The Psychedelic Diaries
Tuesday, April 18, 2017
A poem of love
Thursday, July 7, 2016
Tea tasting with Goodricke Tea
“Thank God for tea! What would the world do without tea! How did it exist? I am glad I was not born before tea.”
Tea is of utmost importance. It is one of the best creations of Mankind. From the beginning till today, tea has been an indelible part of human existence. I have always been a tea-addict as far as I can remember. So when "The Psychedelic Diaries " was invited for an exclusive tea tasting session from, Goodricke tea with a customized invite, I was excited to say the least.
I have never been invited to a tea tasting session nor I have ever been a part of any kind of bloggers event. It was first of its kind.
The tea tasting session was conducted by Goodricke tea at Goodricke House which is located in Gurusaday Road, Kolkata. As far as the company is concerned, Goodricke is a Camellia PLC group company, It is an Indian company with British values. Currently, it owns 31 tea gardens which are spread over Darjeeling, the Dooars and Assam, Goodricke is currently the 2nd largest tea producer in India.
When we entered the huge tea-tasting room, the strong smell of tea engulfed us.
We were welcomed by the veteran tea-taster, Mr Binod Gurung who gave us an insight of tea tasting.
It's kind of an art. You don't swallow the tea. All you have to do is sip a little bit and ensure it covers your taste buds before spitting it out.
Tea can be broadly categorized into two. The CTC and leaf varieties. The CTC varieties are best tasted with milk and the leaf varieties without milk. Mr Gurung focused mainly on the leaf varieties which can be again broadly categorized into two. The first flush and the second flush.
The first flush is the lighter version which are harvested in the month of March and April. The second version is the stronger version which are harvested in June. The second flush is also best tasted with milk. I, for obvious reasons, loved the second flush.
Notice the difference between the first and the second flush |
So, what's your tea story?
Sunday, March 20, 2016
Fangs and Blood
Over the past few centuries, there have been several
mentions of the word “Vampire” in
the form of legends, literature, films and folklore. For me, the word “Vampire” means bloodlust, magic,
mysticism and off course inhuman beauty.
From Dracula to Edward Cullen to Damon Salvatore, I have eternally been in love with them. The pale-bodied, cold and lanky creatures who
feed on human blood have become increasingly popular in the recent times. All
thanks to the groundbreaking film series and TV shows which have “Vampires” as their main theme.
If we talk about the fictionalization of the folklore or myths
associated with “Vampires”, we have
to go back as early as 1819 when a book named “The Vampyre” by John Polidori was published. This book was highly
successful and was considered to be the first of its kind. It was the first
attempt that diffused “Vampire”
elements into mainstream literature. However it was the success of Bram
Stoker’s novel “Dracula” published
in the year 1897 which helped the creation of a distinctive “Vampire” genre in contemporary cinema which is extremely popular
till date.
With books, films and television series, “Vampires” have become a household
name. But it is not in the recent times where we find so many depictions of “Vampires”. In 1913, Robert
G. Vignola made a film named “The
Vampire” but here the protagonist was more of a human. The first major breakthrough for the “Vampire” genre in the field of Cinema
came in 1922 with the silent movie named “Nosferatu”.
It was loosely based on Bram Stoker’s novel “Dracula”. This movie is cited as the first proper movie with “Vampire” as the main theme. Unfortunately,
due to some legal issues, there are hardly any prints of this film
available.
It was the year 1931, when the audience got a chance to see
another “Vampire” movie with Bela Lugosi as the lead. “Dracula”, which was again based on
Stoker’s novel, was a little more sophisticated and refined than “Nosferatu”. Lugosi did utmost justice
to his role. The success of the film“Nosferatu” and “Dracula” as to which had the best portrayal
of “Vampires”
spawned two sequels .There is one thing
worth mentioning here that there has been constant comparison between the
films,“Nosferatu” and “Dracula” as to which had the best portrayal
of “Vampires”
There have inevitably been comparisons between “TVD” and “The Twilight Saga”. Here I would like to reiterate that both of them are very different from one
another as far as the plot is concerned. The plot of “TVD” is way more complicated with more
characters and other supernatural beings coming into the forefront. Also the “Vampires”
in “TVD” are more human and relatable than the ones in the “The Twilight Saga”. They do not sparkle!
But as much as they are
different from one another, “The Twilight Saga” and “TVD”, have certain facts in common
too. The “Vampire” protagonists fall
in love with a human being who becomes a “Vampire”
as the story progresses. Their eternal youth and lust for blood are the other
two common characteristics.
If we see the development of “Vampire”
in the hands of fiction with a cult following ,one can easily understand that “Dracula”
and its kind focused mainly on blood and gore. On the other hand, the later
versions of “Vampire” fiction bring
out other facets of them which are
not monstrous at all.
Some say “Vampires” are nothing but a
figment of one’s imagination while others believe, they exist for real. But for
me, “Vampires”
mean a picturesque world where there is no existence of my mortal being.
