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Feasting on Ramadan Delicacies

I returned yesterday after soaking myself in the local culture & feasting on local culinary delights of Ramadan of a few countries. It was that time of the year again. The followers of Islam in India, Malaysia, Turkey and other parts of the world fast during the daylight hours of the month long festival of Eid-ul-Fitr or Ramadan maintaining their self-resistance towards their needs and urges. Come evening, they break their fast with mouth watering dishes in this holy month with much gusto.
This year I followed the Ramadan food trail from Istanbul to Kuala Lumpur to Singapore. Each city had its own variation of certain culture and eateries that specialize in certain types of cuisines.

ramadan delicacy lemonicks.com

In Turkey I roamed

The seductive Flamenco dancers

The seductive Flamenco dancers

I try hard to look into her eyes every time she turns towards me, but I can not. Her movements are fast, very fast. Should I look at the expression in her eyes and face or should I look at her feet tapping merrily on the beat of hand clapping and the song? One more time she swirls gracefully holding her long skirt. It has lace and layers of ruffles. Sometimes she just flicks it in style. If she does not do it, then the ankle length skirt is long enough to make her trip and fall over.

flamenco dancer wine@lemonicks.com

Her costume reflects the

Souvenir Key Chains

Long back someone gifted me an exquisite keychain. I have till now treasured it. Then one more came my way. I treasured it as well.
When I started travelling, I saw keychains at every tourist place. These are the smallest mementos that one can take back home for oneself or gift without much botheration.
So, I began buying keychains for myself and others too. Also being a backpacker I neither have money nor space to carry bigger fancier gifts for people back home.

key chains @lemonicks.com

Antique looking pieces. I have some gold plated as well.

Gradually it became a

Hi-tech worshipping !

The life is fast.
In this mechanical era, no one has time to sit and breathe. At the same time one also likes to continue with age old customs and rituals. But who has time to do things in traditional way ?

Look at the picture below. Though I was apprehensive of clicking this photo, I also wanted to show it to my people back home.

hi-tech worshipping @lemonicks.com/Travel

Electronic worshipping in progress…. in Tiger Cave temple

Traditionally worshipping

Thai Pusam (தை பூசம்) in Mauritius

தை பூசம் (Thai Pusam) is an important Hindu festival mainly celebrated in Tamil Nadu and Kerala during the Tamil month of Thai (January – February). It is also referred to as Thaipooyam in Malayalam language. But if you think these photos belong to one of these states of India then you are wrong !

Outside India, the festival is celebrated mainly by the Tamil speaking community settled in Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka and many more countries around the world. But I never knew this festival is popular in Mauritius as well !

thai pusam தை-பூசம் mauritius @lemonicks.com

Thai pusam is

5 Things You Won’t Expect On Your First Trip To India

Note:This is a guest post by Anil Polat, who writes at foxnomad. Anil Polat, is a traveler and travel enthusiast who has spent his entire life traveling, studying cultures, and picking up tricks along the way.

Here it goes.

India is a traveler’s dream but also place that can make amateurs out of even the most seasoned vagabonds. Once you’re in India you’ll be whisked away, for better or for worse, and it’s best to expect these 5 things you won’t. On my several trips to the country I’ve never been disappointed and still recall my first time there fondly. Travelers have many things to love and learn, quite quickly I might add, while trekking around the world’s largest democracy.

1. You Will Be Overwhelmed
India will overwhelm your senses and quickly. Depending on your country of origin you’ll be taken aback by the shear number of people… everywhere. There are sounds, sights, tastes, that hit you and you’ve barely seen anything on your first morning out. It’s difficult to properly mentally prepare (and most do try to) because the sensory overload is

Baba Nyonya Heritage Museum

Baba Nyonya Heritage Museum

This famous private museum is one of the main attractions of Malacca.

This museum illustrates how rich and affluent Chinese merchants came here and settled down. The first merchant married a local Malay girl and thus they became the first couple of this dynasty and so the name of this museum.

Baba = boy
Nyonya = girl

Malacca@lemonicks.com/Travel

At the entrance

Housed in