If you are going to teach full-time in the school with a toddler at home, you must have someone to care for him when you are at work. Fortunately, word gets around very quickly as soon as a new family arrives at
Until that fine morning when I boarded a sea plane at Male, Maldives, I wouldn’t have believed that a destination would be known by the resort standing on an atoll – in my case, The Kandima Maldives. There was no way to
From the “let it snow” wish, I was instantly dragged to other little moments of my childhood. Once I got home after school (obviously disheartened because it never snowed), I always anticipated the special coconut toffee my aunt brings us daily on
Summers are magical in Calgary, the Canadian city I have called home for the past twenty-five years. The city is transformed from the harshness of long snowy cold winters to the long awaited bright sunshine that brings an abundance of
Whenever I shared my plan to start grad school in Seattle (2016-2018), everyone said, “It is a beautiful city, but it rains”. As far as I was concerned, if it didn’t snow that much, I didn’t mind at all. But only
If you think that culture shock is something you get only when you move to another country, think again! 1982 was a memorable year. I had accepted a job teaching English in an International School, a school nestled in the
This is an edited version of a piece I wrote over three years ago, when we, as an extended family, decided to remember my mother’s 100th birth anniversary by bringing out a book of her recipes. I volunteered to put it
The first time I decided to go on a solo trip (to Gokarna) a few years back, I remember feeling excited, nervous and happy. The same feelings in varying intensities enveloped me this time also, as I decided to go
Instagram influencers are often criticised for encouraging others to live fake lives by only sharing the most perfect and curated versions of their own lives. This can create unrealistic expectations and make people feel bad about their own lives as they compare
Soups are a comforting and satisfying food that can be especially appealing during cold days. There are several reasons why soups are a great option during cold weather. Warmth: One of the most apparent reasons soups are a great option during cold
My mother loved pilgrimages, in fact, several women of her generation loved it. Pilgrimages were the easy travel destinations for a lot of older women. Since it was an age devoid of social media and travel blogs, tourism had not
In a garden, there is no pretence. You can see what is growing (or not). The seeds and plants don’t fight the natural rhythm of the seasons. Change is the only truth, the only constant. Here the cycle of life plays out
Over time a family story can become a folktale of epic proportion, a true inspiration to all who hear it. This one is about my great-aunt Ammalu. The story begins in a sleepy little village deep in south India. Ammalu and
We married nearly 36 years ago, and at the time, we had no idea we were trendsetters of a sort. Our house has been a multi-cultural, blended home for decades. Our sons are beige-brown with Indian names. We celebrate Christmas along
At Human & Hope, we want to see a world where communities experiencing poverty are empowered and developed through locally-driven initiatives. We raise funds to support a locally-run community centre in Cambodia, enabling them to run their own poverty-alleviating projects
Birthday cakes were not part of my childhood celebrations. But don’t feel too sorry for me. For birthdays and on other special occasions, my mother prepared a creamy cardamom-spiked pudding. This addictive dessert was the perfect ending to a spicy meal. There
Have you ever gone for a long walk? A long leisurely walk, gallivanting through the forlorn path, a walk that solely focuses on walking than reaching a point, a journey that has no destination, a walk that gives you the freedom to
“We ought to take outdoor walks, to refresh and raise our spirits by deep breathing in the open air.” — Seneca. This pandemic has given us a perfect reason to change some of our old, perhaps unhealthy habits. Here’s
I still remember a few months ago when I unexpectedly blurted out on a video call to Shameela, the editor of FemAsia, that I’d write this article. This came out right after I told her about the wonderful Sprouted
Is it cooked inside? What I detested, very much, and considered a waste of my time during my first sixty years, was cooking. But now, in the last ten years, I enjoy making food very much! I look forward to
For Kerala, a state in south India, New Year comes in mid-April, not in January. We welcome the New Year with a simple ritual that grounds us and brings balance to our lives. This holiday or Vishu as it
It was an early autumn evening in early March, before COVID, when we were all allowed to be outside. And I was standing in line to the Sri Lankan food truck during the Adelaide Fringe, my cold body eagerly awaiting the
If you ever think the world revolves around you, take a trip to the unknown, take a trip to a new destination and discover we are nothing but tiny atoms in this infinite sea of marvels. Travelling has truly inspired me
From FKF – A Halal Recipes Treasure Trove We are two close friends and business partners. Fauzia and Fozia. We share the same name, just spelt a little differently and live on opposite sides of the world. We come from relatively
Having grown up in the notorious seventies in Sri Lanka, a period called ‘Austerity’, when having wealth did not matter because everyone got the same rations of essential food items and underwent the same difficulties and shortages, I’ve learned to
Cooking for, and having supper together, with my daughter and her family once a week — usually on Sunday — is, I am feeling necessary for my mental and spiritual health. At this time I open my heart also to
Food which brings us consolation need not be full of sugar and carbohydrates. It can nurture us in a more subtle and long-term way. Apricot Chicken This is something rare in my experience: a recipe that cannot fail.
Soup is considered to be as age-old as the history of cooking. In instances of food scarcity, steaming random ingredients with pepper and salt can work magic. There are numerous tales and fables on when the soup was originated. But
Chutneys and pickles add piquancy to our meals. Small jars and bowls of fruit or vegetable-based condiments on the side of our plates add colour and texture to the savoury food we eat. Some are so delicious we often have
My friend Lisa de St Croix, a visionary artist, created a beautiful image of the Star card for the Tarot de St Croix which shows the goddess Nut, a benevolent mother figure stretched over Egypt, streaming blessed rainwater on the
When we try to figure out childhood games, the games that mostly come to mind are those from the 80s, 90s and early 2000s. It is the pre-digital era where unique childhood games were favourite among children instead of computer games. When
I’ve been baking ever since I was a little girl: every Sunday my nan’s kitchen turned into a baking marathon of fruit pies, steamed puddings, crumbles, cakes, biscuits. We always used fruits foraged from the wild apple orchards, cherry and
The daily Sri Lankan lifestyle is centred on food. From shopping around in the supermarkets to preparing and serving meals to guests, food is an essential aspect of our culture. Sri Lanka is an amazing destination to explore an array
“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.” – Saint Augustine Travelling is a fantastic and beautiful experience, in many ways. Travelling enthuse us to visit more places, explore diverse cultures, indulge in various
For many centuries, and in diverse cultures, meat dishes were reserved for feasts and celebrations, only, because meat was expensive. Vegetables and grains were much more affordable to grow, and prepare on a daily basis. Today, many people do not eat
Rice plays a significant cultural role throughout many countries around the globe. It’s also the most popular grain consumed by people across Asia. There are more than 40,000 varieties of rice, and they vary in length shape, colour, and size. FemAsia
I have always been fascinated by ancient history that brings to the fore the lives of people who walked the land, were flesh and blood like us, who lived in the very lap of mother nature, yet were different and mysterious in
“If you are cold, tea will warm you; If you are too heated, it will cool you; If you are depressed, it will cheer you; If you are excited, it will calm you.” William Ewart Gladstone Tea is strongly