The Best of India 2009

July 31, 2012 Andrew Harvard 15 Comments

Whilst this is essentially a “travel” post, I have also included it under “photography” as the photographs below (all taken by me during my first trip to India in December 2009) were picked out by a friend of mine (Ben).

Ben, an accomplished photographer, kindly spiced up their colour and contrast on my behalf.

Visit his site right here to see some of his stunning work. I keep telling him that he should pursue his hot passion and talent on a full time basis! (yes, he is only part-time for now).

I used a Canon PowerShot S5 IS, that has since been replaced by a Canon 550D, both of which are only used on “auto”.

Here is “The Best of India 2009” in three photographs:

Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden, West bank of River Hooghly in Shibpur, Howrah nearly 8 km from center of city Kolkata, West Bengal

Kali Temple, Kalighat Kolkata, West Bengal, India

Down the road somewhere from Bodhi Tree, near Rabindra Sarovar Metro Station south Kolkata

Food

Bangladesh Market, Chatsworth

July 29, 2012 Andrew Harvard 1 Comment

Get ready for a pukka SNAP FLY COOK adventure.

Little India is right here in Durban, South Africa – on my doorstep.

“Durban’s Bangladesh Market, which is located in the suburb of Chatsworth provides a fascinating introduction to contemporary Indian way of life in Durban and is a nostalgic reminder of Durban’s famous old Indian market of yesteryear.

The original Bangladesh market was established in the 1980’s born from the need to provide especially the senior citizens and pensioners of the Chatsworth area with fresh produce at prices they could afford. Market gardeners saw great potential in this market because they could trade directly to the public, there was no middle man, and so a partnership between the market gardeners and the pensioners was established. The market then moved to Chassie Village, and soon pockets of markets started springing up everywhere, in and around the area.The old apartheid municipality tried to get rid of these markets and so they were all moved to one premise, the current location of Bangladesh market.

The establishment of the market was an historical victory for the Senior Citizens of Chatsworth who overcame adversity by fighting for what was rightfully theirs. The Bangladesh Market today is a tribute to their heroic efforts and unwavering courage and strength, attributes which characterized the general nature of those who fought for freedom in the struggle against apartheid. The fact that the Bangladesh Market in Chatsworth, Durban is still a thriving and bustling centre of the community, is a triumph in itself.” ~ Website www.zulu.org.za

Tasty food!

Deals galore!

More deals!

Food

Better Eating through Mindfulness – by Jill Suttie

Link July 29, 2012 Andrew Harvard Leave a comment

Better Eating through Mindfulness – by Jill Suttie

“To attain well-being, we need to take care not only of our bodies but also of our minds. Mindfulness practice is central to seeing the interdependence of mind and body.” ~ Lilian Cheung, Thich Nhat Hanh

Link to British Heart Foundation here.

Food, Travel

Suika – Modern Japanese in Vancouver, BC

July 28, 2012 Andrew Harvard 1 Comment

the WALK and TALK

is a really steaming hot site!

Click right here to see some cool food with great pics.

Travel

Man ‘rickshaws’ from China to London

July 27, 2012 Andrew Harvard Leave a comment

Just when I thought a nine hour overseas flight, with two movies and a sleep was laborious along comes Chen…

July 26 2012 at 08:58pm
By Sylvia Hui – IOL

Chinese farmer Chen Guanming smiles as he talks to tourists after he claimed to have made a two-year 87,000 mile journey on a rickshaw from China to come to Britain for the 2012 Summer Olympics, Thursday July 26, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

“London – It’s a tale of Olympian proportions: A man, a rickshaw, and a slow journey from a Chinese village to London through 16 countries.

Chinese farmer Chen Guanming claimed Thursday that his two-year odyssey to the London games took him from Thailand’s floods to Tibet to snowed-in Turkey to Britain since he started in 2010.” – Sapa-AP

St. Thomas’ Home for Children visit to CROW

July 25, 2012 Andrew Harvard Leave a comment

Can you also hear the CROW of St. Thomas’ Home for Children?

