Summer Versus Winter

People have their preferences for seasons, like they have for Democrats or Republicans. But for me, summer is a clear winner-winter, the loser. I shall give you five good reasons-

1. Summer is pro-poor. You don't need a lot of clothes to protect yourself, and the poor can sleep at night even in the open, if there's no shelter. Trees can help in the daytime.

2. Winter makes you want to curl up in bed. Summer creates animal spirits that spur exploration, entrepreneurship...hiber-nation versus a Hyper nation, you see?

3. Mango is the King of fruits..and it comes out in Summer..the U.S. has no mangoes, in most parts.

4. Have you ever tried swimming in cold sea water? I have, and trust me, it's no fun.. Goa, it's summer-like even in Winter. Any arguments?

 5. And the clincher- you can eat ice cream without fear of catching a cold. Isn't that a great plus?

Foodventures of Bahu Bali- Of Coconut ice creams Warungs and More

Foodventures of Bahu Bali- Of Coconut ice creams and Warungs and More

A Warung is a small café or restaurant with a limited menu, and is easier to set up than a restaurant. There are lots of them, and we went to one overlooking a rice field. They had Thai and Indian curries in a set menu. At another place, there was coconut ice cream with a twist. The coconut served as the cup- a big one, into which different ice creams were served. Have a look…while on food, Gula is the name for sugar and Merica for white pepper, Garam Kounsunsi Beriodium for iodised salt.

Batik is a print unique to Indonesia, or at least it is famous here in many forms used for wear by men and women. We also saw a very interesting performance called the Barong dance, where Good triumphs over evil, performed in a small open theatre. The artists gamely posed for pictures with the tourists at the end. 

The cup in the first pic is of the Luwak coffee, and other glasses are of exotic teas and coffees.

(Above) the mascot of this Warung..

the young ladies who were waiting on us..

The coconut ice cream with its lovely vendor..
and (below) beautiful old ladies selling fruits..

Giant-sized coconuts at a restaurant near a waterfall, and

 lunch at a restaurant at the end of a volcano (Douglas Adams, apologies).

Why Thoughts Occur

If you thought that this was going to be a brainy kind of research-based post on the brain, think again. I just thought (why?) that I should post something and to keep that thought alive, started typing. You get the drift? Ok, so now, let's take it a step further.

Thoughts occur for a few basic reasons.
1. A brain thinks it has to have thoughts.
2. You can ask it to shut up, but usually don't. You know how it is, with certain people; so it is with certain parts of your body.
3. Therefore, thoughts occur.
4. Sometimes, they are simple fulfillable desires-like I want ice cream, or a chai, or, to listen to a song.
5. Sometimes they are not- like wanting to become the ruler of Baghdad (isn't someone?), own a yacht (not sure even how it's spelt), own a beer factory (someone does, I am pretty sure), have twenty butlers at the same time (notwithstanding that their butts would collide with each others' in their eager attempts at buttling), etc..

Then, finally, I thought about why I should think any such random thoughts. And instead, like a good follower of the numerous gurus I have read, decided to be in the present. And concentrate on the cup of tea I have in front. After the effort of all that thinking, it does taste very good.