Phak chi, phak chi farang, phrik haeng phrik yuak!Come away with me to Thailand in Mumbai!

Phak chi, phak chi farang, phrik haeng phrik yuak!

Come away with me to Thailand! 

Don’t worry ,it isn’t a line of abusive adjectives, these are the names of  authentic Thai ingredients like the red hot chillie, ginger and garlic which create the aromatic Thai food filled with flavor! Not necessarily pronounced the way you did!

Elsie Gabriel.

It is a very sensational and aromatic experience at the Lalit Mumbai’s Thai festival being held till the month end[January 2014], taking me back all the way to Thailand, my favorite culinary destination. I simply loved the food offerings by renowned Thai Master Chef from Thailand - Chef Paithoon Pan Phan ,who has over twenty years of experience perfecting the art of Thai gourmet and knowing the blends of authentic tastes and flavors. 

The lavish spread consisted of delectable soups like Tom Yum Veg, Tom Yum Kung, Som Tam Thai Salad prepared by fresh ingredients like Sriracha chilli sauce, Matsaman curry paste, Pea aubergines, Kafir lime leaves and lemon grass.

Explained, Executive Chef Subroto Goswami of the Lalit at the Thai festival, “Some of the popular Thai dishes like Phad Thai noodles, Kung Phad Kaprao, Kai phat khing - chicken stir-fried with sliced ginger.Kaeng khiao wan - called "green curry" which is a coconut curry made with fresh green chillies and flavoured with Thai basil, and chicken or fish is excellent for the Indian pallet. Try our numerous soups and tantalizing salads too.”

I loved the authentic taste of the Thai dishes which were lightly prepared dishes with strong aromatic components. Thai food is known for its balance of three to four fundamental taste senses in each dish or the overall meal: sour, sweet, salty, and bitter.

"Thai food is a simple combination of elements to create a harmonious artistic cuisine.I love the experience here at the Lalit Mumbai,” said Thai chef Pan Phan, a man of very few words but much magical cooking skills. 

The other array of dishes I loved were stir fried with crispy pork with vegetables and black mushrooms,.Phat kaphrao or chicken stir fried with Thai holy basil, chillies and garlic. Even the stir fried combination of vegetables were heavenly and ofcourse the fruits to end the Thai extravaganza were outrageously divine. Some of the sweet deserts with a lime flavour dressing and lemon grass simply stole the show. And the Thai mango juice flavoured with bird eye chilly and kaffir leaves were just right enough to wash down the food.I have never had that one before!

Of course it was endless, I couldn’t stop experiencing each dish, flavor by flavor, go on try them you will find yourself surrounded in Thailand.

Endemic Fynbos! An Environmentalist’s dream come true in Cape of Good Hope, South Africa! Elsie Gabriel

                            Endemic Fynbos!

 An Environmentalist’s dream come true in Cape of Good Hope, South Africa!

Elsie Gabriel

Ever imagined walking through an endless green carpet filled with a million flowers, covering soft hills and rugged planes, almost taking you to heaven and back? Come walk with me and I’ll take you to the heart of pristine nature, the Table Mountain National Park Reserve near the Cape of Good Hope, in South Africa.

The sight is out of a picture book, it’s an environmentalists’ and nature lovers dream come true, the flaura collections here at the Southern African endless green arena include many rare and endangered species of flaura and fauna.

This open park Reserve leads to the Cape of Good hope, known as the southern most point in South Africa and is simply spellbinding. The Cape of Good Hope nature trail is a 34km circular route that starts and ends at the entrance gate to the Cape of Good Hope. Our guide Sonja was a fantastic driver, Guide and informative adventurous soul to have on such a journey.

This reserve boasts global recognition for its natural wealth, varied and absolutely unique fauna and flora. This is the only place on the earth where, essentially one finds such a heady mix of rich environmental bio-diversity and incredible natural beauty. This part of the park is home to a diverse range of fynbos, over 250 species of birds, buck and Cape mountain Zebra. There are numerous picnic spots, paths on which one can set off on foot .If you are interested in hiking, there are hiking trail offered in the Reserve. 

This reserve is the smallest but richest of the world's six floral kingdoms. This comprises a treasure trove of 1100 species of indigenous plants, of which a number are Endemic meaning ‘species which occur naturally nowhere else on earth’! The main type of  Fynbos which means ‘fine bush vegetation’ at the Cape of Good Hope is Peninsula sandstone Fynbos an endangered vegetation type that is endemic to the Cape Peninsula. Coastal  Hangklip Sand Fynbos grow on low-lying alkaline sands and  almost invading the sea small patches of  Cape Flat Dune Strandveld can be found emerging out of the rocky areas.

Characteristic fynbos plants include Proteas, Ericas and Restios reeds also cover the areas. Almost twenty four species of Proteas occur here, they include King Proteas, Sugarbush,Tree Pincushions and Golden cone bushes. When flowering the red Proteas and Ericas attract the Sunbirds and Sugarbirds. It’s an amalgamation of creation and true testimony of Gods natural kingdom right here in this very reserve in South Africa. 

 With its diverse habitat, ranging from rocky mountain tops to beaches and open sea, the Cape of Good Hope is home to at least 250 species of birds. There are a wealth of small animals such as lizards, snakes, tortoises, grass mouse, Mongoose and Otters.

 We saw baboons along the road on our way out. Ostriches and Kudu graze along the ocean, well camouflaged Eland graze carelessly in the distance too, making it a natural zoo of sorts.

Indigenous monkeys called Chacma Baboons are the mammal most intimately associated with the Cape of Good Hope.

