Of Travels and Tastes

Travel plans often come with warnings as to what not to eat and drink. But still, one has to eat while traveling. It’s a situation of being able to choose as well as not being a
ble to choose. You can choose your dishes – south or north, veg or non-veg. But, the sorry fact
is that you can’t choose and pick much of homemade, simple food. Now you get my idea of a traveler’s luxury?

The start of 2012 was celebration time for us. Ashish’s (Anu’s brother) marriage to Sneha on 26 January triggered off a series of celebrations; that meant, we had a wonderful chance to travel… and to eat!

Jecko, Ashish, Anu & Steve

Naturally, wedding receptions mean good food. We are glad that the food served for the reception was good: bread rolls with fish molee, and vegetable pulao with chicken. Ice cream with fruits as desserts.

And then, to travel! Four destinations, with four-score and more dishes to test and taste.

BANGALORE

Sneha's House in Doddanakally, Bangalore

Sneha’s family, with roots in Kerala, is now settled in Bangalore.

Ashish & Sneha with her parents Mr. T P Joseph & Mrs. Gracy Joseph, and her brother Swaroop

There was a reception at Bangalore, in honor of the newlyweds. So, our first halt was there. Staying with Jinu (Anu’s cousin) and Relly was fun; equally enjoyable was the time the three kids Jeevan, Johan and Steve could have. Relly surprised us with waffles: American food, she says. Just for that, I love America!

For Steve, the highlight was KFC!

L-R: Steve, Sneha, Ashish, Johan and Jeevan

PUNE

GoAir took us to Pune. Just an hour's flight... and our destination is a Seminary. Aren't these good excuses to be on a fast?!

Jecko, Steve and Anu at UBS: The sculpture in the back depicts Jesus washing Peter's feet, a reminder of servant leadership.

Invitations to Pune have been around us for long, but it was Shalu’s privilege (or pain!) to host us. Shalu T Mathew, currently a final year student of Theology at Union Biblical Seminary, had been Anne’s student at Bishop Moore College, Mavelikara. Shalu always wanted us to come to Pune. Now, with just a few weeks before his graduation, we had to crash in, for that was a promise.

Shalu’s treat at Pune started at Krishna Gardens, with one of my favorites: hot rotis baked in the oven, with vegetables. Salted lassi to go with it.

Shalu & Alfred

Life in the Seminary was relaxing for us. Old bonds to be strengthened – Amrith and Reshma (chappatis, made for us as per special request), Reji and Bindu (with Kerala Palappam and excellent rajma curry), my student Anuroop, the newly married Rajani with her husband Renju, and many more! And, there were new friendships made, such as with Shalu’s friends Alfred and Amol who took us around Pune.

Sharon & Anu: Japanese Garden

Sharon (Anu’s cousin) is a postgrad student at Symbiosis School of Law. She joined us for a day’s outing, and we all roamed round Pune. That involved eating at a really good joint – “George”, as it is called: tasty biriyanis, nans, pulao and the like! Shivaji’s fort was history. Japanese Garden was culture. And the eating places just yummy!

Anu, Steve, Jecko & Sharon at the Shivaji Fort, Pune

The second day, we joined the seminarians for lunch: beef biriyani, prepared for around 200 hungry stomachs. It’s all unbiblical: after they had finished, very little was there to be collected in baskets. But the joy and fun overflows. We sat around the table with friends old and new: all from Kerala. Jokes, banters, humorous stories of unrequited love affairs, interests expressed and rejected… all flew across the table. A birthday too was celebrated, and the birthday baby was coaxed into buying ice creams for all of us round the table!

The Two Gandhis

The afternoon was again for roaming around Pune. The Samadhi of Kasturba Gandhi tells us a story with a moral: an activist is not an island. Gandhiji’s involvement and sacrifice in the freedom struggle was strengthened by that saintly woman who was at his side from near childhood.

Steve and Jecko at the Kasturba Samadhi

Now for a merrier note: Sarah, my student for MA in CMS College, Kottayam, is nicknamed ‘Gandhi’ for her truthfulness and honesty. As a family, we were with this batch for a tour, years back (Steve was just 3 years old then.) We came to know that Sarah is in Pune. We felt that a visit would be nice!

with Sarah

SURAT

Signs of misbehavior from the stomach made us a bit careful. Supper was limited to fruits. For, it was an all-night travel by road from Pune to Surat. To see us off, there was indeed a big bunch from UBS. That is love… a sincere and unpremeditated practice of what they learn from the Bible.