P.S- The pictures above are
sourced from the Internet, the copyright is with the owners.There are also some
data that have been googled.
.
Tuesday, March 8, 2016
Being Woman!
I am back from a long break, rather a sabbatical. The reason behind it, is still unknown to me, so I can't tell you either
So many occasions went by. Diwali, Christmas and New Year. In fact, winter in Kolkata is itself a celebration. But I just could not write something. This reason is also unknown to me. People around me insisted that I should not stop this creative pursuit of mine. People asked me why I stopped posting on "The Psychedelic Diaries".
So here I am taking out my blog like an old book which has gathered dust in one corner of my room. That dusty book is still love, right?
I convinced myself that I will write something or the other, very soon. I have wasted enough time already. I just wanted to write about something apart from recipes and reviews. Then came "International Women's Day".
Although I am proud to be a woman but you can't label me as a feminist. I believe that neither feminism nor sexism can run this world. If you are hungry, you have to make your own sandwich, if you are broke, you need to look for a job, no one else is going to provide for you. So you see, in today's world, neither feminism nor sexism can fix much of a problem. So, to do hell with feminism and sexism.
Everyday is our day because womanhood itself is a celebration!
On the other hand, I also believe that celebrating "International Women's Day" on March 8th doesn't make much of a sense. I ask, do we really need one day to let each other know that how special are we? Don't we know this from the bottom from of your hearts, since time immemorial?
Celebrating "International Women's Day" on March 8th doesn't solve much of our problems either. Living in a regressive society adds fuel to the fire. We have so many burning issues like rape, dowry deaths, domestic violence, sexual harassment, female infanticide and foeticide that require a solution right away. We just cannot have one day to focus and think about these.
I believe that in the wake of the 21st century, women are unstoppable now. They are challenging their own barriers each day. Strength has become her middle name.
I believe women should be tough and tender both at the same time. They should laugh as much as possible and live long lives. The struggle for equality will continue till eternity.but the woman who is armed with wit and courage will be among the first to celebrate victory.
Happy Women's Day!
Tuesday, December 1, 2015
Mistake
When you told me that it's over, I thought I was a mistake.
Life is a lie.
When you told that you love someone else, I thought my love for you was a lie.
Like a young girl collects pebbles from the sea shore, I have collected your memories all this while.
Memories that haunt me every now and then.
I can trade anything in this world to be with you again.
The roller-coaster ride on that summer night, the camp fire in that faraway place.
I miss them all.
I have got a long life to live.
It's like a long queue before a phone booth.
When I get connected, I will find my true happiness.
I'll find a life devoid of lies and mistakes.
Will you come back to me then?
Tuesday, November 3, 2015
Easy Chicken Curry
Let me reiterate the fact that the best thing about lies in its versatility. There can be nothing (not literally) with which you can't cook chicken. I usually cook chicken in this way when I don't have any particular recipe in mind.
Here comes the recipe:
Ingredients:
Ginger-Garlic paste - 100 gms.
Turmeric powder - 1 teaspoon.
Red chilli powder - 1/2 teaspoon.
Here comes the recipe:
Ingredients:
Chicken - 500gms.
Onions (finely chopped) - 200 gms.Ginger-Garlic paste - 100 gms.
Turmeric powder - 1 teaspoon.
Red chilli powder - 1/2 teaspoon.
Cumin powder - 1 teaspoon.
Coriander Powder - 1 teaspoon.
Garam Masala powder - 1 teaspoon.
Chicken Masala (optional) - 1 teaspoon.
Dry red chillies - 2.
Green chillies - 2.
Bay leaves - 2.
Tomato - 1
Salt to taste.
Oil- 5 tablespoons.
Procedure:
Wash the chicken. Keep aside.
In a wok, add oil. Add the bay leaves and and red chillies.
Add the onions. Fry it till translucent.
Add the ginger - garlic paste. Fry it for some time.
Add all dry masala powders except the chicken masala. Fry it for some time. Add a little bit of water.
Add the tomato.Add green chillies. Add salt. It will help the tomato melt faster.
Add the chicken masala. Add water.
Add the chicken.
Cook it in medium flame till the chicken is soft and is properly cooked.
Serve hot.
Monday, November 2, 2015
Egg Malai
Yesterday, I cooked after almost a month, It was for a house party but one can make it for lunch at work. The recipe is very easy and takes 10-15 mins to make.
Here comes the recipe:
Ingredients:
Eggs - 2 (boiled and peeled).
Potaotoes - 2 (boiled and peeled).
Onions (finely chopped) - 2.
Ginger-Garlic paste - 50 gms.
Turmeric powder - 1/2 teaspoon.
Red chilli powder - 1/2 teaspoon.
Here comes the recipe:
Ingredients:
Eggs - 2 (boiled and peeled).
Potaotoes - 2 (boiled and peeled).
Dry red chillies - 2.
Green chillies - 2.Onions (finely chopped) - 2.
Ginger-Garlic paste - 50 gms.
Turmeric powder - 1/2 teaspoon.
