In Nature's Arms at Bawali Farmhouse

After our disappointing drive to Diamond Harbour a couple of days ago, we decided to find a nice destination to getaway for a couple of days.

Thanks to a Facebook post, I discovered a place called Bawali and after some research, we decided to head there. Though we had planned to go for a couple of days, we juts managed to get a booking for one night. But that didn't deter us from taking the break.


The drive to Bawali, save a few places of nice roads through countryside, was mostly through crowded village markets. But when we finally got to the Bawali Farmhouse, it was like the Garden of Eden. The walk from The Parking Lot next to the gate upto the main Hut was lined with a beautiful nursery, plants like I've never seen.

The first order of business after we checked in to our Cottage was an amazing breakfast in the common dining Hut. Luchi Torkari and Aloo Parantha along with Omelettes. A Cupppa Tea and Coffee and we were rejuvenated.

We were lucky to get the most secluded Cottage: NIBHRITI: As the name suggests, this cottage is located in the quietest corner of our farmhouse. With a cozy balcony overlooking the paddy fields and ponds, this is the best place to take your favourite book. For those, who want to shut down all the noise of civilization for a day, Nibhriti should be their choice. With a private sit-out area, a small corner garden and a balcony, this cottage is simple, elegant and very private.) source: bawalifarmhouse.com

Bawali Rajbari

Bawali Rajbari

Bawali Rajbari

Bawali Rajbari

Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) also known as the Eurasian Kingfisher and River Kingfisher

Green Bee-Eater (Merops orientalis)

Green Bee-Eater (Merops orientalis) eating a Bee.

Rufous Treepie (Dendrocitta vagabunda)

Bronze-winged Jacana (Metopidius indicus)

Asian Palm-Swift (Cypsiurus balasiensis).

New Market, Chana Batura & Christmas Shopping

 

New Market is the destination if you're going to do Christmas decorations shopping in Kolkata. Come December, the place has a completely different energy, with shops and stalls overflowing with Christmas trees, baubles, lights, stars and all those little things that somehow make you believe you need to decorate your house like Santa himself is moving in!

For me, however, visiting New Market is also a convenient excuse whenever I get a craving for Chana Batura.

The pavement on Bertram Street has some of the yummiest Chana Batura you can find. And if you're up for the full experience, you don't just eat it—you sit on one of those narrow little benches on the sidewalk, surrounded by millions of people, with the constant hustle and bustle of what is probably one of the busiest places in Kolkata happening all around you.

It's hardly fine dining, but that's precisely the point.

There is something wonderfully Kolkata about sitting on a pavement, balancing a plate of hot, fluffy Batura and spicy Chana, while pedestrians, shoppers, hawkers, taxis and just about everything else in the city rushes past you.

And once you've polished that plate off, the next logical step is a fresh fruit juice.

Chana Batura followed by a glass of freshly squeezed fruit juice—and suddenly you're ready to take on New Market, the Christmas crowds and probably another round of shopping you never intended to do in the first place!

That's my kind of Christmas shopping. 🎄😋

Golden Joy Restaurant in Tangra — Our Go-To for Chinese

olden Joy Restaurant in Tangra is one of our go-to places whenever the craving for Chinese food strikes. By now, the menu is familiar, the people are familiar, and, most importantly, the food is exactly how we like it. There is something comforting about walking into a place where you don't need to spend half an hour studying the menu as if you are preparing for an entrance examination!

Since we got there quite late in the afternoon, we decided not to go all out. The plan was simple — have a tiny bite while we were there and get the main course packed for dinner. In theory, this sounded like a very sensible plan. In practice, ordering Chinese food when you're hungry is never quite that simple!

We started with their Chilli Garlic Pepper Chicken (Dry), which had just the right combination of spice and flavour, followed by the Golden Fried Prawns — because, frankly, when prawns are on the menu, pretending you didn't see them is just bad manners.

We also ordered a bowl of Mixed Non-Veg Thai Soup, which made for a comforting little interlude before we packed up the rest of our dinner.

And what was dinner? The classics, of course — Chowmein, Fried Rice and Chilli Chicken, all packed neatly to take home.

So, technically, we only went to Golden Joy for a tiny bite.

We came back with dinner for the evening.

Which, in my book, qualifies as a very successful Chinese food outing!