It was our first experience travelling in a sleeper coach by road – and that too, a double decked one! After about an hour’s weaving through various pick-up points in Pune, the bus hit the highway, and it was a smooth ride for about 10 hours to Surat.

Why Surat? Again, bonds of love, of friendship. Moni (Mr. Scaria John, Pulinjumootil) from Mallappally and I share a special bond of friendship, developed mainly through the CSI Choir, Mallappally.

The ol' Paachuvum Kovaalanum: Jecko & Moni

Moni and Sherly always wanted us to visit them. The two days with them and their children Merin and Mebin just went off, making all of us feel that more time was needed. Visits to the Planetarium, malls, industrial belts, and homes of some friends, or just a drive through the clean and spacious roads- Surat fascinated us.

Moni, Sherly, Merin & Mebin enjoying at the Mall

No need to talk of food! Sherly and Moni just pampered us and coaxed us to eat more. And Sherly proved that the food that tastes best can be simply simple.

Merin, Mebin, Steve

Renji, a student of Anne, now works in Surat. He joined us on a visit to the mall. Renji was keen that he should entertain us with a meal. So once again we could have those good nans, rotis and north Indian rice preparations.

We’ve always wanted to travel by Rajadhani Express. So, it was that from Surat to Delhi. Honestly, we didn’t enjoy it much! Was it coz we expected much? The complementary breakfast was fresh and tasty: the three of us took omlette with bread.

It was common practice, but I felt it funny: after we had finished eating, and the plates got cleared, one of the waiters approached the passengers with a plate of sweetened cumins (jeera): a popular practice in India. These cumins give a fresh feeling to the mouth. A hundred rupee note lay on top. Surely, this was placed by the guy! The message was clear: you may drop in some money as tip. Can be Rs. 100, or even more? The passengers knew better… purses were opened, and what came out were tens or twenties.

DELHI

Once again to Delhi. It is indeed “new” Delhi for us- it’s now the place where Ashish works. We are now visiting a place where we have the family of our brother and sister. And, this visit helped us to be part of other families as well…!

Sneha's first visit to Ashish's office

Emmanuel Hospital Association, where Ashish works as Finance Officer, had to celebrate the marriage of their colleague. Sneha’s parents joined us there, and we all took part in the party arranged there. Again, pulao, but with different side preparations: paneer, fish and chicken. The next evening, it was the turn of Bethel CSI Malayalam Church at Vikaspuri to celebrate.

Sam Mathew Achen leading the Service

My dear friend Rev. Sam Mathew Kavunkal now ministers there. He has the midas touch of changing functions into festivals, and we all had a wonderful time there. Pratheesh achen came all the way from Dehradun. There was another student of our first batch, now an ordained priest, Rev. John Mathai who gave the sermon.

. The same caterer who served the previous day gave us fried rice and chicken; on both occasions, the food was fresh, tasty and enjoyable

Piyush, Jecko, Steve, Ashish, Sneha, Biju, Pranav, Elsie and Anu

Stay in Delhi was great, especially as we were with Biju and Elsie. Biju (Mr. Abraham P Kurian) hails from Mallappally, and is the senior colleague of Ashish.Surprisingly, Elsie and Anu are similar in many ways, also in their love for mutton biriyani and peanut butter too! With Biju and Elsie and their two sons Piyush and Pranav, moments of fun and enjoyment went unmeasured. Steve once again had his ‘mall visits’, with his two new friends. And, one more KFC!

The ‘Delhi Darsan’ as Biju calls it, was an early morning drive through the city. Rastrapati Bhavan, Parliament Houses, Qutab Minar, India Gate… but what fascinated me most was Chandni Chowk… especially its Jalebi Walla!

This shop boasts of a tradition of 142 years. Golden brown jalebis, fresh and crisp, scooped out from the huge frying pans… a temptation too hard to resist! Our day started with jalebis instead of tea!

The jalebis dipped in sugary syrup were made out of fresh ghee which made it edible for our stomach in the wee hours of the morning. As their custom was, the father made the first jalebi, made it an offering to the gods, then handed over the day’s business to his son. While we chatted with him, the old man was proud to say that his shop was more than a century old and he also said that malayalees were good people, contrary to what we mallus ourselves believe!

As if to take us to a different side of the Delhi taste, Biju’s next halt was at a ‘chola puri’ stall. A small cart and two men, but it was brisk business. We had to wait for some time till we could place our order. It was tasty; but more to it, the people were courteous, willing to come to the parked car more than once to serve the fresh stuff on leaves and paper, truly ‘dilhi’ style!

