Ingredients :
Preparation :
Ingredients :
Preparation :
Put it in a pot and dilute with a little water
In a idly saucepan
Ingredients :
Preparation :
Grind this mixture in a blender with a little water until it is completely liquid.
Heat in a saucepan with a little oil, and then add in the order
Remove from the flame after +/-30 seconds
Indian cooking is wonderfully tasty. Annapurna Goddess always inspires it.
You will find many restaurants in Mahābalipuram, vegetarian and non-vegetarian and also western-style cooking at the “Nautilus”, run by a Frenchman who has been living in India for a very long time, and at the “Au Yogi” run by a former Indian yoga student, married to a Belgian. There is also “The Blue Elephant” et le well known “Moonrakers”, run by our friend Ramesh, and “The Gecko Café” held by Mani in a nice place with a view on the lake, 14 Othavadai Cross Street. For a kitchen dining room, very cheap: The « Mamalla », S. Mada Street, near the Bus Stand and the « Sri Ananda Bhavan », on the corner of E. Raja Street and Othavadai Street.
If you are invited to eat with an Indian family, you will be greeted with the “Namaskar” (Namaste in the North), the welcome made with both hands together. In India you never wish happiness to someone, it is considered to be in your hands and depends only on you. For a meal you generally bring your host sweets or fruit. You do not say thank you in Indian languages but you can say “Shukrya” (to say thank you in Sanskrit you say “dhanyavaad” or “shukrya” which means “thanks and be prosperious”).
In the large international restaurants, your cutlery will consist of a spoon, fork and knife while in more modest restaurants you are likely to have only a spoon for the semi-liquid dishes. You eat with your fingers of your right hand in India and only with them as those on your left hand are considered impure. In the North you may take the food with your whole hand, but in the South it is considered more polite to use only the end of your fingers. Bread or pancakes are used to help you eat.
In many restaurants in India, the cold chain is not necessarily respected. Fridges or freezers are often turned off to save money, so avoid eating food that has been frozen.
In the temples, saffron powder, blessed water from the Ganges, and sometimes blessed food are offered to visitors as a sign of “Prasad”, blessing of the Gods. It is considered impolite to refuse such gifts.
It’s cuisine
The types of food served in the North differ significantly from those served in the South. Southern cuisine is quite different from the northern culinary habits in that it is much more vegetarian in most of the hotels, with the exception of the international hotel chains. On the other hand, you will more often find fish either grilled or in sauces, in the South.
Southern cooking is generally spicier than that of the North. For those with sensitive palates, you can ask the cook to reduce the spices (“No chilli, please”).
During the meal, our Indian friends drink water or “lassi” which is a diluted dahi (yoghurt), salty or sweet, sometimes with a taste of rose water.
You will often find local beer in the restaurants. Tea and coffee are almost always drunk outside mealtimes in the morning or afternoon, and are served with milk (reminder: alcohol is not sold in the general stores in Tamil Nadu, but only in specialised stores).
Dishes that you must discover for a heavenly tasting experience …
At breakfast
At midday
Other additional information:
DOSA (S) :
Dough made from rice and dal powder
Ingredients :
Preparation :
1. Boil potatoes
Put preparation on dosa and serve
Ingredients :
Preparation :
Cut all the vegetables into small cubes, remove the mint leaves from the twigs (not cut), chop the Coriander into small pieces
Raïta (en accompagnement du plat) Voir la recette
Ingredients :
Preparation :
1 cut the vegetables into small cubes
6. boil all for 5 minutes
7. Add the roasted rava gently stirring
8. Add fresh coriander
9. Book to boil
10. Stir in the oil (vanaspati)
11. Add salt
This forms a kind of vegetable porridge
South India and Photos
A journey to India is at the same time an inner journey, intimate and dazzling and an outside journey during which each moment may offer a discovery, a deep encounter.
For photographers, India is a real paradise, one of the best spots for those who like colorful pictures full of emotion.
To take photos in certain places you will have to pay a tax for your camera or video camera (more expensive) but then you will be free to catch a beautiful ray of light, to make the best of each magnificent place. India is an unbelievably visual country, where anything can become a subject for a photo.
Often people spontaneously ask to be photographed, they nearly always say yes, if asked.
Other complementary information :
There are many flights to Chennai (Madras) from the major European airports. India being one of the most visited countries in the world … book your flight early, and enjoy the many benefits that the practice of Ashtanga Yoga will bring you, let yourself be dazzled by the fabulous temples of Tamil Nadu, Mahābalipuram, Kanchipuram, Tiruvannāmalai, Pondicherry, Chidambaram, Darasuram, Tanjore, as by the profusion of details, the vibrant colours in the sanctuaries, where the stone contrasts with the radiance of the shimmering saris of Indian women.
Flights : Whether it is a business trip or a holiday, many aviation companies propose an Internet registration service that allows you to reduce your waiting time at the counters of the airport.
Do not forget to register your « Miles » for a next trip to India.
Travel agencies
In Brussels, we have had the pleasure of working for many years with « Welcome Travel » agency. They are very efficient and of good advice.
