Wooden blocks with designs etched on one end. Photo by Neha

“Gently dab the block with paint. Don’t put pressure on it, just a soft dab,” her hands gesture the dabbing action, her fingers forming the exact shape of the block I’m holding, probably from memory, or maybe just out of habit.

Shyamala’s sari pallu is tucked in at her side, held firmly in place, its solid block print similar to the pattern I’ve chosen. As I bend forward to print she starts to move too before checking herself. She is used to working alone, printing for over a decade now. These days she also conducts day workshops, hoping to spread the traditional art form.

Block printing involves hand printing fabric with etched wooden blocks dipped in paints (traditionally natural dyes, commercially synthetic). It seems easy. Of course it isn’t.

I follow her instructions slowly, very slowly. If my hands shake, it’ll ruin the print. They shake just a little bit as I place (and pound) the block on the fabric – thwack, thwack, thwack.

After the last thwack, I pause, before lifting the block off, slowly.

“Yes!” she shouts – there’s a little surprise there. I smile too – there’s not a line or leaf out of place. I could get used to this block printing thing.

Community Connection

You can connect with Neha via her personal profile in the Matador Travel Community. And if you’d like to submit a photo of your own to This Is My Day, take a look at the submission guidelines.

A traditional Indian thali (plate). Photo by Shahoo

Most of my life, I hated the kitchen.

Indian kitchens are for women. Cooking, along with assorted kitchen activities, is what women do. Women cook, set up the table, clean up and make chai, while men eat, chat and watch TV.

The kitchen was a cage that I had to stomach just because I was a girl. I decided I’d rather not.

The Hungry Husband Argument

“How will you find a husband if you can’t cook?” concerned aunts asked. When this shattering question didn’t move me, they insisted I (at least) learn how to make soft chapattis and hot curried vegetables. When I did get married there was much exclamation and astonishment in the family. They then made it a priority to pull me aside and offer advice: learn how to make things he likes; don’t let him go hungry; get your act right.

A New Kitchen

We moved to Croatia soon after. Away from home and other Indian kitchens, my kitchen suddenly turned gender neutral. I no longer had a reason to hate it, but I (we) didn’t know what to do with it either.

The first few weeks we ate out or we ordered in. Then we got bored. Then, there was no other option but to give the kitchen a shot. Of course since we didn’t know how, our first few attempts consisted of boiled vegetable in tomato puree with lots of garam masala, and rice. It tasted awful. We loved it.

Inspired, we decided to figure it out how the damn thing worked.

Six Indian Food Blogs That Taught Me To Cook

That first year, we cooked with the help of anonymous bloggers plus additional help from YouTube and God-bless-Skype. Through them, we stumbled on hidden flavor, finally understood cumin and coriander and uncovered what it meant to ‘salt to taste.’

Cooking turned from chore to a creative exercise, adventure, a stress buster, a thing we do together. The food may not be as good as that of my mom’s kitchen, but it is full of possibilities and much laughter.

I’d like to share with you six of my favorite blogs. They are simple, rich and absolutely yum. If something is cooking in my kitchen it probably started off as a post here:

Awesome Cuisine – This is my go-to Indian food blog. It has everything from food recipes and videos to how-to articles, and I credit it for taking my cooking from atrocious to edible.

Dosa. Photo by InfoMofo

365 days of Pure Vegetarian – I grew up in a vegetarian household, so trust me when I say being vegetarian isn’t all salads, tofu and unhappiness. It so isn’t.

A Mad Tea Party – You know how some food blogs just scream delicious? Anita’s blog is one of them.

Aayi’s Recipes – No matter how much you love Indian food, you can’t eat Tikka Masala every day (seriously kids, don’t try this at home). What you need is simple homemade food like ‘Aayi’s Recipes’ (Mother’s Recipes).

Eat and Dust – When I grow up, I want to live Pamela’s life. Her ‘Eat and Dust’ is more than just a food blog; it’s a space for food adventures, and about the people you meet along the way.

Malabar Spices – I dare you to walk away from this blog.

Right, so my kadhai is making all sorts of the-food-is-cooked noises, I have to run before my lunch spills over. Be sure to let me know what you think of these blogs and the recipes you try out.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

For more food fun, stop by Matador’s Cooking and Recipes collection.

No time for browsing? Try these recipes to celebrate Holi, the Indian Festival of Colors.

Photo by normalityrelief/ Feature Photo by eyesogreen

Old School

According to ancient wisdom, your environment reflects your life. Therefore making improvements in one will positively influence the other. This can be done by understanding placement and integrating the five natural elements – fire, wood, water, metal and earth – in your home.

Feng Shui

Feng Shui is the ancient Chinese art of balanced placement based on the concept that energy — called chi — must be free to flow through the rooms of your home. When energy is blocked it causes strained relationships, bad finances and ailing health. Feng Shui corrects the imbalance.

Simple measures like de-cluttering, enhancing natural light, using natural materials, strategic arrangement of furniture and incorporating influential symbols in the décor infuse a sense of peace and calm in the home.

Photo by seeveeaar

One of the most most popular Feng Shui pieces is the bamboo shoot. It combines and extends the benefits of the five natural elements, absorbs surrounding negativity and brings the homeowner good fortune. Another favorite is the Buddha.

Vaastu Shastra

Vaastu Shastra is a system of architecture based on the ancient Vedic texts. It focuses on designs that channel positive energy from natural elements in the environment to the homeowners.

Vaastu has specific rules regarding construction. These include the order and direction of specific rooms, materials used, direction in which doors and windows open. It also provides remedies in case these changes aren’t possible.

