Weather the weather,Whatever the weather

Since the past week it has been unusually cold and it has constantly kept me speculating. Here I was thinking it was time to put away the jackets,mufflers and everything woollen ,back into their appropriate places. However I had to unwillingly reverse my plans due to this climate which is playing havoc.I suppose no one except Mother Nature can foretell a change in the weather who by now has probably planned quite a few tricks up her sleeves and would unleash them whenever she deems fit.

More often than not, by this time, we all envision the colourful blossoms,green leaves and a gentle breeze,a picture perfect Spring,but instead,we are repeatedly sprayed with dust from the sand storms and jolted off the beds by terrifying howls from the fierce winds.A frequent occurrence during the break of dawn.What a bizarre climate!
Generally,going outdoors during the weekend is something the children look forward to,but now except for my sons,the two girls are somewhat hesitant to go out merely for the reason they have to wear double padded clothing.

Despite the uncertain weather conditions,the children’s school had planned to go ahead with the schedules organized by the school’s Scout Association.Regardless,my fifth grader who is an ardent member,was all agog as he was about to embark on his very first Scout outdoor activity.However in the last minute due to harsh weather they had to re organize the program indoors.The parents of the participants were also invited to witness a few activities later in the evening.

As much as I enjoyed the children’s wonderful program at school,I also immensely benefited from an experience on our way back home. Amid the dusty roads,polluted atmosphere and the indistinct surroundings,I was amazed at what was unfolding.We were very fortunate to have witnessed  the sunset.While  a bunch of fluffy clouds ( not visible in the picture) looked as if they were reluntantly letting her go.All the same,slowly and steadily they parted ways.An awesome moment! A glorious sight! And as soon as 'Her Majesty' disappeared,darkness approached.What a panoramic view!
Although on earlier occasions I had witnessed atypical view,I was never able to record it.I am glad I got the opportunity this time albeit it was clicked through our moving vehicle.In the midst of the nit-picking and the whimpering about the bad weather,I am grateful the day ended magnificently.

                                            

A Panoramic View -Look at the contrast !This end looked all dark.

                                  

The sun  was slowly disappearing and  the street lights began to flicker.

Food Show And Chinese Cuisine

The other day, my children and I watched  some wonderful authentic  cooking which was telecasted on one of our  favourite food  channel.Watching the  program  took  me  to several places and to a totally different culture.A culture which reveres in upholding customs and traditions. More so it let me virtually wander across to the land which prides on the  great wall and much more.Furthermore just discussing views and opinions about  their food  can get your  taste buds tantalized.
Chinese cooking sketches back since times gone by and now have become more and more popular in other parts of the world.The Chinese  pride themselves on eating an extensive range of foods. Chinese dishes are often  prepared in bite-sized pieces, to make it easy for   picking and shoving into the mouth.They also love to use chopsticks at the table. Traditional Chinese cuisine is also based on opposites  balancing hot with  cold, pickled with fresh and spicy with mild. They  also take pleasure in  eating exotic stuff. Many would go out of the way to taste some extraordinary speclalities like snakes,insects and bugs. Well!Well! Count me out please! I‘vd rather have the pleasure of watching them creeping and crawling  in and out of a mud –splattered backyard than savor them 'barbecued' and  in my platter all oozing  with sauces and dressings.

Food shows are a  motivation for foodies like me.They help us cultivate different skills and techniques in the kitchen and in our cooking styles. Learning to cook  food other than our staple foods  is itself  a great achievement .Years ago ,as a young girl, I used to watch  a cooking show called Yan Can cook,a program hosted by a young Chinese foodie/chef who did a lot of humorous acts while demonstrating his gastronomic know-hows.I loved watching him cook delicious  meals (the usual kind of food –not the exotic type). This show was very popular in most homes because of his exclusivity: cooking and performing  comic acts.At the end of the show he would sign off with his ever famous  line 'If Yan can cook, so can you.’.That  one liner, I believe, was in some way the motivation behind my interest in  cookery.However only after I  got married I put my skills into practice.Initially, I  had  tried a few of the simple dishes this master chef had presented on the show, but regretfully the dishes never really reached up to mark or came anywhere close to  them.All the same I never gave up.Learning through  trial and error, I somehow  managed to pass the  experimental tests ( the judges through out have been my children and hubby).I am regretful that I never mastered Chinese cooking but in spite of everything, I am still  grateful for that ‘cooking show', which paved the way significantly in  arousing my interest in cooking.And  from  being an  edgy cook with a great deal of kitchen disasters,I can now  pompously say  I have gained  some confidence and   occasionally  serve  delectable food to my guests at home.

Ahh!! I see the glimmer in my children’s eyes, an optical expression I often witness when I make an assurance.Yes! I did promise them to spend more time reviving  Chinese  delights from the food channel.


