Hajmola: A Love/Hate Relationship

So if you are ever come hang out at our house for dinner, chances are my husband will offer you a Hajmola at some point. He likes to dare our American friends to eat this Indian digestive, ayurvedic candy. I love Indian food, and mango pickle, and lots of other things that are unique to India, but I have yet to develop a taste for Hajmola! It has one of the strongest tastes - that is very difficult to describe. (In my opinion it also stinks!) I think it is one of those things that you must have to grow up with in order to actually enjoy popping these little pills!

The video above is a Hindi commercial with the famous Amitabh Bachchan advertising Hajmola. A rough translation of the ad is: "When should you eat Hajmola?" Then he proceeds to list many different times/places. At the end he says "When?" "Anytime you want to." (Basically, you can make any excuse to have a Hajmola anytime you want).

Just for laughs, the other night my husband and I decided to see what would happen if we gave our dog a Hajmola. We have a beagle, and this pup has never been known to turn his nose up at any food - I mean any food! So we threw a Hajmola down on the floor near the puppy. He sniffed it and backed up from it, then he proceeded to do the funniest dance around the Hajmola. If I didn't know any better, I would have thought he was killing a rabbit or a mouse... He would take a lick and throw it across the room, then go pounce on it and repeat the steps over and over again! It was absolutely hilarious! It totally proved my point to my husband that no one in their right mind would like Hajmola on the first try!

How about you, have you ever tasted a Hajmola? Do you love it or hate it?

Photo Thursday: Kodaikanal and Indian Hill Stations

This photo was taken in India - if you didn't know better, you might think it was taken in the Pacific Northwest (where my husband and I currently live!). This is actually a hill station in Tamil Nadu, India, called Kodaikanal. "Kodai" as it is affectionately known, is a great vacation spot. To reach Kodai from Bangalore, we used to take an overnight train ride, and then have a driver meet us at the station, we would then drive to the top of the mountain, all the while counting down the "hairpin turns" left until the top (literally there are signs that say "hairpin turn #22"). There are many hill stations, located all over India, traditionally places where the upper class escaped the heat of the summer. Now they are a favorite for vacationers, tourists, and honeymooners. There are always great activities in the hill stations, including biking, hiking, horseback riding, boating, and of course shopping!

The photo above is me and my future husband (on either end of the group) along with several friends. We were exploring some of the places that are "off the beaten path." Can you guess what happened next? Lets just say that my future husband was trying to show off a bit too much and ended up all wet!

Other great hill stations to check out, Musso0rie, Ooty, Ladakh, and more!

Have you visited a hill station? If so which one? Is there one that is on your list of places to visit?

More great scenes from India and other places in Southern Asia coming every Thursday.

Don't forget to, check out my Flickr photostream for more great photos. You can also buy poster-sized prints of some photos featured in Photo Thursdays in my Zazzle shop.

Photo Thursday: A Crowded Ride

Ever seen a site like this in Southern Asia? This shot was taken on a road trip through the state of Tamil Nadu in India. I can't really say where they were going or what they were doing but lets just say these animals were riding in style! Well maybe close quarters, but at least they had a view!

More great scenes from India and other places in Southern Asia coming every Thursday.

Don't forget to, check out my Flickr photostream for more great photos. You can also buy poster-sized prints of some photos featured in Photo Thursdays in my Zazzle shop.

Fun Indian Wedding Website

I know some of the IndianTies readers are planning upcoming weddings with a South Asian twist. I thought you might enjoy this fun website with tons of gorgeous photos of picturesque Indian weddings.

Even though my own wedding was 4 years ago, I still love looking at wedding photos - and lets face it, Indian weddings are just so colorful and beautiful!

So head on over to the Maharani website and check it out!

Happy Looking!

Photo Thursday: Rickshaw Wallas

No doubt, if you've traveled to Southern Asia, you've seen all types of rickshaws - from auto rickshaws to bicycle rickshaws. (This photo totally reminds me of the movie "City of Joy" with Patrick Swayze.) In my experience however, I have only seen these man-pulled rickshaws in Calcutta (or Kolkata, as it is now known). I'm sure you can still find these types of rickshaws in various villages, but in the major cities that I've been to in India, I have only seen these rickshaws in use in Calcutta.

I did not ride in one... it looks like fun, but there is just something so hard about someone earning his living by running through the streets barefoot, pulling passengers. I feel guilty to ride in one somehow, but yet want to support the only business these rickshaw wallas have. I have ridden extensively in auto rickshaws, and many times in bicycle rickshaws. I usually feel more compelled to give the bicycle rickshaw wallas more of a tip than the auto drivers.

Anyone ever ridden in these types of rickshaws? Would you feel comfortable? Have you seen them in other cities in Southern Asia?

More great scenes from India and other places in Southern Asia coming every Thursday.

Don't forget to, check out my Flickr photostream for more great photos. You can also buy poster-sized prints of some photos featured in Photo Thursdays in my Zazzle shop.