Like Feng Shui, Vaastu is based on the concept of flowing energy. A common rule suggests leaving a slight gap between walls and furniture for a conflict free home.

Zen Interiors

The Zen design ethic draws inspiration from Zen philosophy. It focuses on minimalistic and tranquil designs, allowing homeowners to create a peaceful sanctuary against the chaos at work in the outside world.

Photo by Jim Moore

Zen puts great emphasis on letting go of all non-essentials that collect in the house. Use soft colors, minimalistic furnishing and make sure that every article in the house draws from one of the five natural elements. In these ways, you help move energy-trapping-clutter out and make way for a long happy life.

The Middle Ground

The old traditions include color therapy as a means to improve peace and calm. Science seems to agree.

Color Therapy

Color influences emotions, and as a result color sensitivity or color imbalance can negatively impact your outlook. Color therapy finds the right colors and figures proportions to reestablish balance.

When making color choices, consider your environment and personality first – bright colors uplift mood; softer colors help control aggression. Be sure to factor in the basic reactions color generates. The color violet as an example, is known to calm the mind. Therefore using it in the bedroom is an effective way of dissolving tensions that cause migraines and sleep disorders.

For the Fiercely Logical

Don’t believe in that stuff? For you, there’s a simpler route.

Clean & Organize

Years of clutter contribute to confusion and chaos. A clean and organized space allows for more focus and a clearer, positive way forward. Do the dishes before bed, make the bed as soon you wake up; get rid of all the extras by donating what you can and recycling the rest. Your home will instantly feel lighter, happier.

Photo by reiner.kraft

Green Up

Adopting green living methods allows for a healthier life.

Many regular household agents, like detergents and air sprays, contain harmful chemicals and toxins. Constant use leads to a build-up of harsh pollutants in your immediate environment, resulting in health disorders. You can avoid this by opting for greener substitutes.

Also consider bringing living plants and fresh flowers into the house. They add color and purify the air in the room. In case of a small bedroom however, it’s best to avoid having large plants. Plants utilize oxygen and give off carbon dioxide at night, this could impact breathing and sleeping patterns.

Be sure to open windows and let natural light flood the house everyday. This simple move drains out musty air and replenishes the home with fresh oxygen, while the streaming sunlight brings in Vitamin D, an important nutrient for healthy living.

Community Connection

Another sure shot way to boost the peace and calm at home is to maintain a happy, joyous mind. Clear out the negativity with Matador’s 20 Basic, Fun, Sexy Resources for Beginning Meditators.

Photo by Migraine Chick.

Back in 2006, I was on a crowded Mumbai train, on my way to work, when my vision started to blur and my head hurt. I made my way out based solely on memory. You probably have your own migraine horror stories to tell, pounding head, distorted vision, fatigue and all. How do you deal with that kind of pain without resorting to painkillers? Maybe you’ll find an answer in the list below:

Acupressure

Photo by quinn.anya

A temple massage is usually the first line of defense for a headache. A shoulder, neck and back massage works even better. But now it’s time to go a step further with acupressure. This is the manual application of pressure to specific points along the body in order to correct internal imbalances. In case of migraines, the points that assume importance are the top of your head (right at the middle), the base of your skull (behind both ears), the area between thumb and forefinger and between the big and second toe. Apply pressure to these points using your fingertips in 5-10 minute cycles to ease migraine symptoms.

(Note – If pregnant, avoid the hand pressure point.)

Migraine Packs

Sometimes it’s the simplest home remedies that works best – lemons for example. Extract and grind the lemon peel to a paste and apply to your forehead. Let the paste dry before rinsing off. The lemon oil present in the peel has multiple therapeutic properties – it has a cooling effect on the body; it lowers stress, fatigue and pain; it works as a muscle relaxant; it also boosts immunity and circulation. You can also use sandalwood powder for the same results.

Breathing exercises

Yoga generally has an answer for everything; here it’s deep breathing. If you feel a migraine coming, just sit down and Breathe. Inhale. Exhale. Big giant gasps of air. In case of mild migraines, gentle yoga exercises help with quick recovery.

(Note – Poor body alignment can cause migraines. Regular yoga helps improves posture.)

Stay hydrated

You’ve heard it before. I’m going to say it again – water is the simplest way to avoid migraines. Drink at least 8 glasses of water every day and throw in fresh fruit and vegetable juices to the mix to keep the pain at bay. Additionally, if you feel uneasy on the road, a cup of herbal tea (ginger or peppermint) will settle things down – it controls nausea, relieves pain, detoxifies and relaxes the body.

Essential Oils

Photo by Crystalwood Naturals

Essential oils are packed with therapeutic properties; for starters they boost blood circulation and relax tense muscles. Dabbing a bit of lavender or primrose oil on your temples can help relieve pain. Another approach is to combine essential oils with hydrotherapy. Fill the basin with warm water, add a few drops of oil, and soak your hands into the solution.
[Note – Ensure the oil is authentic and not an artificial substitute.]

Herbs

Look hard enough and you’ll find a herbal remedy for almost any malady. When it comes to migraines, herbs like feverfew, gingko biloba, ginger, poppy seed, willow and skull cap, do the trick. They help improve circulation, relax tensed muscles, and relieve inflammation and pain. Herbal treatments are available as ointments, tinctures, teas and capsules.

Homeopathy

Homeopathy uses natural healing substances to address underlying health issues. In short, it treats the root problem, not just the symptom, making it a great migraine treatment. Homeopathy treatments are unique to every individual. So consult a certified physician to zero in on the treatment best suited for you.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

How about you? Know any migraine therapies that work? Leave us a comment, and help out other travelers along the way.