Celebrating his birthday...

HE CELEBRATES..!

Yes, today 24-Jun-2014, my dad celebrates his birthday! 

Wishing him many more happy and glorious days and years ahead. I write this... as if I am talking to myself (sounds like a "open personal" diary)

How it was celebrated? Well I am here in Kuwait and dad is back in Kerala (vacation). So, yes, though not physically present, wishes were sent across.

Made me think and realize that my dad is getting old and older and how much of a pain, stress, tension, uncomfortable situations I have put him over several years. 

As of today, it is similar to the story of "Prodigal Son". Not that I was greeted with a feast and finest clothing :D. I am back home with regrets and repentance. I understood it is difficult to be happy. But I have learnt (and still learning) to find happiness in all the little things I have, the few relations close to me. Wants are way less, had a crash course of real life events, the days I am content is all that takes for a peaceful night's sleep.

Happy Birthday Pappa! And thank you so much for all the support and patience. 

Thalessary Biriyani

THALESSARY BIRIYANI

There are 2 classes of non-vegetarian cuisine in Kerala. 

1. Malabar cuisine, from North Kerala. This has Mughlai-Arab influences.
2. Syrian Christian cuisine, from South Kerala. This is a mix of Kerala traditional dishes which is rich in coconut and the Syrian, Dutch, Portuguese and British recipes.
Thalessary Biriyani is a Malabar cuisine recipe. This is prepared using Khaima or Jeerakasala rice (short grain, white, thin rice). 

I doubt basmati rice is used. However, I used basmati for my version of Thalessary Biriyani :)

Lunch Box - Takeaway "my version" Thalessary Biriyani

Half cooked layered rice and biriyani masala (chicken is cooked with this masala). Sealed with damp cloth and then cooked the "dum" style till fully cooked.

Super blend of spices topped with roasted nuts, bista (fried onions) and coriander leaves labels this dish simply unique and irresistible.  


Update: Recently used the proper Jeerakasala rice to prepare this dish. Visit: - Thalessary Biriyani video

Breakfast in a glass

BREAKFAST IN A GLASS

Fruity breakfast - Image taken for photo shoot

On request, fruit breakfast. Customized fruits in custard. This one was served chilled with oats, watermelon and apple.

Hope "YOU" enjoyed it!

Variations in hot custard with nuts and chocolate syrup!

Baby eczema

BABY ECZEMA

This is painfully a very common situation for babies in Kuwait.

Main idea is to first...

Treat eczema; then continue with a standard moisturizing pattern

You may be advised to apply certain herbal oil with turmeric or other home made applications, gram flour scrub etc etc etc and n number of etc for 15 - 30 mins and then wash off!

To my best understanding, your baby is already suffering from eczema, there may be already some blood stream infection that needs to be treated internally as well. Antibiotics are often required to eliminate the infection and control the eczema.

You treat it first...

The immune system normally develops during the first six months of life. There may be some imbalance of the white cells that is causing ''loss of skin barrier function''; then irritants (soap, dirt, detergents) and allergens (dust, pollen, dust mite) can penetrate the skin. 

In my baby's case (note that this treatment is not necessarily applicable for another baby), it was: -

1. 1 week of antibiotics - Profinal, in 2 days, noted significant changes

2. A hydro-cortisone cream - Elocom on the stronger side for 1 week - 10 days

3. A mild cream - Protopic for 1 or 2 weeks 

4. Moisturizing cream - UEA for daily application

1 week treatment was a fantastic speedy recovery which was then followed by usual routines that included the below

Thereon: - My basic tips to control or reduce flare ups...

1. UEA moisturizing cream got over in 5-6 months. I shifted to AVEENO eczema therapy cream (oat content). Before consultation and medication, I used to use CETAPHIL moisturizing cream.

2. Bath is in QV lotion - a 5 mins bath (no hot water). No scrubbing. No towel rubbing. I just wrap her (meanwhile I dry her hair). On unwrapping, her body is moist like and I apply the AVEENO cream. You can do the home remedy at this point on a regular basis before bath session - for instance, a home made oil with turmeric and herbs, gram flour scrub, yogurt pack, olive oil body packs, glycerin rosewater mix, coconut milk bath, there are numerous home packs. But, please... stick to 1! Make sure you regularly moisturize your baby to combat dryness.

