🍳 Jump to Recipe Shami Kebab - a Royal Taste While most kebabs are merely eaten, a true Lucknowi Shami Kebab is experienced . Imagine a texture so silky it yields to the slightest pressure, infused with the royal aroma of Rose Water and Shah Jeera . This isn't just a recipe; it's a heritage secret from the heart of Awadh, perfected in Ruby's Kitchen. IN SEARCH OF TASTE - A TALE OF FOUR CITIES A food aficionado’s mouthwatering journey over the years in the cities he lived. Read  Rana's memoir with food. Cooking has been regarded as one of the greatest arts right from the time of Julius Caesar. Although elements of the art of cooking are easy to define, I have discovered over the years that the tastes that still linger on my tongue are the tastes that mattered. In that respect, my nanny still remains unbeatable as the greatest cook in my life. We called her ‘nannabhai’, derived from the Bengali word ‘ranna’ for cooking. Be it ...

Arco di Costantino Ancient Rome: Gladiators and Grand Amphitheatres Imagine going back 2000 years in time and space while standing on the stone floor inside a colossal amphitheatre. Amidst thousands of Roman spectators. The booms of drums reverberate as the ceremonial parade enters the stadium. After saying ‘Ave imperator; morituri te salutant’ (those who are about to die salute you) to the emperor, the gladiatorial combat begins. The crowd shouts jeers and throws their hands up in excitement.  Sixty thousand spectators? It evokes the unmistakable roar of the crowd at Eden Gardens in Calcutta while watching a thrilling cricket match. The gestures, the excitement, and the uproar may differ from our present-day Mexican waves. But how does that matter? After all, a stadium is a venue for entertainment—be it the bloodiest sport in mankind's history. And how the Romans loved watching violence and killings. Historians remain befuddled as to how Romans, who ar...

ISTANBUL  - Istanbul to Constantinople and back to Istanbul                                                                                                                                             (Part II)                   Istanbul is believed to have been inhabited since 5500 BC. Being strategically located on the Mediterranean , it was vulnerable to invaders from different countries in Asia and Europe who periodically occupied Istanbul from time to time. The first recorded occupation had taken place in the late seventh century BC when the Greek ruler Byzas established his kingdom h...

The Lost Kingdom—Khmer Empire Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post has affiliate links. If you buy a book through one of these links, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Unveiling Angkor Wat: Siem Reap Travelogue, Heritage Temples & Local Culture 9 th Century AD. Angkor was the largest city in the world. For the next 500 years, it was the capital of the Khmer Empire. The city witnessed the construction of hundreds of world-famous temples built by the Khmer rulers. This sprawling complex of Angkorian ruins lies north of a safe, friendly, and pleasant town of Siem Reap on the shores of Tonle Sap Lake. Siem Reap earned its name after the Khmer Empire defeated and took over the Thai kingdom in the 17 th century. It literally means ‘Siamese defeated’. Because of its proximity to Angkor Archaeological Park , it has become one of the liveliest and most touristy cities in Cambodia over the last deca...