Beans Stir-Fry: Chinese Style

All things delicious in food are stir-fries. Quick stir-fries are easy and simple recipes, and just a few common kitchen staples make cooking convenient.

Beans come in various types - French beans, long beans, snow beans, and frozen green peas,  all affordable and ideal for home-style cooking. For this recipe, it’s long beans, but other types work just as well. Greens make for a healthy dish, even if achieving authentic wok hei at home is difficult (QUICK CHINESE VEGETABLE STIR-FRY).

Malaysian Wildboar Curry/Kattu Pandi Kulambu

Wild boar, or Kattu Pandi in Tamil, may not be everyone’s choice of meat, but it certainly has a global fan base. Across cultures, wild boar is prepared in distinct, flavour-packed ways. In Italy, it’s slow-braised in red wine and tomatoes into a rich wild boar ragu, usually served with pasta. In Thailand, wild boar is stir-fried jungle-style with herbs, chillies, and green peppercorns. Meanwhile, in the Philippines, it’s grilled or stewed adobo-style with vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, and bay leaves.

Tom Yum Fish Recipe

Tom Yum is a world-renowned Thai dish, whether spelled tom yum or tom yam, it’s a classic Thai soup that delights with its spicy, tangy, and aromatic flavors. Traditionally, it can be made by simmering fresh Thai ingredients in a broth or by using a prepared Tom Yum paste. This versatile paste is also used for other Thai dishes, such as Tom Yum Fried Rice or Tom Yum Fried Noodles.

Another essential ingredient in Thai cooking is Mae Pranom Thai Chili Paste, widely available in stores and online, in small or large bottles. It is made from dried chili, dried shrimp, garlic, onion, tamarind, sugar, salt, soybean oil, and shrimp paste, adding depth, heat, and authentic Thai flavor (TAMARIND FRIED FISH). If you don’t have it, you can still recreate the taste by using these ingredients in your spice mix.

Best Places to Visit in Chandigarh, India

From winter (HOKKAIDO JAPAN WINTER ATTRACTIONS) Kullu Manali to the plains of Chandigarh, welcome to India’s first planned city. Designed by Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier in the 1950s, Chandigarh stands as a model of modern urban planning. With its clean, tree-lined streets, peaceful parks, and distinctive architecture, the city is known for its efficient layout and sustainable living.

Chandigarh also serves as the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana, and offers more than just neat roads and well-zoned spaces. If you're travelling across northern India, especially from hill stations like Kullu or Manali (KULLU MANALI BEST THINGS TO DO), Chandigarh becomes an ideal stop for sightseeing.

Kullu Manali India: Best Things to Do

Kullu Manali, like Shimla (WHAT TO DO IN SHIMLA), is one of the most popular destinations in Himachal Pradesh. Most Himachal Pradesh tours include Kullu and Manali as key stops. During winter, the region draws thousands of visitors for its snow-covered valleys, pine forests, and breathtaking views of the Himalayas. Apart from nature, there are plenty of must-do activities in Kullu Manali that make the trip worthwhile throughout the year.

Rohtang Pass

How can there be a tour in Kullu Manali without visiting Rohtang Pass? It's one of the main highlights and usually the top item in travel itineraries. Rohtang Pass is located in the Himalayas at an altitude of about 3,978 meters, connecting the lush Kullu Valley to the drier landscapes of Lahaul and Spiti. The name Rohtang translates to "pile of corpses" because of the area’s harsh terrain and unpredictable weather, which made crossing it a real challenge in earlier days. Now, Rohtang Pass is popular for its views of snow-covered peaks, stretches of glaciers, and rugged alpine meadows (PRETORIA SOUTH AFRICA THINGS TO DO).

Shimla, India - Things to Do

At an altitude of about 2,200 metres above sea level, Shimla, the capital of Himachal Pradesh in northern India, is fondly known as The Queen of Hills. Also referred to as The Summer Capital of British India, it lies along the southwestern ranges of the Himalayas. This hill town in India is surrounded by valleys, mountains, greenery, and colourful flowers that brighten the hills through the seasons (HARYANA INDIA SACRED SITES). 

Still preserved from earlier times, the colonial-style buildings, narrow lanes, fresh air, and sunshine say it all about Shimla as one of the top hill stations in India. It remains a peaceful place, away from the rush of city life, where calmness and simplicity fill the days.

Haryana, India Sacred Sites

Incredible India often begins upon arrival at Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) in Delhi, the primary gateway to other states and regions of India. Alternatively, travelers can arrive through other airports in the country to reach attractions in Kerala in the south, Rajasthan in the west, or the Himalayan regions in the north. Delhi is generally considered the main entry point and a gateway to North India (TAJ MAHAL, AGRA, INDIA). 

Haryana, India

Haryana is one of the top sites in North India, with its capital in Chandigarh. Haryana by itself has several cities and towns, such as Gurgaon (Gurugram), Faridabad, Panipat, and Kurukshetra. In this state of India, sightseeing spots range from Pinjore Gardens, Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary, Morni Hills, Pehowa, and Panipat.

Egg Curry with Moringa

Eggs are a staple in many kitchens. Versatile, affordable, and packed with nutrients. They provide high-quality protein with all essential amino acids, vitamins (B12, B2, A, D, and choline), and antioxidants like lutein and zeaxanthin for eye health. While moderation is recommended, eggs remain a go-to ingredient for quick and nutritious meals (CUMIN RICE: RICE-COOKER STYLE).

Moringa sticks, also known as drumsticks, were once considered humble “poor man’s food” but are now recognized as a superfood, rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Only the inner seeds and flesh are edible, while the tough outer skin is discarded.

Shivan Panching & Sri Marathandavar Temples

While exploring sightseeing spots in Kuantan (KUANTAN COASTAL WONDERS) I discovered the Shivan Temple in Gua Charas Panching, which led to an unexpectedly profound journey. We parked at the base of the hill, where the ascent up a steep, uneven stairway tested our resolve. My friends, initially skeptical and grumbling about the difficulty, were reluctantly drawn onward by our determination to reach the temple. The drive to the foothill was equally challenging, with its bumpy, rocky terrain (VARANASI SACRED GANGES, MADURAI SPIRITUAL INSIGHTS, KERALA TEMPLE & KATAGARAMA TEMPLE). 

Sultan Ahmad Shah Mosque: An Unexpected Divine Encounter

I ended up in Kuantan. It was a spur-of-the-moment decision, just a drive with no plans whatsoever, going with the flow. Actually, it was to break free from the mundane life and welcome something new. Landing in Kuantan, I checked into Vistana Kuantan (now known as AC Hotel Kuantan). The room was lovely, with nothing to fault. Next, I made a call to meet up with two friends who fetched me from the hotel, and we took a drive around Kuantan town before I chanced upon the Sultan Ahmad Shah Mosque (Masjid Negeri, Masjid Sultan Ahmad 1).