On Sunday afternoon, with Sneha’s parents, we all went out to eat after church. This time, it was a Chinese hotel, which served Indian food as well. Not brave enough to try Chinese, we remained patriotic. The soup was very delicious….

Delhi was slowly coming out of its winter. Such a change of season often means health problems. It seems that we too were getting affected. But, we held on, and God was kind enough to let us be so.

Home’s the best. And so, Elsie and Biju did it. That marked our grand finale of the wedding season: the dinner at their place: the Kerala colors of kappa (tapioca), fish curry and chicken roast. Who can resist?

Indigo, in their in-flight leaflet, advertises some chocolate cookies, in an attractive reusable cookie tin. We bought one. It was beautiful outside, and tasty inside. We enjoyed it on our Delhi-Nedumbassery flight: our dessert of the wedding season.

Travelling means eating out. Though there are risks involved – indigestion and tummy aches – it is worth a try. For, then only can we really enjoy what is often called, ‘the taste of India’.

From waffles and jalebis to kappa and meen curry, our travel was truly tasty!

povargheseachen

An Achen's Silent Influence
Remembering Very Rev. P O Varghese

3 January 2012

P O Varghese Achen has completed his race.

A few days back, my wife and I had a chance to visit Achen. When we stood outside his room, we could hear him praying; that was a farewell prayer for some people who were leaving after visiting him. It was evident that Achen’s health was on the decline. Yet, the spirit of prayer that has kept him going for all these years still remained strong.

I consider myself fortunate that I could have good associations with Very Rev. P O Varghese. It may sound strange to say thus, as we are separated by almost half a century by our age. But, that itself is one element of the greatness in Achen. He volunteered to cross barriers.

My first encounter with Achen was when I was a teenager, doing my Pre Degree. It was while travelling on a bus to Changanacherry. Though I knew that he belonged to Mallappally, I had not spoken to him. (We were not living in Mallappally then, and Achen too was away, ministering in different parishes.) I felt Achen’s eyes on me, and when I glanced back, he beckoned me near, and asked about my whereabouts. He was happy to hear my family name, and my heart was warmed when he spoke of his associations with my father and other members of our family. He said: "When I saw you there, I felt that you looked familiar!" His smiling face and his words saturated with love were an impact upon me.

Later, when my parents moved back to settle in Mallappally, I came to have better and closer associations with Achen. By then, Achen was into the early years of his retired life. He still continued to be in the ministry, offering surplice duty in churches around. His travels were on a moped, till ill health stood in the way. He was also leading the service once a month at the Holy Immanuel CSI Church, Mallappally. It was a time when I joined the choir. Achen was one person who encouraged me to take up situations of responsibility.

If I’m asked to locate a key word to mark a quality in Achen which has influenced me, I have the answer: ‘respect’. Achen’s words to us carried a strain of respect. I think he considered us not just as guys of the choir or youth movement, but as fellow-servants in the ministry of the Lord and His church. Of course, this doesn’t mean that he gave us a blank cheque. When needed, he didn’t hesitate to correct us, or restrain our rash decisions.

Respect is reciprocal. My respect for Achen grew when I had occasions to assist him at church. Especially when he was not feeling well, he would ask me to take the first part of the service, while he would do the sections of the Holy Communion. He lovingly urged me to wear my choir surplice on those occasions, saying that it denotes the significance and sacredness of the duty.

I can’t forget one casual talk I had with Achen when I visited him at his house. I was still in my student days then. Achen was telling me of his childhood days. “We were many children at home, and we had gone through days of difficulties….” I have not overcome the amazement I had then, at the simplicity of this sincere heart. He was not speaking merely of struggles; he was encouraging me to see the hands of God that moved in a family which was built on the solid rocks of faith and prayer.

Achen’s younger brother, Very Rev. P O Ninan, has brought to me another instance of the greatness of Varghese Achen. Ninan Achen was about to enter the ordained ministry. His elder brother, already a clergyman of the Diocese of Madhya Kerala, went to see Rt. Rev.M M John. It was an elder brother’s visit to make a recommendation for the achen-to-be. And, what did he ask for? “Thirumeni, my brother is taking up ordination. He says he wants to be a missionary. So… send him to a parish in the Diocese where difficulties are at their worst!” Varghese Achen was prepared even with a suggestion: Ayyappankovil in the Melukavu region. I challenge myself: can there be a parallel to this anywhere in our present day circles?

I thank God for P O Varghese Achen. And, I consider my life blessed when I think of the personal benediction my wife and I could have from him even as he was preparing for his departure. That is a New Year gift we want to cherish for the years yet to come, till we can join him in yearless eternity.