Luminarias - A New Mexican Tradition
My final blog of the year is a shout out to my home state of New Mexico. I try to make it home for the holidays but there have been a few I’ve missed. Check out the silly youtube video I made in St. Lucia about Luminarias (which are technically “farolitos”) that I made a couple years back.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaRaoiXf2f0
Wish you all a wonderful holiday season!
Book Recommendation: The Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner
This is the funniest and most entertaining travelogue I’ve read. Not always politically correct (poor Moldova!) but always humorous, insightful, and endearing, Eric Weiner’s quest for happiness in countries rated the happiest and unhappiest in the world is a fantastic read. Grab a copy and go somewhere!
5 Items I Never Fly Without
For long, international flights, there are a few key items that go a loooong way in providing comfort. They’re light and small, and with the exception of #5, usually not supplied by the airline.
1. Vicks Vaporub. My nose gets stuffy on the flight. Aside from that, whether I’m stuffy or not, I put Vicks or similar balms on my nose and temples every night for it’s calming, soothing effects.
2. Ayr Nasal Gel. For the inside of your nose. Noses and mouths tend to get soooo dry while flying. Keeping the inside of your nose moist not only makes the breathing easier but purportedly helps fight off infections easily caught during travel.
3. Gum. You can’t count on flight attendants to fill up your water every time you get thirsty. Waking up from a little snooze with a parched mouth can be quickly remedied with a piece of gum to tide you over until the next time you hear the wheels rolling down the aisle. You don’t have to climb over your fellow passengers either.
4. Asprin/Ibuprofen. It’s the worst thing to be stuck with a headache and know there’s nothing you can do about it for another 12 hours. A travel pack of a pain reliever can make a world of difference here!
5. Socks. Some airlines provide these for trans-oceanic flights. I always bring some just in case. They are warm and airplanes are cold at 33,000 feet!
Any other must-haves?
Chukku Vellam –Kerala’s Rosy Tonic
If you travel to beautiful Kerala, India, chances are you will see an elephant walking down the road. Another thing you will likely see is a glass of a pink beverage placed in front of you in the restaurants. Since you are probably already familiar with elephants, I am going to talk about the latter in today’s blog!
Chukku vellam, also known as Karingali, and Dahashamani, is basically water that has been boiled with a blend of Ayurvedic herbs with medicinal properties.
I remember gingerly raising the glass to my lips the first time I tried it, wanting to please my in-laws-to-be, but remembering the warnings in all the travel books – “Whatever you do, don’t drink the water!” But this water is boiled, and on top of that, many of the herbs have anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties, and can actually protect against water-borne diseases. Sure enough, I had no adverse reaction to the water, and in fact liked the subtle spice flavors so much as to make Chukku vellam the first thing I ask for when I sit down at a restaurant there. (Of course I must insert a disclaimer here – I am writing from my experience, and am not qualified to say if it is safe for everyone.)
Chukku vellam, which literally means “dry ginger water,” can be served hot, warm, or at room temperature. The name is a little deceiving because ginger is usually just one of many in the herbal combination. Some of the other herbs commonly used are Karingali (acacia), sapanwood, sandalwood, cloves, cardamom, and coriander, all of which have healing and preventative ayurvedic properties.
Curious to try it? If you’re not in India it is very hard to find the herb packets with which to make this at home. However, you can easily make Jeera water, which is also tasty and good for you, simply by boiling some water with cumin seeds, then straining out the seeds. Instead of pink water, the cumin gives the water yellow hue. Give it a taste and share your thoughts!
Soca Q&A
Soca is an incredibly popular style of music in the Caribbean. But outside the Caribbean, many people have never heard of it. So if you want to impress some people when you’re on your Caribbean vacation (or more likely, make them laugh), be ready to jump, wine, and don’t forget your towel! (See why below). I asked around to create this little Soca Primer. Did I get it right, soca lovers?
1. Describe Soca
- A highly rhythmic style of music that developed out of Trinidadian calypso that includes elements of cadence, hip hop, rap, dancehall, soul and other genres.
-The two main elements are rhythm and a sung or spoken vocal with minimal additional instrumentation. The beat is usually loud and fast. Lyrics can be bawdy, playful, or sometimes give social or political commentary.
2. What is the difference between Soca and Calypso?
Calypso is generally slower tempo and more often lyrically focused on social and political messages. Soca usually has the more uptempo, frenetic beats.
3. What is wining (pronounced wine-ing)?
Basically you just have to circle your hips around and around. Sounds tame, but check out the Nicole David video in #5 below to see how it’s done. Better yet, visit a Caribbean island during Carnival and get your wine on.
4. What are some famous Soca songs? Who are some of the current hot Soca artists?
- Two of the best known songs are “Hot Hot Hot” by Arrow and “Who Let The Dogs Out,” by Baha Men.
-Some artists to check out are Machel Montano, Teddyson John, Destra Garcia, Alison Hinds, and Nicole David
5. Where can I hear Soca music right now?
You can hear it on Tempo TV, on sites like www.socafreak.com, or start with this youtube video of St. Lucian Soca diva – Nicole David. www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVMUwZP79LU,
6. Why do people wave a towel when at a Soca concert?
“It’s just something we do!” It’s simply a way of being in the moment and expressing passion for the music.
