An Indian Affair

ART
Let me introduce you to Ramesh Gorjala born in 1979 in Srikalahasti, Andhra Pradesh. Gold Red and Green are the main colours he uses to create a rich, natural feel to his paintings. Gods, Goddess and Mythical forms are the subjects of his paintings. But, if you delve into the painting a little more you see more detail. There is more to his paintings than just a quick glance, there is a whole story going on.

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And I am so glad I decided to turn this weeks blog into an Indian affair. Ramesh is on Twitter although I am not sure how active he is and I can not find any personal website, but his work is out there and available to buy.

Suresh Galage is also an artist I found recently. Suresh in an interview said “Buildings may be mute spectators, but they hold the life of a city..” and these vibrant colours of the homes around him captured the night and day in many forms. Lovely colours to have on your wall to bright any Magnolia painted room.

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To find out more about India and it's art culture click here.

SOMETHING DIFFERENT –
I haven't been paid or been given freebies for this nor any other product on any of my blogs
I like to be different and throw you a curve ball every now and then. Well I'm not doing a review of an Indian beer or an Indian Pale ale. I'm reviewing Tea today! Yep that's right Tea, Twinings to be exact. Yes I know everyone knows them. So why them? Well have you tasted their Bollywood Chai Latte??!!
There's the reason why, The Bollywood Chai Latte. It is new and retails at £3.50 a bag. It may sound expensive if you are used to buying another house hold named tea at 100 bags a box for the same price, but, it's not one of those teas you have every hour of the day.

Twinings

To make the tea it is a blend of one part hot water to infuse the tea bag, and two parts hot milk with a pinch of sugar (as they suggest), or as I do, a touch of honey. As you open the bag of pyramid tea bags the lightly honeyed almonds do a dance around your senses, and then faintly the other spices pop up.
It's a tea for the evening the way I see it. For me just one sip helps me melt into the sofa and just chill and unwind for the non working weekend ahead.

“Chat, Laugh, Sip, Savour” is what Twinings say. Well I say..
Sip, Savour, Smile, Relax to this tea.

They also do a Spicy Chia Tea which is great for a mid morning and afternoon perk up. Add a touch of sugar it really does help the spices envelope your mouth.

GARDEN
The reason for this Indian themed blog this week The Curry plant. Yes there is such a plant, in fact there is one growing in a pot in my garden. I've had it since 2008 and has been up rooted once, moved to Cumbria and plonked in a pot. Not bad to say that the label I found the other day could only guarantee it for one year. Well Hombase it is still living in my garden and has never visited my 'Is it nearly dead corner'? Although it is a little leggy and not bush like, but, this is because I didn't dare cut it back. So this year I'm going to attempt to grow the cuttings I take from it in-case I crop it too much.

I was surprised that this plant has never looked like it was going to become garden fodder and when I looked a few facts up I found my forgetting to water it (any plant I have) actually was the right thing to do. So here's a few facts about the Curry plant.

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• Helichrysum italicum is it's name the RHS and the likes call it. And apparently its part of the Daisy family!
• The leaves looks like a cross between the leaves of the Lavender and Rosemary plants.
• Really does smell like Curry
• Prefers – sunny, sheltered spots in well drained soil and flowers from July through to August. Pretty much the whole summer.
• Bugs don't seem to like it and it you have deer in the garden they won't be coming near it either. And supposedly a cat deterrent. I say supposedly because we get a few cats in our garden. Maybe it is in the wrong place and needs to be a bit more bush like and not Daddy long legs like.
• The Bees love it though!
  Photo opposite is not mine. Couldn't find the owner, my bee's don't stay still long enough.
  
  
  
  
  

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• People in the Mediterranean use the young shots and leaves in cooking meat, fish or vegetables till the flavour has infused, then the herb is taken out. It is not used in curry and the flavour is very mild and wouldn't have any impact.
• It's nice added to cream cheese, but I have seen some sites suggesting not to eat the leaves as it has a bitter taste and to take out of the cooking before devouring your dinner/lunch. This is one to decide on your own I think.
• The flowers can be cut and use for flower arranging.
• The oil from the yellow flowers has great properties. But, unless you are a chemist or deal with hand made sops skin treatments I wouldn't advise rubbing it all over yourself. Anti-inflammatory properties, fungicide properties, astringent properties, can help sooth burns and can aid chapped skin.

Not bad for a smelly plant?!
So what odd herb do you have growing in the garden?
Let me know in the comments page below.

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MUSINGS
I have never been to India, but, would love to visit sometime. In the meantime I will just have to take what the supermarkets and brewers concoct, the TV companies and film industry creates, and what the authors, artists and musicians produce.
So here's some things I recommend.

• To Watch – Channel 4's Indian Summer and The first & second Best Exotic   Marigold hotel
• To Eat – The Spice Tailor by Anjum Anand
  
• To Read – Salman Rushdie, Midnights children didn't know it had been made into a film.
  
• To Drink – Your favourite Indian Pale Ale. or mine
  

And a couple of bloggers to read about their times in India. Know anymore? Add them to the comments section for everyone else.
Hippie in Heels - This is India! 63
Chuzai Living - The Sassy Spoon Bandra Mumbai

Tunes for the week
Now I don't know what style of music is the 'in thing' in Indian. Well now's your time to tell me in the comments section below, introduce me to a different style of music.
Don't forget to share on Twitter or Facebook if you like the blog and you think your friends / followers will be interested. THANKS A MILLION for viewing my blog you are much appreciated.
Stereophonics - Indian Summer
Kula Shaker - Govinda
A.R. Rahman, The Pussycat Dolls - Jai Ho (You Are My Destiny)
The Doors and The Manic Street Preachers also produced a single called Indian Summer both very different.