Manali Trip - Day 2

Trip Date : 29/09/2014

Day 2 is fully contributed to Rotang Pass. Rotang pass is such a lovely place in Manali. Our Manali trip was Off-season. We like it that way. No crowd, No Queues, No traffic. That means a lot in Rotang pass. Did you had miss reading  Day 1 ?

It is just 50 km from Manali, for that during season time you may have to start from your hotel by 3 am to avoid traffic. But then you cannot avoid the traffic while returning back. But it is worth it. In off season, not much problems like us, except the main attraction of the place will be missing. Yes, there will not be much snow during off season. Only there will be big patch of snow where you can play for a while.

·         Rotang Pass is closed on all Tuesdays for maintenance.

·         It is Open only from May to November (Source : Google)

We started around 9.30 from hotel after finishing a nice heavy breakfast. Last post I mentioned about the dinner buffet in the hotel. Break spread is not as big as dinner, but yet healthy and filling. It has Toasted Bread with butter and Jam, A Good Sandwich, Idli / Dosa with Sambar, chutney, Paranta with curd and pickle, Eggs, Juice / Coffee / Tea. We thoroughly enjoyed the food. My daughter just sticks with S/W and juice. She won’t touch the other items. I chose a table right near the window, i badly wanted the sun rays to hit on me since the morning was so chill. I wonder how i hid myself from the same sun in chennai.

It takes 2 hours to reach Rotang. From Manali to rotang, everywhere you can see shops renting the Snow suite. Don’t ever stop there, its costly out there. You can rent them in rotang itself. Don’t pay more than Rs. 300 for a suite. Bargain!!!

During the journey, the views are breathtaking. The climate was so crisp, we dint miss a single scene. Just by climbing the mountain bend by bend, you can very well notice the temperature dropping. There is a pit stop few kilometers before Rotang, where there are plenty of dhabas. Also there is no restroom facility is rotang pass, so you have to use while they stop here. It is not very clean though, but manageable.

Then we drove to Rotang Pass where I and Lakshmi rented out a Fur coat, Hang Gloves, Shoes. Till that time I wear those shoes, I thought of climbing till the snow by walk. But after I wear those shoes, it was tough. It was made of rubber, so it hurts. If your own shoes, then well and good, you can easily walk. So me and my daughter hired a horse. Initially they said 1000 Rs for a horse, we bargained to 350. Horse ride was unforgettable. All these years we had experienced horse ride in normal roads and beach. But this is different lots of climb up and down. Little scary but fun. It is 100% safe. When you get down just get the name of the horse guy, while you return you have to shout and find him.

 Even after the horse ride you have to trek a while, but the shoe helped. It had a good grip. Instead of walking most times I was crawling. In-between my daughter will pull me her side.. Need a lot of balancing though. Even in that case we never fail to take pictures. I even changed the lens. Crazy enough ?. Selfies are difficult though. Once you reach the snow, it’s very slippery. There are few games out there. Try out. Bargain is the word. Walking crawling people below.

Here is the major difference between season time and off-season. You will have snow everywhere in season, whereas in off-season there will be single patch of snow where whole crowd will hit there only. But my feeling was at least I could see this. Even for the small patch of snow, my daughter was typing her teeth. After playing for a while, we climbed down carefully. Climbing down is more difficult than up. Even you cannot crawl in this case. Another way is sit down and jiggle between the rocks. I even did that for a while. I have a shaky leg you know?

 We came where the horse dropped us and shouting the horse guy name. He came after a while. Riding back was fun, as we had gained some experience. There is a shop there right when you get down from the horse which sells hot Maggi. Loved it. Rs. 50 a plate.

While you walk down a little, there is a Vyas temple, doom shaped built of rocks. Heard from the driver that, Vyas made thapas here after writing Mahabarath. Inside the temple you can see there is square. They say the river Beas/ Vyas originates from there. Outside the temple, few people stack the stones like below for their wishes to come true. We did that too.

While going back from Rotang Pass, I did paragliding. He charged 1500 per person. My husband left me there and went down to take pictures. I hardly speak hindi so I was thinking how would I understand the instructions given by them. To my surprise there is “No instruction”. They just hang a school baglike thing behind you, the pilot gets himself connected to the bag. Two men just starts running beside you till the cliff and then they just push you and the pilot off the cliff. You fly. I shouted loud of joy, i spotted our car reached only half way, so I asked pilot if I can fly for 5 mins around till they reach down. He said ‘No’. 1 minute ? ‘Hey No yaar’.

Then came the landing fear. Flying was fun, but how would I land?. It was little rough landing by just keeping the legs straight and just dropping in a lawn. But I felt I missed to get the pictures of these. Luckily there are few men with camera who takes the video and pictures and they charge 300 bucks to copy them to cd. I bought it. L .

Down the Rotang, sholang valley is there. Skiing option is there too. But it is lesser in height compared to the one near rotang. Also sholang has a winch service. But we dint explore sollang valley, since we were too tired.

While returning the climate changed totally. It was more windy and misty. Good that we got nice scenic pictures while going up.

We reached hotel by evening after having the lunch out. My daughter actively started playing games. Had a peaceful dinner and was sitting in the hotel lawn for while and then came music from somewhere. When we enquired, there was a discotheque. There were few couples dancing. You know I have a shaky leg, so I couldn’t resist. Danced for so long and lot of people started to come. DJ guy did a great job too. Only thing is all were hindi numbers. L

On a whole, it was a fabulous day.
 

Manali Trip - Day 1

Recently went to a short trip to Manali. Its a great place.. no doubt about it. Its a must visit place for nature lovers. The river beas adds the beauty to the whole place. The beauty of the light green water will not let you move away your eyes from it. 

When I posted trip pictures in FB, some of friends started enquiring about the trip. So I thought I would briefly write about the trip so that those who are interested can get benefited.

We planned a month and half ahead when lakshmi’s school announced her vacation.

-          From Chennai  to Delhi Flight

-          From Delhi Manali – Volvo package booked thru Make my trip.

Chennai – Delhi we booked 10.30 am flight Air India, so we could get ready without having to get up so early. Breakfast provided in flight.

 

We reached there by 1.00 pm. From airport we took a taxi to connaught place (CP) to have our lunch. Taxi from airport to this place was very costly to my opinion .. some 500 bucks. As recommended by my relative, we had food in Kadke Ke Dhaba. Super food. (Review here).

 From there we took an auto to the Volvo bus point. Our bus was only by 5. We reached there by 3 and waited there for 2 hours in the travel agency office. The bus starts sharp by 5, So don’t ever go late.

We had booked the Volvo package thru Make my trip. I feel they are the cheap and best. Mrs. Shayeree was my Agent, she helped me with all my doubts then and there. They book the Volvo tickets and hotel rooms for us based on our budget.  Our package costed 20 K including Volvo tickets for 3, stay for 3 nights in a nice hotel with break fast and dinner free along with that individual cab for sight seeing while you stay in the hotel.

Our Volvo bus was swagatham travels. Semi sleeper. Bus was convenient, neatly maintained, good push back, individual TV for each passenger. They stop twice for dinner and morning chai. Dinner they stopped in a hotel, where we had to wait a long time for food that too at 10 pm. Food was very expensive too. So place the order carefully. If you could pack some simple food from delhi, it is wise idea from. Journey was peaceful. Morning they had stopped in kullu for chai. Chai was not so great. But the place is very good. If you just walk 2 minutes from the hotel you will find a beautiful place with a marvelous view. I missed it since I noticed it only when the bus passed through that place. They reach Manali bus stand by 9 in the morning. Package includes a free pickup from bus stand to hotel. You will get the driver number the previous day. Next morning, he will be waiting in the bus stop.        

Our stay was in Snow valley resort. Check in time is 12, but we arrived 2 hours early. But they provided the room immediately. This will happen subject to availability. It’s a wonderful place to stay. Service is excellent. Very prompt. We had actually booked for presidential suite. But then it was upgraded to maharaja suite with no extra cost. First day, we had actually half day sight seeing which starts by 2 pm as per the package. But then we couldn’t wait to explore the place. So we refreshed and started by 12.30. Our Driver / Guide was Mr. Shoba ram, such a nice man, very friendly, kind. He made our trip more happy I would say.

 

We had our food in Manali mall road in a restaurant called chopsticks. (Bar attached) Its more chinese Japanese food. Soup was excellent. Then we had momos and fried rice. This is a good choice I felt.

Then we passed some time in the road side shopping centres in the mall road. Need to bargain a lot, otherwise you will be cheated. Also when you buy dress materials, just check the whole piece for any damages. In few shops they even stitch the materials within 3 hrs and deliver. Cost is less compared to cities. Not sure the output. On sundays most shops are closed. Also Mall road has more attraction for street food. Pani pooris, Gulab jamoons, Momos, Jalebis..keep counting.

After a while we went to a local temple – Hathimba temple. Before you enter the temple, there is a lawn where this rabbit lady and traditional dress ladies will influence you to take pictures with that. I was waiting for it. Picture with rabbit is 30 bucks and costume is 100 for each person. Temple has a very old structure, build of wood. After visiting the temple, you can just visit the pine forest near that. We skipped the forest part though. Not sure how it is. Heard from a friend it is worth visiting.

Next was a Buddha temple, that was good too. Meanwhile some ppl so many ppl will be selling kesar in all places in Manali. Don’t ever try. Its fake.

Then we went to Manali club house. They have indoor games. You can pay and play a while there. We dint opt it since our hotel had these indoor game facilities. Outdoor there is boating.. never even go for it. Its some boring stuff. There is another super outdoor paid acticity, which I don’t know how to explain. See the picture.

 

I was wearing skirt, so I couldn’t try that one. So when you go to club house, don’t wear skirt. Otherwise you can sit and relax a while in the river side. The sound of the water, the chilling air, the greenaries will be mesmerizing. 

But take care of your children in the riverside as the force  of water is too much, so never try to get inside. Stay in the banks only. It was raining for a while, so waited inside club house for a while. There are clean wash rooms inside clubhouse too. You have no clue when it will start rain there. Better carry an umbrella if you can manage. After rain stopped, We took few pics in river bank and returned hotel.

Lakshmi is never tired and she started the indoor games in the hotel room. TT, Snooker, computer games, chess, carom so on. Well maintained.

Dinner buffet was quite a spread. Soup, salad, Starter, Roti, Naan, one Paneer side dish, another veg one, non veg too, Pulav, Curd, pickle, Desert. I dint take picture of these.

Even after so much travel the previous night, we never got tired. Thats the beauty of the climate there.

Here is the Day 2 experiance

Note : I am no good at writing. Having exposure only to technical documentation being a techie, writing travelogue is a different experience for me. Please bear with me friends.

Meesa Podi / Roasted Bengal gram powder

 

Peak Navarathri season. When everyone is posting left and right the sundal receipes, I wanted to share something which is forgotten over the period of time.  Meesa podi.  Meesa means mustache. This powder, when u eat from your hand, will stick on ur upper lip and luk like mustache. Hence it gets the name.

Meesa podi is usually made during navarathri when some last evening guests arrive when sundal is over. Or if you forget to soak for sundal. Believe me, Kids will love this.

In kalayamputhur, my husband’s native, it is called as ‘Nenjadachan podi’. Because when u eat more, you will choke.

Meesa podi is as simple that it has only 2 ingrediants. 

Ingrediants :

·         Roasted Bengal gram  - ½ cup

·         Sugar – 1.5 tbsp sugar

Method :

 

 

Finely Powder roasted Bengal gram and 1 tbsp of sugar in a dry mixer. Add ½ tbsp. sugar after grinding as it will give good texture and taste.

Put them in small packets and give to guests with vethala pakku.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rosemilk Popsicle

 

Vacation started for my daughter. The fridge door will be opened and closed 1000 times a day from today. Though there will be nothing inside, my daughter keeps opening it and closing it to see if there is something to eat. Now and then she will ask ‘Amma .. give me something sweet’. Recent craze is rose milk from the time I bought the essence. From morning till night!!. Her mother is no exception.

I poured some rose milk in Popsicle tray and treated Lakshmi and her friends to celebrate the vacation.

Ingredients:

·         Milk

·         Rose milk essence

Method :

 

Mix the boiled and cold milk with rose milk essence.  Use more essence as you will freeze it.  Pour the rose milk in Popsicle tray and freeze it overnight.

 

 

 

Note:

My rose milk essence had sugar in it. If yours don’t have, please add sugar to the rose milk.

 

 

 

Little Millet Adai

 

Adai is a one of the perfect South Indian multigrain breakfast.  Very filling and spicy. Usually its made with parboiled rice. I replaced the rice with little millet / Saamai. With all the dals and addition of millets make it perfectly healthy.

Adai aviyal / Jagery  / butter is the best combination ever.