                                        Chinese Food In Saudi Arabia

Prawns coated in batter and fried 

Fried Noodles

Chicken Corn Soup

                                      

There Is No Green In My Tea

While the rest of the world   got engaged  in some sort of entertainment heralding the new year,it was celebrated very quietly in this part of the world.There wasn’t any major   jubilation like lighting fire crackers and  merry making in public places.Possibly people over here enjoyed  the new year in the comfort of their homes.As I looked forward to ushering in the new year,I also visualized a year full of goodness.I so want this year to be according to what I am hoping for.I look forward to at least some or a few of those materialized.As with each year,I fervently look ahead to shed a few pounds off my system. At my age I am not interested in reducing weight for appearances sake,my weight loss goal  is  more of an insurance,an investmest for good health.Perhaps to grow old without major illnesses related to being over-weight.However putting them to practice is a hard task.Any  magazines,newspapers or just scraps and clippings on how to lose those extra pounds,is read with great interest and appreciation.I even watched a few previous episodes of 'The Biggest Loser".

A few times earlier I had stumbled upon many  articles which have revealed sweet success on weight loss.But the one to catch my attention was  my favourite digest, which  carried a small feature on how drinking green tea can reduce weight and also how essential it is for health benefits.This immediately aroused my curiosity.Heavily relying on that short snippet,I opened a packet of green tea which I already had at home .As a matter of fact, I got so restless and infuriated that I was ready to give up even before starting this ‘green tea ‘weight loss’ program.I was thoroughly exasperated waiting for the tea to brew and bring out the strong flavor in it.I thought it was taking a considerable time.There wasn't any colour in that instant to indicate the tea was  well brewed.Little did I know that ‘green tea’ is a kind of specialty  and even with all it’s favourable qualities,it would n’t  turn my cup  of tea  green. By the time I realized this,my  tea had gone cold…

New Year Greetings

Happy New Year..May this new year bring you peace, joy and happiness .And may glad tidings come your way... 

Your success and happiness lies in you. Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties.
Helen Keller

Beauty Pagaent Of A Different Kind

The other day an extraordinary article in the local newspaper caught my attention and it appeared truly incredible.Perhaps I was intrigued by the title that I read it immediately. According to the paper, a beauty contest  has been scheduled   to be hosted here in Saudi Arabia. 'What!' 'A beauty contest ! Here in Saudi Arabia!' That was my first reaction when  reading that particular subject.But reading further I came to understand that this pageant is of a different kind.

Those participating, are from all corners of the Arabian peninsula.These contestants  from  all over the GCC countries will be vying for the prized  crown or  could it be a head dress or a headband? Maybe who knows? All these would-be contestants are obviously  natural beauties..Nevertheless I am still pondering how they might be judged.Will they be judged simply for their beauty or for their overall intelligence or how they would carry themselves on the ramp ??The  lucky winner  will not only  wear the crown  but  will be showered with bundles of notes.If given an opportunity to attend this one-of-a-kind event,which definitely will be celebrated with much pomp and pageantry,I will  without any hesitation  join  the fun. I am on the edge of my seat in anticipation  to witness this exceptional  beauty pagent purely for the  reason that they are four-legged. I have heard of cats and dogs being crowned but camels?? Oh yes ! you heard me correct!

On further researching about this interesting event,I came to know that the event is on going and will  continue for the next couple of weeks.More than 13,000 camels from Saudi Arabia,the UAE and other Gulf Arab countries have  been  flocked  inside a huge  enclosed area,for the region’s largest camel beauty contest.This spectacular  event is being  held in the North of  Saudi Arabia.A panel comprising  camel connoisseurs will chose three winners at the final day of the event..

As  enthusiastic as I am about this  whole  event , I  am  a little disappointed I am not even  a bystander  at this Kingdom's first ever beauty pageant for the ships of the desert.In any case I am depending on my reliable source ,the internet for future  updates.Before signing off,here’s me cheering… the impending winners, Hip Hip Hurrah!!

Picture source-internet

An Inspirational Quote

“Trees are poems the earth writes upon the sky.We fell them down and turn them into paper that we may record our emptiness.” 
-Khalil Gibran-

Power Of Punctuation

Punctuation marks are ciphers that point out the structure and the meaning of written language.In written English,punctuation is very important so as to make it more comprehensible the meaning of a sentence. In order words, punctuation helps the reader to  understand the written text easily.Words and stories have to to be arranged in proper  order for the reader to sufficiently  grasp the story.Without properly punctuating a story, the reader would n’t  understand what you are trying to convey. I have created a picture blog depicting the popular text ‘woman without her man is nothing’ See how punctuation can also totally change the meaning of a text.