Here is the big idea:

Benefit two non-profit organizations in one go
Organize a trip for the children of St. Thomas’ Home for Children to visit CROW
Bus transport, entrance fees, snacks, cool drinks and lunch are required
Sunday 26 August is a possible date, subject to CROW & St Thomas management tying up loose ends
All sponsors, helpers, their friends, family and children to attend the event
The standard visit is as follows: “We are open to the public on the last sunday of every month. The gates open at 10:30am and the guided tour starts at 11:00am. A donation of R20-00 per person is asked upon entry and refreshments, t-shirts and diaries are sold before and after the tour. Please support CROW and join us. Gain an insight into the world of wildlife rehabilitation in one of the biggest centres of its kind in South Africa”
With help from others it will happen soon
Interested to join this fun heart-warming event then please email St Thomas principal@stthomas.org.za or Andrew awharvard@gmail.com
Cash or consumables sponsorship for this event is strictly payable / donated to St. Thomas’ Home for Children for their use
Any other support of any type for this event or anything else would be greatly appreciated
This blog will be updated shortly with more information

Given Gain: “St. Thomas’ Home for Children is a place of love and protection for children in need of care. We are a non-profit organisation providing residential care to 60 vulnerable children between the ages 2-10 years, all of whom have been found in need of care by the courts. Our children require our care for a variety of reasons, from being orphaned, abandoned or neglected to being physically, sexually or emotionally abused.”

Tel: 031 207 3223
Email: principal@stthomas.org.za

CROW: “CROW is the Centre For Rehabilitation Of Wildlife situated in Yellowwood Park, Durban. It is a wildlife hospital that cares for the injured and orphaned wild animals and birds in Kwazulu Natal. CROW has 12 depots in and around the Province and is considered to be one of the leading rehabilitation Centers in South Africa”

Tel: 031 462 1127

Email: info@crowkzn.co.za

Below are some images I recorded during a visit to CROW

“The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals (children*) are treated” ~ Mahatma Gandhi

*not actual quote

Food

July 25, 2012 Andrew Harvard Leave a comment

I had to share this. A lovely spread of pics. To those who know me well – I just need to add the sliced green chilli for that big bite.

Travel

July 21, 2012 Andrew Harvard Leave a comment

The colour and mood here is great!

Can just see myself ambling through here with my back pack, Canon 550 and the smell of a new country tickling my nostrils.

Anglo Adventure

“If you see something, say something,” say the loudspeakers at Sea-Tac airport.

I saw something, I said something. And here’s what happened:

First off, I am not a hall-monitor type. I hated those smug kids with their little hall passes, threatening to rat you out for a harmless paper airplane.

Snitches get stitches.

If someone cuts in line, I roll my eyes and call it a day. I won’t tell on you for carrying an extra vile of liquid or playing hooky from work or cheating on a test.

But this was different. Way different. I saw a guy sneak a lighter through airport security. This was before I realized regular lighters without fluid are permitted in carry-ons. When did that happen? But who wants to carry a lighter without fluid – isn’t that just dumb? Doesn’t a lighter need fluid to work? Do they even sell fluidless lighters?…

View original post 670 more words

Food

Kara Nichha’s – A Taste of India in Westcliff Chatsworth

July 21, 2012 Andrew Harvard 4 Comments

Now to start this post off properly; let’s understand that I am not friends with the owner. He did not offer me shares in the business or a free sandwich.

I love Indian food, food cooked with care and attention, value for money, deep tastes, tinges or splurges of chilli, bright colours, semi fat free, creamy but with no cream and did I forget to mention: value for money!

Outlets motivated solely by greed, who care less about what they are serving up (as long as the cash register rings) and who just don’t deserve a break; they seriously don’t deserve a break or support.

Yes, I am a little vocal about this subject because I am a fair cook (I can fry more than an egg) and don’t like wasting money.

So when I get served up a lump of sh!%$#*! or a few crumbs for many pennies, then I would rather go to the market, buy my own goodies at “cost” and cook a hearty tasty value for money real deal meal myself.

Now having heard the BIG rumours around town about Kara Nichha’s value for money, I just had to go an investigate (three times now).

Could low cost + no meat = very good taste?

Without further delay, let’s zoom in with a Canon camera to all see what’s going on at a vegerterian palace.

Parking right outside

Don’t fall over – tea R2-00 and a quarter vegetable bunny (curry in quarter loaf of bread that has been scooped hollow) for R6-50 (PS – some idiot in Durban actually charges R30-00 for the same thing and it tastes terrible)