In Paris we recommend the agency « La Maison des Indes ». They favour intellectual and cultural curiosity. Phone: 01 56 81 38 38 (From Monday to Saturday from 10 :00 to 19 :00)
Airline companies
Luggage
International flights
Depending on the airline company, your luggage should not exceed 20kg to 30kg. You can buy or pre-book extra luggage weight before your departure (through the travel agency). Extra weight usually cost around 50$ per kilo.
Domestic flights
Indian companies allow up to 15kg. Please note they are very strict on the weight limitations. For any extra kilo they usually charge 5$. It is better to lock your main luggage. Your cabin luggage should not exceed 7 kg and 56 cm x 36 cm x 23 cm.
For domestic flights please avoid any instrument resembling a weapon, knife or even a nail file…
The Security (or safety) air
Be carefull : All batteries in devices must be charged (TSA). If your mobile phone, your tablet… are discharged, the boarding security service may think you are a terrorist carrying a bomb…
Control of airport security :
Security checks are unfortunately necessary to travel by air, some passengers find them more annoying than anything else.
Here are some tips to make sure that everything goes as well as possible :
And everything should go smoothly, with a smile…
Transfer :
Transfer from the international airport of Chennai (Madras) to your hotel in Mahābalipuram :
Money
I advise you to take either :
Exchange of currency in Roupies
You can exchange currencies at the airport. Be careful, the Exchange service of « Thomas Cook » has a lower exchange rate than in Mahābalipuram.
You have to show your passport for the transaction, and you must keep the « encashment certificate » which will allow you to exchange your leftover rupees when you leave the country. Bankcards can be used in big hotels and shops in urban centres. Traveller’s cheques in Euros can easily be changed in banks. You can only take cash out of your account in large cities either from the banks (takes a long time) or from automatic withdrawal counters marked “ATM”. There are now two “ATM” counters in Mahābalipuram. When you leave the big cities or centres, please make sure you have enough rupees or euros and preferably in small bills as it can be difficult to find change.
The exchange rates are relatively stable. You can check following website to have the recent exchange rates : Oanda
Water
Never drink tap water ! The water is not always potable.
Electricity
220 Volt is common in India. It is nevertheless advisable to always check the voltage before connecting a device. It can be very useful to bring a flashlight/torch, in case of a blackout (this is frequent) and it is useful for visiting caves and temples.
Time zone
Bibliography/reading list
We have prepared a reading list for travel guides to India, novels, and history books.
Lonely planet :
Hachette
Le Routard
Guide Bleu
Some books about India
“Once you have felt the Indian dust you will never be free of it”
Rumer Godden
You can find the latest publications on http://www.indeenlivres.com
Language
English is widely spoken in the cities of India. India has hundreds of dialects and 18 officially recognized languages. The difference between the Indo-European spoken in the north and the Dravidian languages used in South India provides that English is an essential means of communication between the people of the north and south.
GSM / Iphone
Cellular phone
Most of the foreign providers offer mobile Internet access (roaming) in India, but the rates are high.
Important advice
Remember that apart from the beauty and wealth of this country, India is and will remain India. It is advisable to look on the bright side to enjoy your stay at the fullest.
Additional information
Visit the old town of “Plaka”, walk, eat and drink on one of the very nice terraces.
For all history lovers !
Discover the historical past of Athens during a fascinating walking tour, alone or accompanied by a local expert guide available at the entrance to the Acropolis. Immerse yourself into the heart of the ancient city of Acropolis, the most famous classical Greek monument, dedicated to goddess Athena, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and discover how this ancient monument dominates the city at his feet.
All entrance and guide fees, are at your own cost.
In the evening, watching a Greek tragedy in the ancient theatre located at the foot of the Acropolis is simply magical!
You want more…
No problem, there is so much to do here.
Close to there, go visit the recently build Acropolis museum, superb modern building very well designed, where the return of friezes taken by Lord Elgin (British Museum) is eagerly awaited.
To see at the National Archaeological Museum, among many wonders, the gold mask of King Agamemnon found at Mycenae.
Climb on the Philopappos hill (Hill of the Muses), nice in summer because there is a bit of greenery, admire the panoramic view from one end to the other of Athens, including the Acropolis, to the port of Piraeus.
On Sunday morning, go for a walk in the pedestrian street Apostolou Pavlou towards the flea market, and stroll among the stalls of professionals and amateurs.
Efzones
At Syntagma square, go see the changing of the « efzones » guards (When facing the building, the guards are coming from the avenue on your left).
If you wish to do some shopping (souvenirs), go on Saturday to the Ermou pedestrian street.
Visit one of the many Orthodox churches, like for example the one located in the middle of Ermou street (pedestrian) or the Agios Dimitrios Lombardiaris chapel, built of wood near the Acropolis.
In Athens, the Greek summer is very hot, dry and sunny. The period from June to early September is ideal to enjoy the summer, including sea swimming. However, the heat can prevent you from visiting archaeological sites in early afternoon. Have always with you water and sunglasses…