Red chilli powder - 1/2 teaspoon.
Cumin powder - 1/2 teaspoon.
Coriander Powder - 1/2 teaspoon.
Dried Fenugreek Leaves (Kasoori Methi) – A bunch.
Milk - 1/2 cup (you can use full cream also)
Salt to taste.
Oil- 2 tablespoons.
Procedure:
In a wok, add oil. Add the red and green chillies. I ran short of bay leaves. You can add them too.
Add the onions. Fry it till translucent.
Add the ginger - garlic paste. Fry it for some time.
Add red chilli powder, turmeric powder, coriander powder and cumin powder. Add salt. Add little water. Fry it for some time.
Now add the potatoes and the milk.
Keep it in low flame. Add the eggs.
Add the fenugreek leaves.
Serve hot.
Saturday, October 31, 2015
Top 10 Horror Movies Of All Time
So, it's officially the Halloween season! So what better reason for me to write about horror movies, which is my favorite movie genre at given day! I was thinking to write about horror movies from a long time now. In fact, I was supposed to write this for a friend's website but somehow couldn't manage time. The list was also prepared more than a year back!
According to me, you either can love or hate horror movies. There is no mid-way.
So, here comes my list of top 10 horror movies of all time:
10. Paranormal Activity
Paranormal Activity is a 2007 American found footage supernatural horror film. It is the first movie of the Paranormal Activity franchise. The film is about a young couple, Katie and Micah, who are haunted by a supernatural presence in their home. It is presented in the "found footage" style. Throughout the film, cameras are set up by them in an attempt to document what is haunting them.
This film happens to be the most profitable film ever made, based on return on investment
9. Grave Encounters
Grave Encounters is a 2011 Canadian supernatural horror film which is again shot in "found footage" style. The footage follows the crew of a paranormal reality television program who lock themselves in a haunted psychiatric hospital for evidence of paranormal activity inside the hospital, which now lay in ruins.No one gets out alive, except one.
Even after receiving mixed reviews from critics, the film has a cult following.
8. The Conjuring
The Conjuring is a 2013 American supernatural horror film.Ed and Lorraine Warren are paranormal investigators and authors who are associated with prominent cases of haunting. The Warren couple come to the assist the Perron family who are experiencing disturbing events in their farmhouse which is located Rhode Island in the year, 1971.
The Conjuring happens to be one of the highest-grossing horror films of all time.
7. Insidious
Insidious is a 2011 American supernatural horror film which happens to be the first installment of the Insidious film franchise. The story revolves around a couple whose son enters a comatose state and becomes a vessel for ghosts in order to live once again.
Due to the film's success it became the basis for a maze for 2013's annual Halloween Horror Nights.
6. The Exorcism of Emily Rose
The Exorcism of Emily Rose is a 2005 American courtroom drama horror film.The film is loosely based on the real life story of Anneliese Michel. The film is about a self-proclaimed agnostic who acts as defense counsel representing a parish priest who is accused by the state of negligent homicide after he performed an exorcism.
The film largely takes place in a courtroom, shows the events leading up to and including the exorcism through flashbacks, which is again one of a kind.
5. Mirrors
Mirrors is a 2008 supernatural horror film. The film was originally scripted to be a remake of the 2003 South Korean horror film Into the Mirror but the director decided to retain the original film's basic idea involving mirrors and incorporated a few of its scenes. Otherwise the film has a new story line.
The story is about a suspended police detective who begins his first day as a night security guard at a luxury department store that was gutted by a fire, five years ago.
4. The Unborn
The Unborn is a 2009 American horror film which is about a young woman tormented by a dybbuk and seeks help from a rabbi. The dybbuk seeks to use her death as a gateway to physical existence.
Although this film received a lot of negative reviews, however the film's concept was very new and still remains a personal favorite.
3.Shutter
Shutter is a 2008 American supernatural horror film which is a remake of the 2004, Thai horror film of the same name. The film is about a newly married couple who stays in Japan and the supernatural events that follow them.
Shutter is unique because it's the first western remake of an Asian horror film which is not Japanese, instead a remake of a Thai horror film.
2. The Ring
The Ring is a 2002 American supernatural psychological horror film. It is a remake of the 1998 Japanese horror film Ring, The Ring is known to be the first American remake of a Japanese horror movie. This movie paved the way for many J-Horror remakes.
The films is about a cursed videotape that kills the viewer 7 days after watching it.
1.The Grudge
The Grudge is a 2004 American Supernatural horror film which is again a remake of the Japanese film Ju-On: The Grudge. The plot reveals itself is in a non-linear sequence of events and includes several subplots.The film is about a curse that is born when someone dies in the grip of a powerful rage or extreme sorrow. Those who encounter this evil supernatural force die and the curse is reborn.passed from victim to victim in an endless chain of horror.
The film spawned two sequels: The Grudge 2 and The Grudge 3
Have a scary Halloween!
(P.S. All the images have been googled. The copyrights are that of the individual owners.The blurbs have also been sourced from the internet.)
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