything was in just the right portions and we were definitely full when we left.

Great Indian food in Middletown, New York.

Back in Middletown, we finally got my favorite kind of food. Saffron is a damned fine Indian restaurant. If you’re ever in Middletown, go eat at Saffron. Every dish is good. I’m partial to Chicken Korma. The garlic naan is fantastic as well.

A quick and unfocused shot of some of my dinner, Chicken Korma with garlic naan. The naan was perfect, with large chunks of garlic in it.

We don’t eat out much in Scottsbluff. There aren’t many options to choose from. There is Chinese, Mexican, fast food, and your typical American fare. We’re always grateful for the Greek Festival in August and try to make it every year. If I want a lot of food options, I have to drive several hours to get it.

So, when I visit my mom, I bring a handful of cash to throw at good food. It’s worth it.

#food #New York

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foundtheworl · 7 years

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New Post has been published on Found The World

New Post has been published on http://foundtheworld.com/guide-eating-colombia/

The Guide to Eating in Colombia

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