Sound and Song

Recently I've rediscovered my obsession with Indian music. As much as I would like to share the songs I love with certain people, it is impossible. The beauty of the lyrics: the pain, weight and poetry that they carry is something that just cannot be translated. Instead of facebook, skype and the likes, I've been up till 5:00 the past few mornings listening to songs for hours on end, singing them to myself. I am sure my family thinks I've officially lost my mind, but there is something so seductive about living in your mind. The world that these songs create is mine alone by choice and force, since I could not share, even if I tried. Perhaps a scoff that sounds like escapism could ring true, but somehow that's not all there is to it. I feel a constant and enormous gulf between people, my self and strangers alike, as I watch us interact with one another and exist side by side. In this day to day situation, language becomes the fragile thread that connects us. However, just because spoken language is an incredibly fragile facet of being human, doesn't mean it isn't necessary or that it isn't wonderful. Simply that it is an ephemeral thing. Things are said and easily dissolve, become forgotten or misunderstood. Over time, words and promises take on forms of their own, after having walked down roads they never set foot on. We remember words with a weight that creeps more out of our insecurities than the mouth of the person speaking them. When confronted with this type of alternative, to read a poem, or listen to a song and to exist in it, while letting it exist in you is invaluable. There is no need for words because the understanding is deep and complete. It is easy to become lost and engrossed in a world which you create for yourself, void of misunderstanding, because it is inevitably void of people. I am not promoting or condoning it; I am simply acknowledging that aloneness can be enchanting. On this note, here are some pics for you crazy kids:

Eats and treats on the streetzzzz (part deux)

So.. I think pretty much anyone that knows me, has at some point heard me rave about a delicious Indian desert called Jalebi that is orange in color and eaten with yogurt. If this doesn't sound familiar, then trust me, you've just forgotten, because I have mentioned them. Jalebis are generally eaten as a breakfast food and I freaking love them! There is nothing better than starting your day with fried sugar and tart yogurt...or so I thought *gasp*. Enter Imerti. It's like the Antonio Benderis of deserts. Exotic, refined, perfected by time and freaking delicious. Also, you eat it with sweet cream instead of yogurt. How could I say no to something like this? I couldn't. The man making the Imerti's was incredibly nice and told me that the paste that is fried is made out of a lentil that we in India refer to as Urad, however, in English it has the pleasure to be called "Vigna mungo". Go ahead, take a second, laugh, I did. Sounds like some stealth sex monster. Here is a picture of a guy preparing the batter

One person is in charge of making the batter out of the lentils and then this magic happens:

After speaking with the man a little, I learned that he has been making these for 50 some years, and the ones here are considered the best in all of Lucknow. He made a monster one specially for me, which when eaten fresh is honestly orgasmic.
The finished Product:

This is all for now, I'll be back later with more eats and treats for the hungry!

Inside view of Lucknow, as promised!

Today I braved the 42 degree weather and decided to go around Lucknow. It's strange how much this town has changed. It used to be a town, but it has truly developed into a city. I went to Ambedkar park, which has blossomed into an amazing architectural monument, with 62 live size elephant statues... which some, me included, argue is a bit much when a large percent of the population is still unfed and homeless...but hey.. why get political when you can just look at pretty things? yes... pretty... Here are some pictures of the magnificent Ambedkar park:




Near the park, i found an old school Ice cream cart that took me right back to being in boarding school. Growing up we used to buy orange flavored ice for 2 rs. Though it was probably made in some dude's bathtub, it was so freaking delicious. One of the few things in India that has remained the same price vise, at 5 rs. you can still enjoy an amazing Orange Bar! (though many guide books will warn against them...since you can't really vouch for the quality of the water. lol)


From Ambedkar park, i headed over to Hazratganj an area that is known for its shops and good eats. I know I sound old when I say this, and that I should welcome change... but I was honestly shocked at how much it has changed. Though most of the places I love are still there, the general topography of the area has totally changed. Wide roads and night lamps have replaced the crooked mud and rock roads. While the exterior decoration of the area has changed, I was really happy to find that the interior (i.e. the food stalls) are just as good as they used to be! Here are some examples:
This is a Dish called gol gappa.

The round things are cracked open, filled with a spiced mix of ... deliciousness... for lack of better translation and then dunked in flavored water which is made from a baby mango.
(The water can come in many flavors and you can try as many as you'd like). You usually stand on the side of the street and eat as many as you want and then pay after. I can probably eat around 20 of these bad boys!

This is one of the many different types of dishes that are encompassed under the category of chat (pronounced like "part" but with a ch sound and minus the r). Since I love me some chat, I will probably be eating and posting about different types through out the trip. More to come later!
<3 Tanz

It's Allliiiiiiive!!!!

So, I ambitiously started this blog with a vision when I moved to Paris. Like most good things, it slowly (or rather quickly fizzled out). However short the romance, I could not forget my beloved blog and have decided to give it another go. I am now in India and think this is a great opportunity to document my experiences here. While most of my time so far has been spent eating delicious food, playing video games and watching movies, I will eventually brave the 43 degree weather and try to document some of the cities I grew up in and of course the wonderful hole in the wall food spots they offer!