3. One can wait till baby turns at least 2 to start feeding all that an adult consumes! He / She has several years ahead to feed on egg, fish, chicken and meat dishes! From 0 - 2 years, your baby is going to get all the nutrients from breast milk / formula milk, vegetable and fruit based recipes. You can give multi-vitamins as well. So, try your best not to unnecessarily bring in a reason for your baby's allergy or rashes. 

4. Weather contributes to dry skin - extreme hot or cold conditions. How much your baby can stay indoors, do it!

5. Changed the carpets to stick on vinyl carpets - maybe 5mm thick.

6. Use only cotton clothes, even if you tempted to doll up your baby for an occasion!

7. Wash clothes in the mildest detergent or a hand wash will do. 

8. Keep your hands clean before attending to your baby.

9. Play and Sleep regularly... not you, the baby! Playing and sweating can open / unclog the pores. It seems that perspiration contains a natural antibiotic that can fight bacteria.

As an when I remember more points, will update.

P.S.: AVEENO products are not available in Kuwait. In order to NOT run out of tubes and containers, I stock them up. Yes, undoubtedly, friends and relatives choose from the lot I have at a minimal rate.

5 oz AVEENO Eczema Therapy Moisturizing Cream

18 oz AVEENO Daily Moisturizing Lotion

Update as of 12-Aug-14

New stock of AVEENO Baby - Eczema Therapy

Beef Roast – Woodlands, Salmiya

KERALA BEEF ROAST - FROM WOODLANDS, SALMIYA

A favorite delicious dish of Kerala - Beef Roast. Dry dish in an awesome gland tingling flavor of onions, red chilli powder, ginger, garlic, cinnamon, cloves, garam masala, vinegar, coconut slices... *slurp*

Kerala Beef Roast

If you are looking for a typical Kerala style super spicy beef roast with coconut slices, this is it! I would say this is their masterpiece. 

Rated as one among my favorites and I would rate it the best I have had in Kuwait. The same with chapatti is the right combo, it is better to consider cold salad after the meal because of its spice. 

The price is KD 1.000 and is very economical, the quantity they give can be shared by 2 if you are not a heavy eater. I would rate it 4/5, I’m a frequent buyer of this and wish the same to be prepared with lesser spice.

Steak Lovers Wrap - 10.Oh.8

STEAK LOVERS WRAP

Certified Black Angus steak grilled with sauteed onions and mushrooms.

Steak Lovers Wrap

The content may look less but this dish is very delicious and filling. Ideal for my breakfast - waiting time around 15 mins. 

The highlight of this wrap is the really tasty sauce they mix with the steak which gives you the juicy effect. It’s something which you can also try at home if you know how to cook the steak as it is. Unfortunately there are no fries with it; it is just 2 wraps in a plate with some potato chips. 

The cost is KD 3.750 and I would say it is worth the price. I would personally rate it a 4/5; I prefer French fries to potato chips. 

About 10.0h.8

A small, quiet and cozy outlet in Sharq, Shuhada Street. Supposedly, a percentage of their proceeds goes to charity - which is "thumbs up"! 

Thats their facebook page 

https://www.facebook.com/10oh8

California Steak – Cheesecake Factory

CALIFORNIA STEAK

Thinly Sliced Grilled Steak Covered with Sauteed Mushrooms, Onions, Peppers and Cheese on Our Toasted Sour dough Loaf. Served with French Fries or Green Salad.

California Steak – Cheesecake Factory

My better half, hands down decided to try this out. So this is his review: -

"Firstly, this is pretty filling meal for a single person. You can have it as a perfect brunch to skip your afternoon lunch which I normally prefer to have as a full meal lunch. The sandwich is delicious and I can assure you that this selection will not upset you. The dish takes 15-20 min to be prepared since they require time to sauté the beef steak. The spice on the beef is not much; for the spice lovers, it would have been tastier to add a bit more of chilli. However, the overall combo of the steak, mushroom and cheese gives it a mouthwatering effect. 