[All pictures copyright@elsiegabriel.com]

Cape of Good Hope is not the southernmost tip of Africa as we learned way back in standard four, I guess, no; it’s the most south-westerly tip. The former is Cape Agulhas, and it’s another ocean stretch entirely close by.

Perched on the top of a soaring cliff rising a staggering 238 metres from the sea is the white Lighthouse which has been the guiding light for many sailors past the ages. Whiping winds slash down stone, rocks and hills surrounding the lighthouse making the peninsular look extremely dangerous as if possessed by the rough maddening ocean below.

Some of history’s biggest sailors like Bartholomew Diaz and Vasco Da Gama have stormed rough weather to find their destinations and many have died in that search, as this far end of the Cape is known for it’s dangerous waves.

I dedicate this piece of writing to my personal guide and driver Sonja, in South Africa for such an enriching journey which has made me praise Gods creation every day since. I still remember the song on that radio Sonja that Tanya, you and me sang our heads off  to driving through the reserve end of the day, “I need you now” ,by Lady Antebellum!

Cheers to South African nature which is so healing---

………Picture perfect memories, scattered all around the floor.
Reaching for the phone cause, I can't fight it any more.
And I wonder if I ever cross your mind.
For me it happens all the time.

It's a quarter after one, I'm all alone and I need you now.
I said I wouldn't call but I lost all control and I need you now.
And I don't know how I can do without, I just need you now…….

Salute Sonja!

mytravelfootprints: One Man Woman - the Lady boys of Thailand! A salut...

mytravelfootprints: One Man Woman - the Lady boys of Thailand! A salut...: One Man Woman-the Lady boys of Thailand! A salute to the third gender! Elsie Gabriel Cabarets might not be on everyone's buck...

One Man Woman - the Lady boys of Thailand! A salute to the third gender! Elsie Gabriel

One Man Woman-the Lady boys of Thailand!

A salute to the third gender!

Elsie Gabriel

Cabarets might not be on everyone's bucket list when out in Thailand for the New Years weekend celebrations but in Phuket  you can enjoy a mesmerising  evening out filled with clean entertainment.  

In Thailand, the third gender is regarded as beautiful and the  society there  is generally more open to lady boys than many other cultures. Katoey, or the 'third sex', which  have played a prominent role in the country’s  entertainment industry for generations are almost revered. So if you want to sit back and enjoy the most gorgeous lady boys in the world put up a captivating musical, do watch the Aphrodite Cabaret show which is funny, entertaining and for the family too, join the hilarious antics at the show in Phuket. Of course these no non sense cabarets are also available everywhere in Thailand as well.This third gender work very hard to perfect the art of dancing and earning a living as well as look after their figures which they strut on stage.

 I found myself watching the troupe grind like Madhuri Dixit to the famous number “Aja Nachle Nachle” as part of the international cultural offering by the dancers and enjoyed every minute of it and am not ashamed to write about ad share their amazing theatrical talent. So keep an open mind and read on….

At first they are all simply the most beautiful girls on stage dancing gracefully, its only at the end that you are told that  each and every  participant was a ladyboy. Thailand's katoey are world famous, they are drop dead gorgeous and so well defined, you would never be able to tell if she was a man or a woman. The ladyboys are a Thai institution by themselves and have earned great respect in the clean musical world of stage performances.

For those sheltered few, katoeys is a term popularly used to refer to men who endeavour to be women, usually through  disguise and tactful surgery. They are jaw drop gorgeous and bewildering, soft spoken, and elegant and almost mythical. See the pictures and know why some women would almost envy them.

This Aphrodite Cabaret show involved perfected lip-synched interpretations of popular songs from various countries, complete with elaborate costumes and make-up. Some of the performances were  skilfully choreographed and the theme was light-hearted, star dusted magic,  glitter and glitz.

A  professional huge theatre with the most amazing acoustics delivers the show with a bang, being very punctual, featuring a full stage of dancers and ‘singers’, all impossibly glamorous and eye catching. It’s showbiz to the hilt alright! Technical qualifications and the modern stage  technology ensure the highest quality entertainment.

Defused lighting and soft rays not only bring out the best features of the dancers but also of the elaborate expensive shimmering costumes and stage décor  to the heights ,you could compare internationally to anywhere   in theatrical world.

 The cabaret theatre is built to accommodate 950 seats and offer a plush and comfortable seating arrangement.  So do include the Aphrodite Cabaret Show in your holiday schedule. I took the entire family to the show while in Phuket.

The Indians in the audience applauded when the  Maduri Dixit Bollywood number was belted out  and then the Koreans clapped to their familiar song and then it was time for the Chinese as their Umbrella song dance came a stage, so you see it was family fun all the way, including hilarious skits and songs which sent the audience into splits of laughter. To the amazement of the kids present in the audience, even the Korean Gangam Style stole the show at the Aphrodite concert.

The Lady boys simply serenade you with one great number after another non stop . The choreography at Aphrodite is admirable and the multi-armed Shiva goddess dance is a perfect example of the ingenuity on display here, fusing themes of religion and culture into one.

Finally, after just over an hour of colourful entertainment, the grand finale has over 80 of them making a grand exit and it’s only then that you realise that the whole show consists of men. There’s not a single lady on the stage and those sexy legs you’ve been admiring for the last  hour belong to gorgeous boys! Very pretty ones for sure, but guys nevertheless.

You can have photos clicked with them for over 100 bts or almost 200 Rs as they line up outside to bid farewell. Watching their immaculate makeup, ostrich feathers, sequins and outrageous outfits, they make an attractive package for sure, Oh what the heck  I posed with some of them and couldn’t help but notice that some of their features put mine to shame! I was talking about their height. Caught ya….