Food, glorious food!!

Chai is my daily sustenence, have uploaded some pics with local street food and chai stall across street from hostel features, always insists i sit down, kicking locals off only bench in process and dusting away 30 or so flies who have temporarily camped there. For 3 rupees a pop, tend to have a few cups a day, this to be honest has taken over from my coke away keeps dr away theory figure if you put scalding hot water into tum bound to burn off bad stuff!!

He also does fantastic samosas, v spicy and straight from wok (of hot oil aka fat)!!
Cheaper eateries tend to use a fair bit of oil in indian cooking, indian chinese on other hand bit gentler on heart, noodle soups, chow mein. Latter is pretty much as popular as indian cusine most places offer both on menu.

Have tried Biryani (rice, veg, meat etc cooked in clay pot or oven) twice from same place, first time about 3 days after i arrived (followed my match of badminton, stomach did not forgive me for several days, will not be repeating!) and found it v v spicy, glugging back water. Same dish 2 weeks on and found i wanted to sprinkle a little chilli sauce onto side, palate clearly adjusting!

My attempts of cooking Dhal in UK have been dismal, turned off this dish by my bland concotions but here i have a whole new respect for the humble lentil, dhal murkhani made with black lentils is a favourite so far.

I discovered pan cake today and plan on becomming v well acquainted with this fantastic fruity mush in middle and pancake around - rice flour, egg and milk, but tastes really like omlette with fruit, hmm maybe this isn't best description - you'll have to come to india and try for yourself!!

Have to say not tempted yet to stray from the ever faithful mango lassi, pistachio kulfi (well any kulfi, indian icecream) comes in small cone shaped containers, it sits in ice and they scoop out of container into dish, so delicious and cold. About 25 (35p) rupee for say equiv of 2 scoops.

Eating here is never dull, local office workers all eat from street stalls during lunchtime and these often doing bustling trade into evening, then bhal puri to sustain in between (mix of puffed wheat and spices), and bengali sweets - v v stickly to polish off a culinary day!!

Off to Saunderbans Tiger Reserve tomorrow for 3 days, sightings of Begal Tigers v rare, at best a footprint, might be close enough given around 300 people are killed by tigers every year (locals seek honey that is prized in region and found deep in tigers lair in mangroves)

Chow :) xx