The French fries is another heavy add on which is pretty healthier compared to the French fries you get from McD or KFC. Interestingly, the sandwich  does not contain lettuce or any other leafy ingredients . There are no tomato slice and cucumber as well. 

The cost is KD 5.250, a bit high but deserves the cost. I personally would rate it a 3.75/5 as I would have preferred to have roasted bacon included in the sandwich to give it a perfect finish."

Don't judge me based on a social networking site(s)

DON'T JUDGE ME BY SOCIAL MEDIA

"I sent him/her message on Whatsapp, he/she did not reply. But they appear online"

"I sent him/her message on Facebook. It shows 'Seen on ..'; but he/she did not reply as yet". He/She is commenting on other posts, though.

"Hey, you did not like my page". Imagine, you like a friends' page and due to a technical error, the like does not appear and is misinterpreted as "Not liked by so and so person!"

Have you ever experienced this?

How much judgmental do you get by an individual's social activities?

How much do you believe these social platforms which can face technical errors?

How much of obsessive "Google-ing" will one do to know about a person? 

I am an avid user of social media. This social media may show a certain portion of me. The other portion of me you really need to get out of the virtual internet world to know more.

I have my reasons to NOT respond instantly. I may want to reply during my leisure time, take time to phrase my sentences since the digital world cannot express emotions; reasons can be endless but not intentional!

Make your internet time productive - stay in touch with close friends and relatives, work on your business, do some academic course, research work on any productive field, blog, online shopping etc. 

Also, do not forget to Look up from your digital devices. There is world and life more to uncalled doubts, tiffs, assumptions and negatives.

Do visit my previous blog, Bored of Facebook. 

Live in relations - For or against?

LIVE IN RELATIONS

Ok, not that live-in relations never made it to the finals. Certain live-in relations do get converted to legally wedded for life!

My thoughts on this is by default, conservative! A big NO... Personally, I see it as:-

• You are bound to each other - physically & emotionally
• You live your respective lifestyle
• And finally, there is "no commitment" and in certain cases "no string attached"

A brief introduction to live in relations
A live-in couple have no worries on any legal rituals. So, there is no framework of responsibilities. One can walk out from this relation as and when they please. 

This is called cohabiting and has its analogy to probationary period. During this period, if you do well at your workplace, the probation status is removed and you are awarded with a permanent employee tag with better privileges. On the contrary, if you do not do well, you are terminated from service. Similarly, with cohabiting, there is this lax behavior towards commitment and time will reveal whether this is to stay for life or end mid way for another probation!

The cons weigh more than the pros (if any)
If you want to live just for the thrills, with no value to morale's and with no strings attached, then this is fine for you.

For those of you who values morale and relationships, this is not for you. No commitment and/or responsibility invites more tension, stress and never ending conflicts. This could be any, all or combinations of the below: -

1. The excitement dies off once the chase is done with. 
2. Sexual enthusiasm and passion deteriorates or dies with time.
3. Physical and sexual abuse cannot be ruled out.
4. With time, both of you get to know the "real" person - the behavior, the habits - the negatives register at the back of your head real quick creating the beginning of "Gosh, ...." 
5. Financial standings may not be shared for common goals. 
6. Responsibilities (which I see is the prime thing) are not shared all the time and a small issue can trigger emotional conflict and radiate to areas of Point 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5; thereby feeling that this relation was a mistake.
7. Social acceptability - this varies with the culture differences. 

Towards the end, there may not be any motivation to get this working into a life term relation and becomes easier to just walk away from your "partner".

My conclusion

To be with the right person, you do not have to LIVE with multiple partners and give yourself away... period! 

Be wise, take out your communication skills, use your decision power and let your head rule your mind and bottom.
Know what you want from this gifted LIFE. 

Yes, married life is definitely not bed of roses. It calls upon set of responsibilities, problems to encounter, conflicts to sort. So, save your time and energy to tackle the real spice of married life - that which is more responsible and mature in nature!

All the best!