Added to add these.. it is very easy to prepare, needs no expertise.

Ingredients:

·         Little Millet – 1 cup

·         Chena Dal – ½ cup

·         Thor dal – ½ cup

·         Urad dal  - 2 tbsp

·         Red chillies – 5 numbers (according to your taste)

·         Hing – ¼ tsp

·         Curry leaves and coriander leaves fine chopped – ¼ cup

·         Salt to taste

·         Oil – to drizzle on adai while cooking.

·         Water

 

Method:

Wash the millets and Dal mentioned. Add red chilies.  Soak it in 2 cups of water for 2 hours. Drain the water and grind into coarse paste.  Add lil water while grinding. It should not be too watery, but thicker than dosa batter. Add hing salt to taste. Mix the curry leaves and coriander leaves.

Leave it in fridge over night to ferment.  You can also make adai just after grinding, but it tastes better when fermented.

Heat dosa pan. Drizzle some oil. Pour the adai batter and spread it like dosa. Cook in medium heat for 3-4 minutes and flip it and cook the other side for 3 more minutes. Drizzle oil. Flip 1 or 2 times till it becomes lil crisp.

You can also prepare paniyaram with same batter. Add some chopped onions too.

 

Note:

·         This is just the basic version of making adai, you can add other dals like green gram, horse gram.

·         Other millets like varagu, kambu, kudhiravali can also be used.

·         Grate veggies like onion, carror, caggage and add while cooking to make it healthier

  

Sweet corn salad

I buy sweet corn very often, for my daughter’s snacks box. She just likes it steamed with some pepper and salt. To me it is kind of boring to eat the same thing for months now.  So am trying to make some additions.

Ingredients:

·         Sweet corn – 1 cup kernels steamed

·         Bell peppers – ½ cup finely chopped

·         Tomato – 1 finely chopped

·         Cucumber – 1 finely chopped

·         Lemon juice – 2 tbsp

·         Gooseberry  - 1

·         Pomegranate pearls – 2 tbsp

·         Salt and pepper to taste

 

There is no step by step recipe picture for this. It’s fairly simple.

Just boil the sweet corn. Finely chop fresh veggies. Add salt and pepper. Squeeze lime and server. I grated a Gooseberry to make it a healthier version.

Sowcarpet Sandwich

 

Sowcarpet is much happening place in Namma Chennai. It is the best hang out place for foodies.  You won’t find an inch free to park ur vehicle. You get all the north Indian chaat and food there. Walk all the way long in the narrow streets and eat whatever you see and gain how much ever weight you want. Jalebis, Paani Puris, Samosas.. . Put some extra sit ups next day.

I will introduce a recipe of Sowcarpet special s/w.  The twist here for the s/w is the spread. The green chutney is the key.

This is a wholesome breakfast with all healthy ingrediants sandwiched between two slices of bread.

Ingredients for Green chutney:

·         Coriander leaves – 1 cup

·         Mint leaves – ¼ cup

·         Roasted Peanuts -1/2 cup

·         Green Chilli – 2 numbers

·         Lemon Juice – 2 tbsp

·         Salt to taste

Ingredients for S/w

·         Brown Bread 

·         Butter

·         Veggies (Onion , Tomotto, Cucumber thinly sliced)

·         Cheese grated.

·         Salt and Pepper

·         Sev for garnishing.

Method:

Grind all the items mentioned for Green chutney into smooth paste. Use water if it is too thick to grind.





Spread the green chutney in one side of the bread and place the thinly sliced veggies and grate the cheese on that. Sprinkle salt and pepper.  You can also spread the chutney on the other slice which you will close with.

Put some butter on the hot skillet. Place the S/W carefully and toast both the slides.

Cut it into 2 slices and Garnish with Sev.

 

 

 

Cafe Frappe

 

 

 

Café frappe is one of my favorite in café coffee day. This slushy drink drives me crazy. Many varieties of frappe are available there.

Varagarisi Pidi Kozhakattai / Steamed Millet balls

Millets are known as "Small Grains" or "Siru Thaaniyangal" in Tamil. They are small seeded grasses and thrive well in dry arid climatic conditions.

Why eat millets?

Aval Upma / Kanda Poha

This is a quick fix for breakfast when I don’t have idli/ dosa batter stock.  Aval/ Poha is always handy and you can make numerous kids friendly dish with it. My daughter